Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
JAY-Z
Vocals
Mark Batson
Keyboards
Dawaun Parker
Keyboards
Chrisette Michele
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Mark Batson
Songwriter
Shawn Carter
Songwriter
D. Parker
Songwriter
C. Payne
Songwriter
Angus Young
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Dr. Dre
Producer
Mark Batson
Producer
Gimel Keaton
Recording Engineer
sHANE WOODLEY
Recording Engineer
Jason Agel
Assistant Recording Engineer
Robert Reyes
Assistant Recording Engineer
Jacob Gabriel
Assistant Recording Engineer
Brian Gardner
Mastering Engineer
Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri
Recording Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I heard muhfuckers sayin' they made Hov
Made Hov say, "Okay so, make another Hov"
**** wasn't playin' they day role
So we parted ways like Ben and J-Lo
Shoulda been did it but I been in a daze though
I put friends over business end of the day though
But when friends' business interests Day Glow
Ain't nothin' left to say though
I guess we forgot what we came for
Shoulda stayed in food and beverage
Too much flossin', Too much Stan Rothstein
I ain't a bitch but I gotta divorce them
Hov had to get that shallow shit up off him
And I ain't even want to be famous
**** is brainless to unnecessarily go through these changes
And I don't even know how I came to this
Except that fame is the worst drug known to man
It's stronger than heroin, when you could look in the mirror like, "There I am"
And still not see what you become
I know I'm guilty of it too but not like them, you lost one
[Chorus]
Lose one
Let go to get one
Get one
Lose some to win some
Story of a champion
Sorry, I'm a champion
You lost one
[Verse 2]
I don't think it's meant to be
For she loves the work more than she does me
And honestly at twenty-three, I would probably love my work more than I did she
So we ain't we, it's me and her
'Cause what she prefers over me is work
And that's where we differ, so I have to give her free time even if it hurts
So breathe, mami, it's deserved
You've been put on this earth to be all you can be like the Reserves
And me? My time in this army is served
So I have to allow she, her time to serve
The times now for her, in time she'll mature
And maybe we can be we again like we were
Finally, my time's too short to share
And to ask her now, it ain't fair, so yeah, she lost one
[Chorus]
Lose one
Let go to get one
Get one
Lose some to win some
Story of a champion
Sorry, I'm a champion
You lost one
[Verse 3]
My nephew died in the car I bought
So I'm under the belief it's partly my fault
Close my eyes and squeeze, try to block that thought
Place any burden on me, but please, not that, Lord
But time don't go back, it goes forward
Can't run from the pain, go towards it
Some things can't be explained, what caused it?
Such a beautiful soul, so pure, shit
Gonna see you again, I'm sure of it
Till that time, little man, I'm nauseous
Your girlfriend's pregnant, the Lord's gift
Almost lost my faith, that restored it
It's like having your life restarted
Can't wait for your child's life, to be a part of it
So now I'm child-like, waitin' for a gift
To return when I lost you, I lost it
[Chorus]
Lose one
Let go to get one
Get one
Lose some to win some
Colleek, I lost one
Story of a champion
Colleek, you're a champion
I lost one
Written by: A. Young, C. Payne, D. Parker, Mark Batson, Shawn Carter