R. Kelly]

Still somehow I believe

We always survive Oh why...



[Nas]

To my doggs

Wherever you are

Whattup Big?

You know shit is rough after you slid

You in Gods hands now

Keep a place for me kid

Ain't nothing changed

Still partyin' bullshit

We used to fuck r & b bitches and see who rhymes sickest

For every hit you made

More rappers afraid to come out

Machine gun funk

From Queens I came through to smoke blunts

You came to my hood

We was broke

I wonder if we stayed that way, would there have been gunsmoke?

Still on the block around fiends

Numb from coke, I guess so

Cause now with paper, shit is still ghetto

But fuck it black

You livin' your life though your loved ones

Peace to your daughter and your newborn son

It used to be fun

Making records to see your response

But now competition is none now that you're gone

And these niggaz is wrong using your name in vain

And they claim to be New York's king

It ain't about that

Its more serious

I plan to toast it up with you

Joke with you

Happy we on top, the most Official

Ain't to many real ones out there

I feel some but doubt they're

Capable to take it where you took it to

I missed you're weight

Not cause I'm fake

Cause I hate to see somebody so great in that wake

I woulda stayed so long with so much to say

I had to put it in writin'

To keep me and Brooklyn from fightin'

Tellin' me to pay my respects and move to the side

But I probably wouldn't have got off my knees to let people by

You can't kill nothin' thats ready to die

You was like God to us

In the form of Allah



[Chorus- Nas & R. Kelly]

Still somehow I believe

We always survive, Oh why...

Still we will survive

No matter what

My people just stay alive

Still we will survive

No matter what (Thug Life baby)

My people just stay alive



[Nas]

Dear Pac

Every thug sheds a teardrop

And use to teeth to bite off beer tops

And pour out a lil' liquor

You was more than the wildest nigga

2Pacalypse, I understand your style nigga

Its goin' on the 3rd year

Since you've been gone

On the East and West Coast the same shit is goin' on

The industry be talkin'

Offendin' me often

They don't beleive you dead

Wanna see you in your coffin

I pray late

Shootouts and court dates

All eyes on you

Niggaz in your face

Invadin' your space

You asked if I could trade in your place

How would I hold up?

How long would I ride, before I fold up?

How did you know through your rhymes it was your time to go?

You predicted it in every line

All in your flow

There could never be peace

I have to quote

Can't believe I heard my name on the relaest shit you ever wrote

We had words

Cause the best supposed to clash at the top

But kept it brotherly

When we seen each other and stopped

In NYC, at MTV

People watched

We was both deep

After you left, I got no sleep

Think about how us real niggaz would be

If we united, a nation of thugs who could fight it

You was caught in a wild homicide

Or were you crucified like the son of God?

Or Lucifer lied?

Make the world think young blacks should be extinct

But Thug Life'll never die

We stay high and just link

Will there ever be another MC as nice?

Will you return to us like the resurrection of Christ?



Chorus



[Nas]

I wonder what the Commodores went through on tour?

Did Smokey Robinson have to shoot his way outta war?

What has Al Green seen that made him religious?

Was it the drugs?

Put a end to the music business of soul

Should I put out the indo right now and write down a plan

And pursue my dream

Turn my life around

Cause I'm bound for the movie screen

Cuties'll scream

I'll need a exit Uzi riding through my own hood of Queens

It be the ones you always knew

That want it on

Tellin' everybody it was him you fronted on

Though we walked a million miles and was just 20

Not used to walking in the path of legit money

I thought I made it but we only took baby steps

Up the success ladder where they pay me checks

To my clicks when I got it I said "Baby bless"

That was the 80's, but now look at this crazy mess

We in the 90's and finally its lookin good

Hip-hop took it to billions, I knew we would

Alot of ups and downs in the game

Could lose or gain a couple pounds tryin' to maintain

One day you here, the next you not

When you around niggaz check 'em out

Some is 'bout out

Most individuals plots'll run the spots

Some choose to stay to theyselves

While others have no cares and stay in jail

More than 50% of us

Ending up with holes through the chest, through the head, through the gut it

shows

The future for us young shooters and old killas

Who become rich as dope dealers

Nothing left for us but hoop dreams and hood tournaments

Thug coaches with subs sitting on the bench

Either that or rap

We want the fast way outta this trap

Whether it be 9 to 5 or slangin' crack

To my deceased Gods wishin' I could bring ya back

But life is a dream and you taught me that



Chorus