It was my senior year I just turned eighteen I was a Friday night hero, with division one dreams I had an offer on the table A four year ride 'Til that fourth and two and twenty four dive I left on...

It was my senior year...I just turned eightee...I was a Friday night hero...I had an offer on the...I left on a stretcher...But I thank God I ain't what I almost was...Yea, I moved on back home...I ran out on his mone...four in the morning I loaded my truck...I left my home town i...I just had to follow ...And I thank God I ain't what I almost was...In guitar town I bought this old Epi...I've been putting in ...I ain't making a kill...Of this music I make and I love...And I thank God I ain't, yea I thank God I ain't,...Man I thank God I ain't, what I almost was

I was locked in a cage as...Still i never was afraid as a little ...I was feedin' my rage as ...But i saw it all through ...I established my name...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...What it look like? ...What it look like, baby?...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...What it look like? ...What it look like, baby?...I was hatin' on the world...I was lovin' all the girl...I was into punk rock as a...I was breakin' non-stop a...Learned what a girl was as an older man ...Now i know how to love as...But i'm still a big kid a...And i'de much rather give...Still i'm singin' in the ra...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...What it look like? ...What it look like, baby?...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...What it look like? ...What it look like, baby?...I'm lost in what it means ...e me up 'cause it's almost over ...e me up 'cause it's almost over ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...What it look like? ...What it look like, baby?...I'm lost in what it means ...e me up 'cause it's almost over ...e me up 'cause it's almost over ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...Who that is? what it say? ...What it look like? ...What it look like, baby?

