[Intro] Raise your gla**, I said toast motherf**er Let me take you back to how the story begins I'm often asked how me, Mo and Sav made AVM And since people want to know how we linked up with each other Let me tell you 'bout this story of me and my two brothers And they ask me, they ask me, they ask and I tell 'em Salute to Kanye West, best in the world But let me tell y'all my story [Verse 1] So I was at this hole in the wall, just rapping doing my thing Not thinking for one second the changes this night would bring Spitting my heart out I was trying to live my dream Then Ali grabbed me and said "Imma take you to meet Mateen" I said "Mateen, who, Cleaves?", he said "Yeah, that's my brother" I said "Word", he said "Yeah, you a cold motherf**er Y'all got the same vibe and I think you should meet each other" So I'm walking over humbled and I'm trying not to stutter cause I was thinking "really?" I was just thinking 'bout when they won the final four and won that did for my city He looked at me and said "n***a you Jon Connor? That n***a gave me your sh** when I was chillin' with my barber I been up on you, I've been tryina find you And I don't want no money, and I ain't tryina sign you I just think you got what it takes to make it out this b**h And I'll do whatever it takes to help you" He's been my brother ever since, so yeah [Bridge] Y'all know how I do This is my way of saluting to those who inspired me Made me wanna do what I do you know what I'm saying If this sh** makes you want to go back and listen to the real versions of these songs, my job is done At least you're listening to good sh** again Alright verse 2 let's go! [Verse 2] So me and Mo had been on this grind for a while Pa**ing CDs out every week [?] Yeah, every other week we would go to the D We just wanted to be heard, gave the music out for free And we be doing shows, I don't know how we survived In these grimy a** clubs, barely made it out alive I could laugh about it now but it wasn't comedy in fact n***as looking at me like: "We gon' rob him if he whack" But that was payin' dues, and I knew that And anything to get to my dream, I was gon' do that So meanwhile my man Slacker worked up at 93.7 Anytime an artist came in through press, he would tell me So Slacker hit me like "Ross coming to the station I know it's a long shot, but you got some music you could play him?" Me and Mo like "f** it my n***a we on the way" End of the day, no it's the worst a n***a could say So we get to the station, Slacker like "Listen, that's my man Connor, and my homie be spittin' If y'all don't like that one, y'all should listen to this one" I fell like nobody in the room was paying attention 'Till I heard the dude next to me say "Woo! My n***a that's cool, my n***a that's you?" He said "My name Sav and your sh** ain't half bad" Him and Mo stepped in the hallway and they exchanged maths So about a month later after sitting in the dark Mo' hit me like "My man from Def Jam want to talk" I'm like "He wanna talk? - Yeah he want you to play sh**" Crazy, he booked a flight from New York to my basement Nervous but I'm playing sh** and playing sh**, on sight 'Till he like "Damn, play me something that I don't like" Pacing back and forth in my basement he like "Dawg, I think you sound special and I want to be involved" So, we was vibing out, listening to music, he said "It ain't about the money I believe that you can do it I just think you got what it takes to make it out this b**h And I'll do whatever it takes to help you" He's been my brother ever since, so yeah [Outro] And there it is You know what I'm saying? It's a lot of people, you know, in this rap sh** That call you, call theirself your brother or whatever, but Sav, Mo', Dr. Dre, y'all showed me the true definition you know what I'm saying? Well, it goes beyond the music you make in the studio It goes beyond the paychecks It goes beyond what's in your bank account You know what I'm saying? True definition Y'all n***as stuck with me man All Varsity, Aftermath for life Let's make history my n***as And I want to thank y'all the people, for sticking with me I ain't gon' never let y'all down, y'all just ride with me Until next time, it's the people's rapper We out