Oh shit... Great Hova... C'mon... You already know what it is... Sure I do.... This is The Reconstruction... I'm from the streets where the Hood could swallow 'em and, bullets'll follow 'em and There's so much coke that you could run the slalom And cops comb this shit top to bottom They say that we are prone to violence, but it's home sweet home Where personalities clash and chrome meets chrome The coke prices up and down like it's Wall Street holmes But this is worse than the Dow Jones, your brains are now blown All over that brown Brougham, one slip you are now gone Welcome to hell where you are welcome to sell But when them shells come you better return 'em All scars we earn 'em, all cars we learn 'em like the back of our hand We watch for cops hoppin' out the back 'a van Wear a G on my chest, I don't need Dapper Dan This ain't a sewn outfit holmes, holmes is about it Was clappin' them flamers before I became famous For playin me y'all shall forever remain nameless I am Hov' This is The Reconstruction Volume One Featuring Jay Z

I wanna thank everybody out there for they purchase I surely appreciate it What you about to witness is my thoughts Just my thoughts, man -- right or wrong Just what I was feeling at the time You ever felt like this, vibe with me Walk with a nigga man, just vibe with me Yo, gather round hustlers - that's if you still livin And get on down to that ol' Jig rhythm Here's a couple of jewels to help you get through your bid in prison A ribbon in the sky, keep your head high I, Young 'Vito, voice of the young people Mouthpiece for hustlers - I'm back, motherfuckers Your reign on the top was shorter than leprechauns Y'all can't fuck with Hov', what type of X y'all on? I got great lawyers for cops so dress warm Charges don't stick to dude, he's Teflon I'm too sexy for jail like I'm Right Said Fred I'm not guilty, now gimme back my bread Mr. District Attorney, I'm not sure if they told you I'm on TV every day, where the fuck could I go to? Plus - Hov' don't run, Hov' stand and fight Hov' a soldier, Hov' been fightin' all his life so What could you do to me? It's not new to me Sue me? Fuck you, what's a couple dollars to me? But you will respect me, simple as that Or I got no problem goin' back I'm representin' for the seat where Rosa Parks sat Where Malcolm X was shot, where Martin Luther was popped So off we go, let the trumpets blow And hold on, because the driver of the mission is a pro The ruler's back I- am- back- niggas Yeah, yeah, yeah Turn the motherfuckin' music up (The ruler's back) I- am- back- niggas Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Well, in these times - well, at least to me There's a lot of rappers out there tryin' to sound like Jay Z I'll help you out, here's what you do You gonna need a wide lens cause that's a ver' big shoe And you got a couple of beans and you don't have a clue? You situation is bleek, I'mma keep it real cause Fuckin' with me, you gotta drop a mill Cause if you gonna cop somethin' you gotta cop for real Don't only talk it, walk like it - from the bricks to the booth I could predict the future like Cleo the psychic You can't date skee-os and wife it And you can't sell me bullshit, we know the prices So what your life is? We gon' roll 'til the wheels fall off - y'all muh'fuckers check the tires Off we go, let the trumpets blow And hold on, because the driver of that Bentley is a pro The ruler's back I- am- back- niggas Feel's good, hah, pause, holla at me The ruler's back Yeah, woo, yeah, yeah, yeah Now bounce, c'mon, bounce Yeah, yeah Bounce, c'mon bounce Yeah, yeah, yeah Bounce, c'mon bounce (Yeah) Just my thoughts ladies and gentlemen Just what I'm feelin' at the time, you know what I mean? Y'nahmean?

