[00:01.51]It's been two years  man
[00:03.57]
[00:05.29]Of  of  of waitin'  man
[00:10.81](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[00:13.15]From my supporters and my fans
[00:14.33]Man I know y'all been waitin'
[00:15.42]Now it's finally here and thank you for your patience
[00:18.13]The world's gone crazy since we last spoke
[00:20.80]Bloodshed and war  the absence of hope
[00:23.26]Shootin' at the school  economy's a joke
[00:25.94]Homies on heroine  homies on coke
[00:28.44]But can you even blame 'em
[00:29.75]When they only tryin' to cope  damn
[00:31.29](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[00:33.78]All these rappers wanna talk about is guns and dope
[00:35.97]Don't they realize  we all at the end of our rope
[00:38.62]The future all depends in the power of our quotes
[00:41.27]The power of a pen  the power of a vote
[00:43.78]The power of your words  the power of your voice
[00:46.37]The power of America's the freedom of choice
[00:49.00]We choose to do nothin'  we lose and we sufferin'
[00:51.60](Can it be )
[00:52.65]That it's time to do somethin'
[00:54.42]It's not socialism  it's not communism
[00:56.17]
[00:56.74]It's lovin' each other  realize there's no difference
[00:59.44]It's positive movement  gradual improvement
[01:02.04]When no one else does believe you can do it
[01:04.52]My heart is a speaker  I bleed this music
[01:07.13]The beat's in my blood  I must transfuse it
[01:09.76]If it wasn't for this  yeah I just might lose it  damn
[01:12.68](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[01:15.16]My goddaughters  Nadia  Simone
[01:17.49]Diana know when not our father's ever comin' home
[01:20.08]Claim by the streets with them other war zone
[01:22.66]Tears in my eyes as I'm writin' this song
[01:25.22]Mommy workin' two jobs  tryin' to do it on her own
[01:27.81]No matter where I go or how far I roam
[01:30.40]Know that I love and you'll never be alone
[01:32.97](Can it be )
[01:34.08]Damn  y'all so grown
[01:36.03]And a  and a wise man told me  man like
[01:37.81](You don't have to worry 'cause I'm coming)
[01:39.31]Life is like a table full of like glasses of water
[01:41.76](Back to where I should have always stayed)
[01:43.47]And your job is to keep 'em all full
[01:45.37]You know what I'm sayin'
[01:46.60]So everyone's happy
[01:47.28](And now  I've heard the maybe to your story)
[01:47.95]But at the same time
[01:49.77]You gotta keep your pitcher full of water
[01:51.40]So you could fill everybody else up
[01:52.74](And it's enough love for me to stay)
[01:54.18]And it's like  damn
[01:55.15]
[01:56.52](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[01:59.18]From the independent hip hop scene
[02:01.26]Now they talkin' like how I'm not a hip hop fiend
[02:03.99]Needle in my arm  can't they see I'm O D 'in
[02:06.58]You'll never take the strife from this triple O G  in
[02:09.08]I blaze trails  created festivals
[02:11.90]Lost fifty G's on paid dues  is that acceptable
[02:14.72]What  I'm not down for the cause
[02:16.88](Can it be )
[02:18.02]Hold on Mike  I'ma need a few bars
[02:19.56]I could've done the Nas and scream hip hop is dead
[02:22.09]I got up off my ass and I did somethin' instead
[02:24.01]
[02:24.67]Signed with the devil  brought the scene up a level
[02:27.15]Killed the beast from within  I'm a born again rebel
[02:29.78]Tryin' to save the youth from the way of the gun
[02:32.27]And if I only save one then my job is done
[02:34.71]So you can say what you will but you should judge me none
[02:37.49](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[02:40.22]From my God  from my faith as I move place to place
[02:42.61]Times I thought if I could just die it'd be great
[02:45.32]Drop on the spot  man I didn't even care
[02:47.79]I stopped talkin' to you  I stopped sayin' prayers
[02:50.35]Numb from the liquor and the antidepressants
[02:52.86]Pressure from the label  studio stressin'
[02:55.71]Almost lost my passion to pursue this profession
[02:58.13](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[03:00.85]From myself  from my soul when I'm out on the road
[03:03.31]I give so much shout to these kids I don't know
[03:06.24]I thought I lost you with no one to talk to
[03:08.45]But you're the one that open up these doors that I walk through
[03:10.94]
[03:11.51]I can't fault you  only forgive you
[03:13.64]I'm the only one that seen the pain that you been through
[03:15.79]
[03:16.45]The drama  the struggle that built all your issues
[03:18.85](Can it be I stayed away too long )
[03:21.53]The drama  the struggle  that built all these issues
[03:23.98]Is all just to make sure they never forget you
[03:26.49]Did I leave your mind when I was gone
[03:29.51]
[03:32.02]It's not my thing trying to get back
[03:37.00]But this time let me tell you where I'm at