[Kendrick Lamar]
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It's like I don't think you fully understand who I am, y'know?
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I'm just a good kid from Compton that wanna rap
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I don't represent no colors, I represent my lil' sisters and brothers
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I'm the oldest, nigga
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And if you can't respect that, your whole perspective is wack
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Check it out
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I used to wanna rap like Jay-Z
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until I finally realised that Jay wasn't me
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I took my time to jot down every line that's a quotable
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Critics say I don't be killing this shit but I know I do
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because I used to practice early morning and then after school
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I'm working on my hooks my nigga, I ain't tryna battle you
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But even if I did, I guarantee I'd overshadow you
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Like a fucked up taper that turned to bowl cut
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I'ma close cut to Common and Gucci Mane
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Now that's a comparison that you probably wouldn't understand
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Because I can touch the people and still keep it ghetto
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as an '87 Regal with the tree air freshener on the rearview mirror
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I wear a heart on my shoulder
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'Member when we used to make the boost look like Motorola?
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Your cousin fucked up your room every time he came over
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Then went to jail when we got older
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That shit is a bad odor, but still I remain focussed
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In due time, I'll be able to swipe my card and it won't say decline
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That shit's embarrassing huh
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Hope no one pay you no mind
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But it's a bad bitch behind you while you standing in line
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Can you relate to my story? Can you follow my dreams
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and admirations that I had ever since I was thirteen?
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My momma believed in me, she let me use her van to go to the studio
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even though she know her tank is empty, that's who I do it fo'
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My pops got a different approach, yeah he believed
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But he always questioned when I'ma drop my debut CD
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How long this gon' take nigga? You still haven't ate nigga
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At twenty-two I had two cars and my own place nigga
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It's a sacrifice I try to tell him
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That's when he turn to BET and tell me that he jealous
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of all these niggas getting money and their shit don't sound like shit
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I ate tryna kill your confidence or forcing you to quit
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I just wanna hear you heard
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[Chorus]
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Yep, yep, that's my word
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Make a statement with these nouns and verbs
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I represent the liquor that's poured out on the curb
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Listen to my nouns and verbs (man I wanna be heard)
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Like a cattle with sheep
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While y'all sleep I re-up, cooking up all day
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like a mad scientist in that laboratory
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Motherfuck what a critic got to say, I'ma be heard
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[Kendrick Lamar]
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What up Dasan? I ain't forgot nigga
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You developed me, telling me I was hot nigga
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You believed in me first, that's what's for sure
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At the church recording, at the garage, but it worked
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But me and Dave kind of felt you lost the passion
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A lot was going on in your life and you needed space
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But still I should have came to you first to tell you what happened
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But I was seventeen and figured it's best I stay away
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And I wrong, I was young and couldn't look you in the eye for what I'd done
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But I'm telling you we ain't done
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Matter of fact, how's your sons? What they up to?
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Remember they used to run away while you had worked on ProTools?
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People I used to be in the booth till four in the morning
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with school in the morning, yawning, but I was on it
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Me, you and Dave was on it
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Buzzing like Charlotte Hornets when that tape dropped
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Where them beats nigga? It's been five years since we had rocked
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Time to be heard
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[Chorus]
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[Kendrick Lamar]
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So can you feel it?
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When you hear it do it pulsate your spirit?
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Does it make you wanna say motherfuck a gimmick?
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The truth can set you free if you Do the Right Thing
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Word to Spike Lee, don't he look like Sounwave?
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That's kinda random, but my humor sometimes strays, like a dog in the night
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Twenty-four hours in a day but only take five minutes
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to grab a pad and a pen, then send your dog a kite
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I spread love like a Hippy, but I'm a (Black) one
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with Jesus Christ passion, I swear on the bible
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Tabernacle to all my rivals, I ain't mad
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You hate a nigga for tryna help you, that's your bad
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because I figure I can make a way with these stanzas
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| I probably can't heal ca |
