Killa, it's The Off-Season

Let's keep it tall, y'all ain't fuckin' with my man

And don't check your watch, you know the time

Cole World, Killa Cam, niggas is fuckin' finished (yeah)

This shit too easy for me now

Nigga, Cole been goin' plat' since back when CDs was around

What you sold, I tripled that, I can't believe these fuckin' clowns

Look how everybody clappin' when your thirty-song album do a measly hundred thou'

If I'm bettin' on myself, then I'll completely double down

If you hated on a nigga, please don't greet me with a pound

I be stayin' out the way, but if the beef do come around

Could put a M right on your head, you Luigi brother now

Trace my steps all in this game, you could see we cover ground

Back and forth from NC to New York when Jeezy had the crown

Vivid memories, niggas start to squeeze, we duckin' down

So many shells left on the ground, it make the Easter Bunny proud

I get up, dust my clothes off, sleep is the cousin of death

No plans to doze off, the streets, it don't come with a ref

I never sold soft, just creeped where the hustlers crept

And got they O's off, you reach, niggas uppin' like Steph

To blow your nose off, gesundheit, and then resume flight

As if it never happened, shit we witnessed full of so much sickness

Angels sheddin' tears in Heaven, word to Eric Clapton

Off this clever rapping, bitch, my pockets gon' forever fatten

They gon' forever fatten

See, we tried to tell niggas

They act like they don't even fuckin' speak English

Bitch, my pen to the paper's lethal

I'm sendin' 'em straight to meet the

The nigga that made them peep the reaper

Creepin' on ya, the scent of failure reekin' on ya

Check your genitalia, pussy-niggas bleedin' on yourself

Fuckin' with Cole is bold, but it's impedin' on your health

All yo' niggas eatin' off your wealth

All my niggas feedin' all they selves, and it feels swell

Krispy Kreme dreams, sometime my dawgs wanna kill twelve (uh)

Cause they steady harassin'

We seen dilemmas like Nelly and Kelly that end in the deadliest fashion

My young niggas nutty, they blastin'

Bullets be hummin' like Cudi but one of yo' hoodies Spaghetti-O splashin'

All over the driveway, y'all talkin' all sideways

Shots poppin' off, y'all laid down

Cops chalkin' off y'all legs now

(Shit) God watchin', "Hey, Yahweh"

My niggas looked up to the sky like we sendin' 'em y'all way (y'all way)

We sendin''em y'all way (y'all way)

That's what the fuck I'm talkin' 'bout

Y'all see what the fuck goin' on out here

Killa, Harlem

I-95 shit, Carolina, 2-6, stand up, nigga

Put your hood up

Put your hood up

Put your hood up

Put your hood up

Put your clique up

Put your clique up

Put your clique up

Put your clique up

Represent your shit, motherfucker

Represent your shit, motherfucker

Represent your clique, motherfucker

Represent your clique, motherfucker

If you scared to throw it up, get the fuck out the club

If you scared to throw it up, get the fuck out the club

Bada-ba, bada-ba, bada-ba, da-da

Off-Season

Let's work, hey

Plottin' my escape, this game ridin'-ridin' faith

Got a couple M's hidin' in the safe

Imagination turned a Honda into Wraith

I was doin' 80 on the interstate

Tryna make it back before my class started

Country n- never seen a passport

Til I popped off and got a bag for it

Now I'm at the Gardens sittin' half court

Watchin' Jr. catch it off the backboard

Ville n- never seen nothin'

Cept a triple-triple bean jumpin'

Good-good leave a fiend crumpin'

Made it out, it gotta mean somethin'

Either you gon' hustle hard

A n- Uncle Sam got your a- re-enlisting

Two-six, murder scene pumpin'

Better leave it tucked, 'cause y'ain't dumpin'

Pow, pow, n-, he slumpy

12 comin', we ain't seen nothin'

Time change, n- ain't rumblin' no more

Nah, what for? Hungry for more

If you solo these vocals, listen close and you can hear grumblin'

Bow-tie and I'm still munchin'

Big bag, never fear fumblin'

Want smoke? N- don't choke

I'm a whole nico-nicotine company

Dreamville the only, not a Navy

How could you ever try to play me?

