MIDDLE CHILD
Dreamville & J. Cole Lyrics

You good, T-Minus?
Asking if the producer T-Minus is doing okay

N*****s been counting me out
People have been underestimating me

I'm counting my bullets
Preparing for a battle

I'm loading my clips
Preparing to fight

I'm writing down names
Making a list of targets

I'm making a list
Compiling names of opposing forces

I'm checking it twice and I'm getting 'em hit
Revising and ensuring all targets will be dealt with appropriately

The real ones been dying
Authentic people have been losing their lives

The fake ones is lit
Inauthentic people are successful

The game is off balance
The industry is in a state of imbalance

I'm back on my shit
I am returning to my previous work ethic

The Bentley is dirty
My car is not clean

My sneakers is dirty
My shoes are scuffed up

But that's how I like it
I prefer my belongings to look worn

You all on my dick
You are constantly paying attention to me

I'm all in my bag
I'm focused on my business

This hard as it get
This is as difficult as it gets

I do not snort powder
I don't do drugs

I might take a sip
I may consume alcohol

I might hit the blunt
I may smoke weed

But I'm liable to trip
But I may get too high

I ain't popping no pill
I am not taking any pills

But you do as you wish
But you can do what you want

I roll with some fiends
I associate with some addicts

I love 'em to death
But I care about them deeply

That got a few mil'
Who have a few million dollars

But not all of them rich
But not all of them are financially stable

What good is the bread if my n*****s is broke?
What good is wealth if my friends are struggling financially?

What good is first class if my n*****s can't sit?
Being in first class is no good if my friends don't have the same privilege

That's my next mission
My next goal is to help my friends financially

That's why I can't quit
That's why I can't give up

Just like LeBron
Like how LeBron James works to provide for his friends

Get my n*****s more chips
I want to help my friends earn more money

Just put the Rollie right back on my wrist
Putting my expensive watch back on my wrist because I earned it

This watch came from Drizzy
Drake gifted me this watch

He gave me a gift
He gave me something without expecting anything in return

Back when the rap game was praying I'd diss
When other rappers hoped I would feud with them to gain publicity

They act like two legends cannot coexist
Some people believe that two successful people cannot work together

But I'd never beef with a n****a for nothing
But I would never fight with someone without a valid reason

If I smoke a rapper
If I have a rap battle with someone

It's gon' be legit
It has to be a legitimate beef

It won't be for clout
I won't do it for fame or attention

It won't be for fame
It won't be to gain more fame for myself

It won't be 'cause my shit ain't selling the same
It's not because my music isn't as popular as it used to be

It won't be to sell you my latest lil' sneakers
It won't be to promote my latest merchandise

It won't be 'cause some n****a slid in my lane
It won't be because someone copied my style

Everything grows
Life is constantly changing and evolving

It's destined to change
It is inevitable that things will change

I love you lil' n*****s
I have love for the young generation of rappers

I'm glad that you came
I'm happy that you are part of the industry

I hope that you scrape every dollar you can
I hope that you make as much money as possible

I hope you know money won't erase the pain
But I also hope you realize that money cannot cure all your problems

To the OG's
To the older generation of rappers

I'm thanking you now
I want to say thank you

Was watching you when you was paving the ground
When you were creating the foundation for the industry, I was paying attention

I copied your cadence
I imitated your rhythm and flow

I mirrored your style
I copied your musical style

I studied the greats
I learned from the most successful and respected rap artists

I'm the greatest right now
I have a lot of confidence in my ability as a rapper

Fuck if you feel me
I don't care if you agree with me or not

You ain't got a choice
You have no say in the matter

I ain't do no promo
I didn't advertise or promote this release

Still made all that noise
But it still generated a lot of attention and buzz

This shit gon' be different
This release will be unique

I set my intentions
I have a clear goal in mind

I promise to slap all that hate out your voice
I promise to prove the haters wrong

I just poured something in my cup
I just poured a drink

I've been wanting something I can feel
I desire something that brings real satisfaction

Promise I am never lettin' up
I promise to never give up or back down

Money in your palm don't make you real
Having money doesn't mean you're authentic

Foot is on they neck
I have control over my enemies

I got 'em stuck
I have them trapped

I'ma give 'em something they can feel
I'm going to provide something of true quality and value

If it ain't 'bout the squad
If it's not about the group

Don't give a fuck
I don't care about it

Pistol in your hand don't make you real
Having a gun doesn't make you authentic

I'm dead in the middle of two generations
I am caught between two different eras of rap music

I'm little bro and big bro all at once
I am both the younger and older brother

Just left the lab with young 21 Savage
I just finished working with 21 Savage

I'm 'bout to go and meet Jigga for lunch
I am about to go meet with Jay-Z for lunch

Had a long talk with the young nigga Kodak
I had a deep conversation with Kodak Black

Reminded me of young niggas from 'Ville
He reminded me of the young rappers from Dreamville

Straight out the projects
Coming from impoverished neighborhoods

No faking, just honest
Being genuine and truthful

I wish that he had more guidance, for real
I wish that Kodak Black had more guidance and support

Too many n*****s in cycle of jail
Too many black men are locked up in prison

Spending they birthdays inside of a cell
Spending their birthdays in confinement

We coming from a long bloodline of trauma
Our ancestors have faced a long history of hardship and pain

We raised by our mamas
Many of us were raised by our mothers only

Lord we gotta heal
We need to heal from our past traumas and pain

We hurting our sisters
We are hurting our female counterparts

The babies as well
And we are also hurting our children

We killing our brothers
We are killing our black men

They poisoned the well
They have created a negative environment

Distorted self image
We have an incorrect view of ourselves

We set up to fail
We are put in a position where we are likely to fail

I'ma make sure that the real gon' prevail, nigga
I will make sure that authentic and genuine people will be successful