Sticky

Made mistakes in life

No regrets, gotta live with that

No, DJ can't spin it back

No refunds, can't bring it back

People don't wanna see you grow

Always bringing up this and that

Stand in my truth, I live in that

When man's in their feelings, giddem facts

Helped man when they were on their face

When they're down they were giving thanks

When they're up, wanna shit on that and forget

Got a cheek, I'll give 'em that

Cross man once, then that is that

Once man's trust is gone, then man's trust is gone

You're unlikely to win it back

Man's unkindly to sycophants

Man's in Hollywood, getting bank

Ayo

It used to be chicka-Bashy-chicka-chicka-Bashy

Chicka-Ba-chicka-Ba-Ba

Now man's spitting crack

Whippin' this, whippin' that

Wrist is this, the crib is mad

At the time, couldn't picture that

I thought I'd be dead by 20

Life when living black

I wrote Black Boys at 21

No, it wasn't a hit or smash

But that shit be sounding like some sort of premonition now when you listen back

I wasn't in the kitchen whippin' crack

Wasn't on the mains with the wap

I wasn't going cunch and in the trap

Frustrated, I was feeling trapped

I gave CVs to JD Sports

I gave my CVs into GAP plus more

Not one of them hit me up

Drove the bus Ruislip to Mill Hill and back

Mill Hill and back

Mill Hill and back

Mill Hill and back

Mill Hill and back

I could've swore down I was going mad

One time got so tired crashed

I grew up in a council estate, a little flat

Didn't even have enough space to swing a cat

No matter how rich you get, you ain't forgetting that

Even if they use the neuralyzer from Men in Black

They were many times when I never had a grand

Now when I buy sutten nice, I feel bad

Traumatised by the times when I never had

Then reminded I'm a **** every level that I'm at

It's more money, more options

More money, more nonsense

More money, less trivial shit

More complexed problems

More money, more–

Look, more money more–

Yo, more money, more watching

More money, more wanting

No one gave when I wanted

Survivor's guilt on my conscience

So I give

But I was still broke when Dizzee made Bonkers

Going bonkers, my account in minus

I was at the cash point drawing out fivers

You got no fucking idea how that time was

Man were getting theirs, I'd been grinding for years

I was wondering where mine was

Mum was sick, she had death in her breast

I was thinking "Why mine, God?"

Had to go through this to get to there

Go through that to get to here

Only answering to God

Don't even answer questionnaires

Cut from different cloth, I'm self-aware

I've conquered issues, conquered fears

It took blood, sweat, loads of tears

But I've believed ever since I wore the Bs in my ears

I got my white mates like "Cor blimey, Ash!

You're doing well, mate, fucking 'ell!"

Dreams can come true, that's Gabrielle

Fuck the dough, I do it for the culture

Just to do Top Boy, I turnt down Ms like Dave Chappelle

You can ask my agent Craig Shapiro

You can ask my agent Deborah Willey

My integrity ain't for sale

Sometimes you just gotta take the L

That could've been a major fail but wasn't

The next year I made double

To do that shit you gotta have big bollocks

That's why I'm in first class

My legs dem spread out, eating olives

I'm a council-flat yout in a tracksuit

But when they greet man: "Mr Thomas"

Ain't gotta show it if you've got it

Pay myself, that's a selfie

No pictures, keep it modest

Damson Idris with this profit

I built this shit, me

Brick by brick, that's what being on job is

No freebies, make 'em pay

Pay respect and pay homage