Poppa always had a knack for attention
His grind
By itself
Is enough to remember
Never lane switched
Kept a humble game
Yet his claim to fame was a confidence
That was bred from wisdom
Growing up, He was mad clutch
He kept me out them trenches
But oddly enough, he would always say
To be better than him
Impossible
You my hero pop is you crazy?
He said the craziest people
All have the best adventures
Buckled down
Changed my mindset
First year in college I was messin' up
Women and syrup, yeah that next level stuff
Dorms told me to pack it up and that was during winter break
Moms told me go back to Reno, man up and fix your mistake
Hit my boy J-Funch's line, said give me a couple days
And I'll be out yo head like Bron's headband in a playoff game
Met up with the Dean of Students
Held it down and made the point
How can I be successful if I'm
Lookin' for a place to stay, Huh?
They was shook up in that meeting
In a major way
Cuz anytime they gave a second chance
That chance had gone to waste
Not only did I get that chance
I changed a life that day
Cuz out of anybody
A black man was first to make a way ... Just trust me
Could've fooled me once
Being young and dumb ain't cute, Had to change up my mind
Could've fooled me twice
On my life, oh I think it's time to show the world how to shine
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh
I can't stop no Imma give all I got
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh
Imma winner 'til the day that I die
I had to do it on my own
I had to do it on my own
I had to do it on my own
Boy I had to write up an appeal
Just for me to appeal to that all white (Congregation)
Promise it took more than a letter just to make it
Money was the motivation in that (Conversation)
I had to speak a language that was Universal
Even though my skin color wasn't (Quite Persuasive)
For em just to accept me and avoid being a vagabond
So I could finish college was my obligation
Bruh how many people do you know
That are in college strugglin' just to make it through another day
Bad enough I have an 8 page paper and I haven't even eaten
Cuz of bills that I gotta pay
And every job on campus in minimum wage
They'll only schedule me to work a twelve hour week
So what's eight bucks and 25 cents bout to do
When my bills are 500 plus student fees
I couldn't get a plea deal or even a free meal
Or a hand that could heal my soul
But my dad ain't raise no quitter, and my pops said be a better man
So now it's time to live up
Boy they got me messed up if they think
I ain't gon make a way, I promise I'm gon' be ok
I looked the devil in his face and prayed him out the situa-
Shunned him to the valley of death, right back to his estate
In the midst of hardship
A brutha kept his faith
Had no choice and did it not for me
But for my family's sake
I had to prove I was the man I told them I would be
Had to prove to these white folks that black people could be elite
And prove to myself that Rickie B., regardless, is a beast
If I could persevere through this, then I could conquer anything
Just trust me
Could've fooled me once
Being young and dumb ain't cute, Had to change up my mind
Could've fooled me twice
On my life, oh I think it's time to show the world how to shine
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh
I can't stop no Imma give all I got
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh
Imma winner 'til the day that I die
Could've fooled me once
Being young and dumb ain't cute, Had to change up my mind
Could've fooled me twice
On my life, oh I think it's time to show the world how to shine
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh
I can't stop no Imma give all I got
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh
Imma winner 'til the day that I die
I had to do it on my own
I had to do it on my own
I had to do it on my own