Damn (Introduction)

Yeah, yeah
Start this shit off
You see
Ha, this is
Far from the first time I been thinking 'bout that first line
Could probably date it back to '09
When number twenty-four brought that title to the city for the fourth time
My dad reminscin' 'bout the old times, growing up during Showtime
He always said that
"Life goes in cycles"
I can't deny I heard him most times
Herer got me thinkin' back to those times
While I got the smoke sneakin' all up through the closed blinds
And I been talking out my ass so much that she won't pay me no mind
Funny thing is, if I'm talking out my ass right now
I been talking all this shit for the whole time
And that's a joke but it's no lie
Forreal
Forreal
Yeah
Look
Imagine finally tryna swing and life throw you a curve
Imagine growing into wings and then you fall for a bird
Imagine paying off your rent 'cause you playing with words
When you was skipping every meal every week of the first
Damn
But all we ever knew was the work, see
And daddy always told me that I don't got it worst
Cause, it's a thin line between blessing and curse
But if you can't tell 'em part you better check with the church, on God
I was all about my Chicken at first
Until I wondered why that bread ain't quenching my thirst
Like we was at the Popeye's between Howard and Birch
A lot of niggas plant seeds and don't water the dirt
God gotta talk to em first
You can't hear Him, then I know you ain't hearing the verse
And if you looking for a check you gon' stay on the search
'Cause it don't ever make sense while you building your worth, nigga
Lemme say that shit again
You looking for a check you gon' stay on the search
'Cause it don't ever make sense while you building your worth, nigga

Why not?
Why can't I be the MVP of the league
Why can't I be the best player in the league?
I don't see why, why?

Look
On my granny grave you ain't gon play me for no fool
I got my family on my back, with my city in my shoes
I got a million on my mind, I got everything to lose
If I can't make it happen then I'm passing it to you
Look
A slim chance that I stand right here
Man I been thinking 'bout my life at this time last year
And the year before that saw my last few tears
'Cause letting down my own blood is my last few fears, on God
I'm just praying that it's more for me
More stories, with more glory
See what they selling online, that's a bore to me
But God keeping something tucked in the store for me
Ha, yeah
And I know at any moment, I could lose it all
See but since I follow God, I would trust the fall
Right back into my pocket like they hiked the ball
Big deuce all across my body like LaMelo Ball
Deal with all my shit up at the crib cause I never stall
Thinking like, 'fore a nigga make it who am I to y'all?
Take me back to 2010 Mardi Gras
Momma wouldn't let me leave the room if it was after dark
Should've known I can't relate with y'all
Me and mine shed blood, sweat and tears at the park
Have a varsity game, quick change hit the mall
I always been the one that's been involved
Yeah
Trusting God got my funding up
Dini called it '09 how we coming up
You put a nigga in my shoes, think he done enough
Think I'm on the train of thought and it's run amok

Why can't I do that?
Um, I think I work hard
Um, I think I dedicate myself to the game
And sacrifice a lot of things at a young age
And I know if I continue to like, do good, like
What I could get out of it
And if that's me going out, doing whatever
I'm willing to do it because
I know that in the long run
It's gonna help me