Guru - Jazzmatazz, Vol. II: The New Reality (2003) by Guru (보컬) on maniadb.com

(feat. Lucien)

[Guru]
Mmm, is this really the end, or is it a new beginning?
A new reality..

[Chorus x2: Guru + Baybe]

So many misconceptions (don't be misled)
So many evil deceptions (oh I am)
I've come to give direction
For I, am the lifesaver (the life)

[Guru]
Scooby doo wah, scooby doo wee
Like a jazz player, I improvise wisely
Free with the style, I flow like the Nile
But remember, don't mistake the smile
Deep rooted is my rhymin
Like ancient African griots, precise is my timing
But let me get to the essence of what I'm sayin here
Too many blood red streets with bodies layin there
The systematic fanatics are at it again
Tryin to kill me and all of us my friend
But don't bend to the mental strain
Against all odds, we must strive for essential gains
Be true to the life the Lord gave ya
And that's a message from the lifesaver
The lifesaver..

[Chorus]

[Baybe]
Oh I am, the life (I.. am the lifesaver)
I am, the life.. yeah

[Guru]
It takes a more intelligent man to squash a fight
Than to set one off, knowledge I'll let some off
Cause nowadays, everybody's a killer
And as for me, no other MC is iller
But still a thorn scrapes my heart
When I see another life that's been torn apart
Over nonsense, no law, no order, it's evidence
That the money only takes precedence
Cause everybody wants power
While the innocent are born or die, during every hour
I scowl as I look upon evil
But I must have the strength, to spark awareness in my people
And we will learn to respect our neighbors
Another message from the lifesaver
The lifesaver..

[Chorus]

[Guru]
People talk about the Armaggedeon
And nowadays everyone you know is packin lead son
Each day's another test
Aiyyo I better do my best, cause a lot's ridin on my chest
So when I lead you to the water, you best know
How to swim across, so you can reach the border
It's international, the message and the flavor
So here's some more important words from the lifesaver
The lifesaver.. (I am the life)
The lifesaver..

[Lucien]
Garcon fache grandissant dans la violence et la peace, le mot "peace"
C'est pour ceux qui perissent
Chaque jour aux alentours dans le monde et ses tours
En prison, ou retour en arriere dans les fours
Et les condes font leurs rondes
Les ville grondent
La terre chauffe les sommets des montagnes fondent
Pendant ca passe black ca casse
Telle est mon uniforme dans une guerre en crevasse
On me regarde, me met en garde-a-vue
Certains cafardent, d'autres bavardent et tuent
Dedicaces a ton quartier toute cite oh pas de chance a ceux
Qui sont tombes mais pas pour la France
Pays trop bidon
Vivement Armageddon
J'ai raison
Prie en Jehovah pour mon pardon
Car si un flic me juge je le broie enfoncant mon doigt dans son oeil et le fond de son
Cerveau
Je gratte
[goes off to fade]

[Guru]
So many misconceptions
So many evil deceptions
I've come to give direction
For I, am the lifesaver

(feat. Sweet Sable)

[Sweet Sable]
Living, in this world
What's happening?
Living, in this world
What's happening?

[Guru]
What's happening.. check it out
It's critical, the situation is pitiful
Bear in mind, you gotta find somethin spiritual
We never gain, cause we blame it on the system
You oughta listen whether Muslim or Christian
Or any other type religion or creed
Cause what we need is less greed
We can't continue to kill ourselves
We gotta build and expand our wealth
So one more time I'll design a rhyme divine
To educate and elevate your mind
Nowadays we gotta fight to live
Human means we got a right to live
Without the homicide, without the genocide
Don't tell me let it slide, I'm feelin ghettofied
So be a soldier of truth
Protect the lives of our youth

[Sweet Sable]
Living, in this world
What's happening?
Living, in this world
What's happening?

