I met this cat about two years ago.
Hoodied down, he stood around, blazing a j of dro.
Played the down low, cat from Jersey, heard he knew the fam
Repped the crew with Sam, made moves with Dan.
Seemed like a cool head, he didn't front, stayed back
Breaking up eighths that made cats go and split the blunts.
We'd sit in front of his apartment and reflect on life.
Both aspiring rappers trying to bless the mic.
But the tests in life had lead us down different paths.
I was fine just spitting raps, he had to get the scratch.
Began hustling big time, gettin cake for trees
Quit his job once he really started making g's.
With paper he was buyin shit, poured his wealth
Into a stereo system I'd always wanted for myself.
Thought he was runnin shit, stayed flossin.
Trying to be above the city's giants like Tom Coughlin.
Got caught up in this life, for friends he had no time.
Used to chill with cats, play ball and spit dope rhymes.
Now coke lines were on his table and lyrics.
Asked him about his past, said I didn't wanna hear it.
Told me I would only deny shit, I asked what
He said I closed my eyelids to what his past was.
I told him heads been sayin that they miss you
You used to be a cat peeps talked to about their issues.
Now you a big dude, can't even chill with ya boys.
He told me to check myself and kill all that noise.

Hook

A year had gone by, this cat now did his own shit
I barely saw him, sometimes I caught him alone with
A little time, we'd go and spit a rhyme or somethin
But to most of us he turned his back while frontin.
Nothin took his mind off the path he was settin
At last, ah forget him, do the math, he was steppin
In a bloodbath from weapons his life had created.
All ties he had made he ripped right from the basis.
He carried heat now, trouble on the streets found
Him even giving orders to have his mans beat down.
He clowned, pretending the drug biz went smoothly
Dealing with more white lines than Star Trek movies.
His actions proved he was no longer the same cat.
He would even disrespect my pops when he came back
To the hometown, alone now in his quest for success.
I wished him the best, gave up on him like the rest.
He passed a few tests, layed low for a second
But realized you can't live with a halo for a weapon.
Reflectin back, he got lost in his own resemblance
I had opened the door, never saw him in the entrance.

Hook

Back to the present, he ignored advice man to man
To watch what skins you get like Mike Shanahan.
His boy's chick he should have avoided but it was not to be.
He wanted pussy and this cat killed his curiosity.
He fucked her, and no apology could change it.
He kept quiet and told her to do the same shit.
But word got out, something I had just heard about.
He had got his own boy wantin to commit murder now.
I went to his crib, asked what the fuck he's doin.
You know you just put your life up in ruins?
Said he loved pursuin this but it wasn't worth it.
He'd take back everything even if it wasn't perfect.
I heard this, told him that's what I'd been sayin.
He looked at me dismayed and said for me to quit playin.
Told me I never knew him apart from society.
Looked me in my eyes and said, "You're gonna die with me."
At that second, the cat whose girl he fucked, stepped in
Holdin up his weapon but I was in its direction.
I checked him, said I'm not the one to aim at.
He pulled the trigger on the gun, the bang cracked
(gun shot sound) I felt the bullet hit me.
It happened too quickly, I was confused, feelin dizzy.
Looked over at this cat who deserved the beating.
Only one shot went off but both of us were bleeding.
I fell down, two of us leaving, both from me.
I had lived two lives from my parent's one seed.
Looked up at my mans whose shot had stole my health
As I laid dying without ever having known myself.