[INTRO] They told me to know my place... So I built my own. [VERSE 1] When you been broke Back against the rope And you're tryna hold onto hope You can't take two steps back When you're this close Frustration in my chest Pressure on my neck Overqualified Still they question every step Talking KPIs While I'm growing up the business Building up the whole machine While they calculate my limits Used to hunt me Now they play me Playin' with the money Then they wanna tell me Who I'm supposed to be Stealing ideas Then presenting my creation Changing how I speak For their own damn comfort Boardroom full of vultures Calling everybody brother Until the numbers hit the table Then nobody knows another No. [PRE-CHORUS] You don't get my time You don't get my mind You don't get my work Then pretend you paid me right You want my fire? You better pay the price. Know the value. Know the price. [CHORUS] R-E S-P E-C T ME! B-O S-S U-P! BOSS UP! R-E S-P E-C T ME! P-A Y U-P! PAY UP! [POST-CHORUS] RESPECT ME! BOSS UP! PAY UP! Boss up! Boss up! PAY UP! [VERSE 2] Maybe if I code switched They'd promote me Put my name upon the door Tell the world they really know me Maybe if I played the game Kept my mouth shut Maybe I'd be richer Maybe I'd be somebody else But I built the business Brought the profits through Then the layoffs came And suddenly the numbers changed Targeting the Black folks Targeting the brown folks Calling it efficiency While everybody knows They hide behind the data Say the numbers made the choice But numbers make excuses When the people lose their voice System built with glass ceilings Still pretending there's a rooftop Same chapter Different cover Same machine Different boardroom Funny how corporate life Can feel like corpse life Take your ideas Take your labor Take your time Take your fire Then wonder why You finally choose To become your own supplier [PRE-CHORUS 2] I don't need permission I don't need their approval I don't need a title To prove what I can do I know what I built. I know what I'm worth. And you know what it costs. [CHORUS] R-E S-P E-C T ME! B-O S-S U-P! BOSS UP! R-E S-P E-C T ME! P-A Y U-P! PAY UP! [BREAKDOWN] They taught me how to work. I learned how to build. They taught me how to follow. I learned how to lead. They taught me what I was worth. I decided what it cost. None of this shit Comes for free. PAY! [Hit] UP! PAY! UP! PAY UP! [VERSE 3] Hustler. Entrepreneur. Businessman. Let me show you what the difference is. Hustlers survive By any means Trying to feed their kids Entrepreneur Found a problem Found a way Turned an idea into a name Businessman Found a team Found a dream Built the whole machine Me? I've been all three. Employee days I couldn't sustain I'd rather see the checks With my business name Experience is IP. Know-how is IP. Every scar became a lesson Every lesson became a fee Pay me. You want the knowledge? Pay me. You want the vision? Pay me. You want the years That made the person Standing here? PAY ME! [FINAL BUILD] I built it. I earned it. I own it. You want my time? PAY UP! You want my vision? PAY UP! You want my work? PAY UP! RESPECT ME. [FINAL CHORUS] R-E S-P E-C T ME! B-O S-S U-P! BOSS UP! R-E S-P E-C T ME! P-A Y U-P! PAY UP! RESPECT ME! BOSS UP! PAY UP! [FINAL DROP] Boss up! Boss up! Boss up! Pay up! Pay up! PAY! UP! PAY UP! [OUTRO ] Know your value. Know your price. MABG Style signature ©
