The Villest (with Erykah Badu)

English translation

I got something I wanna tell you.

I got something I wanna tell you.

Yeah, dust off the old notebook where a younger Jermaine Lamar wrote hooks to get a glimpse of what his hopes looked like back in his younger years, and found a page stained with what seemed to be a hundred tears as the smeared words spoke of his blended fears. Telling him persevere through it all, go hard like

Medusa in front of mirrors.

To reach the top so unaware that the trouble's there, where nothing more than a worser version of troubles were.

He sat when he wrote this, performing hocus pocus with empty pocket focus over some dope little beat he made his self.

All the pain in his cadence felt, and though his heart was made of felt, his exterior hardened to present a demeanor in which this period taught him was the best for survival, to deflect the most aggressive of rivals.

A testament to the lessons I follow, seen the death of bravado the second weapons hit his chest with a hollow.

Pride is a bitter pill indeed, but it's best if you swallow.

If not your homies gon' pay respect with a bottle poured out onto the flesh of this Mother Earth while liquor slithers like a serpent across the mud and dirt to go rest in a pothole.

Money coming soon, back then was obsessed with the motto. Me and my dogs was like the musketeers.

Through the years we stayed connected, to this day we still step in legato.

Subconscious detecting, these niggas think I'm lesser for my complexion.

Before I'm done they all gon' respect the mulatto.

Yeah. I said they all gon' respect the mulatto.

I got something I wanna tell you.

Dreams can come true, you'll get yours too.

But it won't save-- I got something I wanna tell you.

Dreams can come true, you'll get yours too.

But it won't save me and you, your mama and your cousin too.

Rolling through the 'ville on Vogues. Coming up slamming Cadillac doors.

Me and you, your mama and your cousin too.

Rolling through the 'ville on Vogues. Coming up slamming Cadillac doors.

-Coming up.

-My darkest truths be hard to say to friends.

Fuck it, pass the bottle and swallow in hopes it could wash away the sins. Grew up amongst the lost and wasn't taught a way to win. On days I think of

James my heart and heart, it breaks again.

He caught the fade, but pussy niggas caught him later then. Medics performing CPR and hauled away his limbs.

It always haunted me inside my thoughts and made them grim.

His father knew my father way back when.

Army buddies that used to party hard overseas, but through the alcohol, the weed, and plus the hardy hards that made them kin.

Who knew their future kids would have to find a way to swim in the wild with crocodile and alligator skins?

They took a good nigga, smart kid who could hoop, who could fight.

Instead I wish the Lord had taken them.

If Darwinism states only the stronger make it, then why am I here when I don't feel that I'm as great as him?

If Pac is Jesus, then I ride around and play the hymns.

Life goes on even in this modern day of algorithm-moderated streaming service automated blends.

I play the classics often and I've gotta say there's gems.

This life is like it's all set up for God to play The Sims. Yeah, I got rich, but think I need a smarter way to cleanse.

If money gives happiness, then please explain the rich bastards with no peace.

How come they never bought their way to zen?

Hmm.

How come they never bought their way to zen?

If it's, if it's that simple.

Yeah.

I got something I wanna tell you.

Dreams can come true, you'll get yours too.

But it won't save-- I got something I wanna tell you. Dreams can come true, you'll get yours too.

But it won't save me and you, your mama and your cousin too.

Rolling through the 'ville on Vogues. Coming up slamming Cadillac doors.

Me and you, your mama and your cousin too. Rolling through the 'ville on Vogues.

Coming up slamming Cadillac doors.