Kendrick Lamar - Wanna Be Heard lyrics

[Kendrick Lamar] It's like I don't think you fully understand who I am, y'know? I'm just a good kid from Compton that wanna rap I don't represent no colors, I represent my lil' sisters and brothers I'm the oldest, n***a And if you can't respect that, your whole perspective is wack Check it out I used to wanna rap like Jay-Z until I finally realised that Jay wasn't me I took my time to jot down every line that's a quotable Critics say I don't be k**ing this sh** but I know I do because I used to practice early morning and then after school I'm working on my hooks my n***a, I ain't tryna battle you But even if I did, I guarantee I'd overshadow you Like a f**ed up taper that turned to bowl cut I'ma close cut to Common and Gucci Mane Now that's a comparison that you probably wouldn't understand Because I can touch the people and still keep it ghetto as an '87 Regal with the tree air freshener on the rearview mirror I wear a heart on my shoulder 'Member when we used to make the boost look like Motorola? Your cousin f**ed up your room every time he came over Then went to jail when we got older That sh** is a bad odor, but still I remain focussed In due time, I'll be able to swipe my card and it won't say decline That sh**'s embarra**ing huh Hope no one pay you no mind But it's a bad b**h behind you while you standing in line Can you relate to my story? Can you follow my dreams and admirations that I had ever since I was thirteen? My momma believed in me, she let me use her van to go to the studio even though she know her tank is empty, that's who I do it fo' My pops got a different approach, yeah he believed But he always questioned when I'ma drop my debut CD How long this gon' take n***a? You still haven't ate n***a At twenty-two I had two cars and my own place n***a It's a sacrifice I try to tell him That's when he turn to BET and tell me that he jealous of all these n***as getting money and their sh** don't sound like sh** I ate tryna k** your confidence or forcing you to quit I just wanna hear you heard [Chorus] Yep, yep, that's my word Make a statement with these nouns and verbs I represent the liquor that's poured out on the curb Listen to my nouns and verbs (man I wanna be heard) Like a cattle with sheep While y'all sleep I re-up, cooking up all day like a mad scientist in that laboratory Motherf** what a critic got to say, I'ma be heard [Kendrick Lamar] What up Dasan? I ain't forgot n***a You developed me, telling me I was hot n***a You believed in me first, that's what's for sure At the church recording, at the garage, but it worked But me and Dave kind of felt you lost the pa**ion A lot was going on in your life and you needed space But still I should have came to you first to tell you what happened But I was seventeen and figured it's best I stay away And I wrong, I was young and couldn't look you in the eye for what I'd done But I'm telling you we ain't done Matter of fact, how's your sons? What they up to? Remember they used to run away while you had worked on ProTools? People I used to be in the booth till four in the morning with school in the morning, yawning, but I was on it Me, you and Dave was on it Buzzing like Charlotte Hornets when that tape dropped Where them beats n***a? It's been five years since we had rocked Time to be heard [Chorus] [Kendrick Lamar] So can you feel it? When you hear it do it pulsate your spirit? Does it make you wanna say motherf** a gimmick? The truth can set you free if you Do the Right Thing Word to Spike Lee, don't he look like Sounwave? That's kinda random, but my humor sometimes strays, like a dog in the night Twenty-four hours in a day but only take five minutes to grab a pad and a pen, then send your dog a kite I spread love like a Hippy, but I'm a (Black) one with Jesus Christ pa**ion, I swear on the bible Tabernacle to all my rivals, I ain't mad You hate a n***a for tryna help you, that's your bad because I figure I can make a way with these stanzas I probably can't heal cancer, but I can heal the city My n***as, tell me you with me And if you is won't you pop my CD in Open up your trunk, then let it bump, so I can be heard Yeah, uh huh [Chorus] [Kendrick Lamar] D-Dave, what up n***a? Matt Jeezy [laughs]