1996, Pt. 1 Lyrics

Started writin' back in '96

No one thought I could rap, they were surprised I did

He's the quiet kid, he's too shy to spit

And I had the whitest skin, didn't even kinda fit

The stereotype in which they supplied me with

Didn't try to fit in and I was fine with it

Tryin' to find a glimpse of hope in my environment

Nine years old, exposed to some grimy shit

Mom and her drunk boyfriend just had a fight again

So I'm hidin' in my bedroom, turn up the tunes

In an attempt to silence it

MTV just to block the noise, then he got annoyed

I heard him yellin' 'till he lost his voice

"Tell him turn that shit down 'fore I pop the boy!"

So I run outside and dry my wet face

Practice my jump shot, tryin' to be MJ

Bone Thugs, Pac, and Nas in my headspace

Big Poppa, The Lox, and then Mase

I was a Bad Boy, '97 and '98

'99's when I really started to Shyne great

Early 2000's, I put my soul in it

I was 'Bout It, 'Bout It, there was No Limit

By '05 I was in my prime

Only thing I cared about was gettin' signed

But 2010 was a different time

Put down the pen, led a different life

Who are you to criticize if you never lived it?

I swam against the tide and still survived

I epitomize resiliency, brilliantly

And still unleash wrath and death on every track I wreck

I was Ready to Die, this Life After Death

A second chance to advance and demand respect

I'm back and yes, I'm at my best

Quick maths, you skipped class; couldn't pass the test

I talk a lot of trash, but can cash the checks

As you gasp for breath, any last requests?