The Code

(Statik Selektah)
Uh, uh, uh, uh, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, uh

They say it's live by the code
Die by the code, uh
Nothing gon' change 'cause that's just how it goes, yes
Live by the code
Die by the code, yeah, huh

Now, what's better protection, tell me if it's Christ or a weapon?
From Genesis to Exodus, they prey on you as prejudice
Streets now a religion, young niggas puttin' they faith in it
Lost so much to the game that even I became an Atheist
Fell on knees to felonies sent melodies to Heaven
Short life expectancies travel the seven seas, I question
Who gon' blast for me when blasphemy come?
The Prodigal pointin' his pistol right at Babylon son
Judgement, they comin'
But we livin' by the now who rise, turned the rivers to blood
And water became foul, child who hold his home
'Cause father wouldn't come around
Mary momma's Madonna, she like a virgin again
Know it's harder to be aroused
They split us with red and C, if it ain't blue they reppin' B
Suicide and do or die, can't do like John and let it be
Poet's poet but you know that I was po' as Edgar be
Devil wanted my soul, but the soul resurrected me, on God

Live by the code
Die by the code, uh
Nothing gon' change 'cause that's just how it goes
Yes, live by the code
Die by the code, yeah

Street scholar, fuck school, I made the narcotic honor roll
Plot to clock a chicken over you cornballs, it's comical
Clowns in the circus, peons they lackin' purpose
Do voodoo with the pen, I wrote all my curses in cursive
My dog fantasy turned to a brighter reality
I made a way some didn't 'cause they lust and livin' lavishly
Made a wrong turn on the road to riches and crashed the V
Your final destination ain't the place you thought that it'd be
Was gettin' dirty money but the trap ended up trapping me
At times I was moving deaf and blind but smartened up, I had to see
The door to my destiny was closed until I grabbed the key
Woulda kicked the shit off of the hinges if it had to be
Was all blood, sweat and tears, nothing happened magically
My silent screams turned to rap records that they had to stream

Live by the code (yeah)
Die by the code (yeah)
That they had to stream (uh-huh)

We went from ring around the rosie to packaging nosies (word)
Hid the dope in momma's Chevy in case she got nosy
Remember the nights my choices were ramen or ravioli
And 'cause them days I grabbed a scale and told OG to show me
That was the day the hustle would join me in matrimony
I sold a zip it felt like a glorious ceremony
Get what you need and then get out, a wise man told me
This ain't for every living soul the special move lonely
Was in my room silently bagging a bag with Monie
To every night I tied I felt relief of acrimony
Seein' my fam in hard times that was that shit that mold me
I had to get it, in the hood we had no patrimony
While linking with my plug he showed me my first Rollie
He said don't fall victim to this be sure to outgrow me
I could longer stand it at first but knew he never wronged me (word)
So I stayed smart and out the light and played the back closely
Can lock me up and throw the key but you can never fold me
I see nothing and won't comply, don't do testimonies
Was young running with the wolves I feel like Lil Mowgli
So any error that occurred, yeah, they were there to scold me
Small clientele, I will barely sell my homies (tell 'em)
If you were tryna shop with me, nigga, you had to know me (facts)
And now you see me then you don't movements were extra ghostly
We'll never rush to make a play 'cause bosses move slowly
Any fucked ups I witnessed I will quickly examine
'Cause certain mistakes can have your ass dreamin' with the salmon
My nigga stay half-baked, he used to call me Samson
I used to sell kewpies in a lot at the Hamptons
If I could smell it through the pack I had heads dancing (word)
Before the moonrock I had them Moonwalking like Jackson
Yeah, I'm a hustler, I can sell a beating to a Jackson
Warren Buffet I guarantee full satisfaction
Now I ain't need the extra push, I got up off my ass (word)
It makes sense, lights off you need to get a bag
My only goal was household and things I never had
And staying clear from prison bars and the body bags
I had a good run but knew the shit could never last
I started seeing horrid things and now I'm groovin' fast
Could still serve anything long as it equals math
But now I'm chillin' what I smoke looks like Ms. Peach's grass (yeah)

They say it's live by the code
Die by the code, uh
Nothing gon' change 'cause that's just how it goes, yes
Live by the code
Die by the code, yeah