[Intro: Joey Bada$$]
Yeah, you remember back in the days
When n***as used to rock waves and shit?
When like, yo, I had the fucking 360s, my n***a
Like nobody in the hood was fucking with my shit
And that's real shit

[Verse 1: Joey Bada$$]
Since '95 momma been working nine-five
And I know the landlord fed up with our lies
So we pray to the gods, the Jahs and the Allahs
To keep us safe and watch our lives
'Cause all we tryna do is do good
Put on my hood when I walk through hoods
'Cause these n***as these days is loco
You'll get it in ya vocals if you ain't a local
Yeah, that's why I'm tryna go global
Yeah, that's why I'm tryna be a mogul
And I'm hopeful that me spittin' it soulful
Will have me in the Daily Postal, flying coastal, eatin' tofu
Like I told you, I know n***as who trash rappin'
Worried bout the trendin' fashions rather than ascendin' passion
They want me send 'em tracks but I just send 'em laughter
Right after I start laughin', they start askin' "What happened?"
But back to the chapter
Momma told me "follow dreams", should never have to ask her to
So that’s what I do, became an MC master
Since then it’s been a disaster for you and your favorite rapper
Go ahead, ask 'em "Who is Joey Bad?"
Watch 'em gasp, asthma, damn, it’s so sad
He paused the chatter 'cause he know he rather back up
Than to admit the kid is hotter than magma
But fuck it, you gotta give credit where it's due
'Cause you ain't gon' like the karma when it's set up on you
It can get you on your medical, fuck you up in the decimals
Or get you 2 to 3 for residue found in your retinal
Uh, and they told me not to be so complex
Dumb it down to accomplish articles in Complex
And The Source — alfredo, of course
There I go again, steppin' out of line, runnin' off course
I heard reports that it's like sexual intercourse
With your thoughts when I talk about the shoes in which I walk
For it is not faux, nor false that this kid from the north
Speaks with forced supports of reinforced assaults
I'm sure by now you can assume he never lost
Unless with some form of divorce, or a corpse
Born boss, no days off, child labor
Let me see those in favor to spin that back like tornadoes
Yeah
[Interlude: 2Pac]
What, what the rap audience ain't ready for is a real person
You know what I wanna say: a real N-I-G-G-A
I'm coming at 'em 100% real, I ain't compromising nathan'
Anybody that talk about me got problems, you know what I'm sayin'?
It's gonna be straight-up, like if I was a street person
That's how I'm comin' at the whole world
And I'm being real about it and I'ma grow with my music

[Verse 2: Joey Bada$$]
Yeah, but it's far from over
Won't stop 'til I meet Hova and my momma's in a Rover
'Til I'm an owner of the world's finest motors
I blow like supernovas in your daughter's room on a poster
Known as history's biggest musical composer
No disrespect to Bob Mar, but yeah, another stoner
Marijuana my odor, and when I get older
Hope my spermatozoa from my scrotum intercepts an ovum
Like three times, have three kids
I hope me and my wife can show 'em not to make the same mistakes you know that we did
I hope they acknowledge the knowledge
'Cause yeah, they gon' need it
'Cause when my parents tried to tell me, I just wouldn't receive it
Couldn't believe it, till I saw with my own pupils
Felt bad when I learned that their advice was truly useful
But fuck it, only made us as human beings more mutual
Even though over time, my punishments, they grew more crucial
Should use the word brutal, 'cause my parents mad strict
Hope one day I'll attract the likes of even Madlib
Go gold on mad shit and hear my songs mastered
Until then, all I can do is imagine
[Outro]
Imagine, I'ma make it all happen
(Yeah, that's my boy)