They Don't Know

Now, I've seen trouble that kills

And I've seen strife that's real

And I've seen pain enough to make you wanna cry

Yes, I've seen struggles in the street

And I've seen jail

But they can do me nothin' to make me ever run and tell

As I stroll across land that's become somewhat devoid of man

I see young boys that pretend to have a reason to take a stand

It's important that you understand the relationship

Between their environment and [?] mindset

As times get harder, the [?] replacement figure for fathers

It's increasingly easier for a young nigga to say, "Why bother?"

With the raising of a nation of fake-ass thugs, sluts, and [?] illiterates

Who ain't even listenin'

'Cause as soon as you speak the truth as you see it

On something based on everyday reality

You open the door for technicality

We can't play this because you said that

Or we can't show this because they don't like rap

Well then you must like crap 'cause since 1999

Originality [?] of the music business is on decline

That's why I came back to bang this and change shit

And make some rearrangements, replacements[Chorus: Black Orchid]

Because they know my name they think they know my game

But they don't know a thing, they don't know about me

They don't know me about me, they don't know about me

They don't know a thing, they don't about me

My occupation often requires concentration

And mic distance [?] from your vocal [?]

[?] pronunciation in preparation

As I strive for perfection in all audio presentation

With no hesitation I'm going for complete mental penetration

With or without the use of [?]

But I still remember the code and dig ditches for all known snitches

Bustas, bastards, sucka MCs in plastic

Fake-ass Hollywood hoes, that shit is [?]

I'm tryna maintain a certain level with the bass and the treble

And shake off these dreams of playing [?] with the devil

I never settle, [?]

With a diamond-crusted bezel, keep the pedal to the metal

Play the game like a cello—Monopoly, chess, or Othello

'Cause y'all really don't know the C-O-O-L-I-O

Because they know my name they think they know my game

But they don't know a thing, they don't know about me

They don't know me about me, they don't know about me

They don't know a thing, they don't about me[Verse 3: Coolio]

In the beginning there was love, then the love turned to hate

And then the hate turned to greed, and greed paid the way for

Jealousy and envy, but beauty's only skin deep

I used to [?]

And the ink is like acid as I etch my life in plastic

To try to become immune to the pitfalls of the so-called fantastic

The body of a man once the soul is gone

Ain't worth the paper that a dollar is printed on

So when I'm gone, don't waste my life insurance money on funeral [?]

Have a party in my name and fill up the [?]

And let all my family, friends, and enemies have a good time on me

The asthmatic rapper nigga from the CPT

And tell 'em I was a slave to the mission to maintain the rhythm

And try to create a philosophy that encompassed all religion

Race, color, or creed, and then pass around some weed

And make sure my seeds got everything they need

Now, I've seen trouble that kills

And I've seen strife that's real

And I've seen pain enough to make you wanna cry

Yes, I've seen struggles in the street

And I've seen jail

But they can do me nothin' to make me ever run and tell[Chorus: Black Orchid]

Because they know my name they think they know my game

But they don't know a thing, they don't know about me

They don't know me about me, they don't know about me

They don't know a thing, they don't about me