| [00:02.10] |
Freedom or jail, clips inserted |
| [00:03.73] |
A baby's bein' born same time a man is murdered |
| [00:06.17] |
The beginning and end, so far as rap goes |
| [00:08.85] |
It's only natural, I explain my plateau |
| [00:10.87] |
And also what defines my name |
| [00:12.87] |
|
| [00:13.44] |
Yeah, long live the idols |
| [00:14.88] |
May they never be your rivals |
| [00:16.25] |
Pac was like Jesus |
| [00:17.64] |
Nas wrote the Bible |
| [00:19.08] |
Now what you're 'bout to |
| [00:20.46] |
Hear's a tale of glory and sin |
| [00:21.71] |
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin |
| [00:24.00] |
|
| [00:24.62] |
I used to print out Nas raps and tape 'em up on my wall |
| [00:27.24] |
My niggas thought they was words |
| [00:28.69] |
But it was pictures I saw |
| [00:30.19] |
And since I wanted to draw |
| [00:31.56] |
I used to read 'em in awe |
| [00:33.00] |
Then he dropped Stillmatic |
| [00:34.35] |
Rocked the cleanest Velour |
| [00:35.96] |
Fast forward, who thought |
| [00:37.33] |
That I would meet him on tour? |
| [00:38.72] |
I'm earnin' stripes now nigga |
| [00:39.72] |
Got Adidas galore |
| [00:40.77] |
|
| [00:41.51] |
Backstage I shook his hand |
| [00:43.08] |
Let him know that he's the man |
| [00:44.34] |
When he said he was a fan |
| [00:45.71] |
It was to hard to understand |
| [00:47.22] |
No time to soak up the moment though |
| [00:48.78] |
Cause I was in a jam |
| [00:49.97] |
Hov askin' where's the record |
| [00:51.03] |
That the radio could play |
| [00:52.87] |
And I was strikin' out for months |
| [00:54.12] |
9th inning feeling fear |
| [00:55.70] |
Jeter under pressure |
| [00:56.57] |
Made the biggest hit of my career |
| [00:58.51] |
But at first, that wasn't clear |
| [00:59.83] |
Niggas had no idea |
| [01:01.27] |
Dion called me when it dropped |
| [01:02.53] |
Sounded sad but sincere |
| [01:04.09] |
Told me Nas heard |
| [01:05.06] |
Your single and he hate that shit |
| [01:06.87] |
Said you the one, yo why you make that shit? |
| [01:08.80] |
I can't believe I let Nas down |
| [01:10.78] |
|
| [01:12.79] |
Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach |
| [01:14.86] |
I can't believe I let Nas down |
| [01:16.48] |
|
| [01:18.31] |
I got defensive on the phone |
| [01:19.49] |
Resentment was in my tone, f**k it |
| [01:22.01] |
Yeah, long live the idols |
| [01:22.81] |
May they never be your rivals |
| [01:23.84] |
Pac was like Jesus |
| [01:25.28] |
Nas wrote the Bible |
| [01:26.40] |
Now what you're 'bout to |
| [01:28.15] |
Hear's a tale of glory and sin |
| [01:29.79] |
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin |
| [01:32.22] |
I couldn't help but think |
| [01:33.42] |
That maybe I had made a mistake |
| [01:35.04] |
I mean, you made "You Owe Me" dog |
| [01:36.80] |
I thought that you could relate |
| [01:37.93] |
But while I shot up the charts |
| [01:39.26] |
You mean tellin' me |
| [01:40.76] |
That I was not up to par |
| [01:42.12] |
When I followed my heart |
| [01:43.19] |
Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind |
| [01:45.53] |
I kept on sayin' |
| [01:46.65] |
Where's the hits? |
| [01:47.21] |
You ain't got none |
| [01:48.16] |
You know Jay would never |
| [01:49.41] |
Put your album out without none |
| [01:50.62] |
