Way Back

In '01 with a Sixers jersey, AI's on
Way back, had school books I used to write on
Night time with the lights on
Picking out dreams I could try on
Came across a white dude
With some blond hair who could write rhymes
Dropping hits with Dre
I was at the right place at the right time
Before that, I studied up on another king from BK
But he passed on, the baton fell out in LA with no relay
Damn, I know 80s and 90s kids relate
The game reset with a clean slate
Popping cartridges out the Nintendo
In the Poconos was where we stayed
We knew people out in the K section
But our parents said we could never leave J
At the end of the day
We could always say
That the memory's worth just another replay
Shout Byron, Zakiyyah, Dennis, Chris and my boy Jay
Now, it's back in '04
We packed up for a new city
Beat CDs and a mic only things I brought with me
Reggaeton in my ears
PR in my blood
Way ahead of my years
I knew what I loved
Yea, I knew if I tried
I could rise way above
I just had to find a way
Like a push and a shove
I would write it all down on a sheet of paper
Then, record it days later
Making sure every word, every flow
Every beat hit deeper than a crater
Then I'd put it online with a hope and prayer
That maybe Jay would press play
Or Ye would press play
Put me on a plane
Maybe send a tweet or a share
But this shit don't work that way
You can never keep a struggle for too long at bay
I'm the living proof
No shame if you lose
But when you get a win
Just remember every move
Shit, that's life

2021 This is my time
Had to switch it all up
Never used a life line
On a beach in Hawaii
While I'm sipping Mai Tais
Still not at the top
But I'm plotting out the rise
Couple hundred a plate
Save room for some pie
Had to move out of state
Just to open up my eyes
Can't imagine if I stayed
Would've been a different life
It was a game well-played
Now the chip is on the line
And it's OT, it's crunch time
It's on me
Not much time
But I'm Kobe
And that's god-like
That's holy
I'm Iron Mike in '86
Talk about the greats
Better throw me in the mix
I said it's OT, it's crunch time
It's on me
Not much time
But I'm Kobe
And that's god like
That's holy
I'm MJ in '86
Speak about the greats
Better throw me in the mix
I think way back
Like way back
In '06
When I was 14
I'd pray for this
Had a few dreams
But this music shit
Would always reign supreme
I can't miss
Talk about the greats
Better throw me in the mix

And it's OT, it's crunch time
It's on me
Not much time
But I'm Kobe
And that's god-like
That's holy
I'm Iron Mike in '86
Talk about the greats
Better throw me in the mix