[Intro: J. Cole]
Tick
This is for my n***as in the fourth quarter
Just watching that clock tick. Yeah

[Verse 1: J. Cole]
You said, "at what point do you start seeing bread?
Been out hustling for years, shoe box right under my bed
I move the work out my momma’s house, got me a little old crib
I always fantasize if I had went to college instead
Would I be happily married instead of broke and unwed?
My n***a made a major move I said I hope for the best
I told my sister as I kissed her cheek I’m better off dead
Fucking with this white, it’s all been downhill like a sled
Now listen, I understand they say you make your own bed
But tell me who supplied these sheets with this cheap ass thread
In denial about the feds, he can’t see past bread
Now do exactly what the man in the ski mask says, okay?
These are the times, survival my only crime
I gotta be on my grind, a lot of my homies gone
Inside of me Lord I know, it’s a lie that we gon' be fine
But momma I’m tired of crying, just lie to me one more time"

[Hook]
'Cause it’s crunch time
'Cause it’s crunch time
Shit real, man
A n***a got bills, man it’s crunch time
Shit real man a n***a got bills
[Verse 2: J Cole]
Look, scavenge these records, or these days MP3’s
Looking for the samples to put a n***a on MTV’s
This is for n***a’s with empty dreams and empty jeans
Still holding on to the word maybe
Cause this 9 to 5 shit is driving you stir-crazy
Coming home tired just to hear it from your lady
Hollering about your baby, need this and need that
And all you want is peace and quiet
Maybe some feedback, on these raps
'Cause labels ain’t hollering, and n***as ain't downloading
Nobody see your vision, they walking around blindfolded
All this time holding on to possibilities
You step outside, you smoke a blunt and then you feel the breeze
Fuck what they talking, it ain’t like life come often
Only thing worse than death is a regret-filled coffin
So try before you die or always wonder what if?
I thank the Lord for this wonderful gift
Looking for strength in this crunch time

[Hook]
Looking for strength in the crunch time
This shit real dawg a n***a got bills dawg
It’s crunch time, yeah n***a it’s crunch time
This shit real dawg a n***a got bills dawg
[Outro: J. Cole]
I feel your pain n***a trust me
For all my n***a’s out there still trying to get it
Few n***a’s I know, few n***a’s I don’t know
Shout out to my n***a FilthE
Nervous Reck
Shout out to Marcus
My n***a I forgive you for all that shit you said
I understand my n***a
Still love, yeah