About This Game

[Hook] Just be careful what you asking for before you pray You have no clue what you be headin' for; this ain't a game All my life, not knowing which way to go But I became the man I am From learning what I know about this game [Verse 1] Game done changed I don't bang like I used to Shots ring, slugs go through you like Metamucil You're just a poodle in the ring with a dragon I spit fire; sipping kerosene And laughing at these Dr. Seuss rappers They're making me miserable With horrible punchlines And can't-connect syllables I was a little man Rippin' up niggas in elementary While others was playin' I was staring in them notebooks, praying And putting in order Taping videos on VHS recorders They couldn't ignore us I'm getting this regardless Bogarting, I weigh in like a Spartan Lyrical marksman Heart made of steel Quick to blow up like Howie Mandel "What a deal," or no deal... It didn't matter, I still was gonna rise To the top of this buildin' That's for real! Ha! [Hook] [Verse 2] Tape recorders to reel the reels And that was great I graduated from 8-Dash to D-88's Now we in the age of the Pro Tool phase And everybody & their mama think they got game They hang with niggas They can't tell 'em they ain't dope They're scared they gon' hurt their feelings, and in the same note Let 'em do a show- step on stage And when the little niggas froze All you'd see is tomatoes (Ha!) Imma make sure that they know This ain't a game, yo! Water your passion, let it grow, then flamethrow When kids was outside, I decided to stay home Writing to get tighter Sold dope at night And then I counted my bankroll But never did get rich I ate lobster and shrimp, and copped me some new kicks But as far as this music, it ruled everything Like C.R.E.A.M did Wu-Tang I learned some new things! (What!) [Hook] [Verse 3] I paid my dues twice, and I ain't lying That's one in the hood and the other after I signed Now I'm fine and steadily flyin' Jets that hold 12 passengers at a time I've traveled this whole world, but fuck Vietnam If I wanted to get bombed I'd go back home... The neighborhood change when a nigga get on They looking at you strange when you don't give 'em something But soon as you do, it becomes a habit Then they askin' you every day You don't know these bastards (What!) These hood rats throwin' you pussy like Mike Jackson If you hadn't signed, none of this shit would've happened Niggas running up to you Rapping like "Sign me!" Grimey niggas trying to come onto your dime piece They out they mind! They keep bugging you; it's stress and Instead of learning lessons, they're painting perceptions They're always commanding, never understanding I'm hearing rumors how they wanna hold me ransom The hood check you and try to see if you're still real And take you in an after-hours, just like Proof (Shit!) They'll set you up, tryin' to murk you in a place They lie on you when police won't solve the case This is what you chased your whole life to do In the city where nobody gives a fuck about you! And it's true! [Hook]