The Cards

[Intro: Rapsody]

Yeah, yeah

You just gotta play the cards you’re dealt

It’s like making a dollar out of fifteen cents…

AMP… AMP on the beat like

[Verse 1: Big Remo]

Yo, ain’t it funny when buddy countin’ ya money

Buddy study your every utter

Wish he was from another mother

Born of a different cloth, LRG covered

And I move somethin’ like a boss

Cool nigga wipe me off

And you could too since a lil’ nigga asked the part

Back then in Kimberly Homes where I lived

I was learned by them Kurds about them dollars and cents

It was never my transaction it was however I did it

I was impressed with the whips

I asked my father how was it

That from zip-locks with two tops is a nick

He said, “Play your cards right son, and stay on your shit”

He said, “The streets stay watchin’, I ain’t talkin’ to pigs”

And I admit when I was talking to him

I got wise and lost the veil pulled over my eyes

It energized me

It’s double-time grind now, I know they still probably

Wishin’ they were dealt my hand, but what it cost me?

I damn near lost it twice, yea I’ve been to hell and back

Five-O at the crib, Momma wasn’t havin’ that

When five-o left the crib, she said “Nigga pack ya bags

“And your packs and your racks”

And I packed them fast, Michael Jackson “Bad”

I almost burned a bridge

Ten years now the word ‘til I had the kids, now I understand it

It’s coming full circle now

I raise my kids with a rod and a tight lip

A few hustles and the studio at night shift

Puttin’ work in with the team and they like it

It’s Jamla

[Verse 2: Rapsody]

Still remain playin’ all of these cards

Until the bet pay off and put me in a brand new car

It’s just the cards

And again I don’t reside in no key state

Where MTV and BET big radio DJs

Get more love in NY than from my local town DJs

Don’t show no love to these young artists where we stay

The city way

My music reminds you of where young Jigga laid and Lauryn played

I’m respected, but not the New York way

It’s home for home, and my home just don’t understand that way

I’ll never do enough to this niggas like Mr. Andre

Sixteens want me to keep writing until I’m Donte

Retired Culpepper from Carolina like Forte

Yo… we forever brave

Protect the family ties from the lies and we never trade

Success cuts deep, watch fake ones separate

And we lose touch with ‘em like our friends held back a grade

Know the feeling well, I gotta few on my resume

“Jealous” was the motive for it, but fuck it they’ll never say

Never was a fan, but wanna holla ‘n collaborate

And they turn around and slander on your ass to another face

There’s crabs in the barrel operating NC State

Just gotta play your cards right to end with the ace of spades

Leave with the hearts, ignoring artists that are throwin’ shade

Playin’ in the club, rockin’ diamonds like niggas paid

I play the female card to my advantage

Underrepresented, how they wanna see me rap in it?

Cause I can show emotion when most wouldn’t even show feeling

For fear of losing your edge calling you “sensitive spittin’”

Therefore I touch ‘em with emotion, now they all growin’ with me

Allowed to do it, make music I want because it’s all indie

And take the bulk of my money, wait ‘til we all sellin’ plenty

I’ll buy a Bentley in Carolina, we all living simply

The good Carolina, we can all live the simple life

Walk the streets on the humble days and nights

Uh, I play my cards like that

Leave with hearts ‘til we end it with the spades all black

It don’t matter what you’re dealt, it’s how you’re playin’ them back

So don’t stress baby, just relax now, and play your cards

[Outro: Rapsody]

Still remain playin’ all of these cards

Until the bet pay off and put me in a brand new car

It’s just the cards

It's just the cards

Playin' my cards

Playin my cards all how they was dealt

Playin my cards all how they was dealt

Playin' my cards