The Hard Way

Uh, the hard way

You learn the hard way

Yo, Ty

Lookin' at this little motherfucker right here

Look at this kid

He pretendin' like he knows everything

Then when you put somethin' in his ear

He don't wanna hear it

So leave him to his own

So he can learn the hard way

Yo, what up, young blood?

Yeah, your hustle game got your funds up

You get no thumbs up from me

You here 'cause of dumb luck

What you know about it?

Actin' like I had an option

You eavesdroppin', you a cop

And please, just stop watchin'

No, I'm not the po'

I know how you hustle, but you don't hold

I'm an old soul

What you sell is what I once sold

Lookin' at you, I see a young version of myself

And I need to help you navigate your way through hell

So you're the future me, but you ain't that impressive

You wanna teach a lesson instead of countin' your blessings

I'm not your mission, no pot to piss in, I'll pop some prison

This is my tradition and I ain't got to listen to no one

I got food, a car, a spot to live in

So tell me, how you livin', off prayers, dreams, and wishin'?

You're bullshittin', my mistakes made you who you are

My scars are your scars, so own 'em 'cause they're ours

I could tell you who's your fam' and who would betray

But I still had to learn the hard way

I could save you from those who don't do what they say

But I still had to learn the hard way

I could tell you in the end, everything is okay

But I still had to learn the hard way

Yeah, we got a little hustle and we're winnin' today

But I still had to learn the hard way

What up, new jack?

'Member when you moved crack in your blue 'Lac?

Left your mama house, never moved back

Tryna be the man, retro J's on your shoe rack

Robbin' niggas daily, it was crazy

That was the way that you used to live

Influences from foolish kids

If the price is right, they don't care if they do a bid

If I could tell you anything, fuck tryna do it big

'Cause they'll leave your chest smokin' with holes like a sewer lid

They don't care who it is

Wish I could've whispered in your ear and told you grab a rubber

Used to battle rap, but now you battlin' with baby mother

Knucklehead for life, wish you would've took some advice

Shootin' dice all night, hit the club and start a fight

That ain't right, that's why you writin' your homies doin' that time

'Cause you was really doin' that stupid shit you threw in your rhymes

If you tryna stay alive, little nigga, swallow your pride

Let the little shit slide and always follow your mind

I could tell you who's your fam' and who would betray

But I still had to learn the hard way

I could save you from those who don't do what they say

But I still had to learn the hard way

I could tell you in the end, everything is okay

But I still had to learn the hard way

Yeah, we got a little hustle and we're winnin' today

But I still had to learn the hard way

Yeah, trials and tribulations of the knuckleheads

A bunch of little know-it-alls, haha

Only way you gon' learn is to bump that head, nigga

I can't tell you nothin'

Like my grandma used to say, "One day, you'll learn," haha