Like Toy Soldiers

[00:04.31] We all fall down

[00:08.82] Step by step, heart to heart, left right left

[00:13.07] We all fall down like toy soldiers

[00:20.54] Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win

[00:24.79] But the battle wages on for toy soldiers

[00:32.01] I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure

[00:35.20] Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders

[00:37.76] I ain't never supposed to show it, my crew ain't supposed to know it

[00:41.18] Even if it means goin' toe to toe with a Benzino it don't matter

[00:44.17] I'd never drag them in battles that I can't handle unless I absolutely have to

[00:48.26] I'm supposed to set an example

[00:49.83] I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em

[00:52.69] If some shit ever does pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em

[00:55.36] That Ja shit I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it

[00:58.83] There's a certain line you just don't cross and he crossed it

[01:01.49] I heard him say Hailie's name on a song and I just lost it

[01:04.44] It was crazy, this shit went way beyond some Jay-z and Nas shit

[01:07.64] And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it

[01:10.26] I spent so much energy on it, honestly I'm exhausted

[01:13.20] And I'm so caught in it I almost feel I'm the one who caused it

[01:16.06] This ain't what I'm in hip-hop for, it's not why I got in it

[01:18.98] That was never my object for someone to get killed

[01:21.89] Why would I wanna destroy something I help build

[01:24.82] It wasn't my intentions, my intentions were good

[01:28.02] I went through my whole career without ever mentionin'

[01:30.69] And that was just out of respect for not runnin' my mouth

[01:33.81] And talkin' about something that I knew nothing about

[01:36.46] Plus Dre told me stay out, this just wasn't my beef

[01:39.42] So I did, I just fell back, watched and gritted my teeth

[01:42.39] While he's all over T.V. down talkin' a man who literally saved my life

[01:46.81] Like fuck it I understand this is business

[01:49.16] And this shit just isn't none of my business

[01:51.27] But still knowin' this shit could pop off at any minute cause

[01:54.46] Step by step, heart to heart, left right left

[01:58.71] We all fall down like toy soldiers

[02:06.18] Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win

[02:10.45] But the battle wages on for toy soldiers

[02:17.63] There used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme

[02:20.61] And wouldn't have to worry about one of your people dyin'

[02:23.55] But now it's elevated cause once you put someone's kids in it

[02:26.47] The shit gets escalated, it ain't just words no more is it?

[02:29.42] It's a different ball game, you call names and you ain't just rappin'

[02:32.52] We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happenin'

[02:35.38] Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him

[02:38.30] And asked him not to start it he wasn't gonna go after him

[02:41.22] Until Ja started yappin' in magazines how we stabbed him

[02:44.14] Fuck it 50 smash him! Mash on him and let him have it

[02:47.06] Meanwhile my attention's pulled in another direction

[02:49.71] Some receptionist at The Source who answers phones at his desk

[02:52.67] Has an erection for me and thinks that I'll be his resurrection

[02:55.88] Tries to blow the dust off his mic and make a new record

[02:58.85] But now he's fucked the game up cause one of the ways I came up

[03:01.77] Was through that publication the same one that made me famous

[03:04.36] Now the owner of it has got a grudge against me for nothin'

[03:07.57] Well fuck it, that motherfucker could get it too, fuck him then

[03:10.76] But I'm so busy being pissed off I don't stop to think

[03:13.43] That we just inherited 50's beef with Murder Inc

[03:16.13] And he's inherited mine which is fine ain't like either of us mind

[03:20.04] We still have soldiers that's on the front line

[03:22.36] That's willing to die for us as soon as we give the orders

[03:25.37] Never to extort us, strictly to show they support us

[03:28.07] We'll maybe shout 'em out in a rap or up in a chorus

[03:30.99] To show them we love 'em back and let 'em know how important it is

[03:34.08] To have Runyan Avenue, soldiers up in our corners

[03:36.68] Their loyalty to us is worth more than any award is

[03:39.91] But I ain't tryna have none of my people hurt and murdered

[03:42.84] It ain't worth it, I can't think of a perfecter way to word it

[03:45.76] Than to just say that I love ya'll too much to see the verdict

[03:48.68] I'll walk away from it all 'fore I let it go any further

[03:51.81] But don't get it twisted, it's not a plea that I'm coppin'

[03:54.65] I'm just willin' to be the bigger man

[03:56.25] If ya'll can quit poppin' off at the jaws, well then I can

[03:58.95] Cause frankly I'm sick of talkin'

[04:00.18] I'm not gonna let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience cause

[04:03.38] Step by step, heart to heart, left right left

[04:07.67] We all fall down like toy soldiers

[04:15.15] Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win

[04:19.68] But the battle wages on for toy soldiers