Surviving the Times

But that's the whole tragic point, my friends What would I do if I could suddenly feel And to know once again that what I feel is real? I could cry, I could smile I might lay back for a while Tell me what, what, what would I do if I could feel? I was young, I was surviving the times Waitin' for my moment, I was destined to shine Little Ray had an NSX, I was hopin' I'm next Wantin' bracelets, never had a rope on my neck Unless I was holdin' Taiyeh chain, rest in peace Even though that night you flipped on us, you warned us If you came back and we still on the corners, we goners Movin' on to move your arm in your watch to another time on the block 'Cause this 40 Side where they say shorty rhyme Tragedy, he used to come through all the time I'm talkin' Juice Crew, not what the word define He had a sister named Erin, for sure was fine That was my first crush, I bought my first mic I wrote my first verse, I was about nine I was about mine, fantasize house buyin' Met Paul, he wore some big glasses Him and Melquan took me where G Rap lived I was happy just gettin' some answers I ain't even know what a record advance was I'm seein' hoes sex in the studio bathroom With rap dudes, thinkin', "Wow, she moved me" Same girl then, right now's a groupie Back then, she was like the star in a movie Large jewelry and expensive Gucci Next stop, Paid In Full posse recruits me Knew they were some millionaires, their ropes were dookie Eric B, man lookin' like touch it, he shoot me You see, every time Ra didn't show I get to record demos at attempts to blow I wonder, could they tell? How did they know? 16 years later, here I go What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? I'm with Akinyele in the street tryna get us a deal G Rap tried to get us to sign to Cold Chill But Fly Ty didn't have the contract we wanted Clark Kent just signed Das, he didn't want us Russell said I sounded like G, the nigga fronted Reef and Matty C offered me a little money Shit a little funny, feel a little laughter Rebel of Hip-Hop comin' through a white rapper My boy MC Serch, nevertheless took me to Columbia, back then CBS Chris Schwartz, RuffHouse, he was the best man Now buggin' because the label had just dropped Def Jam Could you picture Russell needin' a check, man? But he smart, he plotted a plan for Polygram Life is ill, again life's a movie Then the roster's Cypress Hill, Nas and Fugees Before I sold records, no promotion The rap world like, "What's all this commotion?" Went plat, mad bottles I'm toastin' 20-20 hindsight, but how did they know then? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? Invincible, lyrical, miracle man, huh But back to the matter at hand 'Cause ten years ago we all strived to be 25 Some cats didn't make it alive Dated some stars but respect their privacy Copped mad cars, layin' back in the driver's seat Held myself down, just steerin' the wheel Here I am, completed my whole record deal What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What-what, what, what would I do? What would I do if I could reach inside of me And to know how it feels to say "I like what I see"