Present′s great, the future's bright

One thing you can′t take away is my past though

Shorty told me a story I ain't cast any aspersions or hold judgementSo I told her a piece of mind

I was fourteen, just startin' a dream

All grandma wanted was a washing machine, couldn′t afford it

Left me with a heart full of steam

Felt like coffee, let me borrow some cream

Hustlers said, "You can′t be part of the team", "Why?"

"You a ball player, one day you gon' make it out"

Yeah I hear all that, but I ain′t tryna wait it out

You givin' me the work or what? What the debate about?

They said no, so my options I had to weigh it out

Fuck the daily news, I′ma found me a paper route

Got with the stick-up kids, them niggas drove a Pontiac

Never met Martin, but could tell you where the Tommy at

Pass me the pump, that's no relation to Johnny, Jack

Gripped it like I′m gettin' in and out that laundromat mat

Apologize to the couple I had to victimize

Week later, told nanna, "Look, I got a big surprise"

She was happy, but listen she ain't no dumb dumb

"Where the money for this washer and dryer come from?"

"Won it playin′ basketball, man, a lump sum"

Gave her a kiss and a hug, that′s where I come from

Why it feel like I'm losin′ weight? (Weight)

Why I ain't got no money if I′m movin' weight? (Weight)

My life′s based upon what I'ma do today

Cop a crib, a new estate (new estate)

Yeah, that's what I used to say (used to say)

You can′t get paid on an earth this big, you worthless kid

You know the rest

That′s life, nigga (life, nigga)

That's life, nigga (life, nigga)

Yeah, huh

I had to get off the mob beat

I gave ′em up, but shit, it could be my streets

Be on boulevards, avenues, side streets

Where you get wet and on top is a dry sheet

R.I.P. Big L, he put me on his album

R.I.P. Bloodshed, y'all niggas knew the outcome

R.I.P. Reg White, my nigga was a falcon

Hud 6, I′m still lookin' up like "how come?"

Can′t forget Fat Mack and Sean Q

Right now I'd like to take a second, thank Don Pooh

He gave me money to write for Young Gavin

And I ain't have a deal, I was full time trappin′

I mean, no credentials but he see my potential

Thanking the ones that help you get started, essential

I could′ve been outlines, chalked, or stenciled

Now I got insurance money for my dentals

So-called gangsters you better move gentle

Kill you with the number two lead from my pencil

But everything's beautiful, me and money are mutual

Tried to come between and we′ll quickly put you in neutral

Moving pharmaceutical through the street well is suitable

Perc from 1997 still inside my cuticles

Nah Killa they ain't used to you

Slug pretty thug but I ain′t here to get cute with you

We keep the instruments, nah it ain't no musical

Dog food you fuckin′ with the Ooga Nooga crew

King shit, bling shit all ready for the crown

Me against you bet that double down

See I did the Midwest and see I melt it down

Back at Flex car show I was selling pounds

"Is that Charlotte?" "I don't know" but I'm heartless

Weaving all the charges, I′ma eat regardless

Allah forbade him, folding wasn′t in the script

Just how I was feeling what you see is what you get

I mean look, the Godfather, your father, no Maury Show

From 140, if I want let the .40 go

Black and white like an Oreo, just how the story's told

Nigga′s sucking dick on their knees at the glory hole

Van glorious, I don't need the glory though

Nah I don′t need the glory though

Why it feel like I'm losin′ weight? (Weight)

Why I ain't got no money if I'm movin′ weight? (Weight)

My life′s based upon what I'ma do today

Cop a crib, a new estate (new estate)

Yeah, that′s what I used to say (used to say)

You can't get paid on an earth this big, you worthless kid

You know the rest

That′s life, nigga (life, nigga)

That's life, nigga (life, nigga)