Tell It Like It Is
E-40 Lyrics

How can I help you
What can I do to assist you

What can I do for ya
How can I be of service to you

Looking for that China white
Searching for high-quality cocaine

Girl that's soft
Referring to cocaine that is finely powdered

If I ain't got it
If I don't have it in stock

I know where to find it
I can locate it for you

If I can get it for you
If I am able to obtain it on your behalf

Boss
Term of respect or endearment

How much you got in your budget
What is your available spending limit

The more you buy the less it costs
Discount applies for larger quantities

I could front you a few off the side
I can provide you with a few extra without charge

As long as your ass don't double cross
As long as you don't betray or deceive me

You crossed a lot of raccoons
You have betrayed many unreliable individuals

Get your cranium sawed off
Face the consequences of your actions with violence

I got mouths to feed my nigga
I have dependents who rely on me for support

I can't afford to take no loss
I cannot afford to suffer any financial setbacks

I can give your ass a number
I can provide you with a contact

It's up to you to keep it quite
Maintaining discretion is your responsibility

You can't be a punk about nothing
You must show courage and resilience in all situations

You gotta keep the money coming
You must consistently generate income

I'm out here
I am actively engaged in these activities

Dealing with these suckers
Engaging with foolish and deceitful individuals

Stopping the fake ass
Preventing counterfeit behavior

Busters
Derogatory term for weak and inept individuals

They stab your ass in the back
They betray and deceive you

These brothers turn on you
These individuals become disloyal and hostile towards you

I know when it's gonna get short
I am aware when resources will become limited

How long this sureness suppose to last
How much longer will this confidence and stability endure

I ain't got the weather channel
I don't have the means to predict the future

To predict the forecast
To anticipate and prepare for future events

The plan is hustling
The strategy is engaging in illegal activities for financial gain

?cause there ain't no work there ain't no job
Because legitimate employment opportunities are scarce

So they stuck in playing this game
They are trapped in this dangerous lifestyle

And the next thing they gonna rob
And their next course of action will involve theft

Two faced little ol' heathen
Dishonest and wicked person

Working with the law
Cooperating or colluding with law enforcement

Man no matter what you do for nigga
No matter what you do to assist someone

They ain't never gonna be satisfied
They will never be content or appreciative

Tell it like it is
Speaking the honest and unfiltered truth

My whole thing is like
My main perspective is

Why dudes be letting cats get in their ear though
Why do men allow others to manipulate their thinking

I'm just telling it like it is
I am merely conveying the truth

I don't know what the fuck happened between '96 up into now
I don't understand what transpired during this time period

Nigga is hoes
Some men are acting in a weak and cowardly manner

Man nigga is going out backwards man
Some men are regressing or declining

Kill all this snitching my nigg what's up with that
Put an end to the act of betraying others

Tell it like it is
Speak honestly and openly

If there was a snake it would've bite ya
If someone had ill intentions, they would have already harmed you

See you've been fallowing so many nigga you wouldn't even know what hit ya
You have been blindly following others, unaware of the consequences

Now you don't know which way to look
Now you are confused and uncertain

You don't really know which way to turn
You are unsure of the correct course of action

Got you trying to protect yourself
Causing you to attempt self-preservation

With all the bridges you done burned
Due to the damaged relationships you have caused

You nigga cry to us nowadays
You men complain to us excessively in modern times

Nigga feelings get hurt too easily
Some men are overly sensitive

Might as well wear a tampon
Might as well use feminine hygiene products

Might as well be a breezy
Might as well be a weak and submissive person

A closed mouth don't get fed
If you don't speak up, you won't receive what you want

And a lazy hustler don't get bread
If you are not proactive and hardworking, you won't succeed financially

Pimping I can't read minds
As a pimp, I cannot predict what others are thinking

I don't know what's in your head
I am unaware of your thoughts and intentions

Everybody think they know it all
Everyone believes they are knowledgeable about everything

