Red Intro – English Lyrics

• By: Fugees

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and cinematic world of Fugees' "Red Intro," the powerful opener to their iconic album "The Score." This track is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling, where you can learn how spoken word and vivid lyrical imagery create a compelling narrative. Its authentic depiction of urban life and defiant message offers a unique window into the rich language and cultural expressions of 90s East Coast hip-hop, making it a special piece for language learners to explore.

[English]

Yo, this fucker I was wit the other day, I was chillin'

With Scott and the minute that we got in front of our

Crib with a shotgun. Cause jokers gonna be bustin' up

In there trying to get food, clothing, shelter, TV's, forks,

Radios or whatever they can get there hands on. Shit

Is getting mad ill out here man. Joker's running out here

Like with MASKS on; I was with my man Pee, he think

He like Charlie Chan or Robert De Niro

Or Bruce Lee or some shit, jumping from behind trees on

Muhfuckas, like Cowboys BANG BANG or whatever you

Know. Trying to shoot a joker he had beef with, he wound

Up shootin my man up in the street, tyring to be Cowboys

They can't even shoot, trying to be gangsta's but when the

Beast come on the muthafuckin' block everybody break out.

They beat my man Bob G. up the other day, cops, pigs vampin'

On him, everybody just standin' around just watching that

Shit take place. Cause they only gangsta's when it comes to

Being gangsta's to themselves. They want to be Corleone, Luigi,

Or Gambino or Gotti or whatever the fuck. They run around callin'

Themselves Rahiem or Fuquan or Mustapha cause we think they

Got power, but fuck them, I got power. I got power, I got family,

I got Family Business on Avon, on Chancellor, on Prince Street

On Chadwick, on Stratford on Chancellor on Vailsburg. All of the

Brick City. That's my family, we gonna settle The SCORE, once

And for all. I'm not lettin' nobody I'm going out like

A bandit. And all of these ZEALOTS trying to steal and trying to

Bite what I got like all of these big record companies, these

Corporations these stores they try to rob me. Naw man, I'm going,

I'm a get mine. Me and my girl we gonna go out together

We gonna be a soldier kid. When I go out, she go out. And we

Gonna make what we believe Manifest cause if you ain't Ready

Now, you ain't never gonna be ready . . .

I'm always ready.

Ras Baraka

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