next of kin

"youngin"        
we called him coming up          
my best buddy's brothers friend          
birds of a feather type deal          
         
I later took him under my wing          
         
low key business          
stayed away from the hustle          
(mostly)          
my early twenties          
I moved a few pounds of weed a week          
         
he, being family friendly          
got brokered market price          
picked up a few tips          
stay on the books          
stay off the phone          
I love you but will fucking kill you          
if your lips get too busy          
basic stuff from where I come          
apparently i'm one of the last of a dying breed          
         
he's a good kid, a phantom          
from a line that's stone dead      
         
         
years went by          
me, following the hustle          
falling on my face          
         
he          
took the tips          
and then some          
         
a success          
he tracked me down          
and offered me a job          
         
him, a big boy east coast depot now          
me, little more than a habit          
         
he made no bones          
thought the needle was my downfall          
no need to meddle in no man's pleasure          
he says          
but why cross that line          
he thinks          
         
with an ounce at a time          
of china white          
he won't know that line          
won't know that sample bags          
come through at nine a.m. sharp          
that we jingle nickles daily to scrape          
one tenth of a gram          
out of blue wax bags          
         
no, he'll get shot          
or do big time          
all in          
in that way          
         
street level dopers          
hate these pricks          
but we have a past          
so when he called          
I picked up          
         
we met for coffee          
me drinking mine in private         
him not liking to see          
how I stir my sugar          
and an offer was made          
the absence of a certain person discussed          
         
I would not need to rub nickles for a long time          
it was his cafe          
of course I said i'd consider          
         
and I did          
         
til I kicked          
kicked hard enough to boot          
them wannabe notions          
         
never picked up the next call          
         
can't believe          
that little bastard          
listened to a single word          
I've ever said