Like "Oh he's broke! I told you he was broke! I told you he ain't got no money" and you know this and that or whatever. Then you'll see some other people (?) that you're here in this house "Oh Joey doesn't mean it! He bought a crib! He this, he that". So it's all a story, it's a perception that people make for you along the way. So it's not really what it necessarily is at any point or any given time and that's the thing that concerns me Break it down We break it down like Joey Bad he break it down like My nigga Fly he break it down like My nigga Statik break it down like Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Alright Alright Alright Alright Uh First things first is I been rehearsing these verses In hopes that I hit the surface and keep myself afloat But I know one day I'm earning me some platinum and some gold And all them labels could just reimburse this dick in they throat And tell my mama "Oh no," your purses will never run low No more cause back when I was four, and we was poor You would purchase the store So here I go, your little man has got to grow I'm walking out the door My mama just be smiling, cause she know I got my back and got her worried Only thing she ask is that I hurry Home in time for Christmas for some dinner Seen you on TV again, boy you lookin' thinner But you lookin' like a winner, aye You got to give to get and then you give back You got to give to get and then you give back You got to give to get and then you give back Then you give back, then you, then you give back Worst thing worse, I could've been stealing your purse Or just been, putting in work and leaving niggas in the dirt But ever since birth I knew I would be something on this Earth So now I spit that dope, that shit be hittin' ya nerve And to my Papa my word is my bond When you held me in your arms Did you know along that a star was born? Then you named me Jo-Vaughn, now that name ring alarms Nearly 20 years later we on a plane to The Palms I gotcha back and got her worried Only thing I ask is for some Curry Chicken when we land we eatin' dinner Mama seen me on TV again lookin' thinner But I'm lookin' like a winner, aye You got to give to get and then you give back You got to give to get and then you give back You got to give to get and then you give back Then you give back, then you, then you give back Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord, my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord, my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take Break it down