Devin The Dude - Lookin' Back lyrics

[Hook: Devin The Dude] Lookin back when the days wasn't so easy* You were either hustlin or strugglin Make it or break it, would take all different pieces And we'll make somethin of nothin [Verse 1: Devin The Dude] Lookin back at the times when we had to grind When it came to freestylin we was glad to rhyme When it was hard to make a dime, let alone get a dollar Had to get your hustle on, knew not to ask your mama for it When you got it you couldn't blow it So I saved what I had in the bag, then I would go get Radio batteries, I'd buy the ca**ettes LPs, 4-tracks, wires and [?] And we was down for hours, we was known around town Come through with the crew and break the cardboard down Heh... glide [?] Then the whole thing started with the Odd Squad parties Met E-40 at the Rap-A-Lot office Him and Bela cool n***as with the Click that stay drunk We was gettin Houstin high, they already had the Bay crunk Straight up old school, wasn't no ProTools Jack you for your jacket, and they'll jack you for yo shoes Back then you had friends who had your back You only had three choices - sports, rap or crack And ah, it's a blessing to still be part of the game And I wouldn't change one thing [Hook: Devin The Dude & E-40] Lookin back when the days wasn't so easy (It wasn't easy, mane) Were either hustlin or strugglin (Workin, hustlin and strugglin) Make it or break it, would take all different pieces (All of the pieces) And we'll make somethin of nothin (That's right, mane, we'd make somethin of nothin, mane) [Interlude: E-40] Make somethin out of nothin Hey Devin This 40, mane Let me gas it right quick, bro Let it tell it from my perspective, you smell me? Look here I just wanna spit a few bars Listen up, family Listen [Verse 2: E-40] Lookin back before YouTube and social networks was founded A&R's'd go to the hood to find artists with talent Recording engineers was low-key lightweight crooks Not all of 'em but some of 'em'd take all day to fly hooks That's how they did it back then, based on a hourly rate The longer they make, the mo' money they make All we wanted to do was rap, young and enthusiastic Hopin that one day our tapes would be in stores shrinkwrapped and packaged We used to beg the promoters to do us a favor Let us perform for free, pimpin, mane, the money gon' come later We knew the money was gon' come later We was just tryina get our name out there And it ended up workin, mane, for real though Rehearse and practise, practise and rehearse Me and Too $hort, Bun and Pimp C wouldn't charge each other to spit a verse We all knew what we was worth, future legends up in the game RIP Pimp C, way ahead of his time Everybody wanna be that guy, everybody wanna be that dude But everybody don't wanna pay dues like 40 and Devin The Dude Two good dudes, old school but new school Meet 'em in person, you gon' say, "Them some cool fools" Good music still around, just gotta know where to find it The seasoned entrepreneur independently grindin 20 plus 3 years deep in this music People always be askin me, "40, how the f** is you still doin it?" [Hook:]