{*phone rings*} [Verse 1] What up son? I just called up to put you on Out in New York the same sh** is going on Cops stil bustin' there cats for no reason Whether in the summer or fourty below season Yellow cab's stil don't stop for black faces Fiends stil runnin' the block in crack races No more Union Square or Lang Corner Club's now, change everyday like battin order As far as hip hop out here, you might figure That every young cat wanna rap just like Jigga I be richer than Shaquille O'Neal If I had a dollar for every cat With a deal that I don't feel Labels run to sign these dudes, like track meets I can't barely find my binal with Fat Beats I'm desperate, I'm thinkin' bout calling Nelly up Ever since J called I went belly up *What?!* Oh, I ain't tell you bout the label ?? *Nah* Yo... they phony *Yo what happened man?* [Verse 2] I'ma tell you kid, hold it Long story so I hope you got time I never got the hear my song on Hot'9 Guess I should have a little more bling on it Maybe I should have got Ashanti to sing on it My bad to take me so long to get with ya I'm out here looking for ways to get richer Some nights I lay awake for ten hours Ever since that sh** went down with the twin towers I really bin' thinkin' bout taking a year off My bad, I don't mean to talk your ear off What's up with you? [Hook] I just figured I'll give you a call See what's going on and how you been and all Everything is cool, just doing my thing Next time I'm home I'll give you a ring *I'm in the crib...* *I'm in the crib with a phone to my ear..* [Verse 3] Aiyyo wait, so glad you called us It's been a minute since we last spoke I keep in track, I saw your record on the rack do Men I'm just trying to stay aflood, doing the backstroke It's moving mad slow but it's time for cash flow I got a situation doggerty to quick solution I got an album droppin'and I need some distribution The times I think of blowing up, it's just a big illusion I try to learn it but the business sides has been confusing It's like J called, I ain't try to stay poor I want a lot of things That I ain't had the time to wait for Like Hot 97, it's sad but it's mad funny Here, all they play is Ja Rule and Cash Money And gear is not poppin' it off *What's you mean??* [Verse 4] You wanna cop something hot, you got to shop at the mall And that's the sh** y'all was rocking last fall Is that small?? Men I had to quit like last fall It's a b**h going to cla** and working a full week Then at night I do the label thing I'm barely getting sleep But I stil gotta eat, so instead of rocking beats I'm what busy laying low, getting do up in these streets It's nothing mayor I'll explain a little later A couple little hustles just to get a little paper And this is from the hearth cause we fam like soul food You all don't need to take a brake that's what the game owns you That thing about the state of hip/hop is so true An artist that ain't payed no dues will go to This fake gangsta image in rap is runnin' rampin' Men let me calm down before I get off on detention Yo I gotta bounce I gotta pick Junior Dredd up Do your thing man and don't forget keep your head up.. *Aight.. on three..* [Hook] I just figured I'll give you a call See what's going on and how you been and all Everything is cool, just doing my thing Next time I'm home I'll give you a ring