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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
J. Cole
Vocals
Ron Gilmore
Keyboards
David Linaburg
Guitar
Nate Jones
Bass
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
J. Cole
Songwriter
Kingsley Swan
Composer
Suzanne Swan
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
J. Cole
Producer
Juro "Mez" Davis
Mixing Engineer
Tom Coyne
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I put my heart and soul in this game, I'm feelin' drained
Unappreciated, unalleviated
Tired of comin' up short, fuck abbreviated
Want my whole name spelled out, my own pain spilled out
No pain, no gain, I blow brains, Cobain
Throw flames, Liu Kang, the coach ain't help out
So I call my own shots, I'm David Blaine
I'm breakin' out of my own box, you stay the same
But homie if you change, may you change for the better
Back when Martin King had a thing for Coretta
Wonder if she seen all the dreams he was dreamin'
Did she have a clue of all the schemes he was schemin'?
Still loved him just enough to put up with the cheatin'
Months go by and only see him for a weekend
I say a prayer, hope my girl ain't leavin'
We all got angels, we all got demons
[Verse 2]
As you fall through the club
Bad bitches down to do all the above
Money comes fast so bein' hungry don't last
Till you look in the mirror and you saw who you was
Cole World, it couldn't be more clearer
The time is now, it couldn't be more here-er
My reign gon' last like three, four eras
Say hello to the real, I can be your hero
[Verse 3]
Hey I'ma put us all on the map
Gone and I ain't lookin' back
I know they gon' feel it like they tank on E
I promise baby, you can bet the bank on me
'Cause can't nobody tell me what I ain't gon' be no more
You thinkin' I'ma fall, don't be so sure
I wish somebody made guidelines
On how to get up off the sidelines
[Verse 4]
Hey, up in first class
Laugh, even though it's not funny
See a white man wonder how the fuck I got money
While he sit in coach, hate to see me walk past him
Young, black, pants sag, headphones blastin'
Know what he askin, "How did he manage?"
With all the cards against him, he used them to his advantage
Slang we be speakin' probably soundin' like Spanish
Then I fuck they heads up when a **** show manners
Some New York **** thought it was funny callin' us 'Bama
Laughin' at the grammar 'cause they didn't understand us
Must've thought we slow, but little do they know
I came up here to take advantage of that shit y'all take for granted
Opportunity that I would kill for
Lookin' at rappers like what the fuck you got a deal for?
When I assed out with my funds low
It's nice to know I had the whole world at my front door
[Verse 5]
Hey I'ma put us all on the map
Gone and I ain't lookin' back
I know they gon' feel it like they tank on E
I promise baby, you can bet the bank on me
'Cause can't nobody tell me what I ain't gon' be no more
You thinkin' I'ma fall, don't be so sure
I wish somebody made guidelines
On how to get up off the sidelines
[Verse 6]
Yeah, I made it to the rack even though they try box me out
I got the key to the game, they try and lock me out
But what they don't understand is this is all planned
It's a bigger picture and you can't Photoshop me out
Some **** ask me why Jay never shout me out
Like I'm supposed to give a fuck
Don't you know that I be out in France
Where the fans throw they hands like Pacquiao?
Not 'cause my looks, 'cause my hooks could knock Rocky out
And my lines is designed from the heart
Young Simba, been a lion from the start
Dumb ****, y'all been lyin' from the start
My life like the movie, truly
And these **** is dyin' for the part
But, you'll never play me like LeBron versus Jordan
Twenty years, wonder who they gon' say was more important?
Both changed the game, came through and made a lane
Who's to say that who's greater
All we know, they ain't the same
[Verse 7]
Hey I'ma put us all on the map
Gone and I ain't lookin' back
I know they gon' feel it like they tank on E
I promise baby, you can bet the bank on me
'Cause can't nobody tell me what I ain't gon' be no more
You thinkin' I'ma fall, don't be so sure
I wish somebody made guidelines
On how to get up off the sidelines
Written by: J. Cole, Kingsley Swan, Suzanne Swan