Let me justify my thug on this one right here It goes one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, Roc Five six seven o'clock, eight o'clock, Roc Eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, the party bout to pop Then, Roc-A-Fella y'all, It's your boy S. Dot And I ain't never been to jail; I ain't never pay a nigga To do no dirt for me I was scared to do myself I will never tell, even if it means sittin in a cell I ain't never ran, never will I ain't never been smacked; a nigga better keep his hands To himself or get clapped for what's under that man's belt I never asked for nothin I don't demand of myself Honesty, loyalty, friends and then wealth Death before dishonor and I tell you what else I tighten my belt 'fore I beg for help Foolish pride is what held me together through the years I wasn't felt which is why I ain't never played myself I just play the hand I'm dealt, I can't say I've never knelt Before God and asked for better cards at times to no avail But I never sat back feelin sorry for myself If you don't give me heaven I'll raise hell 'Til it's heaven Justify my thug! My thug.. (hoping..) My thug.. (praying..) for you To justify my thug! My thug.. (hoping..) My thug.. (praying..) for you Now if you shoot my dog, I'mma kill yo' cat Just the unwritten laws in rap, know dat For every action there's a reaction, don't have me relapsin Relaxin's what I'm about, but about mine Don't be actin like you can't see street action Take me back to Reasonable Doubt time You see my mind's on the finish line, facin the wreck I put my muh'fuckin faith in the tec, tell Satan not yet You understand I am chasin my breath I am narrowly escapin my death, oh yes I am the Michael Schumacher of the Roc roster Travellin Mach 5, barrel in my apparel can stop God God forgive me but I can't let them deliver me to you Until, I won this race, then eventually My engine gon' burn out, I get whatever is meant for me However it turns out fine, red line! Justify my thug! My thug.. (hoping..) My thug.. (praying..) for you To justify my thug! My thug.. (hoping..) My thug.. (praying..) for you They say an eye for an eye, we both lose our sight And two wrongs don't make a right But when you been wronged and you know all along that it's just one life At what point does one fight? (Good question, right?) 'Fore you knock the war, try to put your dogs in his Ten-and-a-halfs, for a minute-and-a-half Bet that stops all the grinnin and the laughs When you play the game of life and the win ain't in the bag When your options is none and the pen is all you have Or the block, niggas standin tight as lemons on the ave Tryin to cop a shop - call theyself cleansin in the cash But can't put they name on paper cause, then you on blast Mr. President, there's drugs in our residence Tell me what you want me to do, come break bread with us Mr. Governor, I swear there's a cover up Every other corner there's a liquor store, fuck is up? Justify my thug! My thug.. (hoping..) My thug.. (praying..) for you To justify my thug! My thug.. (hoping..) My thug.. (praying..) for you

Deliver me from my enemies, oh God Defend me from all that rise up against me Deliver me from the work of iniquity And save me from the Bloody Men Look.. mind state of a gangster from the 40's Meets the business mind of Motown's Berry Gordy Turned crack rock into a chain of 40/40's Sorry my jewelry’s so gaudy Slid into the party with my new pair of Mauris America, meet the gangster Shawn Corey Hey young world, wanna hear a story? Close your eyes and you can pretend you're me I'm cut from the cloth of the Kennedies Frank Sinatra, having dinner with the Genovese This is the genesis of a nemesis Mother America's not witnessed since The Harlem Renaissance birthed black businesses This is the tale of lost innocence As the incense burn and the turntables turn And that Al Green plays I see my mother's afro As Mama taps her toes, as she rolls her J's And my papa just left the house In search of the killer of my Uncle Ray And she's trying to calm her nerves As I observe this is just one day And what tomorrow has in store We can never be sure, so all we can do is... Pray... Because of your strength Pray... While I walked upon thee Pray... For God is my defense Pray... Pray for me! As I head to my homeroom I observe the ruins Dope needles on the ground I hear a car go, "Vroom" Drug dealer in the BM with the top down As the girls start to giggle I ask, "Why you laughing?" They say, "You're too little; One day you'll understand When you become a man About things you have to get you" Fast forward, freeze frame on my pistol, fistful of dollars Ignorance is so blissful I didn't choose this life, this life chose me Around here it's the shit that you just do I just left school The same BM is pulled over by the boys dressed blue They had their guns drawn Screaming, "Just move!" "Or is there something else you suggest we can do?" He made his way to the trunk Opened it like, "Huh?" A treasure chest was removed Cops said he'll be back