A Screwed Up True Story

You're 'bout to hear my screwed up true story
I hope inspires you to chase your glory
It's even tattooed as a daily reminder
That I came this far and know I'm a fighter
I was seeing therapists by 4 years old
For anger and violence I couldn't control
By 5, my mom gave me up for adoption
Stepdad sayin', "Now he ain't my problem!"
My real dad dyin', crippled and deafened
It's just how the brain tumors upped n' left'm

To talk to him, took sign language lessons
Two years later, he died, I was seven
My aunt adopted couldn't control me neither
She put me in homes, Doc said I needed
In there, they would beat us taking out their pain
I watched a kid die while he was getting restrained
One time cops came I was smilin'
Said I'd kill myself, so they put me in asylums
Was rapping to fit in, prevent the brawls

Then got kicked out after breakin' someone's jaw
After high school, I was livin' in a homeless shelter
'Cuz you'll freeze to death in that Chicago weather
Got kicked out of those, started running with gangs
In flophouses with bank robbers movin' cocaine
Police sent informants, they stole our thangs
Had to scatter before the door got banged
I was nineteen, angry, and lost regardless

Someone tested me, I caught two felony charges
Releasin' my music 'bout to blow up
Big drug dealer reached out, loved my stuff
Offered 200k to start labels and more
But before I got that, feds kicked the door
I kept toppin' music, refusin' to stop
Two months later, song finally popped
I was offered label deals by the biggest of names
But I was dumb, hard-headed, and refusin' to change

So fast I'd blown up, down I came
Spent years suicidal and repeatin' the chain
Started working, readin' books, and feedin' my brain
Breakin' my back like Batman when he fought Bane

Never want another artist feeling my pain
So I made Smart Rapper to explain the game
When I did, people called me stupid 'stead of my name
But now I've made so many artists, the industry changed

Now my music's exploding, I'm worth millions
Making plans to change the educational system
This song is for the kids nobody believes in
That's takin' them mental and physical beatin's
From a you in the future, take this message
There will be a million times when you feel rejected
That anger inside you will teach you lessons
But you can take that curse and make it a blessing, I promise

Ay, this one's for everybody, 'cause
They don't believe in anybody 'til we do it, right?
So, I want you to know
No matter how bad your life was
No matter how bad your life is in this moment man I don't
You know
I'm a screw-up man, I'm still a screw-up
Not a day goes by where I don't screw up
So if I could do it
You can too