[Guru]
What's happening
In the land of the free, home of the brave
Too many of us reach such early graves
They tell us to behave, but they don't know
About the neighborhood drug flow
They don't know about the drama or about the guns
I ask how many politicians steal our funds
And how many officers will turn up corrupt
The governments don't care, they pass the buck
I'm growin tired of the trickery
And the misery, it's makin me kinda sick you see
But now I meditate, so I can get it straight
My thoughts penetrate, so I control my fate
So be advised by the wise and concious one
We take the easy way out, too often son
We better get some kind of work ethic
Realize it and correct it

[Sweet Sable]
Living, in this world
What's happening?
Living, in this world
What's happening?

[Guru]
What's happening
From New York to L.A., dead children lay
Victims of an unfair socie-ty
But for those who are blessed
We must correct this mess, or dissapear into nothingness
We're living in the age of doom
How many teachers reach all the kids in the classroom?
The beast is stalking us, but there's no stopping us
As long as we maintain the strength within us
Cause we're winners, descendants of the kings
They try to hinder us from doin our thing
So get the money, but spend it wisely
I get ill when the beats hypnotize me
Realize that the key
Is for each, to master, his own destiny
Deal with reality, and keep a tight focus
Cause there's a lot we got to cope with

[Sweet Sable]
Living, in this world
What's happening?
Living, in this world
What's happening?

Living, in this world
What's happening?
Living, in this world
What's happening?

Living, in this world
What's happening?
Living, in this world
What's happening?

(feat. Mica Paris)

[Guru]
You know sometimes I be lookin through the darkness
Tryin to find the light
Tryin to do what's right, with all my might

[Mica Paris (Guru)]
Lookin through the darkness
(Yeah I'm lookin, lookin at you)
Lookin through the darkness
(I see you lookin at me, whatcha wanna wanna do?)
Lookin through the darkness
(Here we go.. take a walk with me)
(Lookin through the darkness..
Check it out.. now now.. now now, now now)

[Guru]
Now as I peer through the window of gloom, and everyday living
And all the hardships one faces, to make you give in
I dig more intensely, finding greater strength
A lot of heads is empty, I've got a greater rank
Than MC's not aware of situations
That'll force one to understand, true stipulations
Thou shalt not bite, thou shalt not front
Fake it if you want but for the battles I've come, cause I'm

[Mica Paris (Guru)]
Lookin through the darkness
(Yeah, I'm lookin out.. lookin at you)
Lookin through the darkness
(Lookin at me, my style is free, do you wanna be?)

[Guru]
For me this rap life is real life, I don't have to create
Some false image, to make the crowd get hyped
Too many children get the wrong message, from clowns that walk around
Hopelessly lost, thinkin that they're the boss
They're in a daze, while dope MC's don't get the front page
Me -- I try to channel my rage
As I travel through the city regularly
Turning the anger and frustration, straight into energy
Yes you will remember me; as the brother who cared
To dare to step up, with his soul bared
But never fearing cause I've got instructions
From Him, to go and fight the corruption so I'm

[Mica Paris (Guru)]
Lookin through the darkness
(I've got to look through it.. try to try to find the light)
Lookin through the darkness
(Uhh, maintainin..)

[Guru]
My granddaddy always told me, to keep the light shining
So as my mic illuminates, you can feel the state that I'm in
Thoroughly immersed in a verse, way more than hardcore
I endure, cause in myself, I'm secure
Delivering syllables and selections with profound perfection
Comin back like the resurrection
In this session, I'm professin, that those who don't
Hear and understand, never loved me, and so I planned
To take a stand, as one who is firmly focused
Plus I'm mad worthy with words
I rock from East New York, all the way to the suburbs
The lightkeeper, knowledge seeker
I switch the stress that's on my mind
Into the voice that rocks your speaker
And I get deeper than the ocean when I'm

[Mica Paris (Guru)]
Lookin through the darkness
(Yeah.. I'm lookin through it)
Lookin through the darkness
(Ain't nothing to it but to do it..
Gotta freak it, now let me freak it check it out)
Lookin through the darkness
(All my life)
(Lookin through the darkness..
Yeah, ohh yeah)

