Friends (feat. Nas)

These later days in Babylon as I watch your kids grow
And the years keep moving on, and I miss you even more
Still I send them off to school and tell them
What they need to know
All of my friends I salute, Daddi gon Lenny Screw
Another year’s come and gone, man drops like morning dew
Uncle Warrick sick and gone when he couldn’t catch a flu
Picka T, you're my boss, respect long overdue
When nothing ever happened, you still had something new
Our friendship always lasts, even when there’s just a few
Yeah, we surely had a blast, we’re like family, me and you
Not every path you cross leads to someone who's true
Of the many that are called, only a few are chosen

Of the real friends that stick around
Your memories might fade
Your real friends will stick around
Sunshine or rain
Your real friends will stick around
Acquaintances will fade
Your real friends won't do you wrong
Real friends don’t change

Only talking with winners; a loser or two got my digits
Still they think they’re real, but they’re just really bitter
Salty dudes hate the smarter ones, these are the doubters
Who’re sour 'bout my climb, I barely made it out the slums
My value’s high 'cause I do more than rap about guns
I made money for folks, y’all never looked out for none
I helped millionaires get to that very position
Some real millionaires. See, that's wild, look at the stats
Real millionaires, and I ain't talking about street riches, real business
You mistreating guys, heard your folks bleed in prison
You ain't a G, and if you were, I don’t recall
Who would roll with y'all, bunch of fucking know-it-alls with little dough
Look what it come to, our rapport’s not good anymore
We were solid before till I saw what type of dude you took me for
We had a chance to make paper, but what I took was more
Because of hatred, opportunity wasted

Your real friends will stick around
Your car and clothes will fade
Your real friend won’t do you wrong
Real friends don’t change, hey

Your real friend won’t run in a war, don’t care what the cost is
Your real friends are in for all the wins and the losses
For real! No question at all, they’re ready to rise the tallest
Face the enemies, all for one and one for all this
Real friends will hear you out, no secret feelings
Real friends won’t sell you out, no bargain pleading
For real, always looking out for a meal
When outside’s a drought, your real friend won’t hide you out, no

Your real friends will stick around
When all else fails
Your real friends won’t do you wrong
Real friends don’t change

May laughter from backstabbers turn to tears faster
I wish for you no snake shall slither past you, you gotta
Keep your vision clear 'cause only a coward lives in fear
My surroundings got only real powerful dudes here
Real men have a code of ethics, no question
No jealousies, no feminine tendencies, we’re expecting
No gossip, no phony logic, no counting your homie's pocket
Spare no expense for legal defense if your bros locked up
No keeping tabs on who was the last to look out
Selfishness, that’s a character flaw, no holding out
Yo, what happened to the honor? You're dealing with sensitive drama
Teflon love for my dudes who are solid
Your real friends will stick around
Your memories might fade
Your real friends will stick around
Sunshine or rain, eh
Your real friends will stick around, whoa ya whoa
When all else fails
Your real friends won’t do you wrong
Real friends don’t change

Now plentiful
Or barely
My cup be full
Or empty
With arms in arms
We’ll all walk on
Through destiny
A friend that’s true
Is there for me
Respect is due
They care for me
Should I be down
Or even out
They’re next to me
Hey

Your real friends will stick around
Your memories might fade
Your real friends will stick around
Sunshine or rain, hey
Your real friends will stick around, whoa ya whoa
When all else fails
Real friends won’t do you wrong
Real friends don’t change
Real friends don’t change
Real friends don’t change
Real friends don’t change
Real friends don’t change