When I Grow Up
NF Lyrics

Yeah, when I grow up, you know what I wanna be?
As a child, I dream about what I want to do when I grow up.

Take a seat, let me tell you my ridiculous dreams
Let me share with you the unrealistic aspirations I have.

I wanna rap, yeah, I know it's hard to believe
I want to pursue a difficult career in the music industry as a rapper.

And I can tell you're already thinkin' I will never succeed
I sense your doubt and skepticism about my abilities to achieve my dreams.

But I'm okay with it, I admit the lyrics are weak
I acknowledge that my current lyrical skills are not the best, but I'm comfortable with it as I continue to work on improving.

I been workin' on 'em, I'll be good eventually
I commit to putting in the effort and time to develop my skills and become a successful rapper someday.

I understand you gotta crawl before you get to your feet
I recognize that success is not achieved overnight and it takes time, patience, and consistency to work your way up.

But I been running for a while, they ain't ready for me, ah
I feel like I've been constantly pushing myself and honing my craft, and I'm ready to take on the music world.

I know this probably isn't really realistic
I understand that my dreams may seem far-fetched and unattainable to others.

And honestly, I might not ever make a difference
I recognize that my music may not have a significant impact on the world, but that won't deter me from pursuing my passion.

But that don't make a difference, I'ma have to risk it
I'm willing to take a chance and risk failure in pursuit of my dreams.

I been crunchin' numbers, you ain't gotta be a mathematician
I've been putting in the work and effort behind the scenes to prepare for my future success.

And see the odds ain't rootin' for me
I'm aware that the odds are not in my favor, but I won't let that stop me from trying.

I can't lie though, it's kinda how I like it to be
The idea of being an underdog and proving others wrong motivates me and excites me.

The underdog, yeah, you probably think you know what I mean
People may assume they understand what it means to be an underdog, but for me, it's a unique and personal experience.

But what I'm saying is they ever push me, I'm gonna swing, yeah
If anyone tries to bring me down or challenge me, I'll fight back and not give up on my dreams.

I could go to college, get in debt like everybody else
I could pursue a more traditional path of going to college and racking up debt, but that doesn't align with my passions and goals.

Graduate and probably get a job that doesn't pay the bills
Even if I went to college and got a job, there's no guarantee it would pay enough to support myself.

That don't make a lot of sense to me, forget the Happy Meals
Living a life that doesn't align with my passions and goals doesn't make sense to me, even if it means giving up simple pleasures like fast food.

I don't like the dollar menu, I would rather make a meal
I prefer to create my own opportunities and make a living doing what I love, instead of settling for less.

Huh? Make a mil'? Nah, I said make a meal
I'm not necessarily aiming to become a millionaire, but I want to make a living doing what I love and supporting myself financially.

Home-cookin', get the grill, how you want it? Pretty well?
I want to create my own success and make a name for myself, and I am confident in my abilities to do so.

Everything I see is overdone to me, I'm not Adele
Many things in the music industry seem overproduced and lacking in authenticity to me, and I want to create music that is more genuine and true to myself.

But I'ma get a record deal and say hello to mass appeal
Despite my determination to remain authentic and true to myself, I still hope to achieve mainstream success and recognition in the music industry.

When I grow up, I just want to pay my bills
My primary goal is to be able to support myself financially doing what I love.

Rappin' 'bout the way I feel, oh yeah
My music will be a reflection of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

I just want to make a couple mil'
While fame and fortune aren't my only goals, I still hope to make a decent living doing what I love.

Leave it to the fam in the will, oh yeah
I want to take care of my loved ones and ensure their future financial security.

I just want to sign a record deal
I hope to achieve recognition and success in the music industry by securing a record deal.

Maybe buy a house up in the hills, oh yeah
I dream of achieving financial success to the point where I have the resources to live in a luxurious setting.

Might not be the best in my field
While I'm not the most talented or skilled rapper out there, I am still determined to succeed and make a name for myself.

But I guarantee that I'ma die real
I will remain true to myself and never compromise my authenticity, even in the face of fame and success.

I'ma make 'em notice me, rhymin' like it's poetry
I have a unique style and approach to rap that sets me apart from other artists, and I am confident in my ability to gain recognition for it.

Everything I oversee, I just like to overthink
I tend to overanalyze and overthink everything I do, even when it comes to my music.

Mockin' me, you pay the fee, no return and no receipts
Those who doubt or criticize me will have to face the consequences of their actions, without any chance for redemption or reconciliation.

Those of you that don't believe, quiet, you don't know a thing
Those who doubt me don't understand my experiences and passions, and therefore have no right to judge or criticize me.

Quiet when I'm tryna sing, quiet when I'm making beats
I need space and silence to work on my music, and those around me should respect that and not interrupt me.

Quiet when I'm tryna think, sorry, I don't mean to scream
I get easily frustrated and overwhelmed when my creative process is interrupted or disrupted, and I apologize for any outbursts that may occur.

I just feel like no one really gets me and it's sad to see
I often feel misunderstood and alone in my pursuit of my dreams, which is a depressing and isolating experience.

'Cause someday I'ma grow up and show all of you it's meant to be, yeah
Despite the doubt and skepticism of others, I remain confident in my abilities and committed to achieving my dreams, and I hope to one day prove them wrong.

Anybody wanna hear me rap? (No)
I know there will be those who don't appreciate or understand my music.

Come on, let me play a couple tracks (no)
Despite the lack of interest or enthusiasm from others, I still want to share my music and hope to change their minds.

Come on, I can spit it really fast (no)
I am confident in my abilities as a rapper and want to showcase my skills to others, even if they don't appreciate it.

You think I should throw this in the trash? (No)
I won't let anyone discourage me or make me doubt myself or my abilities.

Tricked you, haters, go away before I hit you
I won't let anyone bring me down or harm my confidence or motivation.

I am not a beggar or a kiss-up
I won't compromise my authenticity or dignity for the sake of achieving success or recognition.

You don't understand? Well, I forgive you
I understand that not everyone will appreciate or understand my music or my ambitions, and I won't hold it against them.

I am not a quitter, you ain't really think that, did you?
Despite the challenges and obstacles, I remain committed to my dreams and won't give up or quit.

Maybe someday I could even be up on the radio
I hope to achieve mainstream success and recognition for my music, even if it may seem like a lofty and unrealistic goal.

Have a tour bus and maybe even play a couple shows
I dream of the opportunity to travel and perform my music for fans across the world.

Everybody in the crowd singin' every word I wrote
I hope to achieve a level of success and popularity where my fans know and appreciate every word and lyric of my music.

Tellin' me that I am not the only one that feels alone
I hope to connect with my fans on a personal and emotional level, and let them know they are not alone in their struggles and feelings.

Huh? You feel alone? Yeah, I kinda feel alone
Despite my confidence and determination, I still struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness in pursuit of my dreams.

Wonder if that feelin' ever goes away when you get old
I hope that as I grow older, my feelings of loneliness and isolation will subside and be replaced with greater confidence and fulfillment.

Will I ever make it as an artist? I don't really know
Despite my dreams and ambitions, I remain uncertain about my future success and recognition in the music industry.

Might not make a lot of dough, I'ma have to try it, though
While commercial success and money are not my primary goals, I still hope to be financially stable and secure doing what I love.