3 Wishes

[Produced by Jake One] [Verse 1: J Cole] Yeah grew up with killers, I didn't know they was killers We was just together man, playing Mega-man on Sega man Your mama loved me to death, she reminded me of Afeni Yeah real black queen If I had a genie I wish that she ain't struggle no more Y'all wouldn't have to go to sleep with all the roaches if she wasn't so poor You told me when you came to my house This shit was like a timeout from reality One night you asked me what I'm crying about 'cuz you was staying over for the weekend I woke up from out my sleep When I heard mama and my stepfather beefin I don't know if he been drinkin But I know this shit got loud and I heard rumbling from struggling And rolling on the ground Could never get used to that sound My mama saying get off me My tears is tumbling now I wish that you never saw me 'Cuz I felt like a coward, so powerless I was only 12 I wish I would've bust through that door my fucking self And grab the Glock right off the fucking shelf If nothing else scared a nigga shitless There goes two of my wishes Forever scarred, determined to get some heart No matter how big the nigga, no matter how small you are Fast-forward to our older years Two different paths You used to talk to me about college but that shit didn't last Waste of potential, getting cash, what could I say? So tired of not having things, you never see it my way Too proud to fold Your demise One day much to my surprise, my nigga called me, told me you just caught a body twice your size I asked if it was self defense, he said it was defense of pride And that they trying to give you ten, but if you lucky you'll do five damn Not my nigga The same one that told me that things always get better Just trust me, don't cry my nigga The news call him a killer, but he my nigga Sad shit Ay yo genie last wish, free my nigga