next month What we called corrupt, he calls paying dues Now when the rules is blurred As they is and were What am I to do, but pray Pray the Lord forgive me Pray He guides me by for what I'm 'bout to go through Pray... Deliver me in thy righteousness Pray... And cause me to escape Pray... And climb thine air unto Pray... Save me oh Lord- Pray for me! Geah.. anywhere there's oppression The drug profession Flourishes like beverages Refreshing, ahhh! sweet taste of sin Everything I seen, made me everything I am Bad drug dealer or victim, I beg What came first? Moving chickens or the egg? This I why I be so fresh I'm trying to beat life cause I can't cheat death Treat shame with shamelessness Aim stainless at anuses You know the game this is? Move coke like Pepsi Don't matter what the brand name is I stand behind mine Everything I do, I'm a man behind mine I'm not an angel, I'm sure But every night before I lay I drop my knees to the floor and I- Pray... The name shall endure forever Pray... Men shall be blessed in Him Pray... All nations shall call Him blessed Pray.... In your name I pray Pray for me! Lord bless us

Woo, yeah, yeah, yeah, (young) yeah Turn the music up, turn the lights down, I'm in my zone Thank God for granting me this moment of clarity This moment of honesty - the world'll feel my truths All through my Hard Knock Lifetime, A Gift and a Curse I gave you Volume after Volume of my work So you can feel my truths I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt - y'all can't fill my shoes From my Blueprint beginning to that Black Album ending Listen close you'll hear what I'm about Nigga, feel my truths Pop died, didn't cry, didn't know him that well Between him doing heroin and me doing crack sales Put that in the eggshell, standing at the tabernacle Rather the church, pretending to be hurt wouldn't work So a smirk was all on my face Like "damn, that man's face is just like my face" So pop, I forgive you for all the shit that I lived through It wasn't all your fault, homey you got caught Into the same game I fought, that Uncle Ray lost My big brothers and so many others I saw I'm just glad we got to see each other Talk and re-meet each other Save a place in heaven 'til the next time we meet forever! Thank God for granting me this moment of clarity This moment of honesty - the world'll feel my truths All through my Hard Knock Lifetime, A Gift and a Curse I gave you Volume after Volume of my work So you can feel my truths I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt - y'all can't fill my shoes From my Blueprint beginning to that Black Album ending Listen close you'll hear what I'm about Nigga, feel my truths Music business hate me cause the industry ain't make me Hustlers and boosters embrace me and the music I be making I dumbed down for my audience to double my dollars They criticized me for it, yet they all yell "holla" If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically Talib Kweli Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense But I did 5 mill' - I ain't been rhyming like Common since When your cents got that much in common And you been hustling since your inception Fuck perception. Go with what makes sense Since I know what I'm up against We as rappers must decide what's most important And I can't help the poor if I'm one of them So I got rich and gave back, to me that's the win/win So next time you see the homey and his rims spin Just know my mind is working just like them (the rims, that is) Thank God for granting me this moment of clarity This moment of honesty - the world'll feel my truths All through my Hard Knock Lifetime, A Gift and a Curse I gave you Volume after Volume of my work So you can feel my truths I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt - y'all can't fill my shoes From my Blueprint beginning to that Black Album ending Listen close you'll hear what I'm about Nigga, feel my truths My homey Sig' was on a tier where no tears should fall Cause he was on the block where no squares get off See in my inner circle all we do is ball 'Til we all got triangles on our wall Ain't just rapping for the platinum, y'all record I recall, cause I really been there before 4 scores and 7 years ago prepared the flow Prepared for war, I should fear no man You don't hear me though These words ain't just 'pared to go In one ear, out the other ear, no! Yo my balls and my word is alls I have What you gonna do to me nigga, scars will scab What, you gonna box me homey? I can dodge a jab 3 shots couldn't touch me, thank God for that I'm strong enough to carry Biggie Smalls on my back And the whole BK, nigga, holla back Thank God for granting me this moment of clarity This moment of honesty - the world'll feel my truths All through my Hard Knock Lifetime, A Gift and a Curse I gave you Volume after Volume of my work So you can feel my truths I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt - y'all can't fill my shoes From my Blueprint beginning to that Black Album ending Listen close you'll hear what I'm about Nigga, feel my truths