Kill 'em on a song walk up out the booth

Do the Westbrook rock-a-baby

I never fall out with the bro

Hate when your family turn into foe

We had a penthouse on the road

Interior decorated with the h-

Just like a multiple-choice getting chose

My n- like "Eenie, meenie, minee, moe"

Scoop up a dime-piece like we homeless

Then we gon' send 'em back pigeon-toed

Out of the concrete was a rose and windows was cold

Had to go over and stand by the stove

We from the Southeast, n- know

This where the opps creep real slow

Won't vote but they mob deep with the poles

I punch the time sheet, not no more

And now my assigned seat is a throne

Plottin' my escape, this game ridin'-ridin' faith

Got a couple M's hidin' in the safe

Imagination turned a Honda into Wraith

I was doin' 80 on the interstate

Tryna make it back before my class started

Country n- never seen a passport

Til I popped off and got a bag for it

Now I'm at the Gardens sittin' half court

Watchin' Jr. catch it off the backboard

Ville n- never seen nothin'

Cept a triple-triple bean jumpin'

Good-good leave a fiend crumpin'

Made it out, it gotta mean somethin'

Made it out, it gotta mean somethin'

Made it out, it gotta mean somethin'

Bada-ba, bada-ba, bada-ba, ah-ah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

(Oh, Lord)

(No matter how, no matter how long it take, yeah)

No matter how long it take, nigga

(Oh, Lord, oh, yeah)

(You better be)

Spiralin' up, just like a rich nigga staircase (staircase)

No fly zone, please stay the fuck out my airspace (out my face)

Niggas say things behind backs that they wouldn't dare say (dare say)

Know it's on sight when I see you, I'm workin' at Squarespace

Yeah, top of the mornin', I know that you thought I was dormant

Woke up early from shots that were swarmin'

A block full of opps, now the cops in an orbit

Guess somebody got popped, now they knockin' on doors

Tryna find an informant but I ain't see Nathan

I'm mindin' my business as God is my witness

No weapon gon' prosper that's formin' against me

Nigga, I'm starvin', immensely

Know when I'm done with these songs, you gon' miss me

Ja Morant, I'm on my Grizzly

You niggas just cubs but no, not the ones in the big leagues

After The Fall Off, I promise I'm comin' and sellin' out Wrigley's

Nigga, I'm just a product of poverty, full of narcotics to profit off quickly

My family tree got a history of users that struggle with demons

Not really the hustler instincts

Therefore, often, my pockets was empty

So while some of my partners was servin' up rocks on the corners, the project assemblies

Me, I was startin' to envy, wanna be on the top where it's plenty

Wanna be in the spot like where every bitch want me like Rihanna droppin' new Fenty

What I see in the sky, the 'Ville is the ceilin', can't reach up too high, evidently

Nah, shit, I can't reach up too high, evidently

Never seen no one drivin' a Bentley

I can't be out here moppin' up Wendy's

My life is all I have

My rhymes, my pen, my pad

And I done made it out the struggle, don't judge me

What you're sayin' now won't budge me

Cause where I come from (come from), so often (so often)

People you grow up with layin' in a coffin

But I done made it through the pain and strife

It's my time now, my world, my life, my life

Say what? The stuff that I've seen got me traumatized

I let the K go when Johnny died

Swangin' that muhfucka' side to side

We don't participate, ain't with that squashin' shit, all we believe in is homicides

I got a good heart, so I send teddy bears every time we make they mamas cry

I pray that my past ain't ahead of me (21)

When I'm in love, I love heavily (on God)

If you betray me, you dead to me (21)

I disrespect you respectfully (straight up)

I got some partners who left this Earth

Maybe the pain made a better me (on God)

Just know that they secrets is kept with me (on God)

I feel like the streets is in debt with me (straight up)

I gave my heart away to all the dawg hoes 'cause that's who accepted me (21)

I blame my pops for that shit 'cause if he didn't fail, he could've corrected me (21)

Give all the props to my mama 'cause no matter what, she always protected me (on God)

I promise you, it ain't no checkin' me (on God)

Jump in the water, get wet with me (straight up, 21, 21)

You want my money or wanna have sex with me?

