With the hat to match
Don't let 'em hold you down, reach for the stars
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far
Salt 'n' Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
I was too used to packin' ***s and stuff
Birthdays was the worst days
From the Mississippi down to the East Coast
(Bad Boy, I see you Gooch, yeah)
Sold out seats to hear Biggie Smalls speak
I never thought it could happen, this rappin' stuff
Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock
(It's all good, Brooklyn)
50 inch screen, money green leather sofa
(And if you don't know, now you know)
Don't let 'em hold you down, reach for the stars
No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us
Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
You know very well who you are
And my whole crew is loungin'
You know very well who you are
Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner
Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade
That told me I'd never amount to nothin'
Junior Mafia, Mad Flavor, uh, uh
In front of that called the police on me when I was just tryin'
Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
Aight, yeah
Don't let 'em hold you down, reach for the stars
The Moet and Alize keep me pissy, girls used to diss me
And if you don't know, now you know, you know
Don't let 'em hold you down, reach for the stars
I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped
Celebratin' every day, no more public housin'
Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood
(Biggie Smalls)
'Cause I went from negative to positive
(And if you don't know, now you know, you know)
Considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school
To all the people that lived above the buildings that I was hustlin'
To up close and personal with Robin Leach
You had a goal, but not that many
And she loves to show me off, of course
(The Bronx, Queens, Uptown, Mt. Vernon)
And it's still all good
And if you don't know, now you know, you know
You had a goal, but not that many
Now we sip champagne when we thirsty
(Junior Mafia)
'Cause you're the only one, I'll give you good and plenty
(South Central, Detroit, East Side, West Side, it's all good)
You know very well who you are
Phone bill about two G's flat
Peace to Ron G, Brucey B, Kid Capri
Livin' life without fear
Call the crib, same number same hood, it's all good
'Cause you're the only one, I'll give you good and plenty
We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us
Smiles every time my face is up in The Source
And if you don't know, now you know, you know
Born sinner, the opposite of a winner
Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur
'Cause you're the only one, I'll give you good and plenty
Thinkin' back on my one-room shack
I made the change from a common thief
It's all good baby, baby, check it
Hangin' pictures on my wall
Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starsky
Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
Now they write letters 'cause they miss me
And I'm far from cheap, I smoke skunk with my peeps all day
Songwriters: Sean Combs, James Mtume, Jean Olivier, Christopher Wallace
It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine
Lunches, brunches, interviews by the pool
To all my peoples in the struggle, you know what I'm sayin'?
Publishers: BIG POPPA MUSIC, EMI APRIL MUSIC INC., JUSTIN COMBS PUBLISHING INC, TWELVE AND UNDER MUSIC
Way back when I had the red and black lumberjack
I'm blowin' up like you thought I would
(Puff Daddy)
Puttin' 5 karats in my baby girl's ear
You had a goal, but not that many
Now honies play me close like butter played toast
You know very well who you are
Remember Rappin' Duke? Duh-ha, duh-ha
To make some money to feed my daughter
Representin' B-Town in the house
No need to worry, my accountant handles that
Now my mom pimps a Ac' with minks on her back
Damn right I like the life I live
And it's all, it's all good
When I was dead broke, man I couldn't picture this
You had a goal, but not that many
Yeah, this album is dedicated to all the teachers
'Cause you're the only one, I'll give you good and plenty
Condos in Queens, indo for weeks