[Intro: Cozz]
Yeah
Third take, n***a
Cozz & Effect, n***a, yeah
Yeah, I got to
Ha, yeah, yeah
Trauma Tone, yo, uh

[Verse 1: Cozz]
Jealousy holdin' enemies hostage
Eventually the penalty will come and haunt ya
Hennessey memories leavin' me nauseous
But the Hennessy makes the melodies awesome, so instead of me
Talkin', I'm steady jottin' and steady plottin'
On how to gain spaghetti toppings, you know that parmesan
That cheddar, mozzarella, the list goes on and on
You know my heart is strong, I'm a young phenomenon, it's like these
People keep forgettin', it's always
The least expected who ends up gettin' it
So don't tell me 'bout no n***as hatin', what's the point if I hear?
Mr Not-Givin'-a-Fuck with a joint in his ear
Put that steak on his plate, the sirloin disappear
Empty gut, I'm hungry, man, the guns pointin' this year
I'm feelin' like I'm dealin' with children, boy, I'm killin'
N***as already tryna bite styles, you break your tooth
If you bite down, bitch, I go way too hard
[Chorus 1: Cozz, Cozz & J. Cole, J. Cole]
I been in this hood, dawg, for way too long, man
I been quiet for way too long
Been patiently waitin', can't wait too long, dawg
I been broke, man, for way too long
No hot water for way too long
You can't knock the hustle, it's way too strong
Man, we way too strong (Yeah)

[Verse 2: J. Cole]
Death to the imposters, label me the king
My dreams could win Oscars, my n***as turned mobsters
My white friends doctors, fatherless child
Listen, how I got this knowledge is wild, streets taught me
Speak softly n***a watch from the crowd, 'cause any n***a that's loud
Just want attention and eventually blaow
No fake n***as allowed in my circle, dawg
You been through half the shit I been through it'll hurt ya, dawg, tread softly
My n***a movin' state-to-state, runnin' late, watch 'em
Tryna avoid state troopers, that's the weight watchers
Run this dope, stack this cake 'til they say, "Gotcha"
Or 'til the fat lady sing, and n***as hate operas
And Oprah hate n***as, make no mistake
That we know the stakes, still we hope to make over eight figures
Slim chances, but n***as bet against the odds
And who am I to criticise how you play your cards, dawg?
[Chorus 2: J. Cole]
'Cause I done beat the odds goin' way too hard
I been gettin' slept on for way too long
I been patiently waitin' for way too long
I been quiet, dawg, for way too long
You can't knock the hustle, dawg, it's way too strong
It's way too strong, I said
You can't knock my hustle, dawg, it's way too strong
It's way too strong, look

[Verse 3: J. Cole]
I never admit it, tryna get my brother acquitted
Yo, tell the judge, I be happy to pay him off if he's with it
My flesh and blood, hauled off to the cell, I search for heaven
As I see him gettin' lost in this hell, headed for coffin or jail
To never try is the ultimate fail
But love is wantin' more for someone than they want for themselves, deep
I guess I love a lot, because the more
I do my thang, the more I feel the guilt and shame that my brother's not
Reminisce as we was kids, screamin' "Fuck a cop"
Guess he took it serious, for me, that shit was just for props
Arms too skinny to hug the block
I found comfort in my dreams of things seen on the screen
Of fortune and fame, decisions, decisions, the Porsche or the Range?
I take a trip back to the 'Ville, only corpses remain
Some of them n***as still breathin', but they dead inside
Victims of a genocide, tears fill my eyes, dawg
[Chorus 3: J. Cole]
'Cause I been out of touch, man, for way too long
I been out in Hollywood for way too long
I been gettin' this paper for way too long
I ain't called my pops back in way too long
I done made my girl wait for way too long
I wonder if I changed, am I way too on?
Can't knock my hustle, but it's way too strong
It's way too strong

[Outro: J. Cole]
Cozz & Effect
Dreamville
Cole World
Let me hear that back