[Intro]

Yo, yo yo yo yo

Here, we go, here we go, yo, check it

Listen, listen, listen, listen

Check it, yo

[Verse 1]

Livin' in my era, it's hard to survive

Hard to tell the real from the fakes just by they vibes

People try to say is dead Nas really alive

But the way we sell our records has finally met its demise

I'm seen as prostitution in a different type of form

People pay you to perform 'til the break of dawn

What inspires? Honestly, I'm not sure

All my favorite rappers have been broken down to the core

Yo, the game is dekcuf six ways from Sunday

But one day, I resurrect it like Shang Tsung

Take it back to the days of hip-hop's first renaissance

Cassette decks, Kool-Aid, and Sega Genesis

Ha, '94 to '96 tip

You remember it, this the shit our kids could never grip

Back when videos was black and white like old school flicks

Back when you was rockin' Jordan kicks, pair number six

[Chorus: Melachi the Nutcracker]

These are feelings I'm expressin' through my rhymes

I wasn't livin' rich, and I also wasn't poor

I try to appreciate, but I deserve more

I realized which life to choose

I wanna make money so I gotta pay dues, dues

These are feelings I'm expressin' through my rhymes

I wasn't livin' rich, and I also wasn't poor

I try to appreciate, but I deserve more

I realized which life to choose

I wanna make money so I gotta pay dues, dues

[Verse 2]

Tell me why I'm livin', why I'm alive

Why do I write for hours, deep inside of my hive?

Poisonous sting I bring when I'm in the ring

But, sometimes, I sit back and think about things

Nasir and Jay are just mortal men

Yeah, they're gonna die, but only God knows when

What I'm tryna' say is who gon' fill they shoes?

Not me, 'cause I'mma have my own company

Extra cushion at the base, spittin so comfortably

What I really wanna know is who my competition be

'Cause I got a spot at the table waitin' just for me

And I'm hopin' some real MCs will join me

Hahaha

[Chorus: Melachi the Nutcracker]

These are feelings I'm expressin' through my rhymes

I wasn't livin' rich, and I also wasn't poor

I try to appreciate, but I deserve more

I realized which life to choose

I wanna make money so I gotta pay dues, dues

These are feelings I'm expressin' through my rhymes

I wasn't livin' rich, and I also wasn't poor

I try to appreciate, but I deserve more

I realized which life to choose

I wanna make money so I gotta pay dues, dues