[Intro]
Uh-huh
Uh
I'ma say somethin' really clever right here once I figure it out
I'ma come back and put it there
Uh, haha, check it, uh
But this is for all my hustlers out there
Check it, uh, check it
[Chorus]
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
[Verse 1]
Ayy, man, I gotta buy food, and I gotta pay the rent
And excuses are the tools of the incompetent
I try to pay my credit cards, but I barely make a dent
And at the end of the week, I'm wonder where my money went
Is there a better way? There's gotta be
That's why people always play the lottery
That's my brother studies stocks and commodities
And not invest everything in intellectual property
See these are beats and notebooks full of raps
Designed to stimulate your mind and make your hands—
So when I'm old with grandkids on my lap
I'll still be gettin' checks in the mail from ASCAP
Ayo, what you think the hustlin' for?
Why we do these small bars for a cut at the door?
Why we battle soft emcees who think they hardcore?
We 'bout to take this show on tour, uh
[Chorus]
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
[Verse 2]
I'm not movin' to New York, I'm stayin' in my hometown
I wanna be the king of D.C.'s underground
I got a universal message with a unique sound
I'm 'bout to be a livin' legend like the great Chuck Brown (Uh)
And then I'll move on to Baltimore and Philly
And down to Richmond and drive the competition silly
And then I'll smuggle beats to Europe, Asia and Africa
Be known around the globe as a hip-hop trafficker
I'm a hustler, baby, you can't tell?
The school of hard knocks has really taught me well
Like sometimes you have to whisper, sometimes you have to yell
And if ain't about money, don't call me on my cell
People save this for the money, then the art ain't true
Ayy, look, I love my music, I just love to eat too
Metaphors to make you think and punchlines to make you chuckle
Can't do the Harlem Shake, but I sure can do the hustle
[Chorus]
Man, the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
[Verse 3]
5 o'clock in the mornin', I'm tryna get what I want
I'm excited about my goals, but some people are nonchalant
'Cause they ask for stuff while the hustlers take it
They try to earn money while the hustlers make it
I'm not good at flippin' weight or committin' petty crimes
But I'll make a hot CD and cut it into nicks and dimes
And hit every open mic and every M-Y-Z show
Whether a hundred degrees or if it's two feet of snow
Sometimes the hustle can be painful and slow
But I'll come through your window if you don't let me through the door
This is for the artists with their concerts and plays
And the athletes sweatin' their way through two a days
And students studyin' hard for their G-R-E's
And the people on 95 with a trunk fill of kis
And all the pimps and the gangstas with all that street muscle
I don't like what you do, but I must respect the hustle
[Chorus]
Man, it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle ('Cause it's the hustle)
Uh, 'cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
'Cause it's the hustle, 24/7 that's how it's gotta be
The hustle, 'cause nothin' in this life's for free
Man, the hustle, nobody wants it more than me
Man, the hustle, 'cause it's the hustle
'Cause it's the hustle
[Outro]
Uh
A-D'mite (The hustle), www.notarapper.com
Yo, it's the hustle
(I'm not a rapper) Uh, and I'm out (I'm a poet with a hip-hop style)
Uh (Uh)
