[Verse] Ayup Cause I got too much to lose to play checkers So I play chess Haven't took my last piece, not yet You win a battle, watch me win a war Bet it till my underdrawers Watch me do some sh** nobody's ever done before Bro, follow my moves I paid every invoice, paid all of my dues Plus the product quality too My word more bond than James Authority my penmanship Short term consequence for long term benefit I'm just trying to be better than yesterday Better than they estimate Cheddar from my escapades Competitor to every name John Lennon to Eminem Eddie Vedder to Etta James Bro, this is not an accident I'm practicing to turn it to a ring I'm tryna take a pawn and maybe turn it to a king You should pay attention, maybe you could learn a thing I called up my future and my future went cha-ching Stop playing checkers, think about the past Worried bout others, you need to look in mirrored gla** And see if you can trust the f**in' person looking back And be three moves ahead of that cat, now that's the test, man [Hook] So what you playing, checkers or chess? You striving for more or you settle for less? Checkers is for kids, this is a grown-up thing Do you hate it that I made it from a pawn to a king? So what you playing, checkers or chess? You striving for more or you settle for less? You trying to whisper or you trying to sing? Do you hate it that I made it from a pawn to a king? [Verse 2] You argue with the village idiot in Twitter beef You focused on a single note and never wrote a symphony
I'll make a tear like the filter in the pool I'll put it down until my crown round, gilded and bej**led You didn't plot, you got the vision like a pigeon got You short-sighted like a ticket from a midget cop You got excuses like pain got bruises Like the game got name drops and Maine got mooses I'd pa** you the ball but you'd stall like a restroom That [S dude?] chess moves since I was a test tube Born a pawn but I been on a mission Staring in the mirror at my only competition Knowing you could have the money stacked like vocals in the chorus But be too into the trees that you didn't see the forest You're like, kid sisters, fake imposters Ignore the big picture like you, hate the Oscars, but We can't save everyone, can we? Playing checkers not good for your family You should quit, I second that This is not a checkers match I record, then export, from my chessboard [Hook] So what you playing, checkers or chess? You striving for more or you settle for less? Checkers is for kids, this is a grown-up thing Do you hate it that I made it from a pawn to a king? So what you playing, checkers or chess? You striving for more or you settle for less? You trying to whisper or you trying to sing? Do you hate it that I made it from a pawn to a king? [Outro: Spose & sample] Yeah, that king sh** [sh** to the king?] Hands in the sky Now kiss the f**in' ring Whatchu playing? I sacrifice my knights to keep my king upon the board Good luck with your life Nah seriously, good luck man