Yes, yes Y'all wanna know why he don't stop Y'all wanna know why he don't flop Let me tell you pe-people why Came from the bottom of the block I When I was born, it was sworn, I was never gon' be shit Had to pull the opposite out this bitch Had to get my ri-ide on Eyes on the prize, Shawn knew I had to Had to had to get these chips Had to make moves like Olajuwon Started out selling dimes and nicks Graduated to a brick No exaggeration, my infatuation with the strip Legendary like a schoolboy Crushin' merely nearly every every chick Heavy shit - that's how schoolboy got whipped And got left on some, Just Me, Myself and I On some Trugoy shit Had your boys threw place up To a place of no return Had to play with fire and get burned Only way the boy ever gon' learn Had to lay way in the cut, til I finally got my turn Now I'm on top in the spot that I earned It's my life It's my pain and my struggle The song that I sing to you is my everything Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first And my thirst is the same as when I came It's my joy and my tears and the laughter it brings to me It's my everything Like I never rode in a limo Like I just dropped flows to a demo Like it's ninety-two again and And I got O's in the rental Back in the Stu' again No prob' living was a whole lot simple When you think back, you thought that You would never make it this far, then you Take advantage of the luck you handed Or the talent, you been given Ain't no, half stepping, ain't no, no slipping Ain't no different from a block that's hitting Gotta get it while the getting's good Gotta strike while the iron's hot, before you stop Then you gotta bid it, good riddance Goodbye, this is my second major breakup My first was, with a pager With a hooptie, a cookpot, and the GAME This one's with the stu', with the stage, with the fortune Well maybe not the fortune, but certainly the FAME It's my life It's my pain and my struggle The song that I sing to you is my everything Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first And my thirst is the same as when I came It's my joy and my tears and the laughter it brings to me It's my everything Woo, it's like the blues We gon' ride out on this one It's star time This man is mean, he's killin' all y'all jive turkeys Do y'all want more of the Jigga man Well if y'all want more of the Jigga man Then I need y'all to help me bring him back to stage Say Hova, c'mon, say it, hova, hova! are y'all out there, c'mon, louder Yeah, now see that's what I'm talking about

Fellas I wanna do my thang (yeah, yeah!) Now you know, like, like doin' it, like, like a sex machine (go 'head, go 'head!) Comin' out in the open, sayin' where it's at (yeah!) Can I count it off? (yeah!) 1-2-3-4! R.O.C., we running this rap shit... We running this rap shit... We running this rap shit... We run this rap shit... We running this rap shit...(yeah) We running this rap shit... I've got the Rap Patrol on the gat patrol Foes that wanna make sure my casket's closed Rap critics that say he's Money, Cash, Hoes I'm from the hood stupid, what type of facts are those If you grew up with holes in your zapatos You'd celebrate the minute you was having dough I'm like fuck critics, you can kiss my whole asshole If you don't like my lyrics, you can press fast forward Got beef with radio if I don't play they show They don't play my hits, well I don't give a shit, so Rap mags try and use my black ass So advertisers can give em more cash for ads, fuckers I don't know what you take me as Or understand the intelligence that Jay-Z has I'm from rags to riches, niggas I ain't dumb I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one, hit me Look brother, how you like me now? (ow!) Hit me! Yeah, that's it...(Hey!) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (oooooooow!) Hit me!' The year is '94, in my trunk is raw In my rearview mirror is the motherfucking law Got two choices y'all, pull over the car or Bounce on the devil, put the pedal to the floor And I ain't tryna see no highway chase with Jake Plus I got a few dollars, I can fight the case So I, pull over to the side of the road, I heard "Son do you know why I'm stopping you for" Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don't know Am I under arrest or should I guess some more? "Well you was doing fifty-five in a fifty-four License and registration and step out of the car Are you carrying a weapon on you? I know a lot of you are" I ain't stepping out of shit, all my paper's legit "Well, do you mind if I look around the car a little bit?" Well, my glove compartment is locked, so is the trunk in the back And I know my rights, so you gon' need a warrant for that "Aren't you sharp as a tack You some type of lawyer or something Somebody important or something" Tah, I ain't passed the bar but I know a little bit Enough that you won't illegally search my shit "Well we'll see how smart you are when the K9 come" I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one, hit me Look brother, how you like me now? (ow!) Hit me! Yeah, that's it...