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"