[Intro]
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Freedom or jail, clips inserted
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A baby's bein' born, same time a man is murdered
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The beginning and end, as far as rap goes
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It's only natural, I explain my plateau
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And also what defines my name
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[Hook]
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Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
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Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
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No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
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[Verse 1]
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I used to print out Nas raps and tape 'em up on my wall
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My niggas thought they was words, but it was pictures I saw
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And since I wanted to draw, I used to read 'em in awe
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Then he dropped Stillmatic, rocked the cleanest Velour
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Fast forward, who'da thought that I would meet him on tour?
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I'm earnin' stripes now nigga, got Adidas galore
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Backstage I shook his hand, let him know that he's the man
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When he said he was a fan it was too hard to understand
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No time to soak up the moment though, cause I was in a jam
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Hov askin' where's the record that the radio could play
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And I was strikin' out for months, 9th inning feeling fear
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Jeter under pressure, made the biggest hit of my career
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But at first, that wasn't clear, niggas had no idea
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Dion called me when it dropped, sounded sad but sincere
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Told me Nas heard your single and he hate that shit
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Said you the one, yo why you make that shit?
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I can't believe I let Nas down
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Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach, I can't believe I let Nas down
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I got defensive on the phone, resentment was in my tone, fuck it
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[Hook]
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Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
|
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
|
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
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[Verse 2]
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I couldn't help but think that maybe I had made a mistake
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I mean, you made "You Owe Me" dog, I thought that you could relate
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But while I shot up the charts, you mean tellin' me
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That I was not up to par, when I followed my heart
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Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind, I kept on sayin'
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Where's the hits? You ain't got none
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You know Jay would never put your album out without none
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And dog, you know how come
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Labels are archaic, formulaic with their outcomes
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They don't know, they just study the charts
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Me, I study the shows, the fans, study their hearts
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I had a feelin' I was killin', and this music we were spillin' out
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Would change lives forever, fuck the label, put it out
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Friday Night Lights blew, that was classic number 2
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Now it seemed as if the Nas comparisons was comin' true
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Still no release date from the label, are they insane?
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Coach told me play the game to change the game but on the way I let Nas down,
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I got no one to blame, I'm ashamed I let Nas down
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But this is God's plan, you could never understand, fuck it
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[Hook]
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Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
|
Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
|
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
|
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
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[Verse 3]
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I always believed in the bigger picture
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If I could get them niggas to listen outside my core then I can open a door
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Reintroduce 'em to honesty, show 'em that they need more
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The difference between the pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars
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And so, I took the fall like the Son of the Lord
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On the cross, dyin' for that fake shit you niggas bought
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For the past decade, if I should pass please let this be my last essay
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Therefore I write from the heart
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Apologies to OG's for sacrificin' my art
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But I'm here for a greater purpose, I knew right from the start
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I'm just a man of the people, not above but equal
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And for the greater good I walk amongst the evil
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Don't cry mama, this the life I choose myself
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Just pray along the way that I don't lose myself
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This is for the nigga that said that hip-hop was dead
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I went to Hell to resurrect it, how could you fail to respect it?
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Lettin' Nas down, I got the phone call quietly I mourned dog, I let Nas down
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Yeah, and on this flight may I never lose sight, fuck it
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[Hook]
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Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
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Now w |