(Hey!) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (oooooooow!) Hit me!' Now once upon a time, not too long ago A nigga like myself had to strong-arm a ho This is not a ho in the sense of having a pussy But a pussy having no goddamn sense, try and push me I try to ignore him, talk to the Lord Pray for him, but some fools just love to perform You know the type, loud as a motorbike But wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight And only thing that's gon' happen is I'm-a get to clapping and He and his boys gonna be yapping to the Captain And there I go, trapped in the Kit-Kat again Back through the system with the riff-raff again Fiends on the floor, scratching again Paparazzis with they cameras, snapping em D.A. try to give a nigga shaft again Half a mil' for bail cause I'm African All because this fool was harassing them Tryna play the boy like he's saccharine But ain't nothing sweet bout how I hold my gun I got 99 problems, being a bitch ain't one, hit me Look brother, how you like me now? (ow!) Hit me! Yeah, that's it...(Hey!) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (Hit me...) Hit me! (oooooooow!) Hit me!' Woo, woo Havin' girl problems? I feel bad for you son I got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one You crazy for this one It's your boy

You will soon see, my dear "Sonata for Executioner and Various Young Women" Hmm... oh! It's... sort of nice, isn't it? Yes... it is nice In the beginning Hov' And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) Everything you like, everything you love (baby you love) Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you love) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know Everything you like, (baby you like- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') (Oh goodness) baby you love Hov' (what do you mean?) She wants that old thing back She want those Heroin tracks She likes me She fiends for me nightly She leans for me Morning, she rush for my touch This is about lust Cold sweats occur when I'm not with her My presence is a must- must- must- Bonita Applebum, I gotta put you on If I didn't when we cutting, the feeling would be too strong In any form, I'm giving you sweet dreams That Sugar Hill, she call me her sweet thing That Black Rain that take away your pain Just for one night, baby, take me in vein Now that feelin' got you trippin' You no wanna feel no different Said lust has got you itchin' Nose wide open and it's drippin' (eh-eh eh-eh) I know what you like, I am your prescription I'm your physician, I'm your addiction And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) Everything you like, everything you love (baby you love) Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you love) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know Everything you like, (baby you like- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') (Oh goodness) I am so dope (what do you mean?) Like Louboutins with the red bottoms You gotta have 'em, you glad you got 'em Like every color Giuseppe's, your guilty pleasure is me It's so much fun, you shun therapy Although it never be, the feeling is fleeting Shopping's like coppin', you constantly need it I'm never around, you constantly seek it You'll never be down, I know where your peak is 9 1/2 weeks is better than 12-steps I keep tryin' to remind you to keep tellin' yourself Now your conscience is interfering, like "Better yourself!" Like you better get help But when that medicine's felt? We're back together Don't ever leave me Don't ever let 'em tell you that you'll never need me My China White, 'til we D.O.A Its Montega forever, baby, lets get away And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) Everything you like, everything you love (baby you love) Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you love) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know Everything you like, (baby you like- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') (Oh goodness) baby you love Hov' (what do you mean?) How could you leave me? I thought that you needed me! When the world got too much and you pleaded with me-- Who helped you immediately? How speedy of me! How could you deny me so vehemently? Now your body is shaking, trying to free it of me And your soul is in control, trying to lead it from me And your heart no longer pledge allegiance to me Damn, I'm missing the days when you needed the D! And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know (I know what you like) Everything you like, everything you love (baby you love) Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you love) And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know Everything you like, (baby you like- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') Everything you like, (baby you love- Hov') everything you love (baby you like- Hov') (Oh goodness) baby you love Hov' (what do you mean?) You- you've burned out the excessive machine, you've blown all its fuses My goodness! You've exhausted its power It couldn't keep up with you Incredible! What kind of girl are you? Have you no shame? Shame! Shame on you! You'll pay for this

