Need A Sign

(album: Survival - 2019)

If you ask me, since Harlem, our family's always been like
It's been the best of times, it was the worst of times (Worst)
I needed a sign
2008, my mother passes away (RIP)
I'm at rock bottom
Dave's with me through my mother's situation (Yeah, I was)
But he's still playing basketball, he's doing his thing (Yeah, I was)
Two years later, he gives me a call
He's hit rock bottom (Yeah, I did)
He's getting kicked out of school
He has another dream: to rap
He tells me he needs to come back to New York
And if he has this opportunity, he's gonna make it
I knew I was already struggling, I didn't even want him to come back
And be in the streets, I didn't want him to get into any bullshit
We didn't really have much, na'mean? We were just together
All we had was each other and his dream
I look back now, I think of 6E, that front door (Pals)
Right by the staircase, perfect place, that back room I grew up in
He's been such an inspiration to so many
People see the grind and the pain, the struggle he's gone through (Right)
That we've been through (Right)
But this is for everybody out there (Yeah, it is)
Looking, thinking, dreaming, everybody needs a sign (Yeah, they do)
Sometimes you can't see it yourself
You need a sign, need some help

[Dave East:]
We know we guilty but we gon' act like we innocent (On God)
My Glock was filthy, need disinfectant to get it in (Oh, God)
My grandpops was an immigrant, never a citizen (Never)
They expect me to vote, told my mother, I needed Ritalin (Crazy)
Was born crazy, (Lost) I never felt like I was normal (Never)
The sun shine bright after it rain, that's what the storm do (Right)
Roll a blunt and wish I could trade places with Freaky (Malik)
Until I sit and realize my daughter really need me (On God)
I had to cut ties with my closest, niggas is greedy (Greedy)
You can see the pain in my eyes as soon as you see me (Look)
Aladdin had me tryna make wishes, wasn't no genies (None)
Halal if I was talking bout lambs, no Lamborghinis (None)
We was really starving, in my aunty crib hearing Marvin
Had to travel the world to realize nowhere like Harlem (Nowhere)
I tried to keep my distance from niggas that's scared of problems (Scared)
Them niggas realize you food, then anywhere, they'll rob him (Anywhere)
You ever tuck in your jewelry? Then you don't need to shine (You don't need it)
All the money in the world won't bring you peace of mind (Nope)
All them chains don't matter, they hate to see you shine
Was lost, praying to God, begging him, like, "I need a sign" (I need one)
Show me how to do it when ain't nothing working (Workin')
I just hope that I don't shoot if we meet up in person (God)
Now they ask my feature price, they never wanted verses (God)
Now I live a different life, can't see my mother working (On God)
Should I rob 'em? Should I shoot 'em? I just need a sign (I need one)
You know I've been going through it, just give me a sign (Don't blow it)
I promise we all could do it, I just need some time (I promise)
Should I continue with this music? Just give me a sign (Tell)
Thinking 'bout the day when I won't need to rhyme
She tryna lie on me or she love me? I just need a sign (I needed one)
I close my eyes and pray, like, "I just need a sign" (Pray)
I listen to what you tell me, I can't read your mind

[Teyana Taylor:]
I need a sign, I need to blind 'em, eh
Before the diamonds
Though I've been live, I set my timing, eh
Ain't no silver lining
They can't control me, fuck your controllers
Lost in the sofa least every morning
I'm taking over, fuck these emotions, all the signs
Hey, niggas calling like we homies now, not
I bet they stop with all that trolling now, blocked
Made that rooftop into a floor for now, it's a sign
Now it's Rolls when we rolling out, drop
Fuck a lease, I gotta buy the block, block
Fuck them people, there's a bottom line, no need to sign

[Dave East:]
My man died before we talked, ain't get to speak in time
Them grams had them smokers looking like a sneaker line
My little man don't wanna rumble, so he keep a 9
Not breaking it down, keeping this pot, shit, this peace of mind
I'm on my daughter, across the water, I hope she don't see no crime
There's problems, I pull up on the bike, I'm on Deebo time
I tried to ask my father to help me, told me, "I need to grind"
Your funeral packed, but you dead, can't even see the line
I hope I see the signs
It break your heart when a younging dying, he was nine
They say he stop, but we speeding, so we don't see the sign
Feel like a war going on when all your people dying
Niggas is numb and they gon' act like they don't see you crying
You got a chance to get outta here, we don't need you riding
He just need a sign (He just need a sign)
Nobody keep it real with him, he tired of people lying
He sick of lighting up candles, too many people dying
Knowing you might get up out the hood, that shit'll keep you trying
I'm used to the jungle, nigga, I been a lion
Walk in the booth, kill everything, even my pen is dying
That shit they tried to teach in school, we ain't consider science
You a sucker if you give up, too many niggas trying
Pocket watching, you focused on what your nigga buying
Pocket watching, you focused on what your nigga buying

[Teyana Taylor:]
I need a sign, I need to blind 'em, eh
Before the diamonds
Though I've been live, I set my timing, eh
Ain't no silver lining
They can't control me, fuck your controllers
Lost in the sofa least every morning
I'm taking over, fuck these emotions, all the signs
Hey, niggas calling like we homies now, not
I bet they stop with all that trolling now, blocked
Made that rooftop into a floor for now, it's a sign
Now it's Rolls when we rolling out, drop
Fuck a lease, I gotta buy the block, block
Fuck them people, there's a bottom line, no need to sign, yeah, yeah