[Guru]
Yo I'm so ill, I go ill, when beats with jazz
Fill my need to express myself, like the blues I can't lose
Weak MC's, they're seekin refuge
From my barrage, there's no rescue
Then I look through the madness, finding sanity
I'm crazy alert, I never swim in vanity
I do this rap stuff every year
Aiyyo peace to my fam especially my man Premier as I'm

[Mica Paris (Guru)]
Lookin through the darkness
(Yeah.. lookin out, to the wilderness)
Lookin through the darkness
(the jungle, uhh, everybody's got to rumble)
Lookin through the darkness
(Lookin through the darkness..)

[Mica Paris (Guru)]
Lookin through the darkness
Lookin through the darkness
(Got to find my way, doin my own thing)
Lookin through the darkness
(Walkin through the darkness)
Got to find a way..
Got to get, got to get it on
(Can you see the light?)
Got to get, got to get, got to get it on
(Peace aight?)
Lookin through the darkness
Lookin through the darkness
Got to get, got to get, I've got to get it on
Lookin through the darkness
Got to get, got to get, I've got to get it on

Got to get, got to get, I've got to get it on

(feat. Me'Shell N'Degeocello)

[Guru]
Dedicated to all my peeps, who looked out over the years
KnawhatI'msayin? This one's for you

[Chorus: Guru + Me'Shell]

For you, dedicated true
I'm doin this one for you
For you, dedicated true
I'm doin this one for you

[Guru]
To my moms and my pops, I'm glad you stayed together
I don't know too many people to demonstrate true love better
Nowadays kids don't have anyone
But you were there and determined, to make me get plenty done
Yes to achieve although a lot of times I hurt you
But I'm matured now, I'm showin you my true virtue
As I deliver to you, an oath of neverending love
Admiration and respect, for there is nothing above
A mother's strength and a father's concern
There was guidance, no matter which way I turned
Yo pops if I could be half the man you are I'd be a star
Moms thanks for pushin me real far
As I proceed through the tundra, and harsh winds
I think reviewin what you've instilled within
So I'm takin time out to let you know
Once a boy now a man thanks for helpin me grow

[Chorus x2]

[Guru]
Goin out to my peoples, for all the times we've spent
Fifty deep up in the party gettin crazy stupid bent
Around the block puffin lye, cruisin in the car
Whatever we was doin I won't forget it Baby Pah
When I had no dough, you were there
You hooked me with some ends, to show me that you cared
You stood by me through the ups and downs
While the other fakin clowns tried to start hangin around
See you were always genuine
That's why respect is due, and I got you on my mind
A lot of people might not understand the way we click
We're rollin thick, hittin harder than a ton of bricks
With all the drama and the phony personas
I'd rather check my man so we can share some knowledge
If the streets were college, some MC's would flunk out
Sendin shouts to my peeps, crazy love no doubt

[Chorus]

[Guru]
A true friend kid, is mad mad rare
Trustin others is a risk, a lot of things ain't fair
Cause where I be at, a lot of strange things happen jack
You can know a kid for years and still he'll stab you in the back
But that's alright cause I'm a good judge of character
And me and my family, we maintain the balance to
Master the challenges of life
Like the chain and the star, we link up to shine mad bright
To all my boys way across the country
Dealin with the struggle, the good the bad and the ugly
Yo under pressure we're the best
No matter what the circumstance no matter how much stress
Our force has the power, to bring forth change
I'd rather see us succeed than feel shame or go insane
Dedicated to my fam that supported
You shall always, I said always be applauded

[Chorus x2]

(feat. Jamiroquai)

[Intro: Guru]

Doing it in the house like this
Going out to the lost souls
Doing this for you and yours
Comin' straight to you from the Guru and the crew

[Chorus: Guru]

To the lost souls
I hope you find your way someday
That's why I sit and I pray
For the lost souls
I hope you find your way someday
That's why I sit and I pray

