I Know This Game

[intro] … it forced a lot of dudes I’ve seen that used to work at the record labels is out here grinding now, and its hard for them! Because they don’t really understand how to do it! You know, they be like, “damn yo, the labels closed down, like I’m really supposed to do this … Yeah... I know this game! I know this one right here If anything i know this After these years Check it out [Verse 1] I know the game from the inside First person, actual facts I got actual plaques See the disappearance now of the wack Some fell through the cracks The labor of love, broke their backs Some work ethics was lax Couldn’t afford the hot tracks Some bubbled and they blew through they stacks Some took it to the streets with the jacks Wound up in Clinton Max Some fell ‘cause they didn’t pay tax Make songs that were glossy as shellac Took a e-pill & wacked The God he is sharp as a tack From the days of backpacks White people and black Outlasted a lot of acts From New York to North Cacs You stealing from Saks Reeling from attacks Nothing about you attracts Got a suit but old slacks [Verse 2] Promoters send half and a plane ticket To get to their city and they want you to kick it I’m asking, “Is everything alright?” “We gon be good tonight?” If they say they need to holla They done fucked up the dolla The venue, the menu, problems at the door Blame it on the law They did this before Fifty dollar tickets in a twenty dollar space In a hotel room they pleading their case “This ain’t never happened!” “We did shows with rapping!” Two or three promoters, who’s the fucking captain? “Yo I’ll take care of y’all” “I swear in a week” “You want some more Henny?” “You want that freak?” Nah motherfucker, I want all my bread I’ll take another drink, but I’m good on the head And let me hold a watch and a chain instead I got bills, you trying to keep me in the red! [Verse 3] A label? You do better working for cable Labels is dead and the grind is instead I know some A&R’s who now wash cars They was signing rap stars when they was in power Sony fired everybody, everybody’s sour Now rap moguls gotta blend with the locals What was that fly shit you said about my vocals? A former label head lives right on my block “You still rock with hip hop?” “Nah straight rock!” No label is able to stop me Push they head right down where my cock be The independent grind is mine and that’s fine Remember saying label was a hell of a line Now they left behind like the dinosaurs They shitted on niggas First week sales and first week figures It didn’t add up, they was pullin them triggers “Yo this shit looks like it’s gonna brick” “Let’s pull out this shit now and save ours” [outro] As you get older man, you see man, like, it ain't gonna pay man, just do the show, get the dough, and go That be the motto…