Can't let the opps or the law get the best of me

I get to answerin', you get to textin' me

I see chicken, you niggas is breast to me

Planted a seed but it ain't a sesame

Can't let you niggas or bitches grow next to me

My life is all I have

My rhymes, my pen, my pad

And I done made it out the struggle, don't judge me

What you're sayin' now won't budge me

Cause where I come from (come from), so often (so often)

People you grow up with layin' in a coffin

But I done made it through the pain and strife

It's my time now, my world, my life, my life

Yeah (yeah)

Yeah, nigga (one two, one two, one)

The Off-Season (one two, one two, one two, one)

The Off-Season, nigga

We offing niggas (ayy, that's right)

The fuck you talkin' 'bout? (That's right, ayy)

Offing niggas (yeah, hey, yeah)

(Vocal up a little more, hey)

Uh, applying pressure

Started my grind where crime festers

And nines showing like they in they second trimesters (pregnant)

That's why when niggas throw a shot or two online

I pay no mind to their benign gestures (mm)

Nigga, please, I got my mind on much bigger things to say the least

My latest beat just sound like they was released by David East (what up East?)

Verses hit hard, never pitched hard or played the streets

These niggas' whips hard, behind closed doors, can't pay the lease (uh)

Ain't nothin' wrong with livin' check to check 'cause most have to (I understand that)

Instead of cappin', why don't you talk about being a broke rapper? (I don't understand that)

That's a perspective I respect because it's real

What it's like to be nice as fuck but got to stress to pay the bills

That was me in '08, seein' no cake

Not even on dates I celebrated my birth

Just did the mental math and calculated my worth

Shit crazy, didn't know I got more M's than a real Slim Shady video

(I'm the real Shady)

Big Boss, less Rick Ross, more like a wavy Hideo

Kojima, they tote steamers around the way we tippy-toe

Round crack vials and cold-blooded killers, no reptiles

Just projectiles, from niggas salty you rockin' the fresher textiles

I seen best pals grow up and switch (I hate to see it)

Sometimes over a couple dollars, more often over a bitch (ah, I hate to see it)

I can cap and say that I never scratched my jealousy's itch

But thank God I conquered that 'cause if not I'd never be rich

Envy keep your pockets empty, so just focus on you

If you broke and clownin' a millionaire, the joke is on you

Money ain't everything, I never say that (never)

But niggas throw stones knowin' they sell soul to get wherever they at (come on, man)

Just know these verses is some shit they gon' forever playback, nigga (come on, nigga)

Hell yeah (ooh)

Fuck, you know what it is nigga

Don't even dare

Niggas try to act like they don't, bitch

That's why I gotta flex sometimes

Cause niggas just try to act like you just not that motherfuckin' nigga, like

Like you just really don't do it how you do it

Like, niggas will really try to act like you don't do what you do

Nigga look you dead in your face

And really act like you don't do it to the level that you do it

That's why sometimes you gotta come through

And just do it at the level that you do it in front of every nigga face

So they know the difference between you, the real niggas

And the mothafuckin' fraudulent niggas, man

Don't never get it fucked up

If a nigga can't do it like you do it

Sometimes you gotta do it in front of his fuckin' face so he'll know forever

Damn, that nigga did it how I always wanted to do it And I'll never be able to do it like that

Bitch it's a difference (ah)

(These are the same ones telling our people)

(That we are where we are because we're just not working hard enough)

(And that mentality is what we're up against today)

(But this is good to know because this time, when we march on the Capitol)

(You can go ahead and let 'em know before we get there)

(We're coming to get that check)

It ain't nothing I want more

Ain't nothing I want more

I ain't c-

I told you, when I first came here, I said, "I ain't come here to waste my time"

I came here

They gave us a chance to get in, like we asked for

And that's, that's what we here to do

(Yeah, nigga, 26)

