Annotate [Verse 1: Rakim]
I idolized my father
He taught me to survive the horror
Cause times is harder, disguise is darker
Look through the eyes of a snake, see inside the monster
To rise they divide and conquer
If it's all about money I don't respect your power, that's weak
They deprive and devour, they cowards if you ask me
Powers that be mistreat us, mislead us
Thinking eventually we gone bite the hand that feed us
We son 'em and try to keep all other from 'em
Novus ordo seclorum, E pluribus unum
New order of the ages, out of many: one
...arrested busting cons out of pennies: none
I'm starving, it's problems if we ain't fed quickly
My bread used to beat 'em, ones taking heads with me
Jealousy, hate, lust and greed is spread quickly
Don't call me brother if you ain't breaking bread with me
[Hook: Shontelle]
Don't call me mother
Don't call me sister
Don't call me brother
Don't call me father
[Verse 2: DMX]
Don't call me brother, you ain't get to say mother
But saying father you get down like the other
Don't speak on wisdom when you know you don't love her
Don't shake my hand when you wanna see me under
Don't talk slick behind my back
Don't walk like this when you act like that
You trying to bark far when you let you a cat
Come to your hood like ”brrap, brrap, brrap”
Mess with the kid if you want to
Cause your mans didn't know to tell you
It'll be the last day that you go through
You built like a scooter, I'm built like a Hummer
I was built like a tank; you don't want it, baby, nah-uh
Stop playing with... I'll get you hurt
You a girl, you can't play in the dirt, you got skirt
You don't know a damn thing about putting in the work
With your whole effing block...
[Hook]