[Intro]

Yo, I wonder if Langston Hughes and Alex Haley

Got blazed before they told stories

I'ma get blazed before I tell y'all stories

I saw on TV today, this man lost his son, his son died

So he had him cremated

Took his ashes and made it into a diamond ring

Now he watches his son shine everyday

I just thought about that

While I sit here ashing in this ashtray... yeah

[Verse 1]

The making of A Mad Band, intricate stories of DeVante Swing

Ava Gardner, the crashin' of James Dean

Bobby Brown influenced by Rick James, and it goes

Prince wanted Alexander O'Neal to be Morris Day or Jerome

But Alex was putting coke in his nose, nigga whylin'

Could be a myth, but I swear that the source was close

Phyllis Hyman killed herself, it was crazy

Mami was bad they say

Donny Hathaway, free-fall from a balcony, he Swayze

[Hook]

As the blunt ash falls into the ashtray

I could see my whole life fly past me

Did I? Did I keep it gangsta, or keep it classy?

And will the money and fame outlast me?

The blunts ash falls down in the ashtray

Well, I see my whole life fly past me

I'm asking, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

Did I? Anything else you wanna know, just ask me

[Verse 2]

Sam trusted Womack with his main lady

He tossing in the grave like, "This is how you repay me?!"

"'A Change Gon' Come' – wish you didn't trust me so much"

Marvin said "No mountain's high enough" – fly stuff

David Ruffin was punchin' Tammi Terrell, gave her concussions

While the Funk Brothers was laying down the percussions

When Flo from the Supremes died, Diana Ross cried

Many people said that she was laughing inside

[Hook]

As the blunt ash falls into the ashtray

I could see my whole life fly past me

Did I? Did I keep it gangsta, or keep it classy?

And will the money and fame outlast me?

The blunts ash falls down in the ashtray

Well, I see my whole life fly past me

I'm asking, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

Did I? Anything else you wanna know, just ask me

[Verse 3]

John F. Kennedy's enemies dealt with treachery – it interests me

Judy Campbell in Gucci sandals – she's what a temptress be

The death of Ennis Cosby, what a mystery!

Or the Chicagoan Harold Washington

Someone is sabotaging 'em

Watch out for the traps

Larry Troutman killed his brother Roger Troutman

Then he killed himself, that's the end of Zapp

And I wouldn't change a thing, mistakes of the greats

This is what came from their pain

From their hurt, we gain – an unfair exchange

[Hook]

As the blunt ash falls into the ashtray

I could see my whole life fly past me

Did I? Did I keep it gangsta, or keep it classy?

And will the money and fame outlast me?

The blunts ash falls down in the ashtray

Well, I see my whole life fly past me

I'm asking, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

Did I? Anything else you wanna know, just ask me

[Outro]

I could smell old Bogey cigars

Lauren Bacall's perfumes, smelling just as sweet, haha

Me and my wife K, flying in a drop-top

Like Ruby and Ossie Davis, baby – know what I mean?

Yo, man, I get smoked out, and start thinking 'bout –

Hattie McDaniels got a Oscar

For playing Mammy in 'Gone With The Wind'

And she didn't get allowed–wasn't even allowed to go to the premiere

Believe that? Couldn't go to the premiere to her joint

Man, you know they were strong back then, man

Blunt from my ashtray, nothing gon' to live past me... yeah