The job still ain't done

(Straight up)

But I, I said, "You, you know what I'm here for"

Back on top, punchin' the clock, clutchin' sanity

I got more cribs than Habitat for Humanity

Shit profound, we propagating more profanity

Paid off collections from recollections of calamity (oh shit, look, that nigga gonna shoot)

The shit pop off, I learned to duck under the canopy (oh shit, run, nigga, run)

Til it cool off, they murked a nigga right in front of me

Told him to come off his chain for tryna floss

Died over a cross just like the start of Christianity

When I was a boy, the teacher often reprimanded me (Jermaine)

Thought it was toys, it was a Glock this nigga handed me

I busted the trees, was barely strong enough to squeeze

Bullets traveled through leaves, it probably killed somebody randomly

Ran in the crib and played it off amongst the family

Nightmare scenes, the police finally apprehended me

Woke up screamin', seen a demon had his hand on me

Still sport the scar on my arm from where he branded me

Like a Que Dog, my niggas burnin' with the mute off

Loud pack smoke through the cracks, I catch a contact

Triggerin' a paranoid mindset, now I'm back

Teeterin' between enlightened and insanity

Now that I'm rich, I feel nobody understandin' me

All I can do is cut the mic on, holler at you

Can't let the fame scare me off from speaking candidly

All them niggas is so Kane, they started singin' like Danity

Now I'm left here, paid like I planned to be, damn

A lot of times, those situations are, um, are handled way before the time comes

In the summer, I think when you truly prepare yourself, and

With training and conditioning, and things like that

When you cheat yourself, you fail in those moments

You know, you crash, and when you really put the time in and

Whether people see it, or whether people know it or not

You know, it always come to light

How come a nigga ain't enter his prime?

Still gettin' better after all this time

These niggas say that they killers, they lyin'

Only thing I see 'em killin' is time

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

Never peddled rock, never said a lot, only what need to be said

Got a little guap, when you get a lot, won't no bitch leave you on read

Don't push me, nigga, my feet on the ledge

This game is like follow the leader

If you looking closely enough, then you'll see that I led

The moves that I made, the people I fed, the evil I ducked

They minds is too feeble, they lean on they crutch

I'm bleeding from fighting my demons head up

When I get defeated, believe I get up

I come from a city most niggas ain't heard of

Until they popped in my first CD, now look

I'm on that Mount Rushmore, you niggas can't front no more

Bitch, I'ma reign until FEMA show up

When shots got to ringing, like freedom, I ducked

E&J fell out my cup

Them bullets fly by, that shit sober you up

I'm proud of my niggas, they never switched up

Don't care if it's Michael B. Jordan that's calling my woman to fuck

She ain't gon' never pick up

Sadly, I can't say the same for you niggas

A couple of dollars be changing you niggas

I pray for you niggas, but

How come a nigga ain't enter his prime?

Still gettin' better after all this time

These niggas say that they killers, they lyin'

Only thing I see them killing is time

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the, uh

It's not 'bout the money, it's more about time

Shit makes sense when you see how I spend mine

Burst through the ceiling, I'm feeling sublime

Can't leave the game yet, I feel like LeBron

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the, uh

How come a nigga ain't enter his prime?

Still gettin' better after all this time

These niggas say that they killers, they lyin'

Only thing I see 'em killin' is time

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

One hundred mil' and I'm still on the grind

Ooh, one hundred mil' and I'm still

One hundred mil' and I'm still

One hundred mil' and I'm still

One hundred mil' and I'm still (ooh-whoa)

One hundred mil' and I'm still

One hundred mil' and I'm still (and I'm still)

One hundred mil' and I'm still (and I'm still)

One hundred mil' and I'm still (ooh-whoa)

One hundred mil' and I'm still

Uh

Pride is the Devil

Think it got a hold on me

Pride is the Devil

It left so many R.I.P.

Pride is the Devil

Think it got a hold on me

Pride is the Devil, yeah, uh

Terrified, paranoid

I'll put you over everything to fill the void

And when you're gone, will I have anything?

