[Chorus: Mary J. Blige] You said you wouldn't mind so I'll go on without ya If you wanna shine, I'll bet you shine without me Cause I been too good to let you take me down [?] is that you drive me to drinking I'm feeling good and really good about me So now that I know how to get it for myself This is really your loss [Verse 1: Busta Rhymes] Now seen them was the days When a n***a ain't ever really had sh** And a n***a might of stole some sh** Cause a n***a ain't ever really Have a pot to piss inside of I was kinda hard-headed And I was the type That'll quickly put the ratch up to you n***a being hard-headed And they never learn Till a mother f**er catch up to you Older folk in the neighborhood Did their very best to really come try teach us Every time they'd bounce they return Just to catch us on the corner smokin' them reefers Do a lot of dirt, do a lot of crime on the block for bread While the older folk were on their way home from church Every single time they'd see use they shakin' they head At the time when a n***a really needed some money Know a n***a really followed deception All the older gangsters though a n***a needed direction So when the gangsters looked at a little n***a And they really seen they reflection n***as gave me the trey eight special Said a n***a needed protection A lot of mu'hf**ers that I thought I was cool wit' Was kinda hatin' me under... the surface n***as really wished the worst for me Like I'm 'posed to suffer But I wish the best for a n***a like you But what you don't know about me Is that I'm really destined for this sh** Let's see you do it without me [Chorus: Mary J. Blige] You said you wouldn't mind so I'll go on without ya If you wanna shine, I'll bet you shine without me Cause I been too good to let you take me down [?] is that you drive me to drinking I'm feeling good and really good about me So now that I know how to get it for myself This is really your loss [Verse 2: Busta Rhymes] Lemme get up on my hustle And I hit the strip When I whip it and I dip and I boast Sometimes the street might Try to bite a n***a that's why I drive with the toast Sometime the block'll have a n***a feelin' Like a n***a crept with a ghost It's nothin' though cause you we been a hood That's why we reppin the most See the gutter life'll do it to you All you n***as on the grind And you go in to hustle for paper n***a watch these broke n***as try to bring it to you No need to fight you to shine Cause I was one of them Hungry little hustlelin' n***as Who always gotta think big And you know a n***a stuck with the grind I wonder if it's really for the better or for the worse These n***as that you thought was the closest to you End up becoming them n***as thats Crossing the line first So I take it All inside cause I guess its all a part of our growth You know I gotta keep my eyes on a lotta n***as that I always Thought was my folks Violate in any way You think a n***a ain't gon' hurt you? Just cause you b**h don't mean you can't catch it n***a better move from my circle I wish the best for dudes like you But what you don't know about me Is that I'm really destined for this sh** Let's see you do it without me [Chorus: Mary J. Blige] You said you wouldn't mind so I'll go on without ya If you wanna shine, I'll bet you shine without me Cause I been too good to let you take me down [?] is that you drive me to drinking I'm feeling good and really good about me So now that I know how to get it for myself This is really your loss