Are you even listening to me? I'm not, baby, but, I was pretending to listen so I think we can both agree that means I love you You gotta respect that I'm surrounded by girls Surrounded? Yes, surrounded by girls, baby, you, Izzy, Elliot Who else? Too many ladies, hah, peep game Who you lovin, who you wanna be huggin, huh? Who you wit, who you wanna be fuckin Got this smarty art chick to whom I pose this question I read a couple books to add to her soul's progression To put this in layman's terms, I gave her some knowledge She gave me, brains in return, she had to drop out of college And all she does is homework, I give her in house tutoring In and out I'm movin through her student body union and She, call me professor, say daddy come and test her So she could fail on purpose and repeat the semester I'm like, at this rate ma you'll never graduate She said, I ain't no fool I'll make it up in summer school (I love-) Tryin girls out, just tryin girls out Put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya Holla at ya when I get off tour, now let the people say I'm trying girls out, (just tryin' girls out) just tryin' girls out Yo put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya Holla at ya when I come off tour Huh, who you lovin, who you wanna be fuckin? Who said what, why you trippin girl, why's you fussin? Got this model slash actress slash part time waitress Spend a whole day she hangin round with part time haters All they do is dish dirt and put a up on my latest Itinerary, but since I tend to vary, see I tend to carry, more rumors than ten Mariah Careys Tend to hurries in ten places at once Plus she can't front just peep how I run mines Ma, our time together is our time together, and uh Our time apart is our time apart So love Jay with your mind girl and not your heart And some day I slow down, but for now I get around Like the late Makaveli or Perelli twenty inches Or caine and O-dog, stick up tape from menace You tell 'em chicks if they must know my buisness I'm tryin girls out, just tryin girls out Put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya Holla at ya when I get off tour I'm trying girls out, just tryin' girls out Put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya Holla at ya when I get off tour (I'm lookin' for) Southern girl that cook like Patti LaBelle Big ghetto booty, scarf over her doobie Chanel under the Louis, Gucci over her booty Vicky cover her titties, attitude of the city Pretty, witty, girly, worldly One who likes to party but come home early Light kinda dark, short sorta tall Slim, kinda thick I swear I love 'em all She can cook the coke and got hook up on the license But she can get you first class seats for coach prices Isn't this great, my flight leaves at eight Her flight lands at nine, my game just rewinds I'm tryin girls out, just tryin girls out Put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya Holla at ya when I get off tour I'm trying girls out, just tryin' girls out Put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya Holla at ya when I get off tour (I'm lookin' for)

The most incredible baby I can't see 'em coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry Good dude, I know you love me like cooked food Even though a nigga gotta move like a crook move We was together on the block since free lunch We should've been together having Four Seasons brunch We used to use umbrellas to face the bad weather So now we travel first class to change the forecast Never in bunches, just me and you I loved your point of view cause you held no punches Still I left you for months on end It's been months since I checked back in Was somewhere in a small town, somewhere locking a mall down Woodgrain, four and change, Armor All'd down I can understand why you want a divorce now Though I can't let you know it, pride won't let me show it Pretend to be heroic, that's just one to grow with But deep inside a nigga so sick I can't see 'em coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry I can't see 'em coming down my eyes So I gotta let the song cry I can't see it coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry I can't see it coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry On repeat, the CD of BIG's "Me and My Bitch" Watching Bonnie and Clyde, pretending to be that shit Empty gun in your hand saying, "Let me see that clip" Shopping sprees, pull out your Visa quick A nigga had very bad credit, you helped me lease that whip You helped me get the keys to that V dot 6 We was so happy poor but when we got rich That's when our signals got crossed, and we got flipped Rather mine, I don't know what made me leave that shit Made me speed that quick, let me see - that's it It was the cheese helped them bitches get amnesia quick I used to cut up they buddies, now they sayin they