Or will I be destroyed? Uh

Terrified, paranoid

I'll put you over everything to fill the void

And when you're gone, will I have anything?

Or will I be destroyed? Yeah

Bright lights pass me in the city, it's emergency

I'm thankful 'cause I made it past my 30s, no one murdered me

Still remember vividly the n- that pulled a gun on me

I'm petrified, but movin' like I got no sense of urgency

Pride make a n- act way harder than he really be

Pride hide the shame when city cut off all utilities

Pride hide the pain of growing up inhalling poverty

Pride make a n- feel the way that you would follow me

Make a n- flash a thousand like he hit the lottery

Make a baby mama make sh- harder than it gotta be

Make you have to take the b- to court to see your prodigy

Make you have to use your last resort and pull a robbery

Pride be the reason for the family dichotomy

Got uncles and some aunties that's too proud to give apologies

Slowly realizing what the root of all my problems be

It got me feeling different when somebody say they proud of me

Pride is the Devil, uh

I think it got a hold on me

Pride is the Devil, uh

And it left so many R.I.P.

Pride is the Devil

I think it got a hold on me

Pride is the Devil, uh, yeah

Terrified, paranoid

I'll put you over everything to fill the void

And when you're gone, will I have anything?

Or will I be destroyed? Uh

Terrified, paranoid

I'll put you over everything to fill the void

And when you're gone, will I have anything?

Or will I be destroyed? Yeah

Too much money to count, what's the amount?

Check never bounce

I gotta pay a n- to add it up

Then pay somebody to make sure whatever amount he say, he can back it up

Got racks on racks, I'm rackin' up, stackin' up

You're reachin', I'm actin' up

Break it down, weigh it up, now bag it up

Makin' five a month, that's regular

N- playin' with us, that's a negative

Go back to the start, that's never

I'm a boss, my closet leather

Ain't no off-days on my schedule

Long as I live, we live forever

Told my twin this sh- get better

These n- don't slipped, let me get ahead of 'em

Got my feet up, I paid silly bands to have s- on the jet

I don't need 'em, that sh- in the past

I'm feelin' like what's next

Got my speed up, foot all on the gas

This not a C8 'Vette

I can beat 'em, I believe in me

Just tell me what's the bet

All my pride gone, had to lose it all then I got rich

I own five homes, glad some of this sh- startin' to make sense

I'm stayin' hella focused and I can't forget the bigger picture

I can't even hold you, I didn't have sh-, I won't forget it

Will I be destroyed?

Come to me with everything, it's startin' to get annoyin'

I'm addicted to p-, it's crazy, yeah, I know it

All this money comin' in, it drive me crazy not to show it

I'll be crazy if I blow it

Pride is the Devil, uh

I think it got a hold on me

Pride is the Devil, uh

And it left so many R.I.P.

Pride is the Devil

I think it got a hold on me

Pride is the Devil, uh

… Soldier's song, marching on, on

Hoping to see home

If I die before I

See your smile just one more time

… Sometimes I question whether this shit matters

Puttin' substance into something and the world's so used to instant gratification

I found this instrumental on my phone while on vacation

Ib sent it a year ago or so

I probably heard it before, but slept on it, you know?

Shit don't always connect as soon as you press play

At times you gotta step away, do some livin'

Let time provide a new prescription, givin' truer vision

I dibble-dabble in a few religions

My homie constantly telling me 'bout Quran, puttin' me on

I read a few pages and recognize the wisdom in it

But I ain't got the discipline for stickin' with it

Now I'm on the way to London, got a show for seven digits

I'm wonderin' just when did I become my biggest critic?

