SNAKE IN THE GRASS JOHNNIE X [INTRO — INSTRUMENTAL ONLY — 8 BARS] [Dusty vinyl crackle, chopped minor-key jazz piano] [Rubbery funk bass enters with syncopated groove] [Hard boom-bap drums, scratching turntables] [Muted horn sample repeats in an unusual rhythm] [NO VOCALS, AD-LIBS OR VOCAL SAMPLES] [VERSE 1 — MC 1, GRAVELLY LOW MALE RAP] You shook my hand with a loaded smile Said you'd walk beside me every mile Had my back, that's what you said While you counted every step ahead [MC 2 — SHARP MIDRANGE MALE RAP] You knew the names, you knew the game Knew just where to place the blame Never raised your voice or showed your teeth Just kept your knife where I couldn't see [MC 3 — SMOOTH, RHYTHMIC MALE RAP] Same old face, same old grin, same old game Same old snake with a different name Talk about loyalty, talk about trust Then sell me out when the pressure comes [MC 1 — QUICK, SYNCOPATED FLOW] You kept it quiet, kept it clean Kept your fingerprints off the scene Never saw the blade, never heard the sound Just felt the whole damn floor fall down [PRE-CHORUS — MC 2, SPARSE DRUMS] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [BEAT CUT — TURNTABLE SCRATCH] [CHORUS — THREE MALE MCs, RHYTHMIC CALL-AND-RESPONSE] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — 8 BARS] [Heavy funky bass, dusty drum break] [Scratched horn sample, warped jazz piano] [NO VOCALS] [POST-CHORUS — LOW MALE GROUP CHANT] Keep your friends close Keep your enemies in sight It's the ones that call you brother That'll cut you in the night [VERSE 2 — MC 3, SMOOTH MALE RAP] You played the part, you wore the face Took your seat and knew your place Passed the word when I wasn't there Then acted shocked when it filled the air [MC 1 — GRAVELLY MALE RAP] Every favor came with strings Every promise had hidden things You didn't stab me in the street You pulled the ground from under my feet [MC 2 — RAPID INTERNAL RHYMES] I clocked the change in the conversation Caught the pause and the hesitation Same explanation, different location Funny how the truth needs translation [MC 3 — OFFBEAT FUNK FLOW] You talk that loyalty, counterfeit currency Spending my name like it's yours to keep Smiling wide while you're digging deep Selling my trust for a front-row seat [BEAT SWITCH — CHOPPED JAZZ LOOP, HEAVY BASS] [PRE-CHORUS — MC 1, LOW AND CONTROLLED] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [CHORUS — THREE MALE MCs, FULL GROOVE] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — 12 BARS] [Dirty funk bass solo, loose boom-bap drums] [Scratched vocal-free horn and piano samples] [Turntable cuts, vinyl grit] [NO VOCALS] [BRIDGE — MC 1, LOW NEAR-SPOKEN RAP] Funny how the truth comes out When the room gets quiet Funny how the loudest loyalty Never seems to buy it [MC 2 — DRY, BITTER DELIVERY] I don't need revenge I don't need a scene I just know exactly What your friendship means [BREAKDOWN — BASS AND DRUMS ONLY] [MC 3 — COLD RHYTHMIC RAP] I saw the tracks I heard the sound I watched you smile While you dragged me down [MC 1 — GRAVELLY, AGGRESSIVE] No more favors No more trust I know what crawls Beneath the dust [FINAL RAP BURST — THREE MCs TRADE BARS] [MC 1] No more handshakes, no more fake praise No more backroom deals in the old ways [MC 2] No more names dropped, no more debts owed No more dead weight on the road [MC 3] I know the pattern, I know the play Know what you meant by the things you say [ALL THREE — HARD RHYTHMIC UNISON] You can keep your side, you can keep your lies I can see the truth when I look in your eyes [DRUM BREAK — TURNTABLE SCRATCH — HARD STOP] [FINAL CHORUS — THREE MALE MCs, MAXIMUM ENERGY] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [OUTRO — MC 1, LOW AND DEAD CALM] You can keep the handshake You can keep the smile I know what you are [MC 3 — QUIET, DRY] I just didn't know it for a while [FINAL TURNTABLE SCRATCH] [ONE HEAVY BASS HIT — HARD CUT] [END]
