"Hate the price of fame 'coz it cost too much" (yeah boy)

"And you lame niggaz talk too much" (yeah)

"I'm ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em" (yeah boy)

"I said I'm ready for whatever, hey hey"

 

[Verse 1]

Even though my head in the clouds, my planet on the pavement

How I'm walkin around, people stand and amaze me

And I play a lot of game on where I be and I ain't playin with it

They so judgmental, everyday they don't understand

If your life was in jeopardy, e'ryday is you tellin me

You wouldn't need weaponry just because of your felony

Consider this at least, I got e'rybody sweatin me

On the streets is people who won't rest unless I rest in peace

Killed my folk a year ago, still in my sleep they threaten me

Paranoia stressin me, ain't nobody protectin me

I'm dealin with the pressure from my partner dyin next to me

No one's arrested, they comin for me eventually

This was all the things I was goin through mentally

This could be the reason I ignored the penitentiary

Now mention them New Orlean niggaz comin in the city

Killin all summer long, ain't nobody payin attention

 

[Interlude]

Now is it that hard to understand if you listen

Either die or go to jail, that's a hell of a decision

But how wrong can I do if my excuses ain't important

I'm just tryna let you know that I ain't think I had a choice

 

[Chorus]

I had straps in my ride, gotta go to prison

You ain't no need to die, you gon' be waitin for 'em (you ready boy)

Ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em

I be here when the smoke clears and everythin settles, for real

Can't afford the price of fame 'coz it cost too much

Plus these sucka niggaz lame and they talk too much

Ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em

I be here when the smoke clears and everythin settles, for real

 

[repeat + ad-libs]

For real

 

[Verse 2]

I'm a man, I ain't perfect, gotta admit it I'm guilty

But understand, feel me how I ride filthy

'Coz niggaz out there plot to rob me and kill me

500 thousand every year spent on security

And my future walk bright, but now it's gettin blurry

'Coz niggaz in the air ready to find me and bury me

But surely, God will deliver me up out it

I'm a fighter to the heart and I forever be about it

I'm a father to my sons, and sit to my community

Look at all that I done, my good weigh the negativity

Mentally, I was focused on not lettin history

repeat itself, that's why he kept that for insanity

"Yes officially I broke the law but not maliciously"

Through all of the publicity, was anybody considerin

My position and the logic came from my decision

"But they caught me with it, now I'm off to prison, period"

 

[Interlude]

But is it that hard to understand if you listen

Either die or go to jail, that's a hell of a decision

But how wrong can I do if my excuses ain't important

I'm just tryna let you know that I ain't think I had a choice

 

[Chorus]

 

[repeat + ad-libs]

For real

 

[T.I. talking 'til song fades]