I wanna be my biggest fan, like how I was when didn't nobody know my jams

Today my son said, "Dad, let go my hand"

Reminded me one day he's gonna be his own man

And my job is to make sure he's equipped

I gotta make sure he not no bitch 'cause niggas bound to try him

If I said I was the toughest growin' up, I would be lyin'

I had a fear of gettin' punched while everybody eyein'

Add to that a constant fear of dyin'

By gunshot wound, or other violent type of endings

I kept a tough demeanor on the surface but was mostly just pretendin'

Luckily my bluff was workin' way more often than not

But sometimes a nigga pulled my card, tryna expose me for a fraud

And with my reputation at stake

I was scufflin' just to save face

Couple wins, couple losses, some broken up too quick to call it

My last scrap was with Puff Daddy, who would've thought it?

I bought that nigga album in seventh grade and played it so much

You would've thought my favorite rapper was Puff

Back then I ain't know shit, now I know too much

Ignorance is bliss and innocence is just ignorance before it's introduced to currency and clips

Or bad licks that have a nigga servin' three to six, shit

… Soldier's song, marching on, on

Hoping to see home

If I die before I

See your smile just one more time

… Soldier's song

I could be one to lean on

Time will right them wrongs

Won't be long

How can we grow any closer?

How can we grow any closer?

How can we grow any closer?

How can we grow any closer?

Something inside of me's tryna crawl up to the surface

Something is suddenly smothering, stopping me

Stubbornly getting its way (way), way (way)

Drowning out the wave (drowning out)

I've got a reason to believe that I'll turn out just fine

Soldier's song

… Lord, please guide our steps

Watch us, cover us

So that every move we make is in alignment with Your will

Your purpose

Please fill us with Your spirit

Keep us forever in the present

For presence makes the strongest fathers

Teach us how to lead

Show us how to love

I'm drivin', nigga as soon as I get the text we all in the car like,

Ahh, yeah nigga, we out here nigga, yeah nigga!

So we goin' crazy, we goin' crazy as fuck, we like super excited

Dog, ten seconds later, all I see in the back and hear is "woop woop, "

Blue lights right behind me, the fuckin' undercover car, of all things

So I'm like fuck. I knew right away what it was

Dawg, for the, for two and a half maybe three years before that, in New York,

I was drivin' dirty, my license was no good

Dawg, how 'bout the moment I found out I was gon' get the deal

A fuckin' cop got behind me and I already knew what it was

I handled it so like, I handled it the best way you could ever go to jail like I went to jail knowin',

Bitch like, ah know what I'm sayin'?

I'm in there dog, spendin' the night in jail realizin', like, these niggas have no clue,

Bitch I'm 'bout to sign this shit

That was the easiest night in jail a nigga could ever do, son

[Intro]

Are you doin' this work to facilitate growth or to become famous?

Which is more important?

Getting or letting go?

You can do anything, anything you can do (You can do anything)

You can do anything, anything you can do (You can do anything)

[Chorus]

Everything come back around full circle

Why do lies sound pleasant, but the truth hurtful?

Everybody gotta cry once in a while

But how long will it take 'fore you smile?

This is that come-back-to-life shit

My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up as if the sun had the night shift

And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon

[Verse 1]

Yeah

To the left of that decimal, I need seven figures to play the joint

Turn up your decibels, peep how I decimate a joint

Check out my projects like them workers that Section 8 appoints

And you'll see how I flipped like exclamation points

My niggas shoot first as if they never played the point, more two guards

Enough straps to fill four U-Hauls

More death than World War II caused

Around these parts we pour the brown just to drown these thoughts

Of black corpses in county morgues, Lord, those images hauntin'

I ain't been asleep yet, it's ten in the mornin'

I'm sendin' a warnin', a problem with me is like the BET Hip-Hop Awards

I'm startin' to see you niggas don't want it

I'm sick of this flauntin', from niggas I know for sure ain't got mo' dough than Cole

Trash rappers, ass backwards, tryna go toe-to-toe

We laugh at ya, staff strapped up on top the totem pole to blast at ya

Bassmasters, look how they tote a pole

Gotta know the ropes and the protocol

Or they gon' for sure blow your clothes half off like a promo code

Made a lil' tune called "Foldin Clothes," and a nigga still ain't known to fold under pressure

Well, you know what Cole do

Make a diamond, they just rhymin', me, I'm quotin' gold

One phone call get you canceled like a homophobe in this PC culture

Address me as the G.O.A.T. like they call Chief Keef Sosa

In my sectional like a fuckin' three-piece sofa

I'm known as the chosen one

Another dead body lay frozen, that's how it go sometimes

When niggas weighin' coke and not the pros and cons

Well, I ain't with that sleepin' underground like a gopher, so I go for mines

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J. Cole

Pi

J. Cole

[Chorus]

Everything come back around full circle (Nigga, gotta go for mines)

Why do lies sound pleasant, but the truth hurtful? (Yeah)

Everybody gotta cry once in a while

But how long will it take 'fore you smile?

