Kendrick Lamar - Dedication lyrics

[Verse 1: Nipsey Hussle] Look, my n***a this is dedication, this is anti-hesitation This a real n***a celebration, this a Dime Blocc declaration Fifty-Ninth and Fifth Ave, granny's house with vanilla wafers This the remedy, the separation, 2Pac of my generation Blue pill in the f**in' Matrix, red rose in the gray pavement Young black n***a trapped and he can't change it Know he a genius, he just can't claim it 'Cause they left him no platforms to explain it He frustrated so he get faded But deep down inside he know you can't fade him How long should I stay dedicated? How long 'til opportunity meet preparation? I need some real n***a reparations 'Fore I run up in your bank just for recreation [Chorus: Nipsey Hussle] Dedication, hard work plus patience The sum of all my sacrifice, I'm done waitin' I'm done waitin', told you that I wasn't playin' Now you hear what I been sayin', dedication It's dedication, look [Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar] I spent my whole life thinkin' out the box Boxin' homies three on one, got DP'ed but I ain't drop Chirp on me, here I come, brrt, spin around the block They blurped on me, said I ran a stop sign but that's a lie I spent my whole life starin' at the stage Playin' Sega, daddy smokin' sherm, mama playin' spades Catchin' vapors, grandma said I'd get some Jordans for my grades That's my baby, when she died my heart broke a hundred ways I spent my whole life tryna make it, tryna chase it The cycle of a black man divided, tryna break it You take a loss, sh** don't cry about it, just embrace it Minor setback for major comeback, that's my favorite My n***a L said you do a song with Nip, K. Dot he a better crip I said he a man first, you hear the words out his lips? About flourishing from the streets to black businesses? Level four, yard livin' and give in to false imprisonment Listen close my n***a, it's bigger than deuces and fours my n***a Since elementary we close my n***a, yeah, straight like that I give you the game, go back to the turf and give it right back For generations we been dealt bad hands with bad plans Prove your dedication by hoppin' out Grand Am's I'm at the premiere politickin' with Top, Nip, and Snoop Damn, Pac watchin' the way we grew, from dedication [Interlude: Kendrick Lamar] If it ain't congratulate then it look like hate If it ain't congratulate then it look like what, Nipsey? Hol' up! [Verse 3: Nipsey Hussle] This ain't entertainment, it's for n***as on the slave ship These songs just the spirituals I swam against them waves wit Ended up on shore to their amazement I hope the example I set's not contagious Lock us behind gates but can't tame us Used to be stay safe, now it's stay dangerous 'Cause ain't no point in playin' defense n***a That's why I dove off the deep end n***a, without a life jacket Couple mil, tour the world, now my life crackin' Cook the books, bring it back so it's no taxes Royalties, publishing, plus I own masters I'll be damned if I slave for some white crackers I was mappin' this out, I hit the heights backwards Hoppin' out the eighty-five in Reebok cla**ics Ran a couple marathons just to get established To make it happen, you got to have it [Chorus: Nipsey Hussle] Dedication, hard work plus patience The sum of all my sacrifice, I'm done waitin' I'm done waitin', told you that I wasn't playin' Now you hear what I been sayin', dedication It's dedication