Surviving the Times

But that's the whole tragic point, my friends

What would I do

If I could suddenly feel

And to know once again

That what I feel is real?

I could cry, I could smile

I might lay back for a while

Tell me, what would I do

If I could feel?

I was young, I was surviving the times

Waiting for my moment, I was destined to shine

Lil Ray had an NXS, I was hoping, I'm next

Wanting bracelets, never had a rope on my neck

Unless I was holding Taiyeh chain, rest in peace

Even though, that night, you flipped on us, you warned us

If you came back and we still on the corners, we goners

Moving on to

Move your arm and your watch to another time on the block

'Cause this 40 side where they said, shorty, rhyme

Tragedy, he used to come through all the time

I'm talking Juice Crew, not what the word define

He had a sister named Erin, for sure was fine

That was my first crush, I bought my first mic

I wrote my first verse, I was about nine

I was about mine, fantasize house buying

Met Paul, he wore some big glasses

Him and Melquan took me where G Rap lived

I was happy, just getting some answers

I ain't even know what a record advance was

I'm seeing hoes sex in the studio bathroom

Where rap dudes thinking, wow, she moved me

Same girl then right now's a groupie

Back then, she was like the star in the movie

Large jewelry and expensive Gucci

Next stop, Paid In Full posse recruits me

Knew they were some millionaires, they ropes were dookie

Eric B, man, looking like, touch it, he shoot me

You see, every time Ra didn't show

I get to record demos and attempts to blow

I wonder, could they tell, how did they know?

Sixteen years later, here I go

(What, what)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

I'm with Akinyele in the street, tryna get us a deal

G Rap tried to get us to sign to Cold Chill

But Fly Ty didn't have the contract we wanted

Clark Kent just signed Das, he didn't want us

Russell said I sounded like G, the **** fronted

Reef and Matty C offered me a little money

Shit a little funny, feel a little laughter

Rebel of hip-hop coming through a white rapper

My boy, MC Serch, nevertheless

Took me to Columbia, back then, CBS

Chris Schwartz, RuffHouse, he was the best, man

Now bugging 'cause the label had just dropped Def Jam

Could you picture Russell needing a check, man?

But he smart, he plotted a plan for Polygram

Life is ill, again, life's a movie

Then, the roster's Cypress Hill, Nas, and Fugees

Before I sold records, no promotion

The rap world like, what's all this commotion?

Went plat, mad bottles I'm toastin'

20/20 hindsight, but how did they know then?

(What, what)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

Invincible, lyrical, miracle man, huh

But back to the matter at hand

'Cause ten years ago, we all strived to be 25

Some cats didn't make it alive

Dated some stars but respect they privacy

Copped mad cars, laying back in the driver's seat

Held myself down, just steering the wheel

Here I am, completed my whole record deal

(What, what)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

(Wh-what, what, what, what would I do?)

What would I do

If I could reach inside of me?

And to know how it feels to say

I like what I see