Everything I Am (feat. DJ Premier)

Damn, here we go again
Common passed on this beat, I made it to a jam
Now everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
People talkin' shit but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am

I'll never be picture-perfect Beyoncé
Be light as Al B or black as Chauncey
Remember him from Blackstreet? He was black as the street was
I'll never be laid back as this beat was
I never could see why people'll reach a fake-ass façade that they couldn't keep up

You see how I creeped up?
You see how I played a big role in Chicago like Queen Latifah?
I'll never rock a mink coat in the winter time like Killa Cam
Or rock some mink boots in the summertime like will.i.am
Let me know if you feel it, man
'Cause everything I'm not, made me everything I am

Damn, here we go again
Everybody sayin' what's not for him
But everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again
People talkin' shit but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am

And I'm back to tear it up
Haters start your engines, I hear 'em gearing up
People talk so much shit about me at barbershops
They forget to get their hair cut
Okay, fair enough, the streets is flaring up
'Cause they want gun talk, or I don't wear enough

Baggy clothes, Reeboks, or A-di-dos
Can I add that he do spaz out at his shows?
So say goodbye to the N, double-A, CP Award
Goodbye to the India Arie Award
They'd rather give me the N-Nigga Please Award
But I'll just take the I Got a Lot of Cheese Award

Damn, here we go again (yeah, baby)
But everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, h-here we go again (yeah, baby)
People talkin' shit but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am

I know people wouldn't usually rap this but I got the facts to back this
Just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets
Man, killing's some wack shit
Oh, I forgot, 'cept for when niggas is rappin'
Do you know what it feel like when people is passin'?

He got changed over his chains a block off Ashland
I need to talk to somebody, pastor
The church want tithe, so I can't afford to pay
Pink slip on my door, 'cause I can't afford to stay
My 15 seconds up, but I got more to say
That's enough Mr. West, please, no more today

Damn, here we go again
Everybody sayin' what's not for him
But everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Damn, here we go again (yeah, baby)
People talkin' shit but when the shit hit the fan
Everything I'm not, made me everything I am

Yeah, baby

Yeah, baby