This is that come-back-to-life shit

My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up as if the sun had the night shift

And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon

Now I know why they call it blue m— (Yeah)

[Verse 2]

Survival at all costs, every day, niggas get logged off

Bodies get hauled off

Passin' a funeral procession while holdin' my breath in the car, I thought

At times, it be feelin' the devil be winnin' but do that mean God lost?

Just got off the phone, my nigga, he back in the kennel, my dog lost

I brought him 'round close to me before but he

Became addicted to clout and all the hoes we'd meet

I slowly peeped jealousy on his breath whenever he spoke to me

Like on the low, he feelin' that in my shoes is where he supposed to be

I tried to ignore the signs, but they're in the back of my mind

It felt like lettin' a nigga come sleep on your couch and he eatin' up all yo' groceries

My nigga repeated this quote to me, I felt its potency

Said, "Most of these niggas gon' hang they selves, just give 'em the rope and see"

Shit, I heeded that, and what got showed to me

Was screamin' that, some niggas, you gotta leave 'em back

Unfortunately we seen the trap

Niggas be on that demon clock resultantly

They fiend to clap as often as the Genius app misquotin' me, uh

Meanwhile, I see that yo' diamonds is glistenin'

I'm glad that you shinin', but need I remind you my niggas is dimin' and nickelin'?

Scrapin' up whatever coin they can find, the pettiest crime, they committin' it

Just to get by for a limited time, the steepest of mountains, they tryin' to climb

I'm here tryna find the derivative, you niggas don't feel me

You see the clout, you don't see the real me

If I was sick, you niggas wouldn't heal me

Therefore I'm healin' myself, gettin' in tune with my God

Slowly revealin' myself, buildin' my wealth

A nigga touch mine, I'ma kill 'em myself, trust me

[Chorus]

Everything come back around full circle

Why do lies sound pleasant, but the truth hurtful?

Everybody gotta cry once in a while

But how long will it take 'fore you smile?

This is that come-back-to-life shit

My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up as if the sun had the night shift

And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon

Now I know why they call it blue m— (Yeah)

[Outro]

Bitch, I'm back outside, nigga

I'm back outside

I'm back outside

I'm back outside

Everybody mentions suicide prevention

Man, they even made a hotline

To call up when there's tension, but I got a question

What about a fuckin' homicide?

Need a number for my niggas to call

Whenever there's a urge to get triggers involved

Need a number for my niggas to call

Whenever there's a urge to get triggers involved

Yeah

Close

Ville-matic, one, one

One, one, one-two, one

One-two, one, one-two, one

One-two, one, one, listen

Close, I stare at my dreams as they approach

Gotta be patient and trust in God, He the coach

Temptations are taking a shortcut, but I don't

Cause I ain't tryna be a almost, when I get it, I'ma float

Gone are the days we was close

Now when I see you, I look at you just like a ghost

A shell of your former self, so caught up with that dope

Two niggas singin' two different notes and you know I gotta coast

Nothin' but a dollar and some hope

Up in NY, but damn, what hurts me the most

You was a good nigga, we knew each other's folks

Now you gotta ride around with the toast and you keep that shit close

Cause niggas plottin' on you since you chose

To roll around with the candy paint on spokes

You know 'Ville niggas don't like it when you boast

You know twelve be takin' notes and they watchin' you close

But maybe you don't see 'em 'cause the smoke

Cloudin' your vision from every cigar that you toke

Plus the lean you sippin' which started as a joke

Got you now fiendin' for your next dose, meanwhile I'm so close

Don't even give a fuck that I'm broke

Cause in my mind I'm rich with shit I done wrote

Therefore I'm convinced that this is supposed to happen

And in time I'ma blow, they gon' label me the G.O.A.T.

