I think it's time I told my, yeah
I think it's, I think it's time I told my story
Not so many know it
No, I ain't come from the gutter, man
Nothing heroic
When I was signed, I was 17
But way before it
Was just a kid with so many dreams
The world tore it
But epic records, damn, they ain't no joke
I showed the world my X Factor
When I was just 14
That lil' youngin' tryna get it, you know what I mean
And like my brother Bobby say, tryna bust on the scene
I gotta thank L.A. Reid, JT, L.O.G.I.C.
For everything you've seen in the younger me
But there's some different reasons that I'm thanking you all
Just some of y'all were in the right, but some in the wrong
L.A. Reid, L.A. Reid, why you even sign me
When you had no intention to put the label up behind me
Maybe it was trust, maybe it was timing
Of finding myself as an artist instead of what you designed for me
Remember all the times you almost put me out
Four or five times at the finish line
Talkin' bout, look, he ain't a star
Look, I can tell when he walk
And he don't suck the air out the room every time that he talk
Damn, that * was so good
Personal, ain't nothing to do with my talent
Or my versatility and my ability
To make music that every single person in this world needs
The * do you know?
No disrespect, I take it back
You made a lot of stars who they are
But you don't talk about the ones you passed
Chris Brown, Gaga, even passed on Mr. West
And J.L. about to be on top of that list
But I ain't coming for your neck like that
I'm still grateful and you know I got respect like that
You gave me music education and I just might add
That getting dropped from Epic Records was the best lesson I ever had
It made me greater than ever
Than I ever was or ever been
Up in my bedroom cookin' records till I couldn't stand
It's all love, it's all love, now watch me ascend
And if I see you, swear to God, I'm gonna shake your hand
Just Lil Jon, workin' so hard to be an idol
Tryna be just like Justin and Michael
Memorizing every note for piano recital
Teacher would yell at me, telling me I should be manos
Uh-huh, yeah, I should be manos
I remember meeting Jay-Z way back in my home town show
At 17, in 2013, you was on tour
But before you went on, you said to me
You good, boy, you good
I heard you when you sang
You good, boy, you good
They tell you not to dance
You should, boy, you should
Uh, you good, boy, you good
Yeah, I told them you're my livin' idol
And I know that it gon' come with the grind
Know 100% of my mind
Know how you be hittin' them high notes
When you still be dancin' on Tyno
Haven't missed a beat, I can't find one
Never could believe how you glide on them way
We talked about you producing my album, man
From the executive standpoint, we never got a chance
Cause plans fell through, my deal fell too
To be honest, the only reason they kept me on
Was cause of you
Cause you're the validation they needed
Thought I was nothing on my own
But with you, they believed it
But even you started to tell me
That at some point, you need to be the baddest
Motherfucker
Motherfucker in the room, don't conceal it, yeah
Boy, where your confidence at?
You walk up in this room
Thinkin' you belong in the back
You think I got to where I am
Without me leadin' the pack
You got more talent in your middle finger
Than the rest of these cats
That's why it don't make sense
No, it don't make sense
How you be walkin' round
Knockin' all tongue twisted
Cause they don't listen
Treat you like a little kid
But half of it's your fault
You put up with that *
I wouldn't
I shouldn't
You right, man, I shouldn't
Why am I focusing on the past
Back when I couldn't
Get out of my own head
So scared
What people gonna think
Thank you, brother, for your honest opinion
I ain't seen you in a minute
But I know you been winnin'
Heard you missed a few shows
Homie, get well soon
And if you ever need a friend
I'll be there for you, too
I'm out
I'm out
the biggest thank you of all
Sir Robert Bryson Hall
If you had never called
Don't know where I'd have gone
You passed me the baton, showing me the greatness.
While all my dreams had already burned down in flames.
And my parents told me I should go to college.
You're not that far behind.
We can start you in the fall time and get you a degree.
It's going to be all right.
We're so tired of seeing you cry.
It's going to be all right.
Yeah, I always had the perseverance.
Since I was a kid, man, I knew that I was fearless.
But it's the first time that somebody broke my spirit.
Screaming at the top of my lungs, but no one hear it.
Except you, the older brother that I never had.
The only voice of hope when I thought everything was bad.
The only one who told me you can beat this.
You can do this, pull through this.
* anybody and everybody who said you can't.
Now look around, you got the whole world singing like.
This is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life.
Yeah, I always knew that you were begging when it sounds right.
Damn.
I used to wonder what it feel like.
Love you, Bobby.