[Verse 1: Guru]

Sometimes I wonder why
Some people can't see what's beyond the naked eye
So therefore I must fortify
Techniques of communication
For beyond what is considered to be
Normal conversation
So I need some proper 'ticipation
Am I giving what you need
Yes true indeed
As greed grows like weed
Many bad seeds start to contaminate the crop
I think that needs to stop hops
Brothers are slain over respect and clout
While thier mothers're trying to figure out
What's it all about
But when you give up on self that's when you lost
Cause you're playing with your life
Like it's a coin toss

[Chorus]

[Verse 2: Guru]

No doubt I release a form of speech
Relative to urban outreach
Transmitted messages to each true listener
Rhymes divine but rough
Like the skin on blisters
Cause the truth hurts
Plus I got no time for runnin' around chasin' skirts
So see my sound is a corrector
A profound lecture
Quality texture
That's because of what I see
Alot of mc's are gassed like hellium
Word up g
Alot of people in general are straight up no good
Makes me wanna shoot 'em
Aiyo maybe I should
But instead I parlay
Maintain self control
And say a prayer for the lost souls

[Chorus]

[Verse 3: Guru]

Get up stand up
Come on
Stand up for your right
One two
I go to new heights with my insight
Whipping my mic tight
With the height of a scholar
Equipped with the gift to make crazy dollars
But that ain't the whole
See my heart is in it
That's the only way one could even attempt to win it
Dj spin it while others critique
But the science makes 'em weak
Check the words that I speak
See it's ridiculous for us
Not to discuss
The real issues
Like all you phonys
And why I dis you
Dismiss you as a lost soul

[Chorus]

[Outro: Jason Kay of Jamiroquai/Guru]

If you don't watch where you step
You can become indirect
And you know that you will lose your soul
And if you truly want to lose
Until there's nothing to choose
Then you know that you will lose your soul

To the lost soul
I hope you find your way someday
So I sit and I pray
For the lost soul
I hope you find your way someday

Lose it
You can lose it
You can lose it
You can lose your soul

To the lost soul

Hope you find your way

I hope you find your way someday

(feat. Bahamadia)

[cut x3: BizMarkie] "So respect the architect"
"So respect the architect, as I begin to build"

[Bahamadia]
I'm mystical, don't be deceived by the visual
Visible preference is pure, patent it back to metaphors
Greetin em Illa-del-style wild
Analyze my memoirs, runnin on 8/4, poetic, me-ter
Soarin way beyond
Iambic pentameter, or juvenile flam
Unsyncopated soul piercin earlobes and egos
My vocals read these thoughts - am I hardcore?
To the grain

[Guru]
Lame game plain Jane MC's can't approach these
I shake chumps like fleas, I hold the keys
To drive you, guide you, provide you
With the real joints, ahem I clear my throat of phlegm
The architect, selecting the blueprints
To rid the game of nuisance
Sucker reducin with the fusion
Rhymes solid like cement in my musical solution
Stackin concrete flows, look out below

[cut x2: BizMarkie] "So respect the architect"
[cut x3: BizMarkie] "So respect the architect... as I begin to build"

[Guru]
Floor to ceiling, constantly building
With power to construct, towers of rap CREAM kid, what?
Dreamin you're lyrical physical mystical?
Your concept's mediocre plus your way too typical withcha
Corny delivery and crazy wack voice
Mad corny image, that's why I give you jitters
It figures, I'd have to dust you off the scene
Like a wiseguy, with my New York lean

[Bahamadia]
Lines that I supply fortify the nuclei of mindstate
From state to state, universal, be the orals that I create
Top notch and on lock like Sentry, opponents could never tempt me
Samplin my style like an Akai S-950 and still can't get with me
While I spread this verbal plague like bubonic
Conductin phonics like the Philharmonics
I make in measured melody, kids praise me like the crucifix
So place Bahamad', amongst your top ten of emcees

