[intro: A friend's voicemail to Dave]

Dave, whattup man?

It's me

Umm.. just callin to see, if possible, if you have any

time today or within the next couple of days

If, if, you're in the studio.. or if you're at home.. or car, whatever

That song.. that.. it's called trying or something, Mase

was tellin me that I needed to hear?

He said it was amazing

Whoo.. the way he was talkin.. man I wanna hear it!



[Dave]

Am I just another lost in the pack?

We for shack ship, you know laugh it off

Years just blow by

My eyes stay fixed but the picture's kinda outta focus

I cry a lot but admit to it

Enjoyin life now but I've been through it

Sometimes I wish that I can go back

No bills no kids just getting tore back

I want a wife, I love women

How could I front like I don't be in love wit em?

A li'l man that I can teach

A li'l sand but not the beach

I figure excess'll only bring an excessive amount of fussin

So when I'm gone, make sure the head stone reads, "He did it for us"

I'm like your modern day Jesus

I cherish warm thoughts like a gray goose

And float soft kisses to my baby

(yo ain't that Dave's little girl?)

Yeah, respect her for that

She gon be somebody

Instead of somebody-baby-mama

You see young minds are now made of armor

I'm tryin to pop a hole in your Yankee cap

Absorb me

The skies over your head aint safe no more

And Hip Hop aint your own

And if it is then you fuckin up the crib son

You make life look like I don't wanna live one

You might as well hold your breath until you die in a

corner somewhere bent over in the crevice

This God Theory overcomes the worst of weathers

As long as you willin to try, you on a good start homie

.. you on a good start.. see nigga tryin



[Chorus: Dave & Children]



[Dave] People are you ready?

[Children] Yes we're ready!



Are you really ready?

We wanna be ready!



Ready for the change that may approach you?

Yes!



Follow down the path that you supposed to?

Yes!



People are you ready?

Yes we're ready! 



Are you really ready to try?

We wanna try harder!



You know mistakes are trials that we learn from?

Yes!



I order to live life, you must earn one?

Yes!



People are you ready?



[Pos]

Throughout my change to grow, Some of my people got left behind

They didn't listen for the gun, as I leaped from off the line

Thirteen years deep in this marathon I'm runnin

Paid dues and still got bills to pay

When I came back around the way

Old friends gave me dead eyes

and fake smiles, half wide

We were supposed to rid the world of danger

These days we nod heads and small talk like polite strangers

It's natural to fall off, just land close to the tree

I'll be there if they need me to be

and I know all my local shorties

cuz they all know who I am

and latey wanna flip grammar instead of grams 

Like that's the only choice they got

They tell me how they gonna shake up the game

but came to me to see if I could give em guidance for change

Shit y'all, I need guidance myself

and I chisel right words to make gems

Got fans around the world, but my girl's no one of em

And my relationship's a big question

Cuz my career's a clear hindrance to her progression

Said she needs a man and our kids need a father

I'm not at all ready to hear her say don't bother

And break

And this I know I can't take

but uhh

C. Smith said to hold on

My brother Luck said to hold on

My nigga Dave said to hold on

My nigga Mase said to hold on

Yo, Maseo, we need to hold on

Eh, yo, y'all we need to hold on



[Chorus: Pos & Children]



[Pos] People are you ready?

[Children] Yes we're ready!



Well, what you wanna be?

We wanna be ready!



Do you wanna lose hate for love?

Yes!



Do you wanna see these gates above?

Yes!



I said people are you ready?

Yes we're ready!



But are you willing to try?

We wanna try harder!



Do you really wanna carry some weight?

Yes!



Are you ready to design your fate?

Yes!



Yo, people are you ready?

Yes we're ready!



Well what you wanna be?

We wanna be ready!..



[outro: AOI computer honey]

Operation complete. Preparing for.. Installment three