The life and times of Shawn Carter, nigga, volume 2
It's the hardknock life
(Bounce wit it)
Steada treated, we get tricked
Analyze life's ills, then I put it down, type Braille
Let outsiders violate our blocks and my plot
Y'all niggaz get ready
It's the hardknock life, for us
Steada treated, we get tricked
I'm tryin' to murder everything movin', feel me?
Now I'ma be on top whether I perform or not
Steada treated,we get tricked
Steada kisses, we get kicked
It's the hardknock life!
It's the hardknock life, for us
I'm tight grill when my situation ain't improvin'
It's the hardknock life, for us
To drivin' some of the hottest cars New York has ever seen
It's the hardknock life
From nightmares of a lonely cell, my only hell
It's the hardknock life, for us
Steada kisses, we get kicked
I'm tight grill with the phony, rappers y'all might feel we homies
We live in hardknocks, we don't take over we borrow blocks
And sip the Cris' and get pissy-pissy
Steada treated, we get tricked
Locked down in the ten by for controllin' the house
From the dope spot, with the smoke Glock
Let it bump though
I'm like still, y'all don't know me, shit!
Steada Treated, we get tricked
I flow for those 'dro'ed out all my niggaz
Where all my niggaz with the rubber grips, bust shots
It's the hardknock life, for us
For us
I'm from the school of the hardknocks, we must not
It's the hardknock life, for us
You know it's hell when I come through
But since when y'all niggaz know me to fail? Fuck naw
Gotta a lot of beef, so logically, I prey on my foes
It's the hardknock life, for us
I gave you prophecy on my first joint, and y'all lamed out
Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, yeah
It's the hardknock life
Let's stick up the world and split it fifty-fifty, uh huh
It's the hardknock life, for us
Steada kisses, we get kicked
I've seen pies let the thing between my eyes
Steada kisses, we get kicked
It's the hardknock life
Dream machines, the green fives
All my ballers that's born to clock
And if you with me, mom I rub on your tits, and what not
I don't how to sleep, I gotta eat, stay on my toes
Steada kisses, we get kicked
It's the hardknock life, for us
It's the hardknock life, for us
You'd be hard-pressed to find another rapper hot as me
Burn 'em down and you can have it back, Daddy
Flow infinitely like the memory of my nigga Biggie, baby
Check the bassline out, uh huh, Jigga
It's the hardknock life!
It's the hardknock life!
It's the hardknock life, for us
(Uh huh)
Let's take the dough and stay real jiggy, uh huh
For droppin' some of the hottest verses rap has ever heard
Put Jigga on top and drop albums non-stop for ya, nigga
Publishers: CHARLES STROUSE MUSIC, EDWIN H MORRIS & CO, EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC., INSTANTLY PUBLISHING, LIL LU LU PUBLISHING, WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC LTD
Fleein' the murder scene, you know me well
I see you vision mama, I put my money on the long shots
They ain't have to strip to pay tuition
So I stretched the game out, X'ed your name out
Hustling's still inside of me, and as far as progress
Steada kisses, we get kicked
From standin' on the corners boppin'
Didn't really appreciate it, 'til the second one came out
I'd rather that I flow for chicks wishin'
Songwriters: Shawn C Carter, Martin Charnin, Mark James, Charles Strouse
I went from lukewarm to hot, sleepin' on futons and cots to King Size
Steada treated, we get tricked