Round of Applause

(K.E. on the track)
This is for all my folks who got legal jobs
We beat the odds, you feel me?

We ain't supposed to be here, never thought we see it
Now we living proof, tell the world to believe it, yeah
Congratulations, thank God we made it
They told us we was nothing, now I know they hate it
Round of applause, round of applause
Congratulations, we beat them odds
Round of applause, round of applause
Congratulations, we beat them odds

I ain't supposed to be nothing but a dope dealer, but a hope killer
Supposed to brag on the guns and the coke kilo's
Dropping mollies in a Coke Zero
Ashamed of my education, then I'm finally off probation
Then I quit smoking, got a wife and kids, and I'm a real father, no faking
See, I'm a black man who beat them odds
Supposed to be locked up with no job
Never shoulda went to college or learned who God is
You add it up, it's all odd

See, I never knew my pops
I been abused, ran from the cops
I went to school, high on them crops
Wasn't a thug, never been shot
Running from God, man, turning my back
Never woulda made it, Marvin Sapp
But He opened up my eyes and I can't look back
While they look surprised, I just tip my cap

Yeah, he did it (yeah), he did it (yeah)
He changed me and I'm with it
He made me what I'm supposed to be
You get close to me, you might get it

We ain't supposed to be here, never thought we see it
Now we living proof, tell the world to believe it, yeah
Congratulations, thank God we made it (but instead, I'm sharing my gift to the world)
They told us we was nothing, now I know they hate it (turn up)
Round of applause (uh), round of applause (yeah)
Congratulations, we beat them odds (yeah)
Round of applause (whoo), round of applause (yeah)
Congratulations, we beat them odds

Now she used to strip at Onyx
Working her way through college (huh)
Tryna put food in her son's mouth
On a pole for them dollars
She was looking for some solace
Told the Lord, I promise I'm heading to the hills with my heels on
Where the feels ain't a touch to the billfolds

No copping feels from no Uncle Phil's, just Phil Jackson coach her
And get her out that game where they losing they dignity for a Coach purse
No skirts, just, "Skrrt", found another way around a real worth
And left that fine establishment
It's like her whole life is having a growth spurt

She out the game, and they hate it, mad at her, she made it (haters)
They ain't nothing but some shellfish in a bucket
Probably get crabs if you touch it
Now she graduated from college, scratch that, graduated with honors
Little man got a little cap and gown, look at him matching his mama, yeah!

We ain't supposed to be here, never thought we see it (round of applause for all the ladies out there)
Now we living proof, tell the world to believe it, yeah (who wouldn't let anybody tell 'em what they could and couldn't be)
Congratulations, thank God we made it (and they kept they dignity while doing it, congratulations)
They told us we was nothing, now I know they hate it (I'm proud of you, mama, yeah)
Round of applause (uh), round of applause (yeah)
Congratulations, we beat them odds (yeah)
Round of applause (whoo), round of applause (yeah)
Congratulations, we beat them odds