03' Adolescence Lyrics

03' Adolescence - J. Cole

...

I grew up, a fuckin' screw up

Tie my shoe up, wish they was newer

Damn, need somethin' newer

In love with the baddest girl in the city, I wish I knew her

I wish I weren't so shy, I wish I was a bit more fly

I wish that I, could tell her how I really feel inside

That I'm the perfect nigga for her, but then maybe that's a lie

She like a certain type of nigga, and it's clear I'm not that guy

Ball player, star player, I'm just watchin' from the side

On the bench, 'cause my lack of confidence won't let me fly

I ain't grow up with my father, I ain't thinkin' bout that now

Fast forward four years or so from now I'll probably cry

When I realize what I missed, but as of now my eyes are dry

'Cause I'm tryna stay alive in the city where too many niggas die

Dream in quiet tryna dodge a suit and tie

Who am I? (Who am I?)

Aye who am I? (Yeah)

Things change, rearrange, or so do I

It ain't always for the better dawg, I can't lie

I get high \cause the lows can be so cold

I might bend a little bit but I don't fold

One time for my mind and two for yours

I got food for your thoughts to sooth your soul

If you see my tears fall just let me be

Move along, nothing to see

I always did shit the hard way

My niggas out slangin' in the hallway

Burnt CD's and trees like this was broadway

Times Square, kept the dimes there in the locker

Some Reggie Miller

With more brown hairs than Chubacca

Whispers that he got it for the low low seller

Dime for a dub, them white boys ain't know no better

Besides, what's twenty dollars to a nigga like that?

He tell his pops he need some lunch and he gon' get it right back

I peep game, got home snatched my mama keychain

Took her whip, the appeal, to ill to refrain

I hit the boulevard pull up to my nigga front door

His mama at home, she still let em' hit the blunt though

I told her hello and sat with my nigga and laughed

And talked about how we gon' smash all the bitches in class

I complimented how I see him out here getting his cash

And just asked, "What a nigga gotta do to get that? Put me on"

He just laughed when he seen I was sure

17 years breathing his demeanor said more

He told me, "Nigga you know how you sound right now?

You won't my mans, I would think that you're clown right now listen"

"You everything I wanna be that's why I fucks with you

So how you looking up to me, when I look up to you?"

"You bout to go get a degree, I'm bout to be stuck with two choices

Either graduate to weight or sell a number two

For what? A hundred bucks or two a week?

Do you think that you would know what to do if you was me?

I got, four brothers, one mother that don't love us

If they ain't never want us why the fuck they never wore rubbers?"

I felt ashamed to have ever complained about my lack of gear

And thought about how far we done came

From trailer park to a front yard with trees in the sky

Thank you mama dry your eyes, there ain't no reason to cry

You made a genius and I, ain't gon' take it for granted

I ain't gon' settle for lesser, I ain't gon' take what they handed

Nah I'm gon' take what they owe me and show you that I can fly

And show ol' girl what she missing

The illest nigga alive, aye, who am I?

Things change, rearrange, or so do I aye who am I?)

It ain't always for the better dawg, I can't lie (aye who am I?)

I get high 'cause the lows can be so cold

I might bend a little bit but I don't fold

One time for my mind and two for yours

I got food for your thoughts to sooth your soul

If you see my tears fall just let me be

Move along, nothing to see

I never felt better