Dear Mama

Yo, fuck 'em
I love you mama

Mama, you're the only woman that I'd die for
You're the only woman that I'll kill for
And that I'd put on you, you always pull through
No matter the situation, no matter the circumstances
You did what you did 'cause you had to
That's why you have my utmost respect and I love you till death
And even when death do us part, you're still runnin' deep in my blood
And pump right through my heart

But this rap shit mama, this is for you
For the twenty long years that I've put you through
Just consider it payback, 'cause you and I, Mama, for real
We go way back
If I could get you the world, I swear to god I would
But you probably wouldn't take it, which I never understood
Which I never understand, but what I've really come to understand
Are the sacrifices you made in order to raise this young man

You traded your sunshine to give me life
And for that I thank you
Livin', forgivin', I'll never forget
So I thank you

Schooled me to the drug game before I even smelled that easy money
You used my father as an example
To let me know which way not to go
Just to keep me happy, you swallowed your pride and that's no lie
I remember you working two to three jobs
Coming home so tired, but once my money's right
No more goodwill, no more thrift shops, don't thank me, thank hip hop

No more repos', no more late rents
Notice of evictions, will be a thing of the past
'Cause your son's focused on getting money off people
With, ah, different addictions
You're the reason I'm ambitious
You always told me I could be what I wanna be
Do what I wanna do, papi don't sleep, and let others dream for you
I know I hardly show you how I feel, but this is how I feel

You traded your sunshine to give me life
And for that I thank you
Livin', forgivin', I'll never forget
So I thank you

Between me and you, the truth has always been spoken
Between you and I, it's always been open
Between you and my pops, I was chosen
Could something come between us? Never
'Cause you're my mother till the day I die
And you'd still be my mother if I was lookin' at twenty-five alive
And you'd still be my mother if I fail to succeed
And you'd still be my mother if I contracted HIV

And you'd still be my mother till the day that I bleed
And take my last breath
You'd be holding my hand with a tight squeeze
Physically and spiritually, now I know what life means
Life means the lovin', mama I love you
For everything we've been through together
You're the only woman that I love forever
And forever, and forever

You traded your sunshine to give me life
And for that I thank you
Livin', forgivin', I'll never forget
So I thank you