And I am ...sk me, they ask me, I tell them ...I take my chain, my 1...My money was thinner than Sean P...I'll have a buzz bigg...'Til the night I almost killed myself in Le...Now was Kanye the most over...m Kwa-li or Kwe-li, I put him on songs wi...I'm the Gap like Bana...Nice as Bun-B when I met him at the Sour...And I was almost famous, now everybo...I'm almost Raymond' ...It was straight embarrassi...ar shoppin my demo, I was tryin' to shine ...fucker told me that I couldn't rhyme ...Now I could let these dre...I use it as my gas, so they say that I'm gassed ...But without it I'd be last, so I ought to laugh ...So I don't listen to the...I rocked 20,000 people, I was just on tour, nigga...I'm Kan, the Louis Vu...I ain't play the hand I was dealt, I changed my cards ...I prayed to the skies and I changed my stars ...I went to the malls and I balled too hard ...I turned around and replied, why yes but I prefer the term ...is hustle, you know what I've been up to ...naise colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips ...eat for Beanie. And I was in the session with...I had my demo with me. You know, like I always do ...I play the songs, he'...I'm like "It's me." H...And I'm thinking he's try...named Just Blaze he was messing with ...And um, he was friends with my men...I was all, I dunno if he was gassin' me or not ..."I'll sign you as a pr...I'm like oh shit ...I was messing with, uh, D...But that's how I got in the game. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here ...I was figuring I was gonna do some more ...ping off like that. I was stayin in Chicago ...I had my own apartment, I be doin' like, just...echnoMarine, that's what we wore back then ...I made this one beat where I sped up this Hal Me...I played it for Hip o...So I went and um, I was listening to Dre Ch...And really I just, like picked t...And that was like, really the first beat of that kind that was on the Dynasty albu...I could say that was the, the resurgence...You know, I got to come in and ...I was still with my other management. I really wanted to ro...Hip hop, cause I, I just needed some fresh air, you know what I'm ...Saying, cause I been there for a while, I appreciated what they did ...level. And that day I ...Came and I tracked the beat and I got to meet Jay-Z a...s verse by the time I got ...k this out, tell me what you think of this, ..."tell me what you think of this." And I heard it, and I was thinking ...Like, man, I really wanted more like of the simple type Jay-Z, I ain't ...n. So he asked me, "what you think of it?" ..."so what you thinkin?" ...And I was like, "man that shi...You know what I'm saying, man what I'ma tell him? I was on the train ...know. So after that I went back home. And man I'm, I'm just ...In Chicago, I'm trying to do my thing. You know, I got groups. I got ...Acts I'm trying to get on,...e of my homeys that was one ... got signed. But it was supposed to really ...Company. So, like I'm just straight hol...News that dude was tryin' to leave my company. And I got evicted at ...The same time. So I went down and tracked the beats from him, I took ...Ten days before I had to actually get out. So I ain't have to deal ...Newark, New Jersey. I hadn't even seen my...I remember I pulled up ...I unpacked all my shit. You know, we went to IKEA, I bought a ...Bed, I put the bed together myself. I loaded up all my eq...The first beat I made was, uh, 'Hear...And Beans was still working on his album at that time, so I came up ...ere to Baseline, it was Beans' birthday, matter of fact, and I ...eats. And, you know I could see he's in t...ats that he wanted, I did nothing like al...then Jay walked in. I remember he had a G...Hat on. I remember it like, like it was yesterday. And Hip ... beat for him." And I played 'Heart of th...Really I made 'Heart of the City,' I really wanted to gi..."No I think Jay gon' like...And I played another beat, and I played another beat. And I remember that ...OH.' Two days later I'm in Baseline and I seen ...ame didn't know who I was and I was like "yo what's up I'm Kanye." ...You know I ain't talking shit....I'm like "oh shit." And all this time I'm starstruck, man. I'm ...ing 'bout, you know I'm picturing these n...treets is Watching, I'm looking, these we...y, and in two days, I gotta bring up one ... the story, the day I did the 'Can't be ...ife' beat on track, I remember Lenny S, h...he fly. And Hip hop was there, I think Tata, John ... a bunch of people. I didn't know all the...Time they was in the room, and I said, "yo Jay I could rap." And I ... rap that said, uh "I'm killing y'all nig...naise colored Benz, I push miracle whips." And I saw his ...Eyes light up when I said that line. But...Was like real wack and ...He said "man that was tight." ..."That, that was cool. That was hot." ...That was it. You know, I ain't get no deal t...rst hit single. And I just ...With KwelI I think was one of the best one...tour with him. Man, I appre-- I love him for that. ...This time, you know I didn't have a deal, I had songs, and I had ...They'd call me up, I'd play them some be...iders. Whatever. So I'll play them ...r whatever and then I'll play my shit. I'll ...Be like, "yo but I rap too." Hey, I guess they was lookin' at me crazy...se you know, 'cause I ain't have a jersey... there listen here. I played them 'Jesus ...t sign me. You know what happened, it was some A&R's that fuc...I'm not gonna say not...id". Let's just say I didn't get my deal....The nigga that was behind me, I mean, ...cked everything off was Joe 3H from Capitol...Dame was like, "yo you got a...Then one day I just went ahead and played it, I wanted to ...'cause you know Cam was in the room, Young ...Dame was in the room. So I played, actually it...ver hear, but maybe I might use it. So, i..."I go to Jacob with 25...I got eleven plaques ...t bite that chorus, I might still use it....I play that song for ..."I ain't gonna front, ...Like a rapper. And I'm sure Dame figured...I told Hip hop and Hip hop was all, "oh, word?" Ac...That I was still about to take the deal with Capitol 'cause it was ...Know, 'cause I told him I was gonna do it, and I'm a man of my word, I ...Was gonna roll with what I said I was gonna do. Then, you know, I'm ...The day I'm talking about, I planned out everything I was gonna do ...Man, I had picked out clothes, I already started boo...Sessions, I started arranging m...Man I was ready to go. And th...And, you know I told them that Rocafella was interested ...And I don't know if they thought that was just something I was saying ...ice up or whatever. I went up... I ...Called G, I said, "man, you thi

I done killed so many niggaz in the booth I sell rappers on eba...Hold the line I got ya momma on 3-w...Cause I've signed more line...And yes I stay high on that p...And Women say I talk more game than...appers lie how dare I tell the truth!...I'm the truth and the...I'm A lyricist to the death so I got what ya need, Ludacris, ...I'm the last of a dyi...And we almost extinct so I'm saying it loud, ...I got it baby,...And I'm a MC I move the crowd like...Like the Red Sea I wear red like roses...ever had a holster, I keep it on my lap,...What you see I keep it pumpin yeah I got that hard back,...I mean how did he thi...I mean how did I think of that, Now ...I mean how did I think of that, I surprise myself som...Every time I do what I do I do it dirty like swine for the dirty and fine hip hop I'm alive!...I'm a lyricist to the death and I got what ya need, Weezy F, ...dying breed, and we almost extinct so I'm saying it loud, ...Private planes I'm on the jet son li...enty thou says that I'm the only nigga WI...And I'm not E-40 but I'm so sick wit it,...Hoes I gotta view, but I'm stingy with the dough I'm like no not for y...What the fuck was you thinking?...Off what I'm banking, Me and Wayne on that lean what the fuck was you drankin?...So I stashed it like a w...I'm a lyricist to the death so I got what ya need, Ludacris, ...dying breed, and we almost extinct so I'm saying it loud,

