Coming of Age

[Jay-Z]

Yeah...

Come experience... life as we know it

As some of you should know it, yeah, yeah

Place, Marcy, Brooklyn

Actions... well, y'all know the actions

Uhh, I got this shorty on my block always clockin my rocks

He likes the style and profile I think he wanna mock

He likes the way I walk, he sees my money talkin

to honies hawkin I'm the hottest nigga in New York and

I see his hunger pains, I know his blood boils

He wanna, run with me, I know this kid'll be loyal

I watched him make a few ends, to cop his little sneakers and gear

then it's just enough for re-up again

I see myself in his eyes, I moved from Levi's

to Guess to Versace, now it's diamonds like Liberace

That's just the natural cycle, nobody wanna be like Michael

where I'm from, just them niggaz who banned from a gun

We out here trying to make hard white into cohhhhld green

I can help shorty blow out like Afro-Sheen

Plus I can relive my days of youth which is gone

That little nigga's peeps, it's time to put him on

[Chorus: Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek]

It's time to come up (and hold my own weight, defend my crown)

Gots to lock it down and when they rush (stand my ground)

It's time to come up (stick up my chest, and make some loot)

Gots to lock it down and when they rush (stand on my own two)

[Memphis Bleek]

I'm out here slingin bringin the drama, tryin to come up

in the game and add a couple of dollar signs to my name

I'm out here servin disturbin the peace, life could be better

like my man reclined in plush leather seats

He's sellin weight, I'm sellin eight... balls

sixteen tryin to graduate to pushin quarters y'all

I ain't gon' sweat him I'ma let him come to me

If he give me the nod then these niggaz gon' see

I'm tired of bein out here round the clock

and breakin day, and chasin crackers up the block for my pay

I'm stayin fresh, so chickens check

I'm tryin to step up to the next level, pushin Vettes to the Jets

Diamonds reflect from the sun, directly in your equilibirum

and stunned I'm waitin for my day to come

I got the urge, to splurge, I don't wanna lifetime sentence

just give me the word

[Chorus]

[JZ] Hey fella I been watchin you clockin

[MB] Who me holdin down this block it ain't nothin

You the man nigga now stop frontin

[JZ] Hahahh I like your style

[MB] Nah, I like YO' style

[JZ] Let's drive around awhile

[MB] Cool nigga

[JZ] Here's a thou'

[MB] A G? I ride witchu for free

I want the longterm riches and bitches

[JZ] Have it all; now listen to me

You let them other niggaz get the name, skip the fame

Ten thou' or a hundred G keep yo' shit the same

[MB] On the low?

[JZ] Yeah, the only way to blow

You let your shit bubble quietly

[MB] AND THEN YOU BLOW!

[JZ] Hey keep your cool

The only way to peep a fool is let him show his hand

Then you play your cards

[MB] Then he through dealin I understand

[JZ] Don't blow your dough on hotties

[MB] The only thing I got in this world is my word and my nuts

and won't break em for nobody!

[JZ] Hah, I like resume, pick a day, you can start

[MB] From now until death do us part...

[Chorus 2X]