Sideline Story

[Produced by J. Cole] [Verse 1: J. Cole] I put my heart and soul in this game, I'm feelin' drained Unappreciated, unalleviated Tired of comin' up short, fuck abbreviated Want my whole name spelled out, my own pain spilled out No pain, no gain, I blow brains, Cobain Throw flames, Liu Kang, the coach ain't help out, so I call my own shots I'm David Blaine, I'm breakin' out of my own box, you stay the same But homie if you change, may you change for the better Back when Martin King had a thing for Coretta Wonder if she seen all the dreams he was dreamin' Did she have a clue of all the schemes he was schemin' Still loved him just enough to put up with the cheatin' Months go by and only see him for a weekend I say a prayer, hope my girl ain't leavin' We all got angels, we all got demons As you fall through the club Bad bitches down to do all the above Money comes fast so bein' hungry don't last Till you look in the mirror and you saw who you was Cole World, it couldn't be more clearer The time is now, couldn't be more herer My reign gonna last like 3-4 eras Say hello to the real, I can be your hero [Hook] Hey, I'mma put us all on the map Gone and I ain't lookin' back I know they gone feel it like they tank on E I promise baby, you can bet the bank on me Cause can't nobody tell me what I ain't gonna be no more You thinking I'mma fall, don't be so sure I wish somebody made guidelines On how to get up off the sidelines [Verse 2: J. Cole] Up in 1st class, laugh even though it's not funny See a white man wonder how the fuck I got money While he sit at coach, hate to see me walk past 'im Young black pants sag, headphones blastin' Know what he askin', "how did he manage?" "With all the cards against him, he used them to his advantage!" Slang we be speakin' probably soundin' like Spanish Then I fuck they heads up when a nigga show manners Some New York niggas thought it was funny callin' us 'Bama Laughin' at the grammar cause they didn't understand us Must've thought we slow, but little do they know I came up in here to take advantage of that shit y'all take for granted Opportunity that I would kill for Lookin' at rappers like "what the fuck you got a deal for?!" When I was assed out with my funds low It's nice to know I had the whole world at my front door [Hook] Hey, I'mma put us all on the map Gone and I ain't lookin' back I know they gone feel it like they tank on E I promise baby, you can bet the bank on me Cause can't nobody tell me what I ain't gonna be no more You thinking I'mma fall, don't be so sure I wish somebody made guidelines On how to get up off the sidelines [Verse 3: J. Cole] I made it to the rack, even though they tried to box me out I got the key to the game, they tried to lock me out But what they don’t understand is this is all plan It’s a bigger picture and you can’t photoshop me out Some nigga ask me why Jay never shout me out Like I’m supposed to give a fuck Don’t you know that I be out in France Where the fans throw they hands like Pacquiao Not cause my looks, cause my hooks could knock Rocky out And my lines is designed from the heart Young Simba been a lion from the start Dumb nigga’s, y’all been lyin from the start My life’s like a movie, truly And these niggas is dyin' for the part But, you’ll never play me like LeBron vs. Jordan Twenty years, wonder who they gone say was more important Both changed the game, came through and made a lane Who’s to say that who’s greater, all we know, they ain’t the same [Hook] Hey, I'mma put us all on the map Gone and I ain't lookin' back I know they gone feel it like they tank on E I promise baby, you can bet the bank on me Cause can't nobody tell me what I ain't gonna be no more You thinking I'mma fall, don't be so sure I wish somebody made guidelines On how to get up off the sidelines