How long has it been since we spoke?

Last night I jumped up from my sleep, I was soaked

Call it a nightmare, the scene that awoke me

Involved you and niggas I ain't know, they was creepin' up close

I saw the heat tucked in they coats

You didn't notice 'cause you was busy countin' dough

I tried to yell, but nothin' came out of my throat

Niggas cocked back the hammers and you froze, in your eyes I saw hope

Hope of a better way to cope with the pain

And the scars, than the lean and the coke

And I swear in that moment I wish we were still close

Maybe I could've saved you, but no, trigger squeeze, gun smoke

I open up my eyes with a jolt

Heart pumpin' like Usain Bolt

Reached for my phone, missed calls and a text message note

From my mama sayin' you just got smoked, damn, this life is no joke

Close

Fuck

[Intro: J. Cole]

Alright now, alright now

God has a plan for you

And all you've got to do is believe, believe, believe

Yeah

[Chorus: J. Cole]

Shit gon' get hard, keep your head strong

If I quit now, then I'm dead wrong

Fightin' off this hunger for hours

Big stepper, nigga, don't get stepped on

The money might fade, but respect don't

Still gon' be me when success gone

I don't speak the language of cowards

I walk through the flame like I'm Teflon

[Verse 1: J. Cole]

I sucked up the pain and I kept goin'

Whole world know my namе, bitch, my rep strong

We sold out in less than a hour

Thеse words I still sang like I'm slept on

I sin, so I can't cast the next stone

Unless it's baguettes 'round my neck bone

Inside of my frame lies a power

You can't get this game from no TED Talk

I wanna know if they understand me

I put it all on A, ain't no plan B

Hopin' all this weight ain't gon' drown me

Fucked around, got grey hairs already

Runnin' up the stairs on a tower

Runnin' up these Ms by the hour

If I drop a gem, money showers

When you get your taste, they get sour

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[Chorus: J. Cole & Bas]

Shit gon' get hard, keep your head strong

Just keep your head strong

The money might fade, but respect don't

The ultimate price is regret now

Still gon' be me when success gone

Still gon' be me, ahh-ahh-ahh

Big stepper, nigga, don't get stepped on

[Verse 2: J. Cole]

Waitin' my turn like grains of sand inside a hourglass

Mainly concerned back in the day with how long I would last

Make a few thousand dollars stack with every hour passed

I catch you playin' inside my lane and I'ma foul your ass

Put the whole game on top my back, don't need no chiropract'

They callin' me young PWC, I got my power back

Ain't fuckin' around, beefin' with me gon' get you hollered at

Niggas can't see me one-on-one, that's word to Kyla Pratt

You hittin' them weights, congratulations 'cause you built somethin'

You takin' a lot of boxin' lessons, but you still pussy

I see right through you niggas just like 2Pac hologram

Ain't doin' Coachella, bookin' me gon' be a lot of Ms

I'm feeling myself, I'm building my wealth up 'til it's towerin'

I put my tongue all in my bitch, she get to hollerin'

I ain't doin' no dirt no more, I stopped creepin' six years ago

Fun fuckin' them hoes until you realize that you is the ho

[Chorus: J. Cole]

Shit gon' get hard, keep your head strong

If I quit now then I'm dead wrong

Fightin' off this hunger for hours

Big stepper, nigga, don’t get stepped on

The money might fade, but respect don't

Still gon' be me when success gone

I don't speak the language of cowards

I walk through the flame like I'm Teflon

[Outro: Bas]

Can't be afraid of sunlight

Spotlights when it glows

All the pain you hold

Makes you worth your weight in gold

Can't be afraid of sunlight

Spotlights when it glows

All the pain you hold

Makes you worth your weight in gold

God has a plan for you

And all you've got to do is believe, believe, be—