Murder To Excellence - Album Version (Edited) - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Bloody murder, murder, murder

Paper read "murder, black-on-black murder"

Paper read "murder, black-on-black murder" again

This is to the memory of Danroy Henry

Too much enemy fire to catch a friendly

Strays from the same shade nigga, we on the same team

Giving you respect, I expect the same thing

All-black everything, nigga you know my fresh code

I'm out here fighting for you, don't increase my stressload!

Niggas watching the throne, very happy to be you

Power to the people, when you see me, see you

And I'm from the murder capital where they murder for capital

Heard about at least three killings this afternoon

Looking at the news like "damn! I was just with him after school"

No shop class but half the school got a tool

And a "I could die any day"-type attitude

Plus his little brother got shot repping his avenue

It's time for us to stop and redefine black power

41 souls murdered in fifty hours

Paper read "murder, black-on-black murder"

Paper read "murder, black-on-black murder" again

Is it genocide?

Cause I can still hear his mama cry

Know the family traumatized

Shots left holes in his face about piranha-sized

The old pastor closed the cold casket

And said the church ain't got enough room for all the tombs

It's a war going on outside we ain't safe from

I feel the pain in my city wherever I go

314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago

I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died

Uh, real niggas just multiply

And they say by 21 I was supposed to die

So I'm out here celebrating my post-demise

If you put crabs in a barrel to ensure your survival

You're gon' end up pulling down niggas that look just like you

What up, Blood? What up, cuz? It's all black, I love us

Paper read "murder, black-on-black murder"

Paper read "murder, black-on-black murder" again

It's a celebration of black excellence, black tie, black Maybachs

Black excellence, opulence, decadence

Tuxes next to the president, I'm present

I dress in Dries and other boutique stores in Paris

In sheepskin coats, I silence the lambs

Do you know who I am, Clarice?

No cheap cologne whenever I "shh-shh"

Success never smelled so sweet

I stink of success, the new black elite

They say my Black Card bears the mark of the beast

I repeat: my religion is the beat

My verse is like church, my Jesus piece

Now please, domino, domino

Only spot a few blacks the higher I go

What's up to Will? Shout out to O

That ain't enough. we gonna need a million more

"Kick in the door" Biggie flow

I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go

Yeah it's all messed up when it's nowhere to go

So we won't take the time out 'til we reach the T-O-P

From parolees to hold G's, sold keys, low keys

We like the promised land of the OG's

In the past if you picture events like a black tie

What the last thing you expect to see, black guys?

What's the life expectancy for black guys?

The system's working effectively, that's why!

I'll be a real man, take care of your son

Every problem you had before this day is now done

New crib, watch a movie

Cause ain't nothin on the news but the blues

Hit the mall, pick up some Gucci

Now ain't nothing new but your shoes

Sunday morning, praise the Lord

You're the girl that Jesus had been saving me for

So let's savor this moment and take it to the floor

Black excellence, truly yours