Dear Mom ((8-2-2016) [Live in Chicago])

Dear Mom

When I was young, me and Ma had beef

17 years old, kicked out on the street, I deserved that

I'm ashamed of the way I used to speak to you

Wish I could, but I can't reverse that

Especially to you

Your daddy told you that a woman's place

Is in the house and not in the school

So you paid your own tuition

Got your own degree

Started your own business and then you had me

How can I repay the lady

That looked me in my eyes when I took my first breath?

Held my little hand when I took my first step

I can't wait to sell out that arena on my own for the first time

You always told me, "It's not your first try, it's how many tries after that"

I mean, how lucky am I that I was born and you were mine?

Shit, life's crazy

You know, my parents used to worry about me

'Cause I barely talked to anybody, just made beats

Now isn't it ironic I get paid by the syllable?

I gotta thank 'em though, I know it can be difficult

As I tiptoe in and out of zip codes

All on a mission of love, that's what I live for

I got big dreams, Ma, I got big goals

You see my old ones now because I lived those, woo!

You gotta admit, Ma

I told you I would get into Duke, and I did, Ma

I told you I would get signed, and I did, Ma

Look at this, Ma! Look at this, Ma!

But as I get older, you do too

Our time gets shorter, and that's just the truth

So I leave with three words

They are not eloquent

They are cliché

And they are not clever

They are, "I-love-you"