Where Have You Been

[Intro: Beanie Sigel]

Hm... damn, how I'ma say this shit?

Aye... aye, Dad

Yeah, it's your boy

Heh, remember me?

I wanna talk to you, scrap

[Verse 1: Beanie Sigel]

I remember being kicked out the house, 'cause I looked just like you

Said I'd be nothing but a crook—just like you

Either niggas in the hood was shook, or they just liked you

'Cause all they said was, "Little Whitey, look, I'm just like you"

But dawg, I can't see it at all, shit... we never kicked it at all

We never pitched or kicked at a ball

Dawg, you never taught me shit

How to fight, ride a bike, fix the flat, none of that sorts of shit

Nigga, you was an abusive Pop – fuck

You left me out to dry – stuck

Gotta teach Newz to box, gotta teach Newz to block

And that ain't the half of it, man, I gotta teach Newz the block

It's about time we have a father-to-son (Nigga, sit down)

Sit down, let me tell you 'bout your fatherless sons

How they grew to be men, and father they sons

Father they daughters—nigga, you left a fatherless daughter

I'd never follow your orders

Nigga, you make me sick; pussy, you could... ooh!

How you gon' leave these memories in the back of my mind?

I can see it clear as day, you smacking my mom

I 'member that day you showed me that gat, that 9

Put it in my palm when I was young, and said that would be mine

You turned me out, the reason why I hit the block

Reason why I tried to hit them cops

Reason why I started hitting shots

Reason why I started getting licked, and drinking syrup, and skipping court

Gingerbread Man, never think of gettin' caught

Look at your hands, man—damn, you fought

Nigga, you left my mom

Left us with no goodbyes, you left us out to dry

You left us with no letters, notes, no replies (No notes – nothing!)

No digits, numbers, was none listed

You left me with some of my loneliest nights

Nigga, some of my hungriest nights

Shit, one of the reasons for years... (Shit be embarrassing... damn...)

Damn, we used to think money was white

Yeah, you gave us life, like, fruit from a plant

We ain't eat right from them foods from them stamps

And to think, you was my pop, man (you was my Pop, nigga)

I gotta stop – shit...

[Chorus: L. Dionne & Beanie Sigel]

"Daddy, where have you been?"

And when you comin' home? You got us here all alone

"Mommy, where daddy went?"

You'd always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him

"Mommy, what happened then?"

What, was you cheating on him? Why's he always beating on you?!

"Daddy, where have you been?"

Nigga – you gon' hear me out

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]

I wanted to walk just like you (Remember?)

Wanted to talk just like you (Word...)

Often, mama said I look too much and I thought just like you (Ya happy?)

Wanted to drink Miller nips and smoke Newports just like you

But you left me, now I'm going to court just like you

I would say, "My daddy loves me and he'll never go away"

Bullshit – do you even remember December's my birthday?

Do you even remember the tender boy

You turned into a cold young man with one goal and one plan:

Get Mommy out of some jam, she was always in one

Always short with the income, always late with the rent

You said you was coming through, I would stay in the hallway (Waiting...)

Always playing the bench (Waiting...)

And that day came and went

Fuck you–very much, you showed me the worst kind of pain

But I'm stronger, and trust me, I will never hurt again

Would never ask Mommy, "Why Daddy don't love me?"

"Why is we so poor?" "Why is life so ugly?"

"Mommy, why is your eyes puffy?

Please don't cry, everything'll be alright

I know it's dark now, but we gon' see the light

It's us against the world, we don't need him, right?" (Right!)

Mommy driving 6's now (Yeah), I got riches now (G'yeah)

I bought a nice home for both of my sisters now

We doing real good, we don't miss you now

See how life twists around? (Fucker)

[Chorus: L. Dionne & Beanie Sigel]

"Daddy, where have you been?"

And when you comin' home? You got us here all alone

"Mommy, where daddy went?"

Why you always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him?

"Mommy, what happened then?"

What, was you cheating on him? Why's he always beating on you?!

"Daddy, where have you been?"

Nigga – you gon' hear me out