[Verse 1: Kardi]
f** a dollar and a dream, got 99¢ & a nightmare
Bronx born, only the strong survive here
Love it to d**h, but I ain't tryna die here
I'm 17, already sprouting white hairs
Seen school buddies not make it out alive here
Cause of d**h? Another n***a liked his Nike Airs
And I know life is short like dyke hair
So I been on my f**ing grind like bike gears
America's nightmare: young, Black and educated
k**ed a show the same day that I graduated
Any dues you tryna mention, I already paid ‘em
Get used to my voice, I'm the next to make it
I ain't playin', I already wrote my Grammy speech
Thanked my producers and everyone in my family tree
And I'd like to thank anyone who shat on me
Cuz proving 'em wrong is so satisfactory
When I'm rhyming on beats, I'm kind of a beast
Got the crown, and I can't lose it like a child on a leash
Hotter than me? These dudes is comical, b
I ain't signed yet, but sh**, I probably should be
Possibly the illest young rapper outta New York
As I'm getting older, I'm colder than blue Coor's
Used to do chores, now I do tours
Check your girl's iPod, I'm the MC du jour
I won't lie, I already feel the pressure
(He's that nice at 17? He'll only get better)
I'm working on a plan though, I got it all set up
I'll do T.I. numbers, no syntax error
I promise kid, I'm the opposite of that Flocka sh**
I'm ‘bout to blow up, you not stopping it, Hurt Locker sh**
Alotta kids started rapping on some follow sh**
But gimme any competition, I'll demolish ‘em
Alotta things changed since my first tape dropped
My sh** is heating up, other n***as? – they flopped
Don't be mad, UPS– oh, they not?
Well, next time, don't quit your f**ing day job
They say my sh** fly, got they ears poppin'
Got heads noddin' like they reading at the synagogue and
I ain't a pretty boy, but these birds started flockin'
Hate the word ‘swag' but these hoes say I got it
Do it for everyone from Mott Haven to Co-op
And if you hating, s** a Dre album with no tox
Work ethic like a Prius, I can't stop
f** a house, I'm tryn' buy my family a whole block
I might just settle for a cul-de-sac
I really won't be satisfied until I'm running rap
My friend told me she thought last time I was holding back
So this time around, my plan's to go on full attack
Won't say I'm back, I never left like conservatives
They can't stop my flow like a faulty tourniquet
So I'm done with this verse, I got no more to spit
I present to you “The Valedictorian”
So I'm done with this verse, I got no more to spit
I present to you “The Valedictorian”