The Ways

So you want to be in music business? Listen A life in rap's like a knife in the back This life attracts some of the trifest cats Niggas getting deals with pipes and bats If that don't work then they strike with gats I know a few dudes got label deals Cause they crew pack steel like Navy S.E.A.L.S And I ain't too smooth or too cool to mention I done ran up in the label with cruel intentions Listen, a label guy's like a bitch in disguise He just trying to stay alive, see the twitch in his eyes? A punch and a slap put his lunch in his lap And a kick to the gut'll put a hunch in his back No teeth and gummy and now he talk funny But he set to sign off on that tour support money (that's right) This nation's built on violent intimidations Turn cats to hospital patients they more gracious No promotion? Make 'em float in the ocean Your album about to flop and he ain't showing emotion He having a good time with a bunch of his friends Let him find his dog dead in the trunk of his Benz And he ignored your memo and the issues on it Give his ass a bullet with his initials on it You want a big advance? Don't tell him twice Hang his ass out the window like Vanilla Ice See cats get the message when they life on the line But when you call from the crib with they wife on the line This country of ours was built on violence If your ass got in the way you was killed in silence And these been the ways since back in the days Just ask the Indians or the African slaves So before you pick a logo, and choose a name First you gotta learn the ways of the music game Yup "I need to talk to you right now about my royalties"... ... "My office hours are from 9 to 5" "Fuck your office hours. I need to talk to you right now motherfucker!"... ... "What are you doing man?" [Hook] These are the ways, the ways, the ways, the ways This is how you got to get down these days You want to get paid just remember the phrase These are the ways, the ways, the ways, the ways ("The ways" scratched repeatedly) These are the ways, the ways, the ways, the ways Now if you think what I'm saying is a bunch of bull Run up to the label now and punch a fool And watch niggas panic and start to run frantic This goes for Warner, Electra, and Atlantic And any other major on the map Or A&R cat who turned his back after he made you want to rap See if you can find out a face and name So you know when you roll who to place the blame But Keith Murray ain't need investigators He fuck niggas up, ask questions later And Diddy had a problem with Stevie Stout Got a Cristal bottle, knocked Stevie out Damn, he even whip a nigga ass in style When Suge hears this record man he has to smile And Def Jam reps wearing vests to work Cause they don't want they ribs and they chests to hurt If I worked for them dudes man you won't see me When Rocafella fall out with O.D.B. (nope) That be a day that I'm a call out sick Cause niggas cool first then they fall out quick (that's right) Keep on thinking that it's only rap You'll be a broke-ass nigga and a lonely cat So before you get played out and lose your fame First you got to learn the ways of the music game Yes "What the hell you talking about?"... ... "I'm talking about the cars and the clothes And I got an even longer list of expenses: Studio time, promotions, your expense account..." "You trying to muscle me?"... [Hook]