Poppa Was a Playa

Song Poppa Was a Playa
Artist Nas
Album The Lost Tapes

Lyrics

[00:04.69] To My Nigga who brought me in this world
[00:08.77]
[00:09.98] Taught us right Nigga
[00:11.04]
[00:12.27] My old dad imported to the family structure
[00:14.76] Provide her God
[00:15.42]
[00:16.00] My moms a queen at university civaliza
[00:17.85]
[00:18.37] My pops maybe was late but always came home
[00:21.15]
[00:21.75] My moms would put us to bed and she would wait on
[00:25.03] Soon as he walk in the door she barking
[00:27.13] I turned out the Jonny Carson
[00:28.99] Jumped out the bed
[00:30.10] We grabbed both his legs
[00:31.32] Me and my brother
[00:32.46] Not knowing the pain he gave my mother
[00:34.37] Night after night, fighting yelling at each other
[00:36.40]
[00:37.26] My papa played the street all day
[00:39.43] Mama was either home, at work, while we played inside the hall way
[00:43.42] She sacrifices all she got to feed us
[00:45.63] When she was alone she cried by the phone pepping out the window heeding
[00:49.20]
[00:49.76] But still I didn't see it
[00:51.44] Mama hid it from us
[00:53.04] We was kids younger
[00:54.56] Till we got bigger, on to
[00:56.20] Bigger things that we knew what the time was
[00:58.31]
[00:59.20] That daddy was leaving the crib and moms love
[01:02.46] Papa was player, player wasn't papa
[01:04.62]
[01:05.30] Papa loved the ladies
[01:06.58] Never got enough of
[01:08.08] Pretty brown round
[01:08.86]
[01:09.47] Running round town (Shhhhh)
[01:11.49]
[01:12.09] Don't tell your mother what's going down
[01:13.89]
[01:14.48] Papa was player, player wasn't papa
[01:17.02]
[01:17.59] Papa loved the ladies
[01:19.17] Never got enough of
[01:20.77] Pretty brown round
[01:21.57]
[01:22.11] Running round town (Shhhhh)
[01:23.86] Don't tell your mother what's going down
[01:26.15]
[01:26.85] So many kids I knew, never knew what Pap was
[01:29.60] That's why I show my pop love
[01:31.26] He was still around when I fucked up
[01:32.87]
[01:33.62] He could have left
[01:34.71] My moms pregnant shock to death but stayed
[01:36.38] Watch me crawl till I took my first step, to the first grade
[01:39.24] To my first fist fight
[01:40.48] Right behind me he would stand
[01:42.23] No matter how big or tall he made me fight you like a man
[01:45.43] Throw dirt in your eye, swing my right scoop your ass and slam
[01:48.70] He watched me so I wouldn't get jumped by shorty's fam
[01:51.66] Roaches and weed all over my crib him and moms relaxing
[01:54.65]
[01:55.26] Next thing you know he packing
[01:56.88]
[01:57.73] So then I asked him
[01:59.03] What's this white shit on that plate and your facing?
[02:01.11] Papa why you butt ass from the waist
[02:02.90] And who's this lady I'm facing
[02:04.29] Dark skin you're not my mommy
[02:05.74] He grabbed me up to run some smooth words by me
[02:08.53] Promise things that he would buy me
[02:10.24] If I kept my mouth close and don't tell mommy
[02:12.72] He said one day I'll understand little me
[02:14.76] Was in you to side me
[02:16.55] Papa was player, player wasn't papa
[02:19.33]
[02:19.97] Papa loved the ladies
[02:21.31] Never got enough of
[02:22.91] Pretty brown round
[02:24.17] Running round town (Shhhhh)
[02:26.14]
[02:26.67] Don't tell your mother what's going down
[02:28.32]
[02:29.49] Papa was player, player wasn't papa
[02:31.46]
[02:32.34] Papa loved the ladies
[02:33.66] Never got enough of
[02:35.18] Pretty brown round
[02:37.04] Running round town (Shhhhh)
[02:39.15] Don't tell your mother what's going down
[02:40.86]
[02:41.85] Pop's told me hold my own
[02:43.79] Pop's told me value home
[02:45.15] Could I help it papa was a rolling stone
[02:47.24] Who loved the pretty brown round
[02:48.63] Out of town bound
[02:49.66] Jumping in his jazz Benz he touring
[02:51.46] At home I play his latest recordings
[02:53.65] And it's strange now how, I do my thing now
[02:56.38] I'm in the game now
[02:57.49] And heard of it his brain pow
[02:58.98] To pull strings and gain power
[03:00.29] From weed habits are same now
[03:01.68] No white lines to trumpets to tight rhymes
[03:03.38] And beats that be pumping
[03:04.82] Before he left he taught me something
[03:06.48] A child's young years the most important time to be there
[03:09.43] That's why he stayed till we grew up, respect is still here
[03:12.48] I'm older now see what having a father's about
[03:14.55]
[03:15.16] One day they can be in your life next day they be out
[03:18.63] It's not because of you, you know the deal
[03:20.82] Him and your moms feel
[03:21.98] If they stay together then someone will get killed
[03:24.71] I love you still
[03:25.71] Always will
[03:26.51] Cause that's my nigga
[03:27.42]
[03:27.94] Although you felt you was wrong
[03:29.57] I still feel you kid
[03:30.99] Life gose on
[03:31.74]