[cut x3: BizMarkie] "So respect the architect"
"So respect the architect... as I begin to build"

[Guru]
Yeah, neverending, knahmsayin? Always buildin
My homegirl Bahamadia in the hidouse, yeah yeah
And of course, my man the legend
Ramsey Lewis
So respect the architect, knahmsayin? One love

(feat. Baybe)

[Baybe]
Music! [x2]

[Guru]
Times like this make me clench my fist
Then I'm caught up in the midst of the musical bliss
Guru, blow a kiss to the ladies in my corner
Caress the mic and kick my game like I wanna
What? You never see the brother Guru falter
Respect is due, praise me like the altar
The crew we're as true as they come son, we come from
Ill life experience, and take rap serious
Feel the music

[Chorus: Baybe]

We hold the key, to our destiny
We can make it everybody
Feel the music
Just free your mind, sit back relax and unwind
To a higher plane we're going
Can you feel the music?

Music! [x1]

[Guru]
Original baldhead Crooklynite, rudebwoy instructor
I came back to lay down law, to the suckers
I'll crush ya, if you ain't actin like my brother
Make one false move and with the mic, I'll bust ya
Just lay back and feel the music

[Chorus]

Music! [x3]

[Guru]
When I step into the club, I come to do work
No hesitation, because I'm fully alert
Like Max Julien, I'm an authentic Mack
Many others can't compare, I'll bet on that
Dialect and vocal tone, completely exact
I react, then I max in this mellow track
In fact, I'm knockin MC's out the frame
Cause I'm smooth like jazz, Guru is my name
Feel the music *echoes*

Music! [x1]

[Chorus 1/2]

[Guru]
New reality.. a higher level of conciousness
Don't play yourself; get out of line and get stomped with this
Negativity is a chronic disease
But I'm like the cure, causin infections to freeze
I'm not gonna let up, until you get the picture
My sound gets around so you know I'm always with ya
Feel the music *echoes*

Music! [x1]

[Chorus: repeat to end]

(feat. Big Shug, Kool Keith, Patra)

[Patra]
Yah this is the real vibes OK?
To all the man and the 'oman dem out there
This the word
The original jazz and the reggae vibe
Yah watch this
([Shug] Young ladies, fly ladies, young ladies in the house)
Yah this is Patra the Queen of the Dancehall
Teamin up with Guru, of course
([Shug] Young ladies, fly ladies, young ladies in the house)
Bad bad by law, you know say you're da numba won
Trust me.. watch dis!

[Guru]
Come on take a ride with the lyrical five foot eight
And three-quarter warrior; I saw you pass me in the corridor
POW -- the eye to eye contact was all that (AY)
I dug your little steelo, fine, you dug mine
You want my digits? I'm with it (take it)
You could ring me up whenever, whatever's clever (ONE time)

[Big Shug]
Stroll your way, you know you want me (BO!)
So bring your game over here to the bar
You know you wanna sit and hang with the star
Maybe get a new house -- and a BRAND, NEW, CAR! (a-hah-HAH)
But +The Price Ain't Right+
Cause I ain't your size baby, and I ain't your type

[Kool Keith]
Check it
Your honey's fly, but she wants me, I'm all that
She's perpetratin like she never even heard the record
Or saw the video, or heard the loudspeakers
You got the TV, your whole family did see me
([Shug] Young ladies, fly ladies, young ladies in the house)
Kool Keith in the house with Shug and Guru
Primetime jazz and limousines gettin to you
([Shug] Young ladies, fly ladies, young ladies in the house)

[Patra]
Okay.. check dis baby.. way up top 'bove

[Guru]
Baby you look good in that dress
Let's get out of here and take it back to my rest
I don't think I'm bein too forward
Would I like to break out right now? Yeah I sure would (ah-hah)
I dig the way you be lookin at me
I dig your confidence, you want me, it's evident (trust me)

[Big Shug]
My man told me that you like me
You wanna write me, cause you heard I have a wifey
But I'm on some mo' straight up stuff
I get witchu and probably spend a little while
Somewhere in the park after dark
Incognito, that's how I flow

[Kool Keith]
Well I'm here for you, are you there, where?
Takin peeks, and sneakin winks, whatever brotherman thinks
You on a mission, for famous people in position
Holdin in your love, admirin what I'm doin
Gettin through in, time and time
She follows us backstage.. yeah..

