Paid Dues (Feat. Cee-Lo)

Yeah, yeah
Space Age forever
Niggas and hos better recognize 8Ball and MJG
Been ten toes down in this game

Since we was two young players in a one horse town
Knee-high to a motherfuckin' grasshopper, you I'm talkin' 'bout?
Nigga, my lights woulda been done got cut off
If my dues weren't paid

It's a skinny line between wrong and right
Trapped in a trap 'til the mornin' light
Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight
My mama and daddy was too young to raise me right

Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made
Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid
Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played
My life woulda been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid

In the middle of doin' crime, uh
It never stopped me from writin' rhymes
It never stopped me from playin' music
God put it in me, I had to use it

It was obvious, I had to give up the streets for the beats
Not knowin', but havin' faith on just how long that it would be
Before I made it
Before somebody picked up my tape and played it

With a remark like, "Ay, played that instrumental, you cat's got potential"
In the process of doin' talent shows, parties, and mix tapes
We even put it down on some of our homeboys jail release dates
I can remember in the past closin' down at fast foods
Strictly stickin' to my dreams, but feelin' like I'd be the last dude

Who can make it in this rap?
I thought that they ain't gon' see me in Memphis
It was like a time they looked over Tennessee, and didn't know hip-hop was in us
To all my vets in the game, I got love, stay on your toes
'Cause back in the days I used to use your four-five instrumentals to do my shows

And look, I was 17 when I signed my first contract
And about 18 and a half when I signed my worst contract
We hurt from that
And 'til this day, they still distributin' our first tape
Before Comin' Out Hard, now can you feel it?
Be humble and patient with whatever you should choose
'Cause to get to where I am right now, I done paid my dues

It's a skinny line between wrong and right
Trapped in a trap 'til the mornin' light
Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight
My mama and daddy was too young to raise me right

Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made
Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid
Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played
My life woulda been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid, uh-huh (yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah)

A C-note for a concert, I know that sounds preposterous
Nigga, we didn't have a pot to piss
So we got on stage and we rocked the bitch
Fuck the cheese, I love to see my niggas in the front row
Get buck wild, start a fight, the police make a nigga stop the show

Niggas all in the parkin lot, bustin' shots, fuckin' with hos (bah-bah-bah)
Box Chevy with the spokes and vogues, nigga didn't know shit 'bout a 20-inch Mo-Mo
Hard head, young nigga don't believe that shit 'til I see that shit
See them heavyweight niggas, one day I'm gon' be that shit

Okay, everybody know everybody done sold dope
Ran with a gang, pimp some hos, and snorted a little coke
But uh I'm space agin' and we'll forever be
8Ball, the fat mack, and M-J fuckin' G

Turn the page, from then to now, and we still grindin'
Small clubs and small towns, if they bouncin' we find them
Put 'em on the guest list, make 'em pump their fist and get buck to this
Make one of them weed smokin', gangsta bitches get fucked to this

Expand, give all my true fans what they demand
Do my part again and uh, come out hard again and uh
Keep space agin', and we'll forever be
8Ball, the fat mack, and M-J fuckin' G

It's a skinny line between wrong and right
Trapped in a trap 'til the mornin' light
Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight
My mama and daddy was too young to raise me right

Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made
Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid
Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played
My life woulda been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid, uh-huh