Turn the music up turn the lights down I'm in my zoneThank God for granting me this moment of clarity, this moment of honesty
The world'll feel my truths through my "Hard Knock Life" time my gift and a curse
I gave you volume after volume of my work so you can feel my truths
I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out
Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Y'all can't fill my shoes)
From my Blueprint beginnings 'til that Black Album ending
Listen close you hear what I'm about, nigga feel my truthsWhen pop died, didn't cry, didn't know him that well
Between him doing heroin and me doing crack sales
With that in the egg shell standing at the tabernacle
Rather the church pretending to be hurt
Wouldn't work so a smirk was all on my face
Like damn that mans face was just like my face
So pop I forgive you for all the shit that I live through
It wasn't all your fault homie you got caught
And to the same game I fault that Uncle Ray lost
My big brothers and so many others I saw
I'm just glad we got to see each other
Talk and re-meet each other save a place in Heaven
Til the next time we meet foreverThank God for granting me this moment of clarity, this moment of honesty
The world'll feel my truths through my "Hard Knock Life" time my gift and a curse
I gave you volume after volume of my work so you can feel my truths
I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out
Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Y'all can't fill my shoes)
From my Blueprint beginnings 'til that Black Album ending
Listen close you hear what I'm about, nigga feel my truthsThe music business hate me 'cause the industry ain't make me
Hustlers and boosters embrace me and the music I be making
I dumb down for my audience and double my dollars
They criticize me for it yet they all yell "Holla"
If skills sold truth be told
I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli
Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense (But I did five Mil)
I ain't been rhyming like Common since
When your sense got that much in common
And you been hustling since, your inception, fuck perception
Go with what makes sense
Since I know what I'm up against
We as rappers must decide what's most important
And I can't help the poor if I'm one of them
So I got rich and gave back to me that's the win, win
The next time you see the homie and his rims spin
Just know my mind is working just like them (The rims that is)Thank God for granting me this moment of clarity, this moment of honesty
The world'll feel my truths through my "Hard Knock Life" time my gift and a curse
I gave you volume after volume of my work so you can feel my truths
I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out
Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Y'all can't fill my shoes)
From my Blueprint beginnings 'til that Black Album ending
Listen close you hear what I'm about, nigga feel my truthsMy homie Sigel's on a tier where no tears should fall
'Cause he was on the block where no squares get off
See in my inner circle all we do is ball
'Til we all got triangles on our wall
He ain't just rapping for the platinum, y'all record
I recall, 'cause I really been there before
Four scores and seven years ago prepared to flow prepare for war
I shall fear no man you don't hear me though
These words ain't just paired to go in one ear out the other ear, no
Yo, my balls and my word is all's I have
What you gonna do to me? Nigga scars'll scab
What you gonna box me homie? I can dodge and jab
Three shots couldn't touch me thank God for that
I'm strong enough to carry Biggie Smalls on my back
And the whole BK nigga holla backThank God for granting me this moment of clarity, this moment of honesty
The world'll feel my truths through my "Hard Knock Life" time my gift and a curse
I gave you volume after volume of my work so you can feel my truths
I built the Dynasty by being one of the realest niggas out
Way beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Y'all can't fill my shoes)
From my Blueprint beginnings 'til that Black Album ending
Listen close you hear what I'm about, nigga feel my truths
Songwriters
SHAWN CARTER, SHAWN C CARTER, MARSHALL B III MATHERSPublished by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.