A
B
A
All he had to do was just enjoy the ride
Get on my level (business)
   B
A Gang Starr with a gangster, on a mission
We come and infiltrate your whole cipher man (art)

[Verse 1]
A
Business or art? Fist or steel?
Industry or street? Fake or real?
B
Cold or hot? Truth or trash?
War or peace? Longevity or cash?
A
Here's one for SPIN, Billboard, and Rolling Stone
Hip Hop is so organic, it'll grow on its own
B
We watch 'em throw money at it with clout and power
But after a while, things faded out and went sour
A
Somebody lost their shirt, execs got fired
Some artist went berserk, took mad drugs and got wired
B
Hundreds of thousands, up to millions in promo
All wasted on garbage, now, that was a no-no
A
Oh no, what's gonna happen now to these fools?
These self-centered pricks were showered, proud of 'em too
B
Never that, 'cause I am the renegade realist
Street visionary, the end of days idealist
A
People often ask what's the key to longevity
How I'm so consistent and bring the heat incredibly
B
Intelligence is vital and always stay hood
'Cause this is our culture, and we need to make good

[Chorus]
A
Business or art? Fist or steel?
Industry or street? Fake or real?
B
Cold or hot? Truth or trash?
War or peace? Longevity or cash?

[Verse 2]
A
Business or art? Let's pick it apart
If you ain't spittin' out your heart, you'd be considered a mark
     B
The bullshit gotta stop, 'cause when it's business o'clock
You hear the tickin' and the tockin' on the digital watch
      A
Yeah, time is money, and they don't find it funny
They'll show up where you live, make your environment bloody, buddy
         B
They'll kick in the door, tell you "Get on the floor"
They bust a .9 and bust some rhymes, you like, "gimme some more"
       A
Askin' you where your heart is, but you an artist
You was never as hard as you said you was
                                     B
Maybe lyin', wasn't the smartest decision you ever made
'Cause this business ain't regulated
If you beefin' over beats in these streets, you'll never make it
         A
Now you singin' to cops, that's your favorite tune, nigga
They ain't got Yelp reviews for goons, nigga
     B
Hip-hop, homie, that's our lane
It's Gang Starr with the Black Star gang

[Chorus]
                        A
We bang-bang when it's business or art
Fist or steel?
Industry or street? Fake or real?
B
Cold or hot? Truth or trash?
War or peace? Longevity or cash?
A
All he had to do was just enjoy the ride
G-G-Get on my level (business)
  A
A Gang Starr with a gangster, on a mission
We come and infiltrate your whole cipher man (art)
B