Hello, I'd like to see Dr. S...No, I don't ...or it's urgent that I see her ...Excuse me, what is your name? ...Well, I walked into the office, what did I see? ...Till my hour was up and I was on my way ...o the matter of why I came there ...I said, "Doc, I keep havin these cr...So I can diagnose and see what must be done" ...I laid back my head, ...my breath, and then I said, "Well - ...Bright one morning I was late for class ...Girls they was hawking, dudes they was talkin ... doggy-dogg female, I kept on walkin ...She was on it hard, there was no denyin ...Shoulda seen what this female was tryin ...on my zipper board, I had to hold her bac...Now if I never saw a creature, this girl was it ...I kept on walkin, had...But she was all up on me, breat...You may think I'm lyin though it's ... the baddest breath I'd ever seen ...I couldn't think straight, thought I was doomed ...ing-bling-bling, it was time for homeroom ...I stepped real quick,...She almost ran me down, this n... they had the class I had ...Who did I see? That ugly blac...Then I broke out when the ...rd of 3D? Well, she was fat as hell ...I ran out the school, I didn't look back ...I tell you, Dr. Slumber, this girl was wack ...about the time when I awoke ...And I smelled that awful breath that almost made me choke ...I can't go to sleep, cause I'm so damn scared ...Cause I keep havin these cr..."Listen, Dana Dane, I think I have the cure ...But I have to hear one more before I'll be sure" ...I laid back my head, ...Then I told her the nightm...e Fever's the place I'm supposed to meet ...How did I know she was a marvelous mutt ...This lady I met was as ugly as hell ...I was coughin hard, she s...ldn't let them know I was here with this drag...But I left this ugly lady...er female, her name was Denise ...Everywhere I turn, everywhere I look ...There was Anita the beast, sh...I dipped, I dived, I ran, I thrived ...But there was no place that I could hide ...Cause she was sniffin me out like...Was to set her up with ...this other dude, he was real upset ...What could I do, he had a .22 au...I dipped into the cro...nto this object and I hit the floor ...When I looked up, what did I see? ...I saw Anita the Beast...I couldn't try to pla...Like the AFTCA I had to take the dog...Now I pleaded, "Dr. Slumber, I just can't bare ...Was that ugly female, A...What's wrong?

I was there to buy a pistol. She was there to hock her r...t pawnshop deals in almost anything. ...His word was so prophetic when h...I said, "Throw in one... me the pistol, and I was almost to the door, ...When I heard him tell the ...My hand was in my pocket, and the gun was in my hand. ...I had planned to use ...I was once somebody's husband. She was once somebody's wif...I usually mind my business but I could not walk away...t making sense, and I knew I had to stay. ...but he knew the gun was there. ...I asked him what his life was worth, and he opene...That Saturday night was special even though...ossed a bridge, and I took that gun and s...I said, "Ever been to Texas?" she said, "I think I'd love it there."

I was there to buy a pistol. She was there to hock her r...t pawnshop deals in almost anything. ...His word was so prophetic when h...I said, "Throw in one... me the pistol, and I was almost to the door, ...When I heard him tell the ...My hand was in my pocket, and the gun was in my hand. ...I had planned to use ...I was once somebody's husband. She was once somebody's wif...I usually mind my business but I could not walk away...t making sense, and I knew I had to stay. ...but he knew the gun was there. ...I asked him what his life was worth, and he opene...That Saturday night was special even though...ossed a bridge, and I took that gun and s...I said, "Ever been to Texas?" she said, "I think I'd love it there."

I was there to buy a pistol. She was there to hock her r...t pawnshop deals in almost anything....His word was so prophetic when h...I said, "Throw in one... me the pistol, and I was almost to the door,...When I heard him tell the ...My hand was in my pocket, and the gun was in my hand....I had planned to use ...I was once somebody's husband. She was once somebody's wif...I usually mind my business but I could not walk away...t making sense, and I knew I had to stay....but he knew the gun was there....I asked him what his life was worth, and he opene...That Saturday night was special even though...ossed a bridge, and I took that gun and s...I said, "Ever been to Texas?" she said, "I think I'd love it there."

