[Verse 1:]
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I was young, I was surviving the times
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Waiting for my moment, I was destined to shine
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Little Ray had an NSX, I was hoping I'm next
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Wanting bracelets, never had a rope on my neck
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Unless I was holding Taiyeh chain-Rest In Peace
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Even though that night you flipped on us
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You warned us If you came back and we still on the corners,
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We goners, moving on to...
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Move your arm in your watch To another time on the block
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'Cause this 40 Side Where they say Shorty rhyme
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Tragedy he used to come through all the time
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I'm talking Juice Crew, not what the word define
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He had a sister named Erin, for sure was fine
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That was my first crush; I bought my first mic
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I wrote my first verse, I was about nine
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I was about mine, fantasize house-buying
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Met Paul, he wore some big glasses
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Him and Melquan took me where G Rap lived
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I was happy, just getting some answers
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I ain't even know what a record advance was
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I'm seeing hoes sex in the studio bathroom
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With rap dudes, thinking wow she moved me
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Same girl then, right now's a groupie
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Back then, she was like the star in the movie
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Large jewelry and expensive Gucci
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Next stop, Paid In Full posse recruits me
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Knew they were some millionaires, their ropes were dookie
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Eric B man looking like touch-it-he-shoot-me
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You see, every time Ra didn't show
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I get to record demos at attempts to blow
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I wonder could they tell, how did they know
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Sixteen years later, here I go
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[Chorus]
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[Verse 2:]
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I'm with Akinyele in the street, trying to get us a deal
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G Rap tried to get us to sign to Cold Chill
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But Fly Ty didn't have the contract we wanted
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Clark Kent just signed Das, he didn't want us
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Russell said I sounded like G, the nigga fronted
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Reef and Matty C offered me a little money
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Shit a little funny, feel a little laughter
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Rebel of Hip-Hop coming through a white rapper
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My boy MC Serch nevertheless
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Took me to Columbia, back then CBS
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Chris Schwartz, RuffHouse, he was the best man
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Now bugging because the label had just dropped Def Jam
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Could you picture Russell needing a check, man
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But he smart, he plotted a plan for Polygram
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Life is I'll, again life's a movie
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Then, the roster's: Cypress Hill, Nas, and Fugees
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Before I sold records, no promotion
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The rap world like, what's all this commotion
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Went plat', mad bottles I'm toasting
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20/20 hindsight, but how did they know then
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[Chorus]
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[Verse 3:]
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Invincible, lyrical, miracle man, huh
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But back to the matter at hand
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'Cause ten years ago we all strived to be twenty-five
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Some cats didn't make it alive
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Dated some stars but respect their privacy
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Copped mad cars, laying back in the driver's seat
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Held myself down, just steering the wheel
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Here I am, completed my whole record deal
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Surviving The Times
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| Nas |