[Patra]
First day, guess what Guru said to me
Dark and lovely, how could you be
It is right for me
Because, whiny whiny, me whiny sexy
All de man dem, just-a rush me..

[Guru]
Check it out
The time is right, you hold me tight (my love)
In the twilight, away from the spotlight
We can explore mysteries that last all night (trust me)
Nobody has to know but us
Honey you know I'm the man
Baby for you I got big plans (eh eh)

[Big Shug]
You say I'm just a lonely man (no more)
But tomorrow I'll be your King, the ruffneck swing
You know me from my name on the streets
You wanna be with me, it's easy to see
Since you kissed me on the cheek
Now you wanna be my everyday freak (hah hah!)

[Kool Keith]
Lookin at me, my man and him, my man and him
Champagne pop, don't waste time, you can get with him (MEOW)
We got some drinks, you lookin at the fine wine
Eye contact is on, all I see is sihlouette
Sheer plastic, freaky so fantastic (it's like dat)
I wanna touch it, see if it's real
True at heart, I wanna see how you really feel
Take off your mask and reveal

[Patra]
Tell dem come wind
Only if you can make her feel fine
Y'know.. because..
Eyes are watchin me
Every single step I take
Eyes are watchin me
They are countin my mistake, JUMP
Him up and now dey flip the script pon cha chill
Steppin to you like medicated thrills
Dey can not wait come in from it his eyes
ANYthing not lay ya to smile ya analyze, BO!
I was born inna ruff neighborhood
Steppin up in light, now it feels good
No one is gonna stop me, no matta what dem say
An' if I'm da rockin, then I must DJ, cause
Eyes are watchin me
Every single step I take
Eyes are watchin me
They are countin Guru mista-ake
Eyes are watchin me
True me nice and me love come wind
And me both love mashin
Eyes are watchin me
They love Queen Patra, cause I earn it an'
Guru and all-stars, ya large, inna dance
And the stars of reggae music, they LARGE
The original niceness
And Patra never the one to front, okay?
[fades out]

Somethin to motivate to
Somethin to motivate you
The more travellin I do
The more wise I become

I'm the traveler, I go place to place
They see my face, then I'm gone
I'm the traveler, I go place to place
They see my face, then I'm gone

Yes the traveler, always on the move (keep it movin baby)
Makin power moves, devourin the grooves
Goin, city to city with the illest force (aiyyo)
Spannin the glove like Wild World of Sports
I go to Japan, with plans to slam (aight)
I go to Spain and England, with knowledge to bring them
(crazy knowledge) I go to Holland, and then to Germany
You better learn to see I'll be here for eternity (a long time)
I go to Switzerland and travel to Sweden
And give the real heads jewels that they needin (droppin jewels)
I go to Italy and also to France
With the chance to enhance the dance (c'mon)
I tore up mad spots doin shows all over
I wreck the stage, with East coast flavor (East coast)
But I go out West too, and build with my peoples (true)
Some can't conceive how I do what I do

I'm the traveler, I go place to place
They see my face, then I'm gone
I'm the traveler, I go place to place
They see my face, then I'm gone

I'm the traveler, I go place to place
They see my face, then I'm gone
I'm the traveler, I go place to place
They see my face, then I'm gone

