| Aw, yeah, I’m 'bout to get busy possé deep style
|
| No, better yet, you know what
|
| I’ma just rap y’all somethin' like this
|
| Check it out
|
| Total control, at first, it’s just a dream
|
| 'Cause Mr. Manager’s makin' you seem sort of inferior
|
| Like you’re a flop without him
|
| Young plus dumb equals your pockets gettin' trim
|
| Livin' in poverty so you never had a dime
|
| A dollar is a fortune, and fifty cents is even big time
|
| 'Cause yo, you don’t know what you’re gettin' paid
|
| Your pay is comin' through the manager that you’re afraid
|
| To ask a question, you take what he gives
|
| Satisfied with it 'cause remember, you’re just kids
|
| My father wants a copy of the contract
|
| Why? |
| Don’t you trust me? |
| And if you don’t, then bye
|
| So nothin' is said through the whole damn ride
|
| Time after time, tellin' your dad a bunch of lies
|
| He forgot the contract again
|
| Pop’s pissed 'cause meanwhile, it was like a fifty page breach-list
|
| It only takes ten to set it straight
|
| The other forty is there to throw you off
|
| Because he knows you can’t wait to sign
|
| He’s juicin' and you suck it
|
| Skip the forty pages, here’s my signature, don’t smudge it
|
| Life in the spotlight, quite hot, got tight
|
| Get a funny feelin' Mr. Manager ain’t right
|
| Yet to realize you’re bein' taken for a stroll
|
| And you ride the road, far from total control
|
| Breakin' your back performin' and recordin' hits
|
| Credit is due, instead he’s gettin' what you’re supposed to get
|
| And you let it slip 'cause you’re gettin' paid long dough
|
| So you call it, but it was wrong though
|
| To keep you satisfied is his aim
|
| Happy with a picture, but you were due the picture and the frame
|
| You don’t sweat it, 'cause you’re thinkin' it’s his cut
|
| His and what he cut off of yours, now that’s what
|
| But time goes on, you learn while the clock turns
|
| Here’s what I want, give me the dough that I earned
|
| Now it’s time to step up and press him about the money
|
| A smirk and a grin, oh, what, you find somethin' funny?
|
| Ha-ha-ha, yeah, it’s been goin' on for a year
|
| Before I shed a tear, I’ll make you bleed while I cheer
|
| Hip-hip-hooray, shoot at ya feet and make ya dance
|
| One thing you don’t do is play with a Harlem boy’s chance
|
| Total control
|
| Yeah, you want play with Harlem boy’s chance?
|
| You want play with Harlem boy’s chance? |
| (Total control)
|
| Harlem boy’s chance is like his last chance gettin' outta the ghetto
|
| Kick it for him, little brother
|
| First impulse
|
| Get the TEC-9 and Iight 'em up like a Christmas tree
|
| But then, you’ll be in a teeny tight cell, you see
|
| So you play it calm and cool
|
| Every dog has his day, what goes around moves
|
| Since it’s motivated, that means it’s comin' back around
|
| Then it’s your turn to throw the duck in a dog pound
|
| Let him have it, rip him to shreds
|
| Groups are gone, shiny bald head turned red
|
| Example, remember the machine that could sample?
|
| You said you would get for me, but you never had a chance to?
|
| Or was it because I wasn’t makin' enough money?
|
| Oh, it can pass, it can pass like a dummy
|
| I know I was workin', so somebody’s gettin' the ends
|
| They ain’t in my pocket, so yo, they gotta be in his
|
| Get the machete and cut it out like kids
|
| Leave him with ripped jeans and six less friends
|
| Yeah, yeah, yeah
|
| Tell about it, little brother (Total control)
|
| This goes out to the brothers and sisters out there
|
| Who’s tryna get somewhere, but you have no control (Total control)
|
| You gotta have total control, brothers and sisters
|
| Total control (Total control)
|
| Total control
|
| Told y’all
|
| Yeah, total control
|
| Funky, drop it |