Paid Dues

(album: Classic Pimpin' - 2019)

[Ebony Love:]
It's a skinny line, skinny line, yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah, skinny line
Trapped in the trap
Mom and dad didn't raise us right, no
Mom and dad didn't raise us right, yeah
Trapped in the trap
They were too young
Said trapped in the trap all night

It's a skinny line between wrong and right
Trapped in the trap 'til the morning light
Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight
My mom and dad were too young to raise me right
Maybe I been made a man for all the mistakes I made
Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid
Ain't too grown to get back on with the ghetto games I played
My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid

[MJG:]
In the middle of doing crime
It never stopped me from writing rhymes
It never stopped me from playing music
God put it in me, I had to use it
It was obvious, I had to give up the streets for the beats
Not knowing, but having faith on just how long that it would be
Before I made it, before somebody picked up my tape and played it
With a remark like, "Hey, play that instrumental, them cats got potential"
In the process of doing parties, talent shows, and mixtapes
We even put it down at some of our homeboys' jail release dates
I can remember in the past closing down at fast foods
Strictly sticking to my craft, but feeling like I'll be the last dude
Who can make it in this rap
I felt that they ain't gon' see me in Memphis
'Cause it was like a time they looked over Tennessee and didn't know hip-hop was in it
To all my vets in the game, I got love, stay on your toes
'Cause back in the days I used to use your 4-5 instrumental to do my shows
And look, I was 17 when I signed my first contract
And about 18 and a half when I signed my worst contract
And we hurt from that and 'til this day, they still distributing
Our first tape before Comin Out Hard, now can you feel it?
Be humble and patient in whatever that you should choose
'Cause to get to where I'm at right now, I done paid my dues

[Ebony Love:]
It's a skinny line between wrong and right
Trapped in the trap 'til the morning light
Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight
My mom and dad were too young to raise me right
Maybe I been made a man for all the mistakes I made
Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid
Ain't too grown to get back on with the ghetto games I played
My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid

[8Ball:]
A C-note for a concert, I know that sounds preposterous
Nigga, we didn't have a pot to piss
So we got on stage and we rocked the bitch
Fuck the cheese, I love to see my niggas in the front row
Get buck wild, start a fight, and the police make a nigga stop the show
Niggas all in the parking lot, busting shots, fucking with hoes
Box Chevy with the spokes and Vogues
Niggas didn't know shit 'bout a 20 inch Mo-Mo
Hard head young nigga, don't believe that shit 'til I see that shit
See them heavyweight niggas, one day I'm gonna be that shit
Okay, everybody know everybody done sold dope
Ran with a gang, pimped some hoes and snorted a little coke, but uh
I'm space aging and we'll forever be
8Ball the fat mack and MJ-fuckin'-G
Now turn the page from then to now and we still grinding
Small clubs, small towns, if they bouncing, we find them
Put them on the guest list, make them pump their fist and get buck to this
Make one of them weed smoking gangsta bitches get fucked to this
Expand, give all my true fans what they demand
Do my part again and uh, come out hard again and uh
Keep space aging and we'll forever be
8Ball the fat mack and MJ-fuckin'-G

[Ebony Love:]
It's a skinny line between wrong and right
Trapped in the trap 'til the morning light
Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight
My mom and dad were too young to raise me right
Maybe I been made a man for all the mistakes I made
Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid
Ain't too grown to get back on with the ghetto games I played
My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid

Thank you, thank you
I'm Ebony Love
I'm here with my boys 8Ball, MJG
Who's space aging forever
I love you too
I love you all