The Setup

Lyrics

Avatar the Articulate - "The Setup" [Emcee(s): Avatar the Articulate (AKA Avie Fresh)] [Producer(s): Avie Fresh (AKA Avatar the Articulate) and One-Take] [Additional Vocals: Rashida Davis] [Intro: Storytelling Skit] Child: Uncle Avie Avatar the Articulate (AKA Avie Fresh): Yeah Child: Could you please tell me a story? Avatar the Articulate (AKA Avie Fresh): Eh. Alright, yo [Verse 1: Avatar the Articulate (AKA Avie Fresh)] I was Dirt-broke, piss-poor, didn't have two nickels to Rub nor two dollars—God, I lived in squalor I washed the windows of an Impala on the interstate Just to get berated and some change thrown, pennies cas- -caded, picked 'em all up, got a buck, figured I Could pick some bottles up, got a hand-truck, shopping cart Made my way to the Food Mart to turn it to change It's kind of strange how, how it starts to rain now Seen a man with a black brow, black brim, black Fedora hat kicking on his rim. I helped him change His tire. He asked me if I was for hire. Told him "I got no skills, I'm just a lowly squire." He said "I got just the thing for a kid like you. You're down On your luck. I could help you make a buck or two." He said His name's Frank, never call him Francis—the last that did Got his hand stitched—you couldn't fix it with a bandage "The plan is you meet me at this spot tomorrow. Here, take This bag, don't open it and don't get followed." I swallowed This was my chance to advance. I grabbed the bag in My hands, then went home to sleep with roaches and rats, but I Was nervous, tossing, turning. Yo, what was in this bag? Yo, I Was yearning, I had to take a really quick glance So I looked in and then, son, my vision was stunned. It was A gun, a CZ vz. 61 They call it a Å korpion in the slums of the Czech Republic And next to that was some bricks of a powdered substance I could of took the bag and just been straight, but I Was nauseous 'cause, from the mob, it's hard to escape, so I'll Be cautious, just make the drop and count up my papes. I had Mad energy, so I just stayed awake. I made Breakfast, a huge hunk of free cheese and powdered egg shit I'm restless, so I went early to collect this I saw Frank hanging with what looked like a detective By a Lexus tinted out with six antennas I heard Frank refer to the cop as McManus He ate bananas and then he told him what the plan is I hid behind a Humvee, he told the cop he found a junkie To pin the murder on—"I framed him up. What a dummy" He should be here about six, he got a bag filled With bricks, plus the gun and some clips. I thought, "Shit I really was a fool to just trust that Frank." I picked Up the rag and shoved it in the cops gas tank The explosion was sudden, loud thunderclaps, Frank was running McManus bought it, a ticket straight to Satan's dungeon Pulled out the CZ easy, the smoke billowed, put A hole in the DT, stepped out the smoke real slow Not wheezing but hot-squeezing, say, "Bless you, Frank" The Å korpion was sneezing, but this is bullets, not boogers I shot him in his tookus, he fell to the ground. We had Some onlookers now, I tried to calm 'em all down. I told 'em I was police—"nothing to see here, folks." He grabbed His piece, I shot him once again in his throat [Bridge: Avatar the Articulate (AKA Avie Fresh)] Shootouts are similar to Wild West Broad daylights, face-to-face without a vest You know the episodes: thugs, camouflage, and spectacles Please, God, this ain't the life that the Devil sold See, it was written but was never told Peep the jewels, black man—it's even better than gold Niggas roll with iron, police roll in hot pursuit, trying To stop the loot. Fuck jake—cock and shoot [Outro: Rashida Davis] Another day, another dollar More money, more murder Fuck this shit BK up in the house Roping niggas up 'Cause our clique is thick