(Verse 1: J-Alta)
Damn, broke is a bad joke
But still I laugh tho, fronting tryna have hope
What up Cole, I'm just returning the message
Although it's been 8 years, know it wasn't neglected
How times changed. You were 22 on the come up
Shit, now I'm 22 tryna come up
Just graduated college, and I swear I almost failed
But Let me tell you how our stories almost parallel
First and foremost, thank you, you had got me through hell
Listening to can I live while my pops up in jail
I was 16 thinking I'm the meanest on the scene
You recording unabomber did the session on the stream
You was answering questions, I was sitting there nervous
Finally got the courage yo what's the odds of us working
Though your answer was simple it went and made a machine
You said that anything is possible when chasing your dream
Now we here are. Damn. You prolly don't remember
I stopped you up in Cary at the gym back in September
At that Fayetteville concert I waited after the show
Told me toss down My demo I thought that it was a go
Not to mention I met Ced in Elizabeth city
Got his email shot him songs said that he was fuckin with me
When you rapped up in charlotte. You had brought out TI
Once again I gave a CD thinking that it's my time
Or 011 in March, shit you prolly forgot
I was 17 tryna rap for you on the spot
That's 5 CDs in 5 years, 100s of moms tears,
1000s of crowds ears, and dammit I'm still here
One of my homies told me I gotta let it go
But you all we got here, you like the Carolina Hov
Listen , uh I know you feel similarities
With that said I swear these rappers don't compare to me
Against all odds, yo it’s like it’s 4th down
Clock ticking and I’m losing dawg I gotta score now
Life calling audibles, and I’m just tryna adjust
Commentators out there doubting, all we got right now is us
But, someone point me to a rapper thats nicer
Have em looking like a phantom you would think he a Chrysler
Listen, uh, I swear my minds gone insane
I’m just looking for my lane, understanding the game
I’m just tryna find some change like that bum on the corner
I mean I need some extra time, guess in essence it’s quarters
I’m just looking at him like, damn where’d it go wrong
Like we all know that person that said that they could’ve made it
They be at barbershops, just telling they story
But their dreams open shots, you wondering why they faded
Homie I been going it, the liquor got me numb
Giving failure bad sex, in hope that she never comes
Uh, word up and my hunger just might kill
If they sleeping on me fuck em, I’m lacing their nyquil
If they claiming king cool, for that crown I might steal
But still…father gone, it gave me chills
If you never experienced you don’t know how it feels
But to be a fresh prince all you need is uncle phil
For real, I’m that youngin ya dig me
Kept the new raps with me, slanging product this my New Jack City
Yet I, ain’t nino but they knew me as El Nino
Little spanish kid born just to take the game by storm
Uh, word up, and my women be bedfreaks
I Fathered instrumentals, left and killed em they dead beats
But this shit ain’t paying, so I’m sitting here praying
Babygirl I apologize but ain’t no way that I’m staying
I’m tryna chase the impossible but they say it ain’t logical
Tryna chase whats improbable and they say it ain’t plausible
But I rather plan a funeral then hit another cubicle
I’m tired, unemployed, I feel destroyed
Got my mother on the line and she worried bout the boy
Don’t worry mama, like they taught me bad grammar
I’ma fuck up commas, but back to you Jermaine
When you wrote this you was broke now that’s a fuckin hustle
Now I’m the one tryna get my mom up out the struggle
