"Family Business" lyrics - FUGEES

[Omega:]
Where I was born, nothing is promised
My life is filled with less hope than the prophecies of Nostradamus
Omega marks the ending of predictability, birth of agility
Who will it be to test me and expose their futility
Iron like a lion from Zion stop tryin' so hard
I think I smell your brain cells fryin'
The family's behind you if you're worthy
Philosophies developed deep in the back streets of dirty Jersey
Troops with scully hats and Timberland boots
No more break-dancing for loot, niggas hustle and shoot
In the Garden State, it grows stink weeds and criminals
Government funds are minimal, oppression's subliminal

[Wyclef:]
These days its hard for we to find peace of mind
Between insanity and sanity there lies a thin line
Some dwell in hotels with Jezebels
A stone age and fall a victim to the Plague
Unclean bad dreams of Wyclef being a fiend
One last kiss from my sweet serpentine
Eliminate then break
Navigate to rejuvenate thoughts of suicide with my nickel plate
Reconcilation came from my enemy-friend
Who said family don't bend, we stay silent till the end.
Now who would think that your best friend
Would be your worst enemy and your enemy your best friend
Stare into the air inspiration from the atmosphere
I think of old ghosts, that ain't even here
Like Alex Haley take notes on this Biography
My family tree consists of street refugees
A ghetto land, where we talk slang
Stolen cars bang, like my chitty bang-bang sh-bang
For the heads, we ain't sellin' cocaine today
So refrain and let my family reign okay

[Omega:]
Just walkin' the streets death can take you away
It's never guaranteed that you'll see the next day
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So defend the family that's the code to obey

[Wyclef:]
But if I fall asleep and death takes me away
Don't be surprised son, I wasn't put here to stay
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So the family sticks together and we never betray

Nah fuck that, fifty-two pick up, no cops around
Fifty-two thousand in cash, I don't want no savings bonds
Have the money ready, I smell something fishy
Your wife's in my custody, one false move and you'll find her body in the sea
That's the voice of the kid, that's the kidnapper
I do my work and then I catch my ticket to Jamaica
Meet me in the alley, make sure you bring the money
This ain't the seventies I'm far from a jive turkey

[Lauryn Hill:]
My circle it can't be broken, open, cut-throatin', provokin'
Record promotin, tokens chokin' on they words like smoke and
'Cause we soft spoken, doesn't mean that we've forgotten
Your bootie smells rotten and one day you will be gotten
See joker's is scatter-brained, their focus is unrestrained
My army is trained, you never find us beefin' in vain
'Cause I've seen fire and I've seen rain
You claim fame, while modest niggas remain
I can judge a character like Ito judge a verdict
And if you bringin' threats I give you sex if I ain't heard it
See poppin' shit's about your attitude and how you word it
I've seen the biggest niggas on the block get murdered and they deserverd it
Or so the beast said when they served it
That shit is nervous So what's my purpose? Family, we must preserve it
Your number's retired I hope you like the hell fires
You'll be screamin' Murder she Wrote like Chaka Demus and Pliars

[Omega:]
Just walkin' the streets death can take you away
It's never guaranteed that you'll see the next day
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So defend the family that's the code to obey

[Lauryn Hill:]
If I should fall asleep and death takes me away
Don't be surprised son, I wasn't put here to stay
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So the family stick together and we never betray

[John Forte:]
We used to jump rope, but now we gun hope
Bustin' shots off of project roof tops sending signals with the blunt smoke
Ock, don't talk a lot if you can't hold it in lock
If you think lips sink ships, imagine full glock clips.
I hold a glass of Remy Martin gettin' milks by the carton
Extortin' the light weights for thinkin' they important
The night pays and heavenly ways ain't nothin' free aye
Knowledge of your family and steppin' to your B.I.
You see I, stay on top of shit like a fly
My niggas reach when they got beef then jet down to South Beach
Yo mouthpiece is yappin' I hear it in your rap and
My family is thick so that bullshit could never happen.

[Wyclef:]
Just walkin' the streets death can take you away
It's never guaranteed that you'll see the next day
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So defend the family that's the code to obey

[Lauryn Hill:]
If I should fall asleep and death takes me away
Don't be surprised son, I wasn't put here to stay
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So the family stick together and we never betray.