She drowned what I thought was forever...She was workin' on last nam...There was a time I'd have relished tho...But I'm not where I used to be...I almost drown in a shallow ...hined down and life was waiting at the top...When I let go of the past that was draggin' me...I broke down by a pay...I hit a wall trying t...Buried it all when I dug a grave...r all the pain that was pulling me...I almost drown in a shallow ...hined down and life was waiting at the top...When I let go of the past that was dragging me, way do

I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you...Girl, you know I did my time...All I had was you on my mind...I nearly almost lost my mind...All I thought about was loving you...See a man had to do what a man had to do...I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you...I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you...I could not stand bei...d whether your love was true...Was somebody else lovin...Now I'm knockin' at your ...What the hell am I to do?...See a man had to do what a man had to do...I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you...I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you...I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you...Girl, can't you see what you're doin' to me?...you everything that I have...Tell me what am I to do?...I was on the grind movin'...You was tryin' to bring me ...I was servin' it...Cuz I'm a rider...I was taught better than ...And if you think I'm gon' let go...I was doin' what I had to do...And what I did was for me and you

I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you ...Girl, you know I did my time ...All I had was you on my mind ...I nearly almost lost my mind ...All I thought about was loving you ...See a man had to do what a man had to do ...I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you ...I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you ...I could not stand bei...d whether your love was true ...Was somebody else lovin...Now I'm knockin' at your ...What the hell am I to do? ...See a man had to do what a man had to do ...I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you ...I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you ...I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you ...Girl, can't you see what you're doin' to me?...you everything that I have ...Tell me what am I to do? ...I was on the grind movin'...You was tryin' to bring me ...I was servin' it ...Cuz I'm a rider ...I was taught better than ...And if you think I'm gon' let go ...I was doin' what I had to do ...And what I did was for me and you

Well I been running away ...Almost on the hour of most...Now I see colors ...That I never seen ...I don't know how to b...I let you take me down until lower I could not go ...Now I see scars ...I willingly made ...I facilitated one nee...Now here I lay ...Tell me what was I ...What was I thinking ...Tell me what was I ...What was I thinking ...Tell me what was I ...What was I thinking ...Tell me what was I ...What the hell was I thinking

Show this boy what some real music 'po...I want to be remembered for the songs that I sing ...t for the knowledge I bring ...ns of others is why I rap this ...ything ain't always what it seems ...Now I'm about to tell you...On July 11th I was sittin at home ...When I saw an advertisemen...redible ship' - and I got hype ...I said, ";That's dope...The very next day I put the check in th... said that the boat was large ...But it was nothin but a broken... for my girlfriend, I wouldn'ta went ...Because the captain was a cross-eyed hunchb...The cruise was paid for and the food was free ...So I said what the hell and set ou...to notice something was wrong ...The ship was a mess and we were ...I didn't wanna panic, so I chilled for a while...aptain pulled up to what we thought was a deserted isle ...on to the beach and almost went bezerk ...I said, ";Hey baby, I guess that means ge...I said, ";Well, just ...I was jokin, but things g...der came out and he was curious ...face and his breath was the worst ...I said, ";Hey baby, y...His breath was stinkin with filthy...I tried to reason wit...Then I saw it - no, it's n...I wanted to fight em, but there was no way to beat em ...I thought to myself, ...And I said to the chief, ";Yo, I get witcha, hops!";

I was born in new jersey, I said it before ...But I guess nobody heard ... sistas or brothas, I was the only son ...When I was twelve my pops died...What a brotha was supposed to do? ...I guess they though it was the best ...But there was no love there ...I guess I was prepared to live in...I didn't leave home m...Blacks and whites, I guess the shit was cool ...But in highschool I changed ...I walked to Crenshaw high, shit was fly ...I hooked up with new ...e brothas that knew what the fuck to do ...And it was our own thang ...The whole school was down ...That's how i'm livin'... ...I did three years in ...I was glad: a family I never had ...But I grew up fast got a ...Needin' cash, I had to change my st...But my hustle was weak, it was a no go ...I join the army, four...I speak on this with ...I checked the bank ...But as I grew my whole crew ...I had too much juice, I cut my boosters loo...I was intread with the pi...lly for a nigga who was hooked on quick dou...In one night late I was in a carwreck ...And I was lucky to escape ... teen weeks, in bed almost dead ...And when I got well, I got gaught in a cro...That's how I'm livin'... ...And I had to change troop...Cause my time was gettin' short ...All my homies was in court ...n a hole, this shit was gettin' old ...So I changed my life ...But I still keep a gun, c...And I ain't lyin', that's

I had a man...He was a good man...That is, you see, what I mean is...I thought he was a good man...I had a friend...She was a good friend...I told my friend ?bou...I thought she was a good friend...Life was sweet...Didn't I have my man?...I bet you can guess...Just exactly what happened...That was the end...And almost the end of me...Oh yes, oh yes, I had a man...That is, you see, what I mean is...I thought he was a good man...I had a friend...I said, I had a friend...I told my friend ?bou...'Cause I thought she was a good friend...Life was sweet...Didn't I have my man, my man...I bet you can guess...Just exactly what happened...That was the end