It's been two years  man

Of  of  of waitin'  man
(Can it be I stayed away too long )
From my supporters and my fans
Man I know y'all been waitin'
Now it's finally here and thank you for your patience
The world's gone crazy since we last spoke
Bloodshed and war  the absence of hope
Shootin' at the school  economy's a joke
Homies on heroine  homies on coke
But can you even blame 'em
When they only tryin' to cope  damn
(Can it be I stayed away too long )
All these rappers wanna talk about is guns and dope
Don't they realize  we all at the end of our rope
The future all depends in the power of our quotes
The power of a pen  the power of a vote
The power of your words  the power of your voice
The power of America's the freedom of choice
We choose to do nothin'  we lose and we sufferin'
(Can it be )
That it's time to do somethin'
It's not socialism  it's not communism

It's lovin' each other  realize there's no difference
It's positive movement  gradual improvement
When no one else does believe you can do it
My heart is a speaker  I bleed this music
The beat's in my blood  I must transfuse it
If it wasn't for this  yeah I just might lose it  damn
(Can it be I stayed away too long )
My goddaughters  Nadia  Simone
Diana know when not our father's ever comin' home
Claim by the streets with them other war zone
Tears in my eyes as I'm writin' this song
Mommy workin' two jobs  tryin' to do it on her own
No matter where I go or how far I roam
Know that I love and you'll never be alone
(Can it be )
Damn  y'all so grown
And a  and a wise man told me  man like
(You don't have to worry 'cause I'm coming)
Life is like a table full of like glasses of water
(Back to where I should have always stayed)
And your job is to keep 'em all full
You know what I'm sayin'
So everyone's happy
(And now  I've heard the maybe to your story)
But at the same time
You gotta keep your pitcher full of water
So you could fill everybody else up
(And it's enough love for me to stay)
And it's like  damn

(Can it be I stayed away too long )
From the independent hip hop scene
Now they talkin' like how I'm not a hip hop fiend
Needle in my arm  can't they see I'm O D 'in
You'll never take the strife from this triple O G  in
I blaze trails  created festivals
Lost fifty G's on paid dues  is that acceptable
What  I'm not down for the cause
(Can it be )
Hold on Mike  I'ma need a few bars
I could've done the Nas and scream hip hop is dead
I got up off my ass and I did somethin' instead

Signed with the devil  brought the scene up a level
Killed the beast from within  I'm a born again rebel
Tryin' to save the youth from the way of the gun
And if I only save one then my job is done
So you can say what you will but you should judge me none
(Can it be I stayed away too long )
From my God  from my faith as I move place to place
Times I thought if I could just die it'd be great
Drop on the spot  man I didn't even care
I stopped talkin' to you  I stopped sayin' prayers
Numb from the liquor and the antidepressants
Pressure from the label  studio stressin'
Almost lost my passion to pursue this profession
(Can it be I stayed away too long )
From myself  from my soul when I'm out on the road
I give so much shout to these kids I don't know
I thought I lost you with no one to talk to
But you're the one that open up these doors that I walk through

I can't fault you  only forgive you
I'm the only one that seen the pain that you been through

The drama  the struggle that built all your issues
(Can it be I stayed away too long )
The drama  the struggle  that built all these issues
Is all just to make sure they never forget you
Did I leave your mind when I was gone

It's not my thing trying to get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at