[Rapper Big Pooh] (If I quoted a perfect picture, would the people come see it?) Would the people come see it? Would the people come see it? (If I wrote a great novel, would anyone read it?) Would anyone read it? Would anyone read it? (The truth, I'll write it and continue to amaze) They continue to amaze, they continue to amaze (If the North would've lost, would I still be a slave?) Would I still be a slave? Would I still be a slave? (The roses do grow out of project pave) Out of project pave, out of project pave (Little white kids, too, need to be saved) Too need to be saved, too need to be saved (Life is a play and the world is your stage) Stage... play ya role, n***a Times is gettin tough, we all countin coins Rock boy slang envisionin Donald Goines Young girls dream of bein the new B Grow up, be glam, and marry a Jay-Z Life it shouldn't be, but this how we livin Grown men crusin middle schools for the children Blowin up buildings, gas four bucks The rich gettin richer and the rest gettin f**ed We preach education when our schools ain't sh** College forty grand and that's IF they admit Tyrone from the 'jects, single-parent home Never leave the crib, without that chrome Sports and entertainment ain't ALL that we have Before you a**ume, my n***a, do the math I keep gettin questioned 'bout people in my past Tell me that the good die young, have last [Chorus: T3] It's the, state of the union my n***a, we up soon They call it terrorist when we don't play by the rules It's racism when we try to speak our views It's known as realism when they show it on the news It's the, state of the union my n***a, we up soon It's hard to get it in when you destined to lose We gotta move for the young and impressionable The Xs' and Os' - let's go! [Rapper Big Pooh] Rap is gettin crazy, this ain't competition n***as think beef is the way, ya start dissin n***as think beef is the way, just fishin Even more reason to stay out the kitchen Rapper been pitchin, words to the track Every rapper now got they start in the trap They start flippin packs. money before the deal Just last month, you sponsored 'em on a meal Why keep it real when d** can get you paid? And just like Hammer, that fad will, too, fade Lie about your dealin, disrespectful to the trade It's k**in our people by the hundreds every day The media attacks, you try and back away Stand by what you said, get the f** out the way Real n***as here do this sh** everyday They don't kids come around talkin play [Chorus]