[Verse 1]
A young cat planning ways to get the paper then blow
Thinking that this rap game'll give him fame and some dough
Frustrated with his job cause the wagers are low
He's out for stardom, nice clothes and chains that glow
He started out with writing some conscious lyrics in his raps
Innocent kid who never slumped pistols and gats
Who never got arrested for committing felony acts
Going to school, staying disciplined and detached
From the streets where salesmen stay flipping them packs
But day and night he let his ink leak on the page
Imagining recieving praise while emceeing on stage
And as the years creep in, his dreams seem to fade
Confused cause he ain't got a record deal at this age
Now he's considering illegitimate schemes to get paid
So we can move out the hood and leave somewhere a seed could be raised
Whoever thought being an emcee would be this stressful
Record companies always seem to reject his demo
Saying he ain't commercial enough to be succesful
His only option now is to settle in the ghetto
Or make records about materials and packing metal
Which isn't really his personality type to M.O
But might land him a deal with a Rollie and a bezel
So how you gon' react when stardom begins to tempt you?
Stay true to self or compromise with the devil?
[Hook]
You got the glamour, the glitz, the fortune and fame
But was it worth the sacrifice for the portion you gained?
You live the high life, and now it's taking a toll
But that's the price you got to pay for forsaking your soul
But wait a second, give me time to explain
Women and fast cars and diamond rings could poison a rap star
But wait a second, give me time to explain
Women and fast cars and diamond rings could poison a rap star
[Verse 2]
So the decision was made and now you sealed your faith
Only concerned with going platinum and the mills you make
You chose the path, but it was out of pure desperation
Thinking you might get rid of all the stress that you were facing
But as a result the pressure is only escalating
You used to drop j**els in your rhymes, educating
Now the image of a thug is what your pen is portraying
So you could get some royalty checks while your record is playing
You a little too obsessed with the attention you gaining
And maybe getting money is why your perception is changing
Plus your friends are saying you're living foul and reckless
Sleeping with groupie chicks who always surround your presence
Your girl found out and now she's moving out your residence
Took your child, split your bank accounts and investments
People that you call your friends got foul intentions
They only stick around when they see you counting presidents
But you don't care, you're just enjoying your success at this
Living out the dream you write about in your sentences
A little fame and you haven't been the same ever since
But now your whole music career is losing relevance
Forcing you to wake up and come back to your senses
Got you looking back thinking how much you regretted this sh**
You came from the bottom and you travelled far
Only to see the fast life could poison a rap star
[Hook]