[Intro: Denzel Washington from American Gangster]
"Most important thing in business is honesty, integrity, hard work, family;
Never forgetting where we came from."
[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
Poor me, dad was gone, finally got my dad back
Liver bad, he wouldn't live long, that snatched my dad back
Guidance? I never had that, streets was my second home
Welcomed me with open arms, provided a place to crash at
A place to study math at – matter of fact, I learned it all
Burnt it all, this music is where I bury the ashes at
Flashback, not having much, not having that
Had to get some challah bread, so you can holla back, and
Holla at my Jewish lawyer, to enjoy the fruit of letting my cash stack
And just in case a nigga gotta use his rat-tat-tat-tat-tat
Own boss, own your masters, slaves
The mentality I carry with me to this very day
Fuck rich, let's get wealthy, who else gon' feed we?
If I need it, I'ma get it however – God help me
[Refrain: Jay-Z]
And I don't need no hook for this shit
[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
I'm so fa sho', it's no façade
"Stay out of trouble," Mama said, as Mama sighed
Her fear, her youngest son'd be a victim of homicide
But I gotta get you out of here, Mama, or I'ma die
Inside
And either way, you lose me, Mama, so let loose of me
I got the rein, our direction will soon change
To live and die in N.Y. in the hustle game
Hustle 'caine, hustle clothes, or hustle music
But hustle hard in any hustle that you pick
Skinny nigga, toothpick, but–but I do lift
Weight like I'm using 'roids
Rolls-Royce, keep my movements smooth while maneuvering
Through all the manure in the sewer that I grew up in
Choices we make, trying to escape, 'scape
[Refrain: Jay-Z]
And I don't need no hook for this shit
[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
This is not for commercial usage
Please don't categorize this as music
Please don't compare me to other rappers
Compare me to trappers, I'm more Frank Lucas than Ludacris
And Luda's my dude, I ain't tryna diss
Like, Frank Lucas is cool, but I ain't trying to snitch
I'ma follow the rules, no matter how much time I'ma get
I'ma live and die with the decisions that I'ma pick
So fuck DeHaven for caving, that's why we don't speak
Made men ain't supposed to make statements
End of the story, I followed the code, cracked the safe
Other niggas ain't in the game, so they practice hate
Leave that boy Hov' alone, why don't cha?
You don't have to if you don't want to, but don't say I didn't warn you
[Refrain: Jay-Z]
Oh... and I don't need no hook for this shit!