love me Used to tell they friends I was ugly and wouldn't touch me Then I showed up in that dubbed out buggy And then it got fuzzy and they don't remember that And I don't remember you I can't see it coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry I can't see it coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry Yeah, I seen 'em coming down your eyes But I gotta make the song cry I can't see it coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry A face of stone, was shocked on the other end of the phone Word back home is that you had a special friend So what was oh so special then You have given away without getting at me That's your fault, how many times you forgiven me? How was I to know that you was plain sick of me? I know the way a nigga living was wack But you don't get a nigga back like that! Shit I'm a man with pride, you don't do shit like that You don't just pick up and leave and leave me sick like that You don't throw away what we had, just like that I was just fucking them girls, I was gon' get right back They say you can't turn a bad girl good But once a good girl's gone bad, she's gone forever I mourn forever Shit, I gotta live with the fact I did you wrong forever I can't see 'em coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry I can't see 'em coming down my eyes So I gotta let the song cry I know, I seen 'em coming down your eyes But I gotta make the song cry I can't see 'em coming down my eyes So I gotta make the song cry That's fucked up girl

Man, I gotta get my soul right I gotta get these devils out my life These cowards gonna make a nigga ride I'm from the murder capital, where we murder for capital Oh man, I gotta get my soul right 'Fore I'm locked up for my whole life Every time it seems it's alright So you need to change your attitude, 'fore they askin' what happened to you Lord forgive him, he got them dark forces in him But he also got a righteous cause for sinning Them-a-murder me, so I gotta murder them first Emergency, doctors performing procedures Jesus, I ain't trying to be facetious, but "Vengeance is mine" said the Lord, you said it better than all Leave niggas on death's door, breathing off Respirators for killing my best boy, haters On permanent hiatus as I skate In the Maybach Benz, flyer than Sanaa Lathan Bumping "Brown Sugar" by D'Angelo In Los Angeles, like an evangelist I can introduce you to your maker Bring you closer to nature, ashes after they cremate you bastards Hope you been reading your psalms and chapters Paying your tithes, being good Catholics, I'm coming Man, I gotta get my soul right I gotta get these devils out my life These cowards gonna make a nigga ride I'm from the murder capital, where we murder for capital Oh man, I gotta get my soul right 'Fore I'm locked up for my whole life Every time it seems it's alright So you need to change your attitude, 'fore they askin' what happened to you Yes, this is holy war, I wet y'all all with the holy water Spray from the Heckler-Koch automatic All the static, shall cease to exist Like a sabbatical, I throw couple at you, take six! Spread love, to all of my dead thugs I pour out a little Louis, to a head above Yessir, and when I perish, the meek shall inherit the Earth 'til that time, it's on and popping, church Like Don Bishop, the fifth or palm cock either Lift up your soul or give you the holy ghost Please I leave you in somebody's cathedral for stunting like Evil Knievel I let you see where that bright light lead you The more you talk, the more you irking us The more you gon' need memorial services The Black Album, second verse, is like Devil's pie, save some dessert for us Man, I gotta get my soul right I gotta get these devils out my life These cowards gonna make a nigga ride I'm from the murder capital, where we murder for capital Oh man, I gotta get my soul right 'Fore I'm locked up for my whole life Every time it seems it's alright So you need to change your attitude, 'fore they askin' what happened to you I got dreams of holding a nine milla to Bob's killer Asking him "why?" as my eyes fill up These days I can't wake up with a dry pillow Gone but not forgotten, holmes I still feel ya So, curse the day that birthed the bastard Who caused your church mass, reverse the crash Reverse the blast then reverse the car Reverse the day and there you are, Bobalob Lord forgive him, we all have sinned But Bob's a good dude, please let him in And if you feel in my heart that I long for revenge Please blame it on the son of the morning, thanks again

