[Intro: PKTY]
Freedom or jail, clips inserted
A baby's being born same time a man is murdered
The beginning and end, as far as rap goes
It's only natural, I explain my plateau
And also what defines my name
[Bridge: PKTY]
Yeah long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Slick rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the bible
Now what you bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin
Now the streets my mentor now let the story begin
[Verse 1: PKTY]
When I was young I used to look at pictures of my wall
Created words from the images now that's what I saw
Tales of glory and life, tales of trife, people walking around
Some people yeah they be up in there living a c**a leaf life
Im in strife
It inspired, and gave me purpose to follow my dreams
But its hard where I'm at, Yo it ain't what it seams
Had the support.. Yo.. but not in the right place
Some people can just get famous if they have the right face, waist
Embodied in the game, just got overly obsessed
Wouldn't tell my parents though, they'd just get overly depressed
When I first heard illmatic I.. new it was on
18 year old white boy, within the “State of Mind” to “Represent”
For my country you know where I'm from
A.U.S
Now I'm up in this business like KRS-One
But I'm still getting critics thrown at me
Gotta keep them singles up to make em happy
[Bridge: PKTY]
Yeah long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Slick rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the bible
Now what you bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin
Now the streets my mentor now let the story begin
[Verse 2: PKTY]
I used my capabilities as much as I could
But I couldn't seem to get to that place I thought I would
Now I'm still unsigned I must have made a mistake
Put down the wrong lyrics and made the wrong tape
I had no one to blame, cause I'm still on my own
No one to take the fall but me, that's all I was shown
I have no hits, no credit to my history gone
Im hoping that won't be going on for too long
I need to think back at that time spent in my room
Thinking, about the stars that have reached the sky (Sun) and moon
No one failed me no one knew who I was yet
I heard Kanye, and he pushed me up little step.. further
His college dropout album really kicked me in my nerves
I was sick, from hip hop it was so influential
Changed my life, now I'm drilling holes in you like I'm dental, I flip
J. Cole puts his heart on his tracks that what I love about him
And that's where its at
[Bridge: PKTY]
Yeah long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Slick rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the bible
Now what you bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin
Now the streets my mentor now let the story begin
[Verse 3: PKTY]
Turned my life to Christ
Now I'm reborn and I'm living life
Spill my guts out in front of the crowd, Yeah that's living twice
I.. always believed in the bigger picture
No turning back.. Not sure if people respect that
Opening doors n closing em in front of my eyes yeah what a surprise
I got my eyes wide open before it was all a mirage
People believe in evil and some believe in good
I believe in both and that's what you should
Now I'm not tryna' bible bash with my words that's observed
I just want you to think about the stripes that you've earned
Have you been stung by the illness.. that they call rap
Or are you too nervous to go and bring it right back
[Bridge/Outro: PKTY]
Yeah long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Slick rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the bible
Now what you bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin
Now the streets my mentor now let the story begin