(feat. Devin the Dude)





[CHORUS: Devin The Dude]

Lookin back when the days wasn't so easy

You were either hustlin or strugglin

Make it or break it, would take all different pieces

And we'll make somethin of nothin



[VERSE 1: Devin The Dude]

Lookin back at the times when we had to grind

When it came to freestylin we was glad to rhyme

When it was hard to make a dime, let alone get a dollar

Had to get your hustle on, knew not to ask your mama for it

When you got it you couldn't blow it

So I saved what I had in the bag, then I would go get

Radio batteries, I'd buy the cassettes

LPs, 4-tracks, wires and (?)

And we was down for hours, we was known around town

Come through with the crew and break the cardboard down

Heh... glide (?)

Then the whole thing started with the Odd Squad parties

Met E-40 at the Rap-A-Lot office

Him and Bela cool niggas with the Click that stay drunk

We was gettin Houstin high, they already had the Bay crunk

Straight up old school, wasn't no ProTools

Jack you for your jacket, and they'll jack you for yo shoes

Back then you had friends who had your back

You only had three choices - sports, rap or crack

And ah, it's a blessing to still be part of the game

And I wouldn't change one thing



[CHORUS: Devin The Dude (E-40)]

Lookin back when the days wasn't so easy

(It wasn't easy, mane)

Were either hustlin or strugglin

(Workin, hustlin and strugglin)

Make it or break it, would take all different pieces

(All of the pieces)

And we'll make somethin of nothin

(That's right, mane, we'd make somethin of nothin, mane)



[E-40]

Make somethin out of nothin

Hey Devin

This 40, mane

Let me gas it right quick, bro

Let it tell it from my perspective, you smell me?

Look here

I just wanna spit a few bars

Listen up, family

Listen



[VERSE 2: E-40]

Lookin back before YouTube and social networks was founded

A&R's'd go to the hood to find artists with talent

Recording engineers was low-key lightweight crooks

Not all of 'em but some of 'em'd take all day to fly hooks

That's how they did it back then, based on a hourly rate

The longer they make, the mo' money they make

All we wanted to do was rap, young and enthusiastic

Hopin that one day our tapes would be in stores shrinkwrapped and packaged

We used to beg the promoters to do us a favor

Let us perform for free, pimpin, mane, the money gon' come later

We knew the money was gon' come later

We was just tryina get our name out there

And it ended up workin, mane, for real though

Rehearse and practise, practise and rehearse

Me and Too $hort, Bun and Pimp C wouldn't charge each other to spit a verse

We all knew what we was worth, future legends up in the game

RIP Pimp C, way ahead of his time

Everybody wanna be that guy, everybody wanna be that dude

But everybody don't wanna pay dues like 40 and Devin The Dude

Two good dudes, old school but new school

Meet 'em in person, you gon' say, "Them some cool fools"

Good music still around, just gotta know where to find it

The seasoned entrepreneur independently grindin

20 plus 3 years deep in this music

People always be askin me, "40, how the fuck is you still doin it?"



[CHORUS: Devin The Dude (E-40)]

Lookin back when the days wasn't so easy

(It wasn't easy, mane)

Were either hustlin or strugglin

(Workin, hustlin and strugglin)

Make it or break it, would take all different pieces

(All of the pieces)

And we'll make somethin of nothin

(That's right, mane, we'd make somethin of nothin, mane)