the way
Carl Thomas Feat. Kanye West Lyrics

I've lived
I have experienced a lot of life

Yes I've lived a life that's full
Indeed, I have lived a life with many experiences

I've traveled each, and every highway
I have wandered and explored countless paths and possibilities

What more, and what's more than this -
What else could there possibly be? This life has been everything.

It go my way, Chi-Way
I am straightforward and determined to follow my own path, the Chicago way

This way or the highway
Either go along with me or get out of the way

Shots'll lay you off on your day off, like Friday
I am a powerhouse and will take action against those who cross me, even on their days off

The ROC got "-Ye" but they ain't snortin' it
I am associated with ROC, but we are not doing drugs

They just got him up the base line recordin' shit
I am making music and collaborating with others to produce great work

Yeah I've been broke
I have experienced poverty and financial struggle

Now I'm good bitch
Now I am doing well and have overcome those struggles

I ain't no Kennedy
I am not from a wealthy, privileged family like the Kennedys

But I'm hood rich
But I have found success and wealth in my own way, within my community

So I say my way to thank you to the ghetto
I have succeeded in a way that allows me to give back to the community where I grew up

And everybody else, thank you very little
Others may not have supported me or believed in me, but I have succeeded anyway

I took the road less traveled, the unbeaten path
I have strayed from the norm and made my own way through life

I've been beatin', but never brokin' through the darkest past
I have faced challenges and adversity, but I have not been broken by them

It's sort of like when King spoke and said we free at last
My success and overcoming obstacles is comparable to the victory of the civil rights movement

Ain't nothin' free from that point, though
However, there is no such thing as a completely free and equal society

We needed cash
Inequality and discrimination still exist, and money is a necessary tool for survival

And we need it fast
We can't wait for systemic change to come before taking care of ourselves and our families

We broker than Ethiopians just tryin' to eat at last
We are so financially deprived that we are struggling to fulfill basic necessities

Now all the blacks cookin' up, they're almost white
As black people gain wealth and success, they become more accepted and treated more like white people.

'Cause gettin' green makes 'em treat us treat us like we almost white
Society values wealth and success more than racial identity, so black people who succeed are treated better.

Niggaz wanna diss K
People want to criticize me for my success

On they're local mix-tapes
They are spreading negative opinions of me on their amateur music compilations

There they go again, lyin' to consumers
They are deceiving their fans and perpetuating myths about me

Get their hair cut in the little shop of rumors
They are gossiping and spreading false information about me in barbershops

Your lil' sloppy with your cockyness ain't ya
You are arrogant and messy in your attempts to criticize me

A little arrogant with all your compares
You are acting superior and making unfair comparisons

'Cause as far as the Chi
Because as far as Chicago goes

I got the most plaques since the beginnin' of rap
I have earned more awards and recognition than anyone else from Chicago in the history of rap music

And nah, I ain't mentionin' that
I'm not even boasting about those accomplishments right now

Y'all just talk about my dough
You criticize me for my wealth and success

How I left Chicago
You accuse me of abandoning my hometown

How I'm the only one eatin'
You are jealous that I am successful and no one else from our community has achieved the same level of success

Shut your pie hole
Stop talking and spreading lies about me

And wanna figure out why I'm gettin' it high though
You can't understand why I have been able to achieve success

Why? 'Cause you need fire, and I'm a pyro
I am a spark that ignites passion and motivation in others

And you a parrot, you copy what I do and say?
You are unoriginal and just copying my style and actions

Only difference between you and me, you were gay
The only difference between us is that you are happy to follow others, while I am making my own way

Ahhhhh, did he get his feelin's hurt?
Are you upset that I have insulted you?

Nahhhh, he's got titties under his shirt
No, it's just that you have man boobs

When you walk straight, niggaz tend to look at you sideways
When you act with confidence and determination, others might view you with suspicion or skepticism

I say, Fuck that dog, I get my own way
I will not be deterred by others' opinions or actions, and will continue to forge my own path

Niggaz ain't believe me 'till they see me on t.v
People refused to believe in my potential until they saw me achieve success on television

And seen K freely, gettin' head on the freeway
They have even seen me indulging in casual sex while moving freely through life

Then passin' up Freeway, just like it's a relay
In fact, I am surpassing other successful people like the rapper Freeway

We stay 4 stars, all better
I surround myself with luxury and quality wherever I go

'Cause the couches in the rooms got, more leather
Even the furniture in my spaces is high-end and luxurious

And we gon' flip Carter, when we could afford better
I am planning to make even bigger investments and purchases in the future

And back, before Benzes, when we could afford Jettas
I remember when we had less money and drove lower-end cars

You still dress (Ardjo), but only pay partial
You still wear trendy clothes, but only pay for them in installments

Stay gettin' somethin' off lay-a-way at Marshall's
You continue to shop at discount stores and defer payment to a later date

Polo and (Carbesher's), we into them things dogg
We like to wear high-fashion brands like Polo and Carbesher's

Back in '96 we was livin' like kings dogg
We were enjoying a luxurious lifestyle in the year 1996

40 cals or better, tottin' them things dogg
We had guns and weapons for protection

So up the turkish snake, and take them rings off
Let's become more aggressive and assertive, and take control by removing any obstacles

I did it my way
I achieved my success on my own terms, through my own actions and decisions