[Intro: Mack 10] This song is dedicated To all the up and coming rappers, singers, hustlers, actors Whatever you may be remember: Without no struggle, you get no progress So keep grindin, keep on mashin, get yours [Chorus: Gerald Levert] You're nothin far from comin up (keep on) Money's just a touch away (keep on) So keep on grindin don't give it up (keep on) There'll always be another day (keep on) [Mack 10] And now I'm sittin at the pad, teary eyed and depressed Starvin and sufferin from mental stress Now a true center to the game of beginner But hard to feel like a winner when you eat spreads for dinner Hit the streets late night in the form of star mushin On the 211 mission just to pay tuition For my kids I got to grind and develop street saavy Servin stress cause I just ain't got enough to cop cavi But I can't stop, I won't stop, til I got it made Either build my clientele, get a job or learn a trade Like hip-hop, and make enough to live good forever So I learned to write the rhymes and get my metaphors together Then I joined a rap crew, with the homies on my street Sellin underground tapes out the local swap meet Gettin tighter on the mic, as I worked day to day So now I lay down at night, and I hear voices say, "Mack" [Chorus] [Mack 10] Now I'm new to the scene, H as in Hard, N as in Nympho So like EPMD, could you _Please Listen to My Demo?_ I left the local crew, felt like I was the man In popular demand and now ready for SoundScan So I searched for a deal with no luck I kept rappin Felt like it would take a miracle to make it all happen Marble said it was a test, "Mack don't do nuttin wrong! Just have faith in God and keep your hustle goin strong Stay hongry, keep writin, don't quit you're too close Remember good things come to those who want it most" So I never left the house, without my rap book Thought I found a new crew but eventually got shook First they said I was cool, but then started to doubt me Put me on the backburner and just forgot all about me Partna said I wasn't fresh, and sent me on my way, but you know what? As I was leavin, I could hear voices say, "Mack" [Chorus] [Mack 10] Now the tables turned, but I remember they used to clown me The hard work paid off, and luck finally found me So call every publication, Billboard and the editor And tell em Mack's being signed by dude workin on _The Predator_ I got the Midas touch, now everything be the bomb Hooked up with The Don, now made a few mill-ion I don't bang I write the good rhymes, you know about mines Man I'm the tightest MC, Ice Cube ever signed Now if ain't the radio, it's a video shoot Livin life in the limelight, with a bank full of loot Now my crew is solid, shook the haters and the leeches Runnin full court at my house with our girls on the beaches Plus the violence is ceased, no more bi-coastal beef Cause now I get down with the North South and the East I reminisce on hard times, seem like yesterday, but now Hoo Bangin' is official and I remember they used to say, "Mack" [Chorus] [Levert] Money's just a touch, just a simple touch Money's just a touch away.. Money's just a touch, just a simple touch Money's just a touch away.. [Mack 10] Man I knew I was gonna make it, but they didn't believe me YaknowhatI'msayin? Clowned me -- gon' be a rapper, what? Hahahaha