[00:01.06]Yeah, this album is dedicated
[00:03.90]To all the teachers that told me
[00:05.39]I'd never amount to nothin'
[00:06.79]To all the people that lived above the buildings
[00:08.96]That I was hustlin' in front of
[00:10.01]Called the police on me
[00:10.89]When I was just tryin' to make some money
[00:12.08]To feed my daughter
[00:14.14]It's all my people in the struggle
[00:15.53]You know what I'm sayin'? It's all good, baby baby
[00:18.40]It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up! magazine
[00:22.50]Salt-n-Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
[00:25.21]Hangin' pictures on my wall
[00:26.53]Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
[00:29.88]I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped
[00:33.39]Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack
[00:37.84]With the hat to match
[00:39.32]Remember Rappin' Duke? Duh-ha, duh-ha
[00:42.03]You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far
[00:44.48]Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
[00:47.12]Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade
[00:49.83]Born sinner, the opposite of a winner
[00:52.36]Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner
[00:54.47]Peace to Ron G, Brucie B, Kid Capri
[00:57.00]Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starski
[00:59.47]I'm blowin' up like you thought I would
[01:01.73]Call the crib, same number, same hood, it's all good
[01:04.67]And if you don't know, now you know
[01:09.50]You know very well
[01:12.38]Who you are
[01:14.25]Don't let 'em hold you down
[01:17.39]Reach for the stars
[01:20.38]You had a goal
[01:22.19]But not that many
[01:24.35]'Cause you're the only one
[01:27.05]I'll give you good and plenty
[01:29.17]I made the change from a common thief
[01:31.06]To up close and personal with Robin Leach
[01:33.30]And I'm far from cheap
[01:34.36]I smoke skunk with my peeps all day
[01:36.29]Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
[01:38.19]The Moet and Alizé keep me pissy, girls used to diss me
[01:41.48]Now they write letters 'cause they miss me
[01:43.40]I never thought it could happen, this rapping stuff
[01:46.22]I was too used to packing gats and stuff
[01:48.77]Now honeys play me close like butter play toast
[01:51.30]From the Mississippi down to the East Coast
[01:53.80]Condos in Queens, indo for weeks
[01:56.21]Sold out seats to hear Biggie Smalls speak
[01:58.79]Living life without fear
[02:00.49]Puttin' five karats in my baby girl ear
[02:03.11]Lunches, brunches, interviews by the pool
[02:06.25]Considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school
[02:09.00]Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood
[02:11.72]And it's still all good
[02:13.49]And if you don't know, now you know
[02:19.15]You know very well
[02:21.61]Who you are
[02:23.35]Don't let 'em hold you down
[02:26.50]Reach for the stars
[02:29.42]You had a goal
[02:31.28]But not that many
[02:33.35]'Cause you're the only one
[02:36.13]I'll give you good and plenty
[02:38.65]Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
[02:40.75]When I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this
[02:43.22]50-inch screen, money-green leather sofa
[02:45.63]Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur
[02:48.23]Phone bill about two G's flat
[02:50.59]No need to worry, my accountant handles that
[02:52.96]And my whole crew is loungin'
[02:55.14]Celebrating every day, no more public housin'
[02:58.20]Thinkin' back on my one-room shack
[03:00.37]Now my mom pimps an Ac' with minks on her back
[03:02.72]And she loves to show me off of course
[03:05.52]Smiles every time my face is up in The Source
[03:07.98]We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us
[03:10.52]No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us
[03:12.90]Birthdays was the worst days
[03:15.12]Now we sip Champagne when we thirsty
[03:17.55]Uh, damn right I like the life I live
[03:20.06]'Cause I went from negative to positive
[03:22.18]And it's all… (It's all good)
[03:24.61]And if you don't know, now you know,
[03:28.30]You know very well
[03:30.95]Who you are
[03:32.59]Don't let 'em hold you down
[03:34.90]And if you don't know, now you know,
[03:36.50]Reach for the stars
[03:38.38]You had a goal
[03:40.54]But not that many
[03:42.54]'Cause you're the only one
[03:45.31]I'll give you good and plenty
[03:48.26]Representin' B-Town in the house
[03:50.11]Junior Mafia, mad flavor
[03:52.68]Uh, uh, yeah, a'ight
[04:07.87]You know very well