And dog, you know how come |
| [01:52.24] |
Labels are archaic |
| [01:53.23] |
Formulaic with their outcomes |
| [01:55.86] |
They don't know |
| [01:56.42] |
They just study the charts |
| [01:57.48] |
Me, I study the shows |
| [01:58.93] |
The fans, study their hearts |
| [02:00.57] |
I had a feelin' I was killin' |
| [02:02.00] |
And this music we were spillin' out |
| [02:03.44] |
Would change lives forever |
| [02:04.27] |
F**k the label, put it out |
| [02:06.27] |
Friday Night Lights blew |
| [02:07.28] |
That was classic number 2 |
| [02:08.84] |
Now it seemed as if |
| [02:10.10] |
The Nas comparisons was comin' true |
| [02:11.54] |
Still no release date from the label |
| [02:13.23] |
Are they insane? |
| [02:14.73] |
Gooch told me play the game |
| [02:16.18] |
To change the game but on the way |
| [02:17.56] |
I let Nas down, I got noone to blame |
| [02:22.45] |
I'm ashamed I let Nas down |
| [02:24.00] |
|
| [02:26.58] |
But this is God's plan |
| [02:27.57] |
You could never understand, f**k it |
| [02:29.53] |
Yeah, long live the idols |
| [02:30.47] |
May they never be your rivals |
| [02:31.59] |
Pac was like Jesus |
| [02:32.96] |
Nas wrote the Bible |
| [02:34.36] |
Now what you're 'bout to |
| [02:36.11] |
Hear's a tale of glory and sin |
| [02:37.37] |
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin |
| [02:39.99] |
I always believed in the bigger picture |
| [02:41.32] |
If I could get them niggas |
| [02:42.88] |
To listen outside my core |
| [02:44.19] |
Then I can open a door |
| [02:45.62] |
Reintroduce 'em to honesty |
| [02:46.60] |
Show 'em that they need more |
| [02:48.65] |
The difference between |
| [02:49.48] |
The pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars |
| [02:51.41] |
And so, I took the fall like the son of the Lord |
| [02:54.17] |
On the cross |
| [02:54.99] |
Dyin' for that fake shit you niggas bought |
| [02:57.12] |
For the past decade |
| [02:58.06] |
If I should pass please let this be my last essay |
| [03:00.88] |
Therefore I write from the heart |
| [03:02.71] |
Apologies to OG's for sacrificin' my art |
| [03:05.37] |
But I'm here for a greater purpose |
| [03:06.93] |
I knew right from the start |
| [03:08.20] |
I'm just a man of the people |
| [03:09.69] |
Not above but equal |
| [03:11.20] |
And for the greater good |
| [03:12.45] |
I walk amongst the evil |
| [03:14.03] |
Don't cry mama |
| [03:15.03] |
This the life I choose myself |
| [03:16.73] |
Just pray along the way |
| [03:18.10] |
That I don't lose myself |
| [03:19.61] |
This is for the nigga |
| [03:20.61] |
That said that hip-hop was dead |
| [03:22.45] |
I went to Hell to resurrect it |
| [03:23.77] |
How could you fail to respect it? |
| [03:25.26] |
Lettin' Nas down |
| [03:26.26] |
|
| [03:28.52] |
I got the phone call |
| [03:29.52] |
Quietly I mourned dog |
| [03:30.89] |
I let Nas down |
| [03:32.13] |
|
| [03:33.00] |
Yeah, and on this flight |
| [03:35.19] |
May I never lose sight, f**k it |
| [03:37.33] |
Yeah, long live the idols |
| [03:38.20] |
May they never be your rivals |
| [03:39.42] |
Pac was like Jesus |
| [03:40.92] |
Nas wrote the Bible |
| [03:42.43] |
Now what you're 'bout to |
| [03:43.55] |
Hear's a tale of glory and sin |
| [03:45.24] |
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin |
