JFK 2 LAX

Lyrics

[Intro: DJ Premier, and a second caller] "Yo" "Yo... Premier?" "Yeah, whassup, G?" "That trip to L.A.–may be delayed" "Why, whassup? I'm on my way to the airport now" "Yeah, well – your boy Guru got knocked" "WHAT?!?" "I don't know what this is about – sounds crazy, man Something about a gun..." ("The court calls Keith Elam to the stand – please approach the bench") [Verse 1: Guru] Yo, they got me handcuffed, I'm down in Central Booking Things are fucked up, the way my future's looking But I'm too fly, I'ma change this scenario Make some power moves and tighten up my bankroll Chumps are leary though, they see me as a threat I'm like the black Dutch Schultz when you get me upset 5-0 makes me wanna flip, Larry Davis style Got a nigga depressed, while he's awaiting trial It's okay though, 'cause from grey skies come blue Through darkness comes light, and I be known as the Guru And this I certify, we all should be alerted by – The traps within the system–our youth is getting murdered by The D.A. says they got me on a felony I'm trying to live my life, so what the fuck is you telling me? The streets are war, that's what brothers carry weapons for And I take the weight, as I did before The next thing you know, they got me on the radio "A rapper arrested," suckers showing me on video Of course, I know – that I'm a role model But, yo – this rap life is real life, sometimes it's full throttle Right now I gotta think about me – fuck the industry You gets no love, except those who support me "What's the story?" "What happened when I went to L.A.?" Mixing shit up – no, not there, I got family Nothing happened, mind your business – yo, step You know we connect – JFK to LAX [Hook] They wanna lock us all up, and throw away the key Don't wanna see us come up, don't wanna see us making G's Long as we know this is the key to our destruction Let's make moves, no discussion [Verse 2: Guru] Peace to my man Haas, a knowledged man–paying the cost All the 25-to-life'rs, all my brothers getting tossed Into the system, supposed to rehabilitate It's why you gotta regulate your own mindstate Read, study lessons, and build your inner power The next level–doesn't tolerate cowards For example – I know this rich Nigerian Powerful American, that's proud to be an African He asked me, "Why do all us brothers be getting trapped?" I told him I'd explain it, broke it down in a rap: "Whether you got naps, braids, waves, or no hair Without esteem for yourself, nigga – you're going nowhere" And you can swagger, like you rude as Josey Wales Unorganized revolt almost always mostly fails Give up the savage ways, be effective soldiers To elevate the mental is to be poor no more There's war in the streets, prepared men know best I rhyme as live as it gets – JFK to LAX They're always making trouble, yo–against the righteous Killing us in cold blood–those beasts, those vipers And as I sit, feeling the pain in my wrist I vow to myself that I'ma change this shit Or at least I gotta try, or part of me will die And only by action will any ideas solidify So I inhale, exhale as I ponder This grown man will make mistakes no longer I've been there, I've seen how they make us fall victim To their tricknology; with no apology, I diss em And so I rip facts, to dope tracks I caress You're gonna hear about it–from JFK to LAX