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"