Life's a Bitch
by Nas

Album: Illmatic (1994)
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  • Ayo, yo, what's up?
    Let's keep it real, son, count this money
    You know what I'm sayin'? Yeah, yeah
    Ayo, put the Grants over there in the safe
    You know what I'm sayin'?
    'Cause we spendin' these Jacksons
    The Washington's go to wifey, you know how that go
    I'm sayin' that's what this is all about, right?
    Clothes, bankrolls, and hoes
    You know what I'm sayin'?
    Yo, then what, man, what?

    Visualizin' the realism of life and actuality
    Fuck who's the baddest, a person's status depends on salary
    And my mentality is money-orientated
    I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it
    'Cause yeah, we were beginners in the hood as Five Percenters
    But somethin' must of got in us 'cause all of us turned to sinners
    Now some restin' in peace and some are sittin' in San Quentin
    Others, such as myself, are tryin' to carry on tradition
    Keepin' this Schweppervescent street ghetto essence inside us
    'Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us
    Even though we know, somehow we all gotta go
    But as long as we leavin' thievin'
    We'll be leavin' with some kind of dough
    So, until that day we expire and turn to vapors
    Me and my capers will be somewhere stackin' plenty papers
    Keepin' it real, packin' steel, gettin' high
    'Cause life's a bitch and then you die

    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we get high
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we puff lye
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we get high
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we puff lye

    I woke up early on my born day, I'm 20, it's a blessing
    The essence of adolescence leaves my body, now I'm fresh and
    My physical frame is celebrated 'cause I made it
    One quarter through life, some godly-like thing created
    Got rhymes 365 days annual, plus some
    Load up the mic and bust one, cuss while I pus from
    My skull 'cause it's pain in my brain vein, money maintain
    Don't go against the grain, simple and plain
    When I was young at this I used to do my thing hard
    Robbin' foreigners, take they wallets, they jewels and rip they green cards
    Dipped to the projects, flashin' my quick cash
    And got my first piece of ass, smokin' blunts with hash
    Now it's all about cash in abundance
    Niggas I used to run with is rich or doin' years in the hundreds
    I switched my motto, instead of sayin', "Fuck tomorrow"
    That buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto
    Once I stood on the block, loose cracks produce stacks
    I cooked up and cut small pieces to get my loot back
    Time is illmatic, keep static like wool fabric
    Pack a 4-matic that crack your whole cabbage

    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we get high
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we puff lye
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we get high
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die
    That's why we puff lye
    'Cause you never know when you're gonna go
    Life's a bitch and then you die Writer/s: Anthony Cruz, Anthony S Cruz, Nasir Jones, Oliver Scott, Ronnie Wilson, Ronny Wilson
    Publisher: Audiam, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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