| Just be careful what you asking for before you pray
|
| You have no clue what you be headin' for; |
| this ain’t a game
|
| All my life, not knowing which way to go
|
| But I became the man I am
|
| From learning what I know about this game
|
| Game done changed
|
| I don’t bang like I used to
|
| Shots ring, slugs go through you like Metamucil
|
| You’re just a poodle in the ring with a dragon
|
| I spit fire; |
| sipping kerosene
|
| And laughing at these Dr. Seuss rappers
|
| They’re making me miserable
|
| With horrible punchlines
|
| And can’t-connect syllables
|
| I was a little man
|
| Rippin' up niggas in elementary
|
| While others was playin'
|
| I was staring in them notebooks, praying
|
| And putting in order
|
| Taping videos on VHS recorders
|
| They couldn’t ignore us
|
| I’m getting this regardless
|
| Bogarting, I weigh in like a Spartan
|
| Lyrical marksman
|
| Heart made of steel
|
| Quick to blow up like Howie Mandel
|
| «What a deal,» or no deal…
|
| It didn’t matter, I still was gonna rise
|
| To the top of this buildin'
|
| That’s for real! |
| Ha!
|
| Tape recorders to reel the reels
|
| And that was great
|
| I graduated from 8-Dash to D-88's
|
| Now we in the age of the Pro Tool phase
|
| And everybody & their mama think they got game
|
| They hang with niggas
|
| They can’t tell 'em they ain’t dope
|
| They’re scared they gon' hurt their feelings, and in the same note
|
| Let 'em do a show- step on stage
|
| And when the little niggas froze
|
| All you’d see is tomatoes (Ha!)
|
| Imma make sure that they know
|
| This ain’t a game, yo!
|
| Water your passion, let it grow, then flamethrow
|
| When kids was outside, I decided to stay home
|
| Writing to get tighter
|
| Sold dope at night
|
| And then I counted my bankroll
|
| But never did get rich
|
| I ate lobster and shrimp, and copped me some new kicks
|
| But as far as this music, it ruled everything
|
| Like C.R.E.A.M did Wu-Tang
|
| I learned some new things! |
| (What!)
|
| I paid my dues twice, and I ain’t lying
|
| That’s one in the hood and the other after I signed
|
| Now I’m fine and steadily flyin'
|
| Jets that hold 12 passengers at a time
|
| I’ve traveled this whole world, but fuck Vietnam
|
| If I wanted to get bombed
|
| I’d go back home…
|
| The neighborhood change when a nigga get on
|
| They looking at you strange when you don’t give 'em something
|
| But soon as you do, it becomes a habit
|
| Then they askin' you every day
|
| You don’t know these bastards (What!)
|
| These hood rats throwin' you pussy like Mike Jackson
|
| If you hadn’t signed, none of this shit would’ve happened
|
| Niggas running up to you
|
| Rapping like «Sign me!»
|
| Grimey niggas trying to come onto your dime piece
|
| They out they mind!
|
| They keep bugging you; |
| it’s stress and
|
| Instead of learning lessons, they’re painting perceptions
|
| They’re always commanding, never understanding
|
| I’m hearing rumors how they wanna hold me ransom
|
| The hood check you and try to see if you’re still real
|
| And take you in an after-hours, just like Proof (Shit!)
|
| They’ll set you up, tryin' to murk you in a place
|
| They lie on you when police won’t solve the case
|
| This is what you chased your whole life to do
|
| In the city where nobody gives a fuck about you!
|
| And it’s true! |