[Produced by J. Cole]
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[Intro: J. Cole & Nas]
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Freedom or jail, clips inserted
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A babys bein born, same time a man is murdered
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The beginning and end
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As far as rap go, its only natural, I explain
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My plateau, and also what defines my name
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[Refrain: J. Cole]
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Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
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Now what youre bout to hears a tale of glory and sin
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No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin
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[Verse 1: J. Cole]
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I used to print out Nas raps and tape em up on my wall
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My niggas thought they was words, but it was pictures I saw
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And since I wanted to draw, I used to read em in awe
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Then he dropped Stillmatic, rocked the cleanest velour
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Fast forward, whoda thought that I would meet him on tour
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Im earnin stripes now, a nigga got Adidas galore
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Backstage I shook his hand, let em know that hes the man
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When he said he was a fan it was too hard to understand
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No time to soak up the moment though ‘cause I was in a jam
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Hov askin wheres the record that the radio could play and
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I was strikin out for months, 9th inning, feelin fear
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Jeter under pressure, made the biggest hit of my career
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But at first, that wasnt clear, niggas had no idea
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Dion called me when it dropped, soundin sad but sincere
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Told me Nas heard your single and he hate that shit
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Said, “You the one, yo, why you make that shit?”
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[Chorus: J. Cole]
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I cant believe I let Nas down
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Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach
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I cant believe I let Nas down
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I got defensive on the phone
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Resentment was in my tone, fuck it
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[Refrain: J. Cole]
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Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
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Now what youre bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin
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No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin
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[Verse 2: J. Cole]
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I couldnt help but think that maybe I had made a mistake
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I mean, you made “You Owe Me”, dog, I thought that you could relate
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But while I shot up the charts
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You mean tellin me that I was not up to par when I followed my heart?
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Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind that kept on sayin, “Wheres the hits? You aint got none
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You know Jayll never put your album out without none,”
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And, dog, you know how come
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Labels are archaic, formulaic with they outcomes, huh
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They dont know, they just study the charts
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Me, I studied the shows, the fans, studied they hearts
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I had a feelin I was killin, and this music we were spillin out
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Would change lives forever, fuck the label, put it out
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Friday Night Lights blew, that was classic number two
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Now it seemed as if the Nas comparisons was comin true
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Still no release date from the label, are they insane?
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Gucc told me play the game to change the game
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[Chorus: J. Cole]
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But on the way I let Nas down
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Damn, I got no one to blame
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Im ashamed, I let Nas down
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But this is Gods plan, you could never understand, fuck it
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[Refrain: J. Cole]
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Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
~#**************#~
Now what youre bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin
~#**************#~
No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin
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[Verse 3: J. Cole]
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I always believed in the bigger picture
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If I could get them niggas to listen outside my core then I can open the door
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Reintroduce em to honesty, show em that they need more
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The difference between the pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars
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And so, I took the fall
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Like the son of the Lord on the cross dyin for that fake shit you niggas bought
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For the past decade
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If I should pass, please let this be my last essay
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Therefore I write from the heart
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Apologies to OGs for sacrificin my art
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But Im here for a greater purpose, I knew right from the start
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Im just a man of the people, not above but equal
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And for the greater good I walk amongst the evil
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Dont cry, Mama, this the life I choose myself
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Just pray along the way that I dont lose myself
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This is for the nigga that said that Hip-Hop was dead
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I went to Hell to resurrect it, how could you fail to respect it?
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[Chorus: J. Cole]
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Letting Nas down
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I got the phone call
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Quietly I mourned, dog, I let Nas down
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Yeah, and on this flight
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May I never lose sight, fuck it
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[Refrain: J. Cole]
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Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
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Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
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Now what you just heards a tale of glory and sin
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No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin, begin
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Story begin
