Saved My Life

Man, I couldn't believe that shit (Turn me up, Kino)
I seen that motion (Mmm, mmm)
People said I had to get permission just to rap (What?)
I mean, just to rap (What?), really? (Really?)

Rappin' really saved my life, they can't take that away
They already took my freedom and took my gats away
Why they wanna do a G like that? (Why?)
Why they wanna violate my freedom of speech like that? (Why?)

Look, I been rappin' since thirteen, the game admire me (Yeah)
I was gone almost thirteen, the streets still ride with me (Ride)
Came home droppin' my -, court tried to silence me
DA say they gon' violate me, I rap too violently (That's cold)

Man, I'm the heart of the streets, can't go away silently (I can't)
Fightin' for my First Amendment right
I know Slim proud of me (I know he proud)
City Hall contacted (What's up?), mayor been followin' me (Yeah)
Say I deserve a key to the city, they wanna honor me (Let me get that)
I was thinkin' 'bout shuttin' it up, goin' away quietly (Quietly)
Nah, they got me - up, that's that 2Pac in me (That's that 2Pac)
I really done changed my life and they still bother me (I did)
It's 'cause I put on for real - and do it honorably (Honorably)

I'm a real -, I stand on all ten (Toes)
Real - stand with me (Yeah), they all want me to win (Win)
I - with dope boys (Boys), they used to sell - (Used)
I'm from the N.O. -- (What's up?), and we all with the

Rappin' really saved my life, they can't take that away
They already took my freedom and took my gats away
Why they wanna do a G like that? (Why?)
Why they wanna violate my freedom of speech like that? (Why?)
Rappin' really saved my life, they can't take that away
They already took my freedom and took my gats away
Why they wanna do a G like that? (Why?)
Why they wanna violate my freedom of speech like that? (Why?)

I ain't never had - easy, got it the hard way (Hard way)
Good, but he be cheatin', that's what my broad say (Broad say)
I'ma win, it's real - season, that's what the court say (Court say)
Highly favored and I'm blessed, that's
What the Lord say (Blessed, yeah)
Obstructin' justice, 924 (g), that's what the charge say (Charge say)
Thought I had the freedom of speech (That what
I thought), that's what the law say (Law say)

Every day I get in that cell, it was a hard day (It was hard)
He got motion, that's what the writs, that's
What the court say (That's what the court say)
They ain't on, they hatin' on me (What else?)
It's discrimination, it's unconstitutional (What else?)
And borderline racist (Woo), man, that - crazy (Crazy)
Them N.O. streets made me (Made me), mad they ain't break me (Mad)

Slim and B raised me (Slatt)
Give it up, I can't (Can't), I'm a street poet (Poet)
One of the realest in this -, the streets know it (Know it)
They got love for the boy, yeah, the streets show it (Show it)
The G's tell me, "Don't stop, Jizzle, keep goin'" (Forever)

Rappin' really saved my life, they can't take that away
They already took my freedom and took my gats away
Why they wanna do a G like that? (Why?)
Why they wanna violate my freedom of speech like that? (Why?)
Rappin' really saved my life, they can't take that away
They already took my freedom and took my gats away
Why they wanna do a G like that? (Why?)
Why they wanna violate my freedom of speech like that? (Why?)

Man, I been rappin' since I was thirteen, man (For real)

How you expect me to come home and not follow up with my career, man?
You wanna tell me I can't do nothin' pertainin' to rap? (What?)
Or pertainin' to entertainment that I
Can't make money off? (Mmm, mmm, mmm)
Like, really? (Got to be your - -)
What you want me out here, robbin' -? (Robbin' -)
Want me out here layin' - down, swipin' cards? (Kill you, haha)
Committin' fraud, like (Nah), what's
Really goin' on? (Workin' that bank down)
I'm a - just tryna make an honest livin', man

It's all entertainment, man (That's all it is, man)
Know what I'm sayin'?
You can't hold a - raps against him, man (Freedom of speech, man)
You heard me, that's wrong, man

You might well go tell Robert De Niro he can't make no
More mob movies, man (What's up with the First Amendment?)
You tryna tell me I can't write a fictitious book?
Come on, man, stop it