[Intro]
These were known as samurai
Always been conflicted
Always been conflicted

[Verse 1]
I strain to obtain so I could give more
Most dangerous when it was nothin' to live for (Nothin')
For that fetty bag, ready to let the SIGs pour
Was on nothin' long enough, need a big score
The harmony dreamin' had me constantly schemin'
Rarely peace, in belly of beast, armed like a demon
Singin' tough upbringin', swore it was the hardest
A lot of years starvin' before I was an artist
Would bring in tomorrow with sorrow, plus the hurt
We finally eatin', reapin', it's just dessert
It's just, so trust my work, from dusk to dirt
Committed rhymes, if you give it time, much is learned
Firm, dense, but earn strength with a young stalk
Brought hammers to grammar school, hence the gun talk
The coke drought made it a cesspool
What they hail is stale, need a fresh jewel
Enthralled in crime, not more, but nothin' less cruel
I track the street, where active eat, the rest drool
I speak brass tacks 'til my last acts
My gift might be missed if mixed with trash raps
The night's whole, slice your loaf if you ain't breakin' bread
Some hate, wait, and beg, we take instead
[Chorus]
Mommy told me, "Be a good boy
Need you alive, please survive, you my hood joy" (Please)
Pops told me, "Stay strapped, son" (Strapped)
"You need the shotty, be a body or catch one" (Catch one)
Always been conflicted
Always been conflicted (Word)
Always been conflicted
Always been conflicted

[Verse 2]
Where you from? During what years? (Years)
You from the slum? Where you was upstairs?
What you seen? What you been through? (Through)
Where your team? What your men do?
In over your head, who gon' defend you? (You)
Who gon' defend you?
Demonstrative, get you popped where the monsters live
Your people pay for your mistakes, hope they comp' your wiz
From honor, I don't speak drama I don't know about
I hold a pen, ain't goin' on how I was growin' out
Not blessed divine, wanna live good the rest of mine
Fly rewards for my recordings, don't stress the shine
Wrote the screenplay, direct, and set design
They writin' deadlines, I ain't pressed for time
That haste makes waste, you saunter and slip
But I find when formin' a script, let's ponder a bit
[Chorus]
Mommy told me, "Be a good boy
Need you alive, please survive, you my hood joy"
Pops told me, "Stay strapped, son
You need the shotty, be a body or catch one"
Always been conflicted
Always been conflicted (Hmm)
Always been conflicted
Always been conflicted

[Outro]
Always been conflicted
I got my good from mom duke
I got my math from pop duke, for real
Conflicted, uh
Always been conflicted