Sweet And still there's pain... (pain) pain If I would have grew up to be a doctor My nephews would have grew up to do the same... same Same... (same) But since I grew up through the game And my influence is the same And my therapy is music They ask if you ashamed (ashamed) And though I wish I could separate the two things I cannot so my answer to you remains I can walk down the hall of mirrors in Versailles And be so satisfied when I look myself in the eyes No shame, no sir Just big boats and tearin the coast up Tight coupes like I'm wearin the roadster For any coup, bearhuggin the holster Hov' alright al-right And it may not be what you call perfect but But it's my life The life, the life, the life Once again it's the life So I make no apologies, crooked policies So a G a nigga gotta be We playing for property no Monopoly So I'll pass go and let my nephews follow me They say the child shall lead So I take it far as I can and then we shall see Shall we dance with the devil for a beat I pray to God I ain't got two left feet Do the hustle put keys in the street Then I'm ballroom dancing Ke-ke'in in the suite Sweet BB's on the feet TV's in the seat, ene-mies on the creep It's so corrupt Soak it up it's a lesson Every fuck up One day you're up Next day you're down Long as you stay the same it'll come back around Hov' alright al-right And it may not be what you call perfect but But it's my life The life, the life, the life Once again it's the life I'm even better I'm eating better Best thing about it is My niggas eating together With each endeavor, we reaching levels Niggas ain't seen in like forever I'm Hyman Roth I made all my partners rich I can't vouch for you If you ain't a part of this So pardon me as I pave my wrist As I parlay my chips Hov alright, alright American Gangster gangster Businesses like I'm White But I'm not, I'm just bright So fly with no fear of the flight So if y'all hear my plight And if you think you can make it this far without a fight Couple mistakes here and there Not always right, but I'm always real That's how I sleep at night Hov' alright al-right And it may not be what you call perfect but But it's my life The life, the life, the life Once again it's the life Sweet

You see how rappers are now? Yeah, turn the camera to me See what the- see what the public- see what y'all do to rappers? They scared to be their self And- and- and- and you know what I'm sayin'? Like niggas don't think that- people are going to accept them I don't wanna party wit' y'all, I wanna vibe wit' y'all Can I vibe wit' y'all? They say "they never really miss you til you dead or you gone" So on that note, I'm leaving after the song So you ain't gotta feel no way about Jay so long At least let me tell you why I'm this way, hold on I was conceived by Gloria Carter and Adnes Reeves Who made love under the sycamore tree, which makes me A more sicker M.C. and my momma would claim At 10 pounds, when I was born I didn't give her no pain Although through the years I gave her her fair share I gave her her first real scare I made up for birth when I got here She knows my purpose wasn't purpose I ain't perfect, I care But I feel worthless cause my shirts wasn't matching my gear Now I'm just scratching the surface cause what's buried under there Was a kid torn apart once his pop disappeared I went to school, got good grades, could behave when I wanted But I had demons deep inside that would raise when confronted If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black Now of you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade... Now all the teachers couldn't reach me And my momma couldn't beat me Hard enough to match the pain of my pops not seeing me, so With that disdain in my membrane Got on my pimp game Fuck the world, my defense came Then DeHaven introduced me to the game Spanish Jose introduced me to 'caine I'm a hustler now My gear is in and I'm in the in crowd And all the wavy light-skinned girls is loving me now My self-esteem went through the roof, man, I got my swag Got a Volvo from this girl when her man got bagged Plus I hit my momma with cash from a show that I had Supposedly, knowing nobody paid Jaz wack ass I'm getting ahead of myself, by the way, I could rap But that came second to me moving this crack Gimme a second, I swear I will say about my rap career Til '96 came, niggas I'm here Good-bye If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black Now of you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade... Good-bye to the game, all the spoils, the adrenaline rush Your blood boils you in the spot, knowing cops could rush And you in a drop, you're so easy to touch No two days are alike Except the first and fifteenth, pretty much And "trust" is a word you seldom hear from us Hustlers, we don't sleep, we rest one eye up And the drought will define a man when the well dries up You learn the worth of water without work, you thirst til you die, yup! And niggas get tied up for product And little brothers' ring fingers get cut up To show mothers they really got em And this was the stress I lived with till I decided To try this rap shit for a living I pray I'm forgiven For every bad decision I made Every sister I played Cause I'm still paranoid to this day And it's nobody's fault I made the decisions I made This is the life I chose, or rather, the life that chose me If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black Now of you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack Maybe you'll love me when I fade...