[Verse 1:]
Look past all the buzz and press
And you will understand why I'm under stress

No one cuts the checks, I got no bucks ta spend
But money is secondary I just want respect


And If you seen how I came up, you can't blame me
No one gave me hand outs and no one made me
I performed at many shows, where no one's paid me

But I still rocked the venues, they can't upstage me

Name another artist working this hard

I'm always in the studio, working on songs
Perfecting my craft, - I am always workin on bars
And I do it for the love that's why I'm workin with ya'll


Turning water inta wine - with no resources
All I got is my pen and an old thesaurus

And I never put the feelt tip down
No matter what happened, I held it down


[Hook:]
Through all my trials and tribulations
Way before the crowds and big ovations

(Way before) I stood tall and held my ground
No matter what happened, I held it down


Through all the misery and the sacrafice
Way before they'd let me grab da mic
(Way before) Even when no help was found

No matter what hapened, I held it down

[Verse 2:]

Through all bull%#@! I perservered
They ignored my raps when I first appeared
A&R's acted like I wasn't worth a ear

You people can not imagine all the words I'd hear

All naysayers doubted, told me I'm unstylish

You one amongst thousands just forget about it
But I still kept truckin and I paid em no mind
-Worked harder then before, I'd just wake up and grind


Everyday no rest, I was focused for real
While other rappers were sleep I was honing my skills

Always sending out emails, just hoping ta build
With all the powers that be controling the field


And many would bounce back but I kept writing
-When nobody was listening, I kept trying
-And even tho they helpin now

No matter what happened, I held it down

[Hook:]

Through all my trials and tribulations
Way before the crowds and big ovations
(Way before) I stood tall and held my ground

No matter what happened, I held it down

Through all the misery and the sacrafice

Way before they'd let me grab da mic
(Way before) Even when no help was found
No matter what hapened, I held it down


[Verse 3:]
Never a point of time, I wouldn't enjoy ta rhyme

Not about the limelight - so I would avoid the shine
-Hustled Hard and I spent those little coins of mines
On the Studio, Julie knows that the boy would grind


So my man Ariel would book me
'Melanie got at sites that always overlooked me

And I can't forget Jack Danz, he helped push me
Was the first who believed and got me some good beats


I been booed at Apollo - had beef with the Source
Lost my good friend D, buried deep in my thoughts
So the pain comes to mind when I'm speakin to songs
I could go on for days but I'm keeping it short


Cause I can't fit it all in just three sixteens
'But maybe you'll understand why, he spit mean
Can't read between the lines, my The-sis means
If I never give up hope, I'll achieve this dream


[Hook:]
Through all my trials and tribulations
Way before the crowds and big ovations
(Way before) I stood tall and held my ground
No matter what happened, I held it down


Through all the misery and the sacrafice
Way before they'd let me grab da mic
(Way before) Even when no help was found
No matter what hapened, I held it down