(feat. Mos Def) 

[Mos Def:] 
(Keep rising) Medina Green 
(Keep rising) DCQ 
(Keep rising) Long I too(?) 
(Keep rising) the Mighty Mos Def 
(Keep rising) can't forget Cess 
(Keep keep keep...) Mercenary from the De La 
(Keep rising to the top...) Lace the beats up tight, yo tell 'em Dee 

[DCQ:] 
Four a.m. laid up at the res 
Got a call made my heart jump out my chest 
My man's got beef at the dance, exits is blocked 
Enemies outside with they heat on cop 
He's says that if he goes outside 
He knows he gone get clapped 
My man from way back 
Ain't going out like that 
He got peoples in the club and his ties is strong 
But he know that they can only hold it down for so long 
So now hes trapped off and he's calling on me 
To come and represent like I'm G.O.D. 
Ofcourse I must agree, cuz this is family 
If tables was turned he would do it for me 
So now I'm hopping out my bed, 
Ready put a nigga never seen 'pon dead 
Guess a black man can't have no peace 
Pull out my heat 
Woke up out my sleep over crosstown beef 

[CHORUS:] 
Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, thick 
Brothers be on some real shit 
Everyman get scared and prepare for confrontation 
"When the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation" 
Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, thick 
Brothers be on some real shit 
Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation 
"Getting closer to God, in a tight situation" 

[Mos Def:] 
Yo check it 
It was a friday in the month of may 
Around the time when everybody put they game on play 
See my girl was out in deesa(?) it was all on me 
I figured I would hit the metro on the mad L.D. 
Now everybody know what the spring time is about 
Players polish up they game cause the shorties be out 
I was rocking jew-els and my wears was crisp 
My man said there was a jam that I shuould not miss 
I hopped in the livery(?) without a moment to spare 
and when I rolled up on the function everybody was there 
I was catching sexy stares from the shams in the rear 
Saw my peers and heads I haven't seen in years 
Now I was getting caught up in the nightlife mix 
Then I see my main man from my old time clique 
"Oh shit, not my nigga Mos Def in the house" 
"Oh shit baby-paw, I ain't know you came home" 
We talked about that and this and way back since 
When I seen a caravan sporting wild dark tints 
Its window half cracked and they was crusing slow 
And was circling the block like they was po-po 
Said I was jibbing with my man so I paid it no mind 
That's when the shots rang out from the passenger side 
It was a forty-five bark that made us all duck down 
Girls was letting out screams as shells hit the ground 
I was looking for my man so we both could split 
That's when he turned to me and said "yo Mos I'm hit" 
I guess the street life don't leave a nigga alone 
Laced up at the party and he just came home 
If he survive I know he goin' retaliate 
If he don't, they bought theyself a burial plate 
Either way situation status on code red 
I'm on the horn to tell the fam its on like Con Ed 

[CHORUS] 

[DCQ:] Cash Rule: 
[Peace] Peace 
[Who dis?] The God 2 
[Yo whattup son?] Nothing much, maintaining you? 
[Right] I just came out the bing and shit is mad real, 
This shit ain't bout nothing son (Son I know how you feel) 
My girl is in the world trying to raise my seed 
There's mad shit that she want and mad shit that she need (true dat) 
Plus she got some nigga, knocking at her door (Who dis?) 
Some crab-ass cat that she messed with before (From where?) 
Always acting wild disrespecting my G, (Stop playing..) 
I think he gotta go, what's the verdict DC 

[DCQ:] 
Verdict guilty, left hand on the scene 
You might be locked down but you're part of the team 
If you say gotta go, then that's what he gotta do 
Ain't nothing sweet son, yo you know I'm here for you 

[Cash:] 
No doubt, come check me on the day of knowledge born 
Cause this phone shit ain't real, yeah that tap shit be on 
Plus the God wanna see you so pull his name too 
Cause he soon come home son, you know how he do 

[DCQ:] 
Yeah the God get down so I see you on the V-I 
I'm a do my best to get this broad to bring you some lye 
Peace to the Gods, read your math, hold your head 
and as far as that kid goes, remember what I said- Peace 

[CHORUS] 
(Keep rising...)