Lyrics to If I Should Die

This version of If I Should Die was released by Jay-Z in 1998.

Our About Jay-Z page at Decade Lyrics includes the lyrics for If I Should Die from 1998 as well as all of the other lyrics from Jay-Z that we have in our lyrics database.

Here's more interesting things in songs and lyrics tied to Jay-Z or about the 1990s in general.

Come on…life…death…here…gone…Yo

If I should die don’t cry my niggas
just ride my niggas bust bullets in the sky my niggas
And when I’m gone don’t mourn my niggas
get on my niggas when it’s real
say word to Shawn my niggas
If I should die

Don’t cry my niggas it’s been one hell of a ride my niggas
in the middle of the trial I flip pies my niggas
I did joints with Mary J. Blige my niggas
I’ve eluded the coppers got booted with Big Poppa
Skated through with the Ceasar Picadas
At high school got head by the lockers
gassed the baddest girl in the class to show me her knockers
rocked jewels dropped school still didn’t fail
rhymes still written well hold court in the street
never sit in the cell for a second then I’m gettin’ my bail
shoot it out with the bounty hunters fuck
sittin’ in the county for summers if they should down me
everybody around us become one for that day
to live life get your shit right & play
Don’t get it twisted like rays if I miss that’s ok
but life’s short don’t miss a day uhh

If I should die don’t cry my niggas
just ride my niggas bust bullets in the sky my niggas
and when I’m gone don’t mourn my niggas
get on my niggas when it’s real
say word to Shawn my niggas
If I should die…

…don’t cry my niggas
it’s been one hell of a ride my niggas
say word to Wais my niggas
when I’m gone don’t mourn my niggas
just keep gettin’ it on my niggas
say word is bond my niggas

I got a lot to look back on in ’88
got my crack on ten years later gettin’ my rap on
gettin’ shorties like a thespian
had an episode with two lesbians got a fetish for that
drunk ginseng with Japanese chicks & pulled the root out
squeeze my whole clip to survive shootouts
been on both coasts fired all kinds of heat
probably be kinda glad to leave these mean streets
I got dead mens to meet and questions to fulfill
like is that mystery God real?
and how was Kennedy killed? I ain’t mad
I must’ve smoked a ton of reefer sipped Coronas
with Latifah broke the code of Geneva
I know when I reach the other side I’ma see the
cat I had beef with who blood remains on my sneaker
then it’s on again if I could be born again
I live my life through my son
and tell him never have a friend
just family reincarnated I’ll show him the time
that I waited to get paid tell him never be afraid
niggas hearts pump Kool Aid and yo blood run thicker
never shed tears cry liquor my nigga

See also Colors Of The Spirit

If I die don’t cry my niggas
it’s been one hell of a ride my niggas
say word to Wais my niggas
when I’m gone don’t mourn my niggas
just keep bangin’ these songs my niggas
say word is bond my niggas
If I die…

…don’t cry my niggas
just stay gettin’ high my niggas
don’t wonder why my niggas
when I’m gone live on my niggas
just follow my path my niggas
say word to Half my nigga

I’m the aftermath of pleasure never die alone
born to live forever through life’s struggles
I cut corners & took drastic measures
see you niggas life expire right in front of me
time could never mend what these cold streets
mentally done to me too often I close my eyes
and see my own coffin feelin’ haunted ready to leave
this world that I’m lost in my only chance
to see the seeds I lost through abortion
when I’m gone y’all niggas better not mourn
keep flossin’ as long as my name
lives on what’s most important
I’ll be down in hell scorchin’ preparin’ for life
afterlife still torchin’ & blazin’ these mics
It’d rain for 40 days & 40 nights
& I’d return on the 3rd like Christ
without my physical portion
my spirit a poltergeist for sure
I’ll be back through the heist tomorrow
blood over y’all fake niggas door
What you thought? (huh)
What you thought? (nigga)

If I should die don’t cry my niggas
just stay gettin’ high my niggas
don’t wonder why my niggas
when I’m gone live on my niggas
just follow my path my niggas
say word to Half my nigga
When I die…

Jay-Z has released many songs over the years besides If I Should Die. Jay-Z released songs from 1996 to 2007 spanning across albums like Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime Vol. 1, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter, The Dynasty Roc La Familia, The Blueprint, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, The Best Of Both Worlds, The Black Album, Unfinished Business, Collision Course, and American Gangster. Decade Lyrics has over lyrics & songs by Jay-Z.

If you're a fan of lyrics from 1990s songs looking for more songs from 1998 or the 1990s overall, you've come to the right place!