[Intro: Kobe Bryant]
I sign that contract with myself, I'm doing it
Throughout that process, you'll start talking to yourself like, "Man, I think I need to.. maybe if we..."
Nope
This is non-negotiable
Non-negotiable
Yeah

[Bridge]
Gotta work through the stress, can you handle this?
Yeah, it ain't nothing glamorous
Really though, can you manage this?
What happens when the inspiration vanishes?
When you hurt in the soul ain't no bandages
When a hater say some bullshit that damages
Your sense of self-pride, are you still gon' ride
Or will you melt down like a candlestick?

[Chorus]
I said, "What you gonna do now?"
What you gonna do, homie?
What you gonna do?
I said, "What you gonna do now?"
What you gonna do, homie?
What you gonna do?
Said the universе be asking all of us this very question
And how you answеr chooses if you lose or count them blessings
Hold up
[Verse 1]
Some days I been feeling so discouraged
Feeling like there ain't no way my flow will flourish
Goin hella hard, but I'm working for myself
So you know I got no benefits and no insurance
I'm a total purist
Rapping in the lab until my vocal's perfect
Tryna take it back to when talent was mattering
But I don't know if people ready for the dope resurgence
Still, every day I be showing up consistently
'cause I'm knowing that the muses reward it
Even when my brain feels confused and distorted
Still I put the work in, get my music recorded
Some days I be lovin what I made
I be saying, "That's something of beauty, it's gorgeous."
Other days I be saying, "Damn, that's wack
What the fuck is that? I'm about to lose it
I should forfeit
Truly, I'm tortured"
I don't know if any artists out there could relate to me
Maybe I'm just fakin it
I ain't never gonna make it, it's make believe
What's it gonna take to see the success that I need?
Dog, do I even have the agency?
Right now I coulda bowed out gracefully
Why do I keep showing up faithfully?
[Bridge]
Gotta work through the stress, can you handle this?
Yeah, it ain't nothing glamorous
Really though, can you manage this?
What happens when the inspiration vanishes?
When you hurt in the soul ain't no bandages
When a hater say some bullshit that damages
Your sense of self-pride, are you still gon' ride
Or will you melt down like a candlestick?

[Chorus]
I said, "What you gonna do now?"
What you gonna do, homie?
What you gonna do?
I said, "What you gonna do now?"
What you gonna do, homie?
What you gonna do?
Said the universe be asking all of us this very question
And how you answer chooses if you lose or count them blessings
Yeah

[verse 2]
I don't know if it's gon work
Still I'm workin till it hurts
Can't be doin that in bursts
Find a beat record a verse
Then record another verse
Then record another verse
On and on until the hearse
Till I'm buried in the earth
Stayin faithful, music my religion
Every morning I be up at church, yeah
Getting better, never worse, ayy
Put in effort, lift the curse, ayy
Of my insecurity, rhyming with urgency
Line after line, I'm aligning them perfectly
Grinding the levels, it's quite unbelievable
Trying to make it so failure's unreasonable
Climbing the peaks, I don't know if they reachable
Hoping the skills that I'm needing are teachable
Fuck it, I just keep on going
'Cause giving up is unspeakable
I can't be weak, my bro
I gotta make the speakers blow
With heat, it flows
I gotta let 'em know that I'm coming for the title
I been doing this since second grade recital
And I got it when I'm feelin like it's vital
Man, I'm doing it the way that I was meant to do it
I'mma just pursue it, I'ma keep on going
I'ma keep on going through the music
[Bridge]
Gotta work through the stress, can you handle this?
Yeah, it ain't nothing glamorous
Really though, can you manage this?
What happens when the inspiration vanishes?
When you hurt in the soul ain't no bandages
When a hater say some bullshit that damages
Your sense of self-pride, are you still gon' ride
Or will you melt down like a candlestick?

[Chorus]
I said, "What you gonna do now?"
What you gonna do, homie?
What you gonna do?
I said, "What you gonna do now?"
What you gonna do, homie?
What you gonna do?
Said, "The universe be asking all of us this very question
And how you answer chooses if you lose or count them blessings"
Hold up