[Verse 1: ANTHM]
I can't afford to be the one that failed
Took a leap of faith and I come back frail
And have these motherf**ers laugh, like the pipe dreams of rappin ain't happen for a young black male
Cautionary tale like, remember that n***a?
The former Mr. Wall Street turned rap n***a
He fell flat, n***a
He was well off
Part of my soul I would sell off
Just to show people I ain't fell off
Heart feelin' frost bit, mentally exhausted
Tear drops for our friendship when we lost it
See you at the crossroads if we cross it
Tryin to determine if my dreams are a force fit
Stressed out, bout to find the next route
Broke as f** with my chest out, knowin I'm the best out
My sixteen's got a pristine sound
Would've never known I lost fifteen pounds
[Hook] [x2]
Never thought I'd see this day
When I feel so far away
And the stars don't shine the same
Real late in the midnight hour
[Verse 2: ANTHM]
No doubt, uh, I put my chips up front
And though I knew about the risk up front
Never thought I'd be feeling like my ship done sunk
Nevertheless I'm at the strip club drunk
Despite the lack of funds
Blow a stack of ones
On a bad b**h, showin love to the attractive ones
Can't find a beauty in my circumstance
Might as well find a beauty if it's worth a dance
Smart n***a, nothing that I can't be
I told my family I ain't f**in' with no Plan B
But soon enough, gotta validate your love
And chances are that you'll never understand me
If you've never lost faith
Thoughts won't escape
But you carrying your cross til you break
Made some mistakes
If everything I lost is what it takes
I can't wait to march with the greats
[Hook]
[Verse 3: ANTHM]
They say the way you respond will make you strong
Me and DG developed a bond, we hangin' on
Been 3 years and now I ponder
How much longer will setbacks continue to pierce my armor
Feels like we crawlin' back where we started at
He got a call, his mother suffered a heart attack
His little brother got three bullet wounds where they shot him at
Tell me, where's your God in that?
No religion, it hurts when I smile
Tryin to find joy, ain't no church in the wild
I know I ain't the first person to vow
To treat my music like the birth of a child
My poetry is child-bearing
Get the world to crowd around starin'
Admire the proud parent
Yo, the love's too deep, I gotta raise the art
Admire the proud parent
Yo, the love's too deep, I gotta raise the art
The opposite of my father who never played the part
[Bridge] [x2]
And I won't lie
I just hold my head high for my friends when they roll by
Feelin' so low, yet I hold my dreams high to the end so they won't die
And I told that water, peace, be still
And I told it one more time, peace, be still now
And I told that water, please, be still (Joy and Pain)
Peace, be still now
And I told that water, and I told it one more time (Joy and Pain)
Peace, be still now
[Verse 4: ANTHM]
Uh, dear Mama, I know you feel like a broken vessel
I'll take your burden, and put my shoulders to it
Kissed you on your forehead, said you know you're special
But the words don't heal when you're going through it
Lost your job, lost the crib
You ain't lose your younger son, though you thought you did
I know I came up short, but I support you big
We ain't gotta be famous to feel fortunate
We got each other
Tell my sister that her big brother loves her
Still carryin' the pictures of her
And I won't stop
Till I got us back
To some peace of mind
I promise that