Like toy soldiers

[00:07.21] Step by step, heart to heart

[00:16.53] Left right left, we all fall down

[00:21.59] Step by step, heart to heart, left right left

[00:26.90] We all fall down like toy soldiers

[00:34.10] Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win

[00:38.15] But the battle wages on for toy soldiers

[00:44.53] I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure

[00:48.82] Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders

[00:51.48] I am never supposed to show it, my crew ain't supposed to know it

[00:54.67] Even if it means goin' toe to toe with a Benzino it don't matter

[00:58.12] I'd never drag them in battles that I can handle unless

[01:00.78] I absolutely have to I'm supposed to set an example

[01:03.17] I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em

[01:06.62] If some shit ever just pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em

[01:09.01] That Ja shit I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it

[01:12.01] There's a certain line you just don't cross and he crossed it

[01:14.94] I heard him say Hailie`s name on a song and I just lost it

[01:18.14] It was crazy, this shit went way beyond some Jay-Z and nas shit

[01:21.05] And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it

[01:23.98] I spent too much energy on it, honestly I'm exhausted

[01:26.65] And I'm so caught in it I almost feel I'm the one who caused it

[01:29.83] This ain't what I'm in hip-hop for, it's not why I got in it

[01:32.76] That was never my object for someone to get killed

[01:35.95] Why would I wanna destroy something I help build

[01:38.61] It wasn't my intentions, my intentions was good

[01:41.27] I went through my whole career without ever mentionin'

[01:44.19] Now it's just out of respect for not runnin' my mouth

[01:47.38] And talkin' about something that I knew nothing about

[01:50.05] Plus Dre told me stay out, this just wasn't my beef

[01:52.98] So I did, I just fell back, watched and gritted my teeth

[01:56.18] While he's all over TV yeah I'm talkin' a man who literally saved my life

[02:00.50] Like fuck it I understand this is business

[02:02.89] And this shit just isn't none of my business

[02:05.01] But still knowin' this shit could pop off at any minute 'cause

[02:07.95] Step by step, heart to heart, left right left

[02:12.58] We all fall down like toy soldiers

[02:19.76] Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win

[02:23.74] But the battle wages on for toy soldiers

[02:31.78] There used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme

[02:34.25] And wouldn't have to worry about one of your people dyin'

[02:37.17] But now it's elevated 'cuz once you put someone's kids in it

[02:40.63] The shit gets escalated, it ain't just words no more is it?

[02:43.34] It's a different ball game, callin' names and you ain't just rappin'

[02:46.06] We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happenin'

[02:49.00] Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him

[02:51.94] And asked him not to start it he wasn't gonna go after him

[02:54.91] Until Ja started yappin' in magazines how we stabbed him

[02:57.83] Fuck it 50 smash 'em, mash 'em and let him have it

[03:00.76] Mean while my attention is pullin' in another direction

[03:03.67] Some receptionist at the source who answers phones at his desk

[03:06.60] Has an erection for me and thinks that I'll be his resurrection

[03:09.51] Tries to blow the dust off his mic and make a new record

[03:11.91] But now he's fucked the game up 'cuz one of the ways I came up

[03:15.09] Was through that publication the same one that made me famous

[03:18.28] Now the owner of it has got a grudge against me for nothin'

[03:21.20] Well fuck it, that motherfucker can get it too, fuck him then

[03:24.43] But I'm so busy being pissed off I don't stop to think

[03:27.08] That we just inherited 50's beef with murder inc

[03:30.01] And he's inherited mine which is fine ain't like either of us mind

[03:33.21] We still have soldiers that's on the front line

[03:35.87] That's willing to die for us as soon as we give the orders

[03:38.80] Never to extort us, strictly to show they support us

[03:41.74] We'll maybe shout 'em out in a rap or up in a chorus

[03:44.66] To show them we love 'em back and let 'em know how important it is

[03:47.58] To have runyon avenue soldiers up in our corners

[03:50.51] Their loyalty to us is worth more than any award is

[03:53.43] But I ain't try na have none of my people hurt and murdered

[03:56.36] It ain't worth it, I can't think of a perfecter way to word it

[03:59.27] Then to just say that I love y'all too much to see the verdict

[04:01.94] I'll walk away from it all before I let it go any further

[04:05.12] But don't get it twisted, it's not a plea that I'm coppin'

[04:08.04] I'm just willin' to be the bigger man if y'all can quit poppin'

[04:10.96] Off at your jaws well then I can 'cuz frankly I'm sick of talkin'

[04:13.88] I'm not gonna let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience 'cuz

[04:16.80] Step by step, heart to heart, left right left

[04:21.33] We all fall down like toy soldiers

[04:28.51] Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win

[04:33.29] But the battle wages on for toy soldiers