[Intro: The Asoka] Sometimes you have this idea of what paradise will be like. The stuff that dreams are made off. But when you actually get there… It's something completely different from what you imagined. But see the key is… To never give up hope. You just gotta hustle! [Verse 1: The Asoka] Wake up in the morning, tired still yawning Raindrops flowing down, they're still pouring Learn from the water, always keep flowing Life gets hard, imagine being no one Selling CDs right out of your car Going up to folks, they don't know who you are Trying to express how you feel in a bar All of this sh** in the name of good art No one believed I could spit this game Till the magazines came and they pressed my name Maxim gave me a taste of the fame Like (Heath) Ledger in the paint, I'll never be the same Now my videos be… up on MTV Little ole me with a free EP Haters been hating, I've been low key Only my hustle can define me Paid my dues, made my art But society still wants to doubt my heart “You don't fit in, don't belong in hip-hop!” Things like that use to make my heart drop All this time man it felt like jail These A&Rs made my life a living hell “An Indian kid in America well… Well, that's something that'll never sell.” They made me not want to live anymore They made me wish that I had plenty dough Some even said “He ain't got any flow.” But God knows, I was born ready thou [Chorus: Chris Lightfoot] Yeah, feels like high or low We're treading water… treading water Yeah, will they ever know How hard we try (hard we try) Oh, it's burning, this yearning To fly… to fly oh oh Will they ever know How hard we try To bring it to life [Verse 2: Hittman] I was chosen (Whaaat?) Back in 98 I was strolling (Whaaat?) Back pack full of raps, had goals intact Flowed at Encore, was a motherf**ing wrap Mel (man) and Big Chuck were like you gotta meet Capt That's what they called the Doctor Interrupted Eve's session like Cool J in Krush Grove When he said “Box!” Spitting for Andre till he said “Stop! That's all I gotta to hear” Then and right there dreamed of ballin` and gear All in all an illustrious career Well I thought wrong, thought I was on, got hella gonged Now I'm KickStarter pledging like a telethon For project funding Sometimes stepping-stones are really blocks for stumbling Opting out my contract was it a smart or dumb thing The block is mumbling My hustle's not a fun thing, it's stressful and humbling For real [Chorus: Chris Lightfoot] Yeah, feels like high or low We're treading water… treading water Yeah, will they ever know How hard we try (hard we try) Oh, it's burning, this yearning To fly… to fly oh oh Will they ever know How hard we try To bring it to life