Stressed Out - A Tribe Called Quest

featuring Faith Evans 

Intro/Chorus: Faith Evans 

I really know how it feels to be, stressed out, stressed out 
When you're face to face with your adversity 
I really know how it feels to be, stressed out, stressed out 
We're gonna make this thing work out eventually 

Verse One: Consequence, Q-Tip 

Yo I ain't one to complain but there's things in the game 
(What's your name?) Consequence, I'm tight, burnt like flames 
(And why's that?) American dreams, they got this ghetto kid in a fiend 

Don't stress that cause it's not in your bloodstream 
Your whole being, comes from greatness, d'you remember 
Shatan got you caught in the storms of December 
And brothers on the block packin nines like September 
Crazy situations keeps pockets on slender 

Yo I be on the avenue where they be actin brand new 
I'm splurgin on these Reebok joints for shorty boo 

All of a sudden, I saw these two kids frontin 
Talkin out they joints but they wasn't sayin nuttin 
My hand was on my toolie they was actin unruly 
(Say word) Yo word up, yo I was tight caught up 
But I swallowed my pride and let that nonsense ride 
Because I'm positive it seems that negative dies 

Yo we was at the dice game makin these cats look silly 
Flamin, steady runnin off at the Willie 

I had my cash mixed, my rent due, with my play-dough 
I gotta see some loot so all my girls I blow 
Shook them shits in my palm let em hit the flo' 
Kept my eyeballs scopin for them pigs po-po 
I got to go on the ave see my parole by fo' 
But I gotta steady freak these boys like JoJo 

And I was doin it, til I met Ike, Spike, and Mike 
One roll, they had my pockets thirstier than Sprite 

Yo I know the feelin, when you feelin like a villain 
You be havin good thoughts but the evils be revealin 
and the stresses of life can take you off the right path (no doubt) 
Jealousy and envy tends to infiltrate your staff