[Intro: Denzel Washington from American Gangster]

"Most important thing in business is honesty, integrity, hard work, family;

Never forgetting where we came from."

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]

Poor me, dad was gone, finally got my dad back

Liver bad, he wouldn't live long, that snatched my dad back

Guidance? I never had that, streets was my second home

Welcomed me with open arms, provided a place to crash at

A place to study math at – matter of fact, I learned it all

Burnt it all, this music is where I bury the ashes at

Flashback, not having much, not having that

Had to get some challah bread, so you can holla back, and

Holla at my Jewish lawyer, to enjoy the fruit of letting my cash stack

And just in case a nigga gotta use his rat-tat-tat-tat-tat

Own boss, own your masters, slaves

The mentality I carry with me to this very day

Fuck rich, let's get wealthy, who else gon' feed we?

If I need it, I'ma get it however – God help me

[Refrain: Jay-Z]

And I don't need no hook for this shit

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]

I'm so fa sho', it's no façade

"Stay out of trouble," Mama said, as Mama sighed

Her fear, her youngest son'd be a victim of homicide

But I gotta get you out of here, Mama, or I'ma die

Inside

And either way, you lose me, Mama, so let loose of me

I got the rein, our direction will soon change

To live and die in N.Y. in the hustle game

Hustle 'caine, hustle clothes, or hustle music

But hustle hard in any hustle that you pick

Skinny nigga, toothpick, but–but I do lift

Weight like I'm using 'roids

Rolls-Royce, keep my movements smooth while maneuvering

Through all the manure in the sewer that I grew up in

Choices we make, trying to escape, 'scape

[Refrain: Jay-Z]

And I don't need no hook for this shit

[Verse 3: Jay-Z]

This is not for commercial usage

Please don't categorize this as music

Please don't compare me to other rappers

Compare me to trappers, I'm more Frank Lucas than Ludacris

And Luda's my dude, I ain't tryna diss

Like, Frank Lucas is cool, but I ain't trying to snitch

I'ma follow the rules, no matter how much time I'ma get

I'ma live and die with the decisions that I'ma pick

So fuck DeHaven for caving, that's why we don't speak

Made men ain't supposed to make statements

End of the story, I followed the code, cracked the safe

Other niggas ain't in the game, so they practice hate

Leave that boy Hov' alone, why don't cha?

You don't have to if you don't want to, but don't say I didn't warn you

[Refrain: Jay-Z]

Oh... and I don't need no hook for this shit!