This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Yeah, word is bond
Das EFX in this, you know what I'm sayin'?
Straight from the sewer, word is bond
Yeah, yah, ah, yeah
We doing this with my nigga
Where my nigga Ice Cube in the motherfucker?
Word is bond
You better check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause I'm bad for your health
I come real stealth
Dropping bombs on your moms
Fuck car alarms
Doing foul crime
I'm that nigga wit' yo' Alpine
Sold it for a six-o, always let tricks know
And friends know we got the indo'
No, I'm not a sucker sitting in a House of Pain
And no, I'm not the butler, I'll cut you
Head-butt you, you say you can't touch this
And I wouldn't touch ya, in fact mothafucka
Here to let you know, boy, oh boy
I make dough but don't call me Dough Boy
This ain't no fucking motion picture
A guy or bitch-a, I'll get wit'cha
And hit you taking that yack to the neck
So you better run a check
So come on and chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Yeah, come on and check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause shotgun bullets are bad for your health
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
Tricks wanna step to Cube and then they get played
'Cause they bitch-made pulling out a switchblade
That's kinda trifle 'cause that's a knife-o
AK-47, assault rifle
Hold the fifty, I'm nifty, pow
I got a new style, watch out now
I hate motherfuckers claiming that they folding bank
But steady talking shit in the holding tank
First you wanna step to me
Now your ass screaming for the deputy
They send you to Charlie-Baker-Denver row
Now they running up in you slow
You're gone, used to be the Don Juan (check that shit out)
Now your name is just 'Twan
Switch it, snap it, rolling your eyes and neck
You better run a check
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Come on and check yo' self before you wrickity-wreck yo' self
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause big dicks up yo' ass is bad for your health
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
If you're foul, you better run a make on that license plate
You coulda had a V8
Instead of a tre-eight slug to the cranium (pow)
I got six and I'm aiming 'em
Will I shoot or keep you guessing?
'Cause fuck you and that shit you're stressing
Bitch get off the wood, you're no good
There goes the neighborhood hooker (slut)
Go ahead and keep your drawers
Giving up the claps and who needs applause
At a time like this, pop the coochie and you're dead
The bitch is a Miami Hurricane head
Sprung, niggas call her "Lips and Lungs"
Nappy dugout, get the fuck out
'Cause women like you gets no respect
Bitch, you better run a check
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Come on and check yo' self before you wrickity-wreck yo' self
'Cause bitches like you is bad for my health
Microphone check, one, two (check it) come again, check it
Microphone check, one, two (check it) come again, check it
Chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
You better chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self, boy
I said check yo' self before you wrickity-wreck yo' self (check)
Microphone check
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Check yo' self, Cube (Check yo' self, Cube)
Das EFX in this, you know what I'm sayin'?
Straight from the sewer, word is bond
Yeah, yah, ah, yeah
We doing this with my nigga
Where my nigga Ice Cube in the motherfucker?
Word is bond
You better check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause I'm bad for your health
I come real stealth
Dropping bombs on your moms
Fuck car alarms
Doing foul crime
I'm that nigga wit' yo' Alpine
Sold it for a six-o, always let tricks know
And friends know we got the indo'
No, I'm not a sucker sitting in a House of Pain
And no, I'm not the butler, I'll cut you
Head-butt you, you say you can't touch this
And I wouldn't touch ya, in fact mothafucka
Here to let you know, boy, oh boy
I make dough but don't call me Dough Boy
This ain't no fucking motion picture
A guy or bitch-a, I'll get wit'cha
And hit you taking that yack to the neck
So you better run a check
So come on and chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Yeah, come on and check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause shotgun bullets are bad for your health
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
Tricks wanna step to Cube and then they get played
'Cause they bitch-made pulling out a switchblade
That's kinda trifle 'cause that's a knife-o
AK-47, assault rifle
Hold the fifty, I'm nifty, pow
I got a new style, watch out now
I hate motherfuckers claiming that they folding bank
But steady talking shit in the holding tank
First you wanna step to me
Now your ass screaming for the deputy
They send you to Charlie-Baker-Denver row
Now they running up in you slow
You're gone, used to be the Don Juan (check that shit out)
Now your name is just 'Twan
Switch it, snap it, rolling your eyes and neck
You better run a check
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Come on and check yo' self before you wrickity-wreck yo' self
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause big dicks up yo' ass is bad for your health
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
Microphone check, one, two (check it)
If you're foul, you better run a make on that license plate
You coulda had a V8
Instead of a tre-eight slug to the cranium (pow)
I got six and I'm aiming 'em
Will I shoot or keep you guessing?
'Cause fuck you and that shit you're stressing
Bitch get off the wood, you're no good
There goes the neighborhood hooker (slut)
Go ahead and keep your drawers
Giving up the claps and who needs applause
At a time like this, pop the coochie and you're dead
The bitch is a Miami Hurricane head
Sprung, niggas call her "Lips and Lungs"
Nappy dugout, get the fuck out
'Cause women like you gets no respect
Bitch, you better run a check
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
So chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Come on and check yo' self before you wrickity-wreck yo' self
'Cause bitches like you is bad for my health
Microphone check, one, two (check it) come again, check it
Microphone check, one, two (check it) come again, check it
Chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self
You better chickity-check yo' self before you wreck yo' self, boy
I said check yo' self before you wrickity-wreck yo' self (check)
Microphone check
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Microphone check, one, two
Check yo' self, Cube (Check yo' self, Cube)
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And how ice cube will fuck you up if you aren't