Natural Elements - “Survive”
[Emcee(s): L-Swift, A-Butta, and Mr. Voodoo]
[Producer(s): Kenny Diaz]
[Verse 1: L-Swift]
Yo, welcome to
This world of unjust manner. I bust grammar
Got no luck, and, uh, Natural Elements bust bangers
Shine like a diamond-cut gold chain. Used to watch Soul Train
When my mother bumped John Coltrane
Northeast Bronx where you can find me at, where I be at
You got cheese? I gotta see that before I ease back
Puff on a green sack, come up on white planes where
Jamaicans play the dominoes, and, me, I roll the dice game
Yo, a crack sale every time the lights change. You buy
Whatever be in your price range, yo, ‘cause, through the years
I seen my life change for the worse and not the better
Roll up on a nigga turf, stick him, and cop his leather
I spit it acapella for all my niggas on the streets
Puffing the herb ‘cause Natural E niggas don't be
f*cking with herbs. On New York City streets
Got to struggle just to make ends meets, but, yo
[Hook: L-Swift]
Will I survive? Or will I die?
That's all I'm thinking ‘bout when I'm high
‘Cause all I want is my piece of the pie
Before sitting up in the skies, yo
Will I survive? Or will I die?
That's all I'm thinking ‘bout when I'm high
‘Cause all I want is my piece of the pie
Before sitting up in the skies
[Verse 2: A-Butta]
Ayyo, this world's
Foul like a white man f*cking a slave
These days, brothers is cutting up each other with blades
If life's fair, why do people got to suffer with AIDS?
That's the coming of age, the last page in the book of life
I'll take a look at Christ, picture, paint it, write it in white
I'll pay the price—tears flow days-and-nights through my eyes
Years go by. I try to make it right, and I know
Satan's light glow upon this evil country
Ten percent believe in God, the rest believe in money
Invest in nuclear weapons, but can't feed the hungry
Lord, what do you want from me? I know that man breed
The ugliest of all sins. Are we condemned to
A life sentence until we die? Then resurrect
Back to the high Heavens? Life is a lesson
Persistence overcomes resistance, but what's the point of a
Human existence if it's so crucial to live in this world?
[Hook: L-Swift]
Will I survive? Or will I die?
That's all I'm thinking ‘bout when I'm high
‘Cause all I want is my piece of the pie
Before sitting up in the skies, yo
Will I survive? Or will I die?
That's all I'm thinking ‘bout when I'm high
‘Cause all I want is my piece of the pie
Before sitting up in the skies
[Verse 3: Mr. Voodoo]
A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is frowning on you, but, on his face, he got a grin ‘cause only
God knows the evil that dwell within men
Time and time again, as I pick up the pen, my thoughts
Mix up and blend, and my mind starts envisioning
Perilous streets, where terrorist beasts roll like a shady crew
In navy-blue, f*ck with who they want, so be careful ‘cause
It may be you, and baby crews turn from brats to brutes
With gats to shoot, trying hard to earn their attributes. The crime
Participants want their recipients. Fiends reminiscing ‘bout
Supreme Magnetic, Killer Ben, and 50 Cent. Ain't no
Honor among thieves, the sharks, and piranhas
Snakes and iguanas with mad tricks up their sleeves
Chop the bodies found beneath the trees, sticks, and leaves
I want to pick up and leave. It's hard to believe
Digest and dine. Another friend of mine I see dry
While these niggas steady fronting, trying to play big pie. The world
Is filled with ups and downs, ringleaders and circus
Clowns, dick-beaters that jerk around I'm trying to work around
One man can turn the world around—that's true, but, still
Mr. Voo must throw down for his crown
[Hook: L-Swift]
Will I survive? Or will I die?
That's all I'm thinking ‘bout when I'm high
‘Cause all I want is my piece of the pie
Before sitting up in the skies, yo
Will I survive? Or will I die?
That's all I'm thinking ‘bout when I'm high
‘Cause all I want is my piece of the pie
Before sitting up in the skies