[Intro] [soulful vocal sample with heavy reverb, electric piano, syncopated bass] [Verse 1] [male rap vocals, boom bap drum beat enters] I'm a composer writing in a composition A soldier fighting the world I'm forced to live in Me versus your goat, tell me what's the difference I don't say I'm the greatest 'cause niga that's a given A product of an environment that's been forgotten Reckless spending from all those years of window shopping The once laughed at kid is now doing the mocking The realest nigas have to move around me with caution I'm gang affiliated, a West Philly favorite A DMV native, her pussy's like Ukraine 'cause I'm rushing to invade it I'm better than any rapper sitting on your playlist I'm not critically acclaimed but I've never been ashamed And when you pave the road you're not restricted to a lane Nigas want to be cool 'cause everything they can gain Connection and respect just a few perks attached to my name I'm D-Rose with no injuries, Sean Taylor with no bullet hole Jesus Christ with no Judas, but there's so many snake nigas that I'm used to those I'm King Von with a new perspective, matter of fact I'm just Josh and it's still effective I work smarter not harder and I think progressive The biggest haters have to admit I'm quite impressive [Chorus] You really want fame? [vocal sample continues] I just want change You really want the spotlight? I just want my kids to remember my name [Outro] [drums drop out, vocal sample becomes more prominent] [electric piano chords, melodic bass fills] [clean electric guitar flourishes] [fade out] [verse] Used to count quarters just to fill up the tank Now I pull up and chill cuz I got money in the bank Them long nights taught me what I needed most Wasn’t money first it was faith and hope Kept my circle small, cause leeches love a dreamer Stayed up late at night no time to be a sleeper Used to run the block with the gang on my side, Hustlin’ every night was just a way to stay alive, But my kids looked up and I seen the real prize, Had to drop the streets so they never had to ride. Every door they closed I found another window Been knew I was gonna make it since days playing Nintendo I’m teaching them the lessons that I learned from the pain, Show ’em real strength ain’t measured by the money or the fame, Had to change my whole direction just to give ’em better days, My Homie caught a case, he was only seventeen, Another one got buried for he ever chased a dream. We was trying to make a dollar every single night, When survival is the mission, wrong starts looking right. Back then I was caught up, only thinking ’bout me, Gang ties had me moving like F the police Had a code with the crew, never go without your heat Nights full of reckless moves, days spent duckin’ heat, Only cared about survival, and which girl in my sheets I was numb to the damage, I was blind to the cost, Lost some people to the streets, felt the weight of the loss, Now I’m breaking those cycles, trying hard to rebuild, Giving my kids what I never knew a father should give, I can’t change what I did, but I can change how I live, So the man I am today is the lessons I give. I ain’t glorify the trenches, I survived it, that’s the difference, If my story save one person, then it all was worth the distance.