Around the world and back yo, the steelo is fat yo (huge)
From blocks to continents, with mad impact (SMASH)
I got it like that, ringin bells in the street
Midwest to Down South, I turn it out, kapeesh? (you understand?)
Wherever I go, they give it up (uh-huh)
They wanna see me on the stage when I rip it up (rip it up)
Uptown, downtown, Crooklyn, Queens, Strong Island
Bronx, Shaolin, New Jersey, the brothers know I'm worthy (right)
Got to get the dough, got to run the show
My mental pops the topics when it's time to flow (word)
With expertise, I release more techniques than 1200
Style's more than a 100 (mad styles) yes I run it
More game than a little, MC's dribble from the mouth when I hit
(uh-huh) The fuse is lit, makin your whole crew split
No myth (word), yeah
I'm whippin evil everywhere, ratification severely severe
(aight) So clearly you hear
Original aspects unlimited, significant thoughts
That make me different than (different than)
Most men who play the edge too close
And while they fall, I fill halls coast to coast (everywhere)
The dressing rooms I roam in is the scent of blessings (boom)
Soon as we rockets to the next spot to wreck em
I put the pure in the store, I got the cure (c'mon)
Like a doc-tor, switchin from planes, to helicopters
MC's with your fake scowls, you smell foul, so I drop ya
(you stink) And then I walked away with your propers (allathat)
Of course I had stop ya
See now you lost your spot ta.. the traveler

..

Makin it right

Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Yo.. just.. count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(I say to thee well count your blessings)

I remember when I used to get depressed
Overwhelmed by the stress
Feeling my life was the illest mess
Always dwelling on the stuff that wasn't right
And staring at the four walls in my room all night
Searching for a way to cope
The situation shaky like I'm walkin on a tightrope
But now I see it's time to get a handle
And take control of things
So for me, I'ma light a candle
And other people got it worse
I get a lot of love, so I ought give my thanks first

Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(I said you better count your blessings)

Too many times I asked, "Why me?"
And I recall when things weren't goin how they 'sposed to be
Yeah I know you dig what I'm relayin
And now I find myself devoting more time to praying
I ain't saying that I don't do no wrong
I'm saying I ain't trying to sing no more sad songs
I got mad responsibilities
I'm building with my family, my loved ones depend on me
I've got no time for envy nor for hate
My inner power's too strong
To let such evil penetrate
The world around is in chaos
But I'd rather seek the truth to be found
Than to be lost
Experience is always the best teacher
Look at the signs, feel the vibes, I'm tryin to reach ya
I see how much now that one should be grateful for
And we must help the others who can't find a open door

Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)

Now as we head into the year 2000
And more and more people can't even get decent housing
Poor education in the schools
And poor employment structures, so some choose illegal tools
By all means, you know we must survive, but think
The energy we give always comes back to us in time
We must decide to make the proper choices
Or the only thing we'll hear is the cries and the screaming voices

Too many times, too many times
Too many times, too many times
Too many times, too many times
Too many times, too many times

Too many times I felt bad
Too many times I couldn't see what I really had
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings)
Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings)
Too many times I couldn't see what really I had
(Better count your blessings) .. [fades]

(feat. DC Lee, Gus Da Vigilante (Stikken Moov))

[Chorus x2: Guru and Stikken Moov]

What's the question? Why are you flexin
Here's the answer - choice of weapons

[Stikken Moov 1]
Yo +The ? Remainz+, kid why you flexin like a bicep
Heat on your hip, just to get a rep, it ain't worth it
Just because you pack a biscuit, doesn't mean you can't
Become another statistic, you figure it
Life's a gamble even for vandalz, I handle mine with minds
Only unless, my chest is under pressure in a contest
The fear of layin in wreck, causes the stress
I have to adjust to this mess and pull when it's best

[Guru]
Yo little big man, feelin your oats, because you're strapped?
Bustin a cap at another kid who's black?
It ain't all that when the shots are flyin back
You made a choice, and the choice you made was wack
Kinda tipsy with the liquid confidence
Pullin your pistol when it doesn't make sense
To be the bigger man you figure
But in the end it don't pay when you're livin by the trigger

[Chorus x2]

