You know how it goesYou see we all on this journey called lifeAnd you're either dying to liveOr living to dieIt's just that simpleYou know how it goesWe live and die by the protocolsYou know how it goesWe live and die by the codesYou know how it goesWe live and die by the protocolsYou know how it goesWe live and die by the codesLive and die by the code, my family slides an envelopeFull of money we could spend to a family that I ain't even metIt's perplexed at the root of all our customs and traditionsIt's respectEven if it means you're buried in debtTake your shoes off when you come insideDon't forget when it's time to getYour shoes are probably thawed statBut that's lifeSee there's codes in the streetsEven if you win the ***You know the rules, you'll never speakThat's the game thoughDisguise them horns with a haloIt's all about perceptionGotta protect your family nameSo you better bring something to the tableTo earn your seatEmpty hands don't deserve to eatRespect women, love women, bless womenHave a good dayWe wouldn't be *** without womenWe wouldn't be *** without womenI know my role at Nat's house when it's companyWhipping up a cup of teas likeYou know how itYou know how itYou know how itYou know how itYou know how itYou know how itYou know how itFamers in debt, reality check, breaking the sweatNeeds to be met, I should've left, the harder it getsWhere does it end, are we there yet?Settin' some money to people related to meAnd I never met them in my lifeStressin' me out cause I'm workin' so hardOh my god, how the *** am I supposed to survive?Don't remember learnin' how to swimI just did as soon as dad threw me inSkin dancin' in melaninChubby grin, followin' the rules is delicateCouldn't relate to my relativesMaybe I was just another kidTill they see me on the televizI've only been to church like eight times in my lifeI'm pretty sure six of them went funeralsMy dad was on the I.V. like Roman numeralsMy brother's fightin' bout who should goSick of workin' on the I.V.Workin' in the cubicleFamily might hate me for thisBut let me talk this therapyI showed up cause I had toSure it wasn't voluntarilyGuess it was different than mumblin' with the parentsWhile they sang a lot up in the kitchenI saw the ditch and the problems are givenCause you know how itYou know how itYou know how itYou know how itYou know how it