It's true what they say, success'll either change or kill you.
But nothing transforms a man quite like failure.
And every day we face the ones we made the day before.
Ruminate while new mistakes replace the vacant store.
I wager all so when it falls so merrily, every wall I built will wilt and bury me.
I'll feel past regret for two of my last three breaths,
but plan to gasp the last trying not to forget.
They say just reframe success, and that's fine,
but I really only care how it's framed inside my child's eyes.
From the son who's unconceived,
to the daughter we have even dreamed of having seen.
And somehow this is for them,
but I don't believe it when I hear it in my head so I listen again…
Truth be told, this is for me,
in the hopes that when they look they don't see what I see.

I know I owe my parents everything, can't fathom what they sacrificed,
because what they dreamed to be at 23 might not have happened like
they planned it, and it happened twice.
Damn near cost 'em half their life,
But I don't know which lesson's best to take from that advice.
I just hope I'm never weak enough to give up, but pray I find the strength to give in.
Sh*t is it different living with it knowing that your gift's a risk to this kid, his bliss and his innocence?
And I still wanna be the greatest,
earn a couple spots at the top of all my hater's playlists.
And age has only made this pain from hunger felt, greater.
It betrays and breaks a promise made to save my younger self.
And a part of me still feels like i owe it to him.
We had a deal, and he held up his end.
But then again, maybe I'm just meant to pretend
he met his end when i went and shed my independence and wed.

Am I a workaholic, all in, or a big city bore?
I'm not entirely sure what my wife thinks anymore.
Truth be told, she's got the patience of a saint,
because rap records don't cover insurance and word, the payment's late.
I say it monthly, when statements come we
make, scrape and save our way to pay 'em something.
And it'd be one thing if I wasn't losing
every single dollar I put into this music.
You can't win it all, unless you bet it all? Alright, fine. Done.
My time's come. But before I roll the dice somebody better dial 9-1…
I didn't come as far as I've come to hide in some asylum
I'll either die or leave screaming, I've won
over the lie that I arrived from.
Private check the deck, I believe we've got a live one.