[Intro: Joe Budden ([?])]
On top (come on)
All right

[Verse: Joe Budden]
Lord have mercy, Jesus Christ
He's just nice, he just writes with the pencil (just tell my side of the story)
Look at the bullshit I been through (Mood Muzik: The Worst of Joe Budden)
It's the next generation of rap, now let's continue (Relate to it)
Y'all might not understand now 'cause the picture is tainted
I'ma take the time out for y'all to try to explain it
I was a kid in Jerz, no name, no stage
Listen close while I get everybody on the same page
Me and Dub made music (But), the times was hard
And we really couldn't pursue it 'cause we both had jobs (talk to 'em)
Bryce said we could get straight cream
Rap over other n***as beats and I ain't know about the mixtape scene (I ain't know about it)
So we did that, goin' off my godbrother's promise
I spit a hundred bars over "Nastradamus" (Y'all don't remember that)
And Bryce knew Cut so I had hope all along
Next C tape was two freestyles and a song ([?] let's go)
He gave C, said "It's the go, I bet you"
C said, "He's all right, but what's so special?" (But what's so special 'bout him?)
Held onto it and it must've been luck
Because some n***a named Webb went in the back of his truck
And found my shit, listened and the rhythm was ill
Said, "This kid's all right and watch me get him a deal" (and he did that)
On Top met me and Dubb and we liked him
Gave us ten-G's [?]
Started makin' music loosely
But DJ's was hesitant to play 'em because nobody knew me
I guess Joe Budden was new
I needed some help, so Fab came through and we did "Coming For You"
Did another joint later on with Tah Murdah and Black Child
The streets finally started to react now
Made some songs, it was such a long process
Skane stopped by to check progress
Him and Webb steady bangin' Clue who was still ignorin'
Cutmaster and Envy were still supportin'
Then Clue got with it, 'cause my man called hype
Tellin' me I'm on the Clue tapes spittin' and let's get it ([?])
People started to really see what was what now
Your boy got a lil bit of buzz now
Everything was so timely
'Cause Skane went up there and told Kevin Liles he wanted to sign me (And I was hype y'all)
So On Top went to meet with Lyor and Kev about business
They started talkin' some Spit shit (Spit)
It was a new label, we ain't know all about
The rappers they wanted to sign, but wasn't sure about
Made it sound worth my while, though it was weird for me
Told me if I broke the label they'd take care of me (You know)
Put out "Get Right With Me" speed things up
But that shit ain't keep things up, I started noticin' (What?)
That Def Jam treated Spit as a knockoff
And Jump Off's better than that y'all, I got off
Then I'm on Def Jam (Doing what?), waitin' and chillin'
Left the mixtapes to get things straight in the buildin'
Left the streets dry, I ain't give 'em no ether
'Nitti and Skane up there, beggin' for a feature
And they gave us one, and we thought it was hittin'
We thought 3rd Storee would sell, but they didn't
And I liked that song and the hook
Plus they was shootin' a video and we was mad thirsty for a look
But they ruined that shit, had my whole camp feelin' the worst
At the last minute cut my second verse
And the politics had me hopeless
And the label just kept overlookin' me [?] ([?])
[?] travel from state to state
Club banger, no video, spinnin' top eight at eight
By the time Def Jam knew it bumped and had flavor (It's too late)
Record died down, this is eight months later (Too late [?])
And that whole time I was out of the street mix
So they tried to bring it back with a bullshit remix
And now they respectin' a n***a
But I'm scared 'cause the SoundScan is straight disrespectin' a n***a (It's fucked up right now)
So it's back to the mixtapes where I ain't gotta deal with the nonsense
And the next two leaders [?] (Y'all 'ready know)
So at a time where the whole rap game is shaken
There's a slot wide open and it's there for the takin'