[00:00:00] The Illest Brother - Gang Starr [00:00:09] Gotta be the illest brother to claim respect [00:00:12] It takes the illest brother just to get respect [00:00:14] Got to be the illest brother when its time to get wreck [00:00:16] Got to be the illest brother when I get my mic check [00:00:19] I'm one of the illest brothers known to man [00:00:21] But if you don't understand see I'm a grown man [00:00:23] And I stand 58 and 3 quarters [00:00:26] Giving orders to my sqaudron cuz I'm like the sergeant [00:00:28] Or general but let me keep this minimal [00:00:31] I used to hang with kids who like to live trife with a knife [00:00:34] Cutting kids for fun and pulling out much guns [00:00:36] And like riflery champs fellas start to get real amped [00:00:38] Dead bodies lay stamped to the pavement so I gave it some thought [00:00:41] Remembering the brothers who are gone now [00:00:43] I will make a strong vow to make things right [00:00:45] Ignite the mic get hype and all that [00:00:48] Suckers try to menace but they always fall [00:00:50] Flat to the ground as I astound come around [00:00:52] Ill put you down about the brothers who think theyre the boss [00:00:55] Think theyre getting large but in the end they pay the cost [00:00:57] Of their lives and that ain't the way to go out [00:00:59] Even take their boys with em cause they know their boys will go out [00:01:02] But when it comes to facing some time [00:01:04] Theyre like crying like weeping wanna call mom dukes [00:01:06] But mom dukes is fed fed up with the sh*t you did [00:01:09] She knows that you shot and she knows that you cripples kids [00:01:12] But whos to judge when you're trying to survive [00:01:14] The one who moves first might be the one to stay alive [00:01:16] So when you think you're hard and dominating the set [00:01:19] Just remember the illest brother claims respect [00:01:40] Like I said I'm an ill kid so never dare test me [00:01:43] They wanna arrest me cuz I'm causing a frenzy [00:01:45] Fake gangsters come and fake gangsters go [00:01:47] Real gangsters chill cuz real gangsters know [00:01:50] That quietly you stalk your prey on the down low [00:01:52] Cuz too much talk will get you beef on the street [00:01:55] And brothers in the city have to live this way [00:01:57] It may cause dismay but imma tell it anyway [00:01:59] Yo guns are easy to get and like a puppet [00:02:02] Some young kid is gonna be the subject of internal oppression [00:02:05] An example of hard times [00:02:06] Cuz to make it out the trap in your mind its a hard climb [00:02:09] But even if you change and come right and exact [00:02:11] Theres another brother scheming so just watch your back [00:02:14] I know a brother who thought he had it all [00:02:16] But little did he know he was bound for a down fall [00:02:19] Hed pick up the heater and go stick somebody [00:02:21] He wouldn't give a damn if he killed somebody [00:02:23] Cuz if somebody would get in the way of him getting loot [00:02:26] Thered be no hesitation hed just shoot [00:02:28] Its like the good the bad and the ugly [00:02:30] Except its reality and you don't see it on tv [00:02:33] Brothers keep dying in the streets cuz the streets are designed [00:02:36] To keep you from having peace of mind [00:02:38] I know an old man hes got a rifle to stifle [00:02:40] Any young punk he hides it under his bunk [00:02:43] And I know a kid whos been to jail [00:02:44] And he told me that the system had failed him [00:02:47] So now hes out the joint and hes like flippin on kids [00:02:50] And the people in his neighborhood are flippin their wigs [00:02:52] But you gotta check the move cuz theres a reason [00:02:54] A method to the madness and you know what I'm meaning [00:02:57] Cuz rather than being the herb vic or chump [00:02:59] You can be just like my man cold holding the pump [00:03:01] But living like that you take a chance with your life [00:03:04] But some things in life sometimes will make you uptight [00:03:06] I'm like an avalanche of knowledge pounding down all fools [00:03:08] All fakes all snakes [00:03:09] And ones who try to break the rules and regulations