This is how the game is played, no matter how much you got, watch it

[Verse 1]
When you started out you was hard then master gave you the nod
Folks worshipped you like a god but that was just a facade
You gave the system a try so now your status is high
But your position [?] so how you act and comply
You came up out of the field, hoping to properly build
He showed a lot of the skill
His hustle got him a deal
But shortly after you knew this game was ratchet and cruel which made you actually lose the happiness you pursued
They peppered you with the praise, big revenue everyday
Yet telling you what to say whenever you hit the stage
When something pop in the streets, they take your option to speak
Don’t want you dropping no heat, they even watchin’ your Tweets
So if a topic arise, they pimp these popular guys
Make statements that’s not advised, they make you apologize
They keep it low, [?] knew they wanted to hurl
They show you their power by punking you in front of the world, you’s a

[Hook]
Million dollar slave, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You’s a million dollar slave, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Verse 2]
You feelin’ comfortable ‘cause now you got the mansions and cars
You get to be at the award shows and dance with the stars
They see you fighting for a cause, now they sick of your ass
So they pickle your past instantly and dig up some trash
They’ll hold some old dirt until you force ‘em to use it
The machine builder can tear it down whenever he chooses
You were not produced to speak truth or that’s just how he views it
‘cause the use of his platforms are only for his amusement
Ain’t no protestin’ and speakin’ out, that’s not how he raised you
The price for being a good slave is the millions he pays you
Caught up in the depths of a false sense of acceptance
Never using the devil’s history as a reference
Two hundred, three hundred million, it don’t matter your worth
Soon as you think you flyin’, he gon’ slam you back to the earth
Tear you down in the media then watch the hate ensue
They’ll even make your own community turn against you, you's a
[Hook]
Million dollar slave, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You’s a million dollar slave, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Verse 3]
Question:
At the peak of success, can you still keep your respect?
I’ve seen ‘em put some of the biggest black people in check
You spent years signing contracts, cashing in royalties
But soon as they jam you up, you spendin’ that on lawyer fees
Or they see the people rising up with boots on the ground
So they put you on Fox News to calm the broke slaves down
You start defending everything master say or he do
But after all that sellin’ out, they cut your ass loose too
What else is new? Same formula, they constantly do it
The corporate world, sports, politics, movies and music
Your loyalty, they make you prove it on a tv show
(*Authority figure*: Do you support Minister Louis Farrakhan?)
(*Intimidated subject*: Um… no?)
’til we break free and establish our own, ain’t much coming
Knew that every dollar they ever paid you was hush money
After seeing this for years and years, by now you should know
You only get to go as high as they allow you to go ‘cause you a

[Hook]
Million dollar slave, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You’s a million dollar slave, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah