[Paris]
Still in this (*##$, ninety-eight is just another year
I murder money drama (*##$es, that fall in piers

Comin out the city where no pity be a way of life
When ^!$$%z quick to bust a cap in you to earn they stripes
Ain't nothin changed in these West coast killin fields

I seen so many homies die that I ain't got no feeling
So I handles mine, pack a strap and keep on strivin
And quick to let these ^!$$%z if it get down to violent

Cause these haters ain't no friends to me, they make it plain
But I refuse to be a victim of these ghetto games
Break away from all the stress, bull%#@! and aggravation

And now I'm quick to blast if you want a confrontation
But it seem like every time I turn around it's drama
Hella flowers, coffee drinkin, and cryin momma

Somethin tellin me this madness ain't gon' never stop
So I keep strivin fo' the top


[Chorus]
Now everything you think you seein might not be the truth
Understand these cowards fold when these ^!$$%z shoot

Understand this rap %#@! is just another way
Just another lick where mother$#&@ers gettin paid
It really ain't the same as it was in the past

Back when %#@! was new, ^!$$%z thought that it would last
Understand this rap game is just another front
Just another way for mother$#&@ers comin up, and it's like that


[Paris]
So what's the ticket out the ghetto for these young players

Slangin dope, playin ball or bein rhymesayers
They want the money fast, !#@* SCHOOL, that ain't what's happenin
So some of them ^!$$%z got together and they started rappin

And it would be like who the tightest on the microphone
Makin demos in the ba!@&(t of they momma's home
And 'fore you know it ^!$$%z got theyself a record deal

And now they makin money, doin what they love for real
Limosines, fast cash, and autographs
Groupie hoes after every show be workin the staff

And magazines givin love cause they %#@! is best
Unless of course it's The Source and you from the West
Now momma's braggin cause they baby's on the television

And they livin every day, like it's Thanksgiving
But you know, what they say if it sound too good
to be true it probably is that's the music biz


[Chorus]


[Paris]
I'm 28 and I've been in the game since '86
World tours, cash money, and hella hits

Done seen these rap stars disappear like civil rights
And go from po' to rich to po' again, overnight
So many perils in this game if yo' team is faulty

That's why my lawyer keep these mother$#&@in devils off me
And freak (*##$es be, quick to set you up by playin
that #~!!@ game like, you the daddy or you rapin

See dumb ^!$$%z get they money took, tryin to be
that mother$#&@er on the television out with Robin Leach
A couple of cars, hella clothes, and before you know it

That ^!$$% to' back, hella broke with nuttin showin
So here's a little game from a homey that's still playin
The mo' %#@! you see a ^!$$% with, the mo' he payin

In this rap life, nuttin what it seem to be
I hope you mother$#&@ers feel me, that's reality


[Chorus x2]