GZA - I Gotcha Back Lyrics

I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz that front, they be pullin' stunts
I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz who front
(They be pullin' stunts)

I was always taught my do's and don'ts
For do's, I did, and for don'ts, I said, "I won't"
I'm from Brooklyn, a place where stars are born
Streets are shot up, apartment buildings are torn

And ripped up, stripped up, shacked up and backed up
From fiends, 'cause the bosses on the scene, they got it cracked up
Kids are slingin' in my lobby, little Steve and Bobby
Gettin' paid but it's a life threatening hobby

Yeah, they still play hide and seek
The fiends seek for the crack and they hide and let the cops peep
Grown folks say they should be out on their own
Before the gangs come and blow up their mom's home

Because they lifestyle is hectic, so fuckin' hectic
Blow, blow, blow, bullets are ejected
My lifestyle was so far from well
Coulda wrote a book with a title 'Age 12 and goin' through hell'

Then I realized the plan
I'm trapped in a deadly video game, with just one man
So I don't only watch my back, I watch my front
'Cause it's the niggaz who front, they be pullin stunts

Back on the Ave of Lavonia and Bristol with a pistol
Stickin' up Pamela and crystal
You know, your town is dangerous
When you see the strangest kid come home from doin' the bid
And nuthin' changes

What is the meaning of [unverified]
(What?)
Is it criminals robbin' innocent motherfuckers every time?
Little shorties take walks to the schoolyard
Tryin' to solve the puzzles to why is life so hard

Then as soon as they reached the playground, blow!
Shots ring off and now, one of them lay down
It's so hard to escape the gunfire
I wish I could rule it out like an umpire
But it's an everlasting game, and it never cease to exist
Only the players change, so

I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz that front, they be pullin' stunts
I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz who front
(They be pullin' stunts)

I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz that front, they be pullin' stunts
I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz who front
(They be pullin' stunts)

I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz that front, they be pullin' stunts
I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz who front
(They be pullin' stunts)

I gotcha back, I gotcha back
I gotcha back, I gotcha back
I gotcha back, I gotcha back
I gotcha back, I gotcha back

I gotcha back, so you best to watch your front
'Cause it's the niggaz who front that be pullin' stunts
I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front
It's the niggaz who front that be pullin' stunts

Your technique is magnificent
When cut across the neck
A sound like wailing winter winds is heard, they say
I'd always hoped to cut someone like that someday
To hear that sound
But to have it happen to my own neck is ridiculous