Raekwon — Ason Jones

[Intro: Raekwon] Word, I miss you, I miss the God Word... a powerful brother, man, he was live [Verse 1: Raekwon] He was a powerful general The smell from his breath was Ballantine I think it was the year '89 He stayed the freshest, Polo boots Wallys with them colorful 'Lo gooses Coming from Medina, we boost We up in A&S, slipping and dipping to Bedstuy Native, he used to beatbox, thousands would listen Yo, that's before, the Wu got on Him and Allah Just' and RZA came to the Island one morn' A nigga could dance to slow music, outdrink any nigga On the benches, while we hitting reefer, he sold loosies Five-foot-seven, a legend was born, Russell 'Ason" Jones I know him for his braids and lessons A wise man with knowledge 120 Kept a flag on his chest A right hand, you quick, serving you Remy Yo, let's toast to the fallen, lost forgotten Aiyo, if niggas could hear me, then roll up some broccoli Ason, the heart of a lion, a purified mind The way he did it, with a mic and some wine I would never forget the days we used to sit back Days I be all up in the crib, listening, holding, align him and yo I just miss this nigga And now, I understand the meaning of love when I kiss the nigga [Interlude: Ol' Dirty Bastard sample] My name is Ol' Dirty Bastard, you know what I'm saying? I don't hide nothing back. I barely—I mean, I come from a family, man, of poor welfare, you know what I'm saying? When I came out my mother's womb, I was on welfare, you know what I'm saying? So—So—So, it's like, you got to keep it real, know what I mean? [Verse 2: Raekwon] He had a heart of gold, intelligent soul from Day One Loud as the ferry, best friend was Mama Cherry Sweet lady, BK baby She taught Dirty how to cook, clean, singing the songs Say the old school dances and O.E., Ballantine, the wine We sip, while we sat with the O.G.'s Knowledge of self, good health The fortunes that came with the game had my brother insane It's like wealth ain't enough to live for But if you got love in your heart, just believe in yourself That was the Black man rap, baby Jesus in the black land Few jewelry pieces with his gold fangs, his fam ("Brooklyn Zoo!") you know my brother was ill The first dude to say, "Yo, keep it real" Yeah, the lover, the father, the hustler, the rap professor Now, he with Allah, that's a blessing [Interlude: Ol' Dirty Bastard sample] See, it's like, ok, where I come from In my neighborhood, my people know me You know what I'm saying? See, if I try to come any different They ain't gon' respect me no more You know what I'm saying? Because they -- you know people Got their thing about themselves, you know If you come from the neighborhood, you know what I'm saying? You couldn't, you couldn't get out the neighborhood But you could never take the neighborhood out of the people You know what I'm saying, but if you try to like jump and crossover To the other side, people won't understand that, and they don't like that That's why they don't be buying people music See, we keeps it real, and we always gon' keep it real You can't knock what's real, You know what I'm saying? We telling the truth, man