Album: Watch The Throne (2011)

Murder To Excellence

(with Jay-Z)

[Jay-Z:]
Bloody murder, murder murder [x4]

[Kanye West:]
The paper read murder, black on black murder
The paper read murder, black on black murder

[Jay-Z:]
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 fightin'€™ for you, don'€™t increase my stress load
Niggas watchin'€™ the throne, very happy to be
Power to the people, when you see me, see you

[Kanye West:]
And I'€™m from the murder capital, where they murder for capital
Heard about at least 3 killings this afternoon
Lookin'€™ at the news like damn I was just with him after school,
No shop class but half the school got a tool,
And I could die any day type attitude
Plus his little brother got shot reppin'€™ his avenue
It'€™s time for us to stop and re-define black power
41 souls murdered in 50 hours

The paper read murder, black on black murder,
The paper read murder, black on black murder again
Murder again'€¦

Is it genocide?
Cause I can still hear his momma cry, know the family traumatized
Shots left holes in his face, bout piranha-size
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

[Jay-Z:]
I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died
Real niggas just multiply
And they say by 21 I was supposed to die
So I'€™m out here celebratin'€™ my post demise
If you put crabs in a barrel to insure your survival
You gon'€™ end up pulling down niggas that look just like you
What up blood? What up cos?
It'€™s all black, I love us

[Kanye West:]
The paper read murder, black on black murder,
The paper read murder, black on black murder again
Black on black murder again
Black on black murder again

[Jay-Z:]
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 lamb
Do you know who I am Clarice?
No cheap cologne whenever I '€œshh-shh'€
Success never smelled so sweet, I stink of success
The new black elite, they say my black card bear 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, shoutout to O
That ain'€™t enough, we gon'€™ need a million more
Kick in the door, Biggie flow
I'€™m all dressed up with nowhere to go

[Kanye West:]
Yea 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 paroles 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'€™s 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 nothin'€™ new but your shoes
Sunday morning, praise the Lord
You 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