[Guru]
Yeah it's the master of the who what where and the why
But still I got a problem with seein my brothers die
I've been around and lived past the average age of us
In every obituary, a full page of us
The game is money, but what about inner wealth?
The mental, the spiritual, and physical health
But still everyday the city is a test
That's why some people feel a gun is the best

[Stikken Moov 2]
No doubt I pack protection, but every altercation
Or situation doesn't deserve blastin, I mastered precisions
Choice of weapon, should I peel or peel out?
My choice of routes may decide my whereabouts

[Chorus x2]

[Stikken Moov 2]
I pack no weapons then the seargeant bargin in
Ready to bomb a rapper like Saddam, Stikken Moov swarm
Ready to bust off, like Ron Jeremy, but I chill G
Relax and consider lucky to live to see a quarter past three

[Guru]
That's why I, wield the steel, yes my microphone is crazy real
I'm not the one sellin out to get the mass appeal
But jail cells are filled with my peeps
While the rest are gettin killed in these ill ass streets

[Chorus x2]

[Guru]
So, pick your weapon, a mic or a gun
I make a sucker run when my tongue stuns, check it
Leavin the spot, I seen some wild kids
One stepped to me asked me to freestyle kid
Meanwhile, he flexed a burner on his side
I looked him in the eye, smiled, and walked to my ride
He was actin kinda hard on the surface
I said to myself that it really wasn't worth it

[Stikken Moov 1]
Yo you think you're all that, cause you pack heat?
Seein your own brother play the concrete, in defeat
Tryin to prove yourself, while you put the next man down
But what goes around, comes back, black best believe that

[Chorus x2]

You know what I'm sayin?
That's all the real heads all over the world
That realize, that this music is real
That we keep it real like that
Peace to all my brothers on the third
And all the real brothers in hip-hop
It's like a rap's new generation thing baby
Peace to Guru
It's Panche, the wild comanche, suicide

I haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked the flame
We had the joys and pain, the sunshine and rain
Now you got your man, I got my staff and we laugh
Then I realize.. it was something in the past

Yo you look good, how you been?
How's my little man, how's he doing?
And umm.. did you get the package that I sent?
I hope that he knows that there's someone who loves him
But I'm gettin vexed at you and I
I can't front baby, yeah you still look fly
And as I try, to get my words together
There's a lot of nice times that I start to remember
The good shit always outweighed the bad
I never wanted to make you sad
So think of me, as one man
Who has crazy respect for you, as a woman
Although the plans didn't work out
It doesn't mean I won't look out
For you and yours, I wish you the best
Because it's over I guess

I haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked the flame
We had the joys and pain, the sunshine and rain
Now you got your man, I got my staff and we laugh
Then I realize.. it's something in the past

Now I'm livin the life, of a true mack
Devoted to my music, tryin hard not to look back
But on occasion I can see your face
The memories, they got me driftin a little taste
But now you're doin your thing, I'm takin care of mine
And so we're movin on, leavin the past behind
I guess relationships they ain't for me
That's why I had to set you free

I haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked the flame
We had the joys and pain, the sunshine and rain
Now you got your man, I got my staff and we laugh
Then I realize.. it's something in the past

Haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked the flame
We had the joys and pain, sunshine and rain
Now you got your man, I got my staff and we laugh
Then I realize.. it's something in the past

My personality is magnanimous
That's why the ladies always cause a fuss
It's in the past what we had
Aiyyo respect to your moms and peace to your dad
I'm glad, that we've been through this
Because you know what? I've noticed
A lot about myself, see I wanna gain wealth
They say, that chasin women is bad for your health

I haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked the flame
We have the joys and pain, the sunshine and rain
Now you got your man, I got my staff and we laugh
Then I realize.. it's something in the past

Haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked the flame
We had the joys and pain, the sunshine and rain
Now you got your man, I got my staff and we laugh
Then I realize.. it's something in the past

Somethin in the past
Somethin in the past
These moments never last
Somethin in the past

Dedicated to all the ex girls
You know I'm on with the next girl
Peace