Wanna hear nobody speak
They don't want to listen to anyone else

Shut the fuck up and listen sometime
Be quiet and pay attention occasionally

Even if you an O.G.
Even if you are an experienced and respected individual

Personally I'm a grinder
Personally, I am a hard worker

Let no grass grow under my feet
I do not waste time or remain idle

Don't nothing come to a sleeper
Lazy people do not achieve success

But a dream
Only a dream will come to a sleeper

A vision without a plan
Having an idea or goal is meaningless without a strategy

Is just a hallucination
It is merely a delusion or fantasy

I gotta lotta folks in the pen
I have many acquaintances or associates in prison

Programming
Engaging in illegal activities

I'm gonna give it to you straight
I will provide you with honest information

I ain't gonna give it to you late
I will share this information promptly

I'ma tell your ass what's real
I will convey the truth

I ain't gonna tell ya nothing fake
I will not provide you with false information

Man I got my own dreams
I have my own aspirations

Everybody wants me to finance theirs
Everyone expects me to support their dreams financially

You know who I like I like that boy 40 man
I admire and appreciate E-40's talent

He's 20 years in the game and he consistent
E-40 has been active in the music industry for two decades and remains reliable

Just telling it like it is
Simply speaking the truth

Not all of them but allot of these new dudes is
Not all, but many of the current generation of artists are

Ring tone rappers man
Musicians who only achieve popularity through catchy ringtones

I'ma tell it like it is
I will speak honestly

Fools just have one album out
Inexperienced artists who only have one album released

And act like they just it
And behave as if they are incredibly successful

Tell it like it is
Speak the unfiltered truth

Same song third verse
Repeating the same story or situation

It's from the heart it ain't rehearsed
The lyrics are genuine and spontaneous

The world is full of associates
Many people are superficially connected to each other

But very few friends
But there are only a few true friends

That wanna contribute nothing
Who don't want to contribute anything

But wanna help spend your ends
But want to benefit from your financial resources

Think before you rock yo mouth
Consider your words before speaking

Park your tongue and lip
Keep your mouth shut

Watching who you talking round
Being cautious about the people you speak with

Never know who you?re having dinner with
You never know someone's true intentions

Ain't got nothing good to say
If you have nothing positive to say

Don?t say nothing at all
It's best to remain silent

That's what I was told
That is the advice I received

That's what I was taught when I was small
That is the lesson I learned as a child

A lot of theses so called artists got too much
Many of these self-proclaimed artists possess too much

Talent
Natural skill or ability

You should be getting? your money on
You should be focusing on making money

Instead of hating on the next man
Rather than expressing jealousy towards others

It's lonely at the top
Being successful can be isolating

But it's next to crowed at the bottom
However, there is much competition and chaos at the bottom

That's why I always keep my pistol cocked
That is why I am always prepared for danger

In case I gotta stop 'em
In case I have to defend myself

Trunk full of slap
Car trunk filled with music

Hollering at em? back
Engaging with others in response

Pocket full of scraps
Wallet filled with money

Nothing but thousand stacks
Only thousand-dollar bills

I'm old school
I have traditional values and mindset

Acting a fool making my presence known
Behaving in an eccentric manner to gain attention

I look at business face to face
I prefer in-person communication for business matters

Don't like to talk on phones
I dislike conducting important conversations over the phone

When I'm at a stop sign or a red light
While waiting at a traffic signal

I leave one car space in front of me
I maintain a safety gap between cars

Tell it like it is
Speaking the honest and unfiltered truth

Just so I could have enough room to get outta there
To have an escape route in case of danger

Just in case someone try to pop at me or something
In case someone attempts to harm me

Tell it like it is
Speak the truth

That's how I was raised
That is the upbringing I received

I'm still a student of the game
I continue to learn from the music industry

You could learn from a baby
Even a baby can teach you something

I'ma tell it like it is
I will speak honestly

Man I was hollering at my grand partner
I was recently talking with my close friend

He said 40 return phone calls and you'll keep your friends
He advised me to prioritize returning calls to maintain friendships

Tell it like it is
Speak the truth

Bitch
Derogatory term for a woman

You two faced ass mother fuckers
You deceitful and dishonest individuals

I didn't just help create my music mother fucker
I didn't merely contribute to the creation of my music

I invented it
I am the originator of my music style

Everybody wanna know what the fuck mob music is
Everyone is curious about the genre of mob music

Nigga this is mob music
This is the sound of mob music

Poor ass mother fuckers
Financially impoverished individuals

Bitch
Derogatory term for a woman