Last Real Nigga Alive - Joe Budden

might not understand now 'cause the picture is tainted

I’ma take the time out for y’all to try to explain it

I was a kid in Jerse', no name, no stage

Listen close while I get everybody on the same page

Me and Dub made music (But), the times was hard

And we really couldn’t pursue it 'cause we both had jobs (talk to 'em)

Bryce said we could get straight cream

Rap over other niggas beats and I ain’t know about the mixtape scene (I ain’t

know about it)

So we did that, goin' off my godbrothers promise

I spit a hundred bars over «Nastradamus» (Y'all don’t remember that)

And Bryce knew Cut so I had hope all along

Next C tape was two freestyles and a song (let’s go)

He gave C, said «It's the go, I bet you»

C said, «He's all right, but what’s so special?»

(But what’s so special 'bout

him?)

Held onto it and it must’ve been luck

Because some nigga named Webb went in the back of his truck

And found my shit, listened and the rhythm was ill

Said, «This kid’s all right and watch me get him a deal» (and he did that)

On Top met me and Dubb and we liked him

Gave us ten-G's

Started makin' music loosely

But DJ’s was hesitant to play 'em because nobody knew me

I guess Joe Budden was new

I needed some help, so Fab came through and we did «Coming For You»

Did another joint later on with Tah Murdah and Black Child

The streets finally started to react now

Made some songs, it was such a long process

stopped by to check progress

Steady bangin' Clue who was still ignorin'

Cutmaster and Envy were still supportin'

Then Clue got with it, 'cause my man called hype

Tellin' me I’m on the Clue tapes spittin' and let’s get it ()

People started to really see what was what now

Your boy got a lil bit of buzz now

Everything was so timely

'Cause Game went up there and told Kevin Liles he wanted to sign me (And I was

hype y’all)

So On Top went to meet with Leo and Kev about business

They started talkin' some spit shit (Spit)

It was a new label, we ain’t know all about

The rappers they wanted to sign, but wasn’t sure about

Made it sound worth my while, though it was weird for me

Told me if I broke the label they’d take care of me (You know)

You put out speed things up

But that shit ain’t keep things up, I started noticin' (What?)

That Def Jam treated spit as a knockoff

And Jump Off’s better than that y’all, I got off

Then I’m on Def Jam (Doing what?), waitin' and chillin'

Left the mixtapes to get things straight in the buildin'

Left the streets dry, I ain’t give 'em no ether

'Nitti and Skane up there, beggin' for a feature

And they gave us one, and we thought it was hittin'

We thought 3rd Storee would sell, but they didn’t

And I liked that song and the hook

Plus they was shootin' a video and we was mad thirsty for a look

But they ruined that shit, had my whole camp feelin' the worst

At the last minute cut my second verse

And the politics had me hopeless

And the label just kept overlookin' me ()

travel from state to state

Club banger, no video, spinnin' eight at eight

By the time Def Jam knew it bumped and had flavour (It's too late)

Record died down, this is eight months later (Too late)

And that whole time I was out of the street mix

So they tried to bring it back with a bullshit remix

And now they respectin' a nigga

But I’m scared 'cause the SoundScan is straight disrespectin' a nigga (It's

fucked up right now)

So it’s back to the mixtapes where I ain’t gotta deal with the nonsense

And the next two leaders (Y'all 'ready know)

So at a time where the whole rap game is shaken

There’s a slot wide open and it’s there for the takin'