[Intro]

These were known as samurai

Always been conflicted

Always been conflicted

[Verse 1]

I strain to obtain so I could give more

Most dangerous when it was nothin' to live for (Nothin')

For that fetty bag, ready to let the SIGs pour

Was on nothin' long enough, need a big score

The harmony dreamin' had me constantly schemin'

Rarely peace, in belly of beast, armed like a demon

Singin' tough upbringin', swore it was the hardest

A lot of years starvin' before I was an artist

Would bring in tomorrow with sorrow, plus the hurt

We finally eatin', reapin', it's just dessert

It's just, so trust my work, from dusk to dirt

Committed rhymes, if you give it time, much is learned

Firm, dense, but earn strength with a young stalk

Brought hammers to grammar school, hence the gun talk

The coke drought made it a cesspool

What they hail is stale, need a fresh jewel

Enthralled in crime, not more, but nothin' less cruel

I track the street, where active eat, the rest drool

I speak brass tacks 'til my last acts

My gift might be missed if mixed with trash raps

The night's whole, slice your loaf if you ain't breakin' bread

Some hate, wait, and beg, we take instead

[Chorus]

Mommy told me, "Be a good boy

Need you alive, please survive, you my hood joy" (Please)

Pops told me, "Stay strapped, son" (Strapped)

"You need the shotty, be a body or catch one" (Catch one)

Always been conflicted

Always been conflicted (Word)

Always been conflicted

Always been conflicted

[Verse 2]

Where you from? During what years? (Years)

You from the slum? Where you was upstairs?

What you seen? What you been through? (Through)

Where your team? What your men do?

In over your head, who gon' defend you? (You)

Who gon' defend you?

Demonstrative, get you popped where the monsters live

Your people pay for your mistakes, hope they comp' your wiz

From honor, I don't speak drama I don't know about

I hold a pen, ain't goin' on how I was growin' out

Not blessed divine, wanna live good the rest of mine

Fly rewards for my recordings, don't stress the shine

Wrote the screenplay, direct, and set design

They writin' deadlines, I ain't pressed for time

That haste makes waste, you saunter and slip

But I find when formin' a script, let's ponder a bit

[Chorus]

Mommy told me, "Be a good boy

Need you alive, please survive, you my hood joy"

Pops told me, "Stay strapped, son

You need the shotty, be a body or catch one"

Always been conflicted

Always been conflicted (Hmm)

Always been conflicted

Always been conflicted

[Outro]

Always been conflicted

I got my good from mom duke

I got my math from pop duke, for real

Conflicted, uh

Always been conflicted