F.U.T.W.
Jay-Z Lyrics

Just let me be great, let me be great
Allow me the chance to excel, to reach my full potential

I feel like mothafuckin' Cassius Clay right now, Genius!
I feel like a champion, a genius, at the top of my game

Don't be good my nigga, be great
Don't settle for mediocrity, strive for excellence

After that government cheese, we eating steak
After struggling with poverty and government assistance, we have achieved success and abundance

After the projects, now we on estates
We have transcended our impoverished upbringing in the projects and now live in luxurious estates

I'm from the bottom, I know you can relate
As someone who has faced adversity and risen above it, I know others can understand and relate to my story

Fuck up the world
Disrupt the status quo, challenge the norms and break down barriers

Me and destiny got a date
I am destined for greatness and am determined to achieve my goals

Martin had a dream, Hov got a team
Like Martin Luther King Jr., I have a dream and a vision, but also a team of supporters to help me achieve it

My chain already heavy, don't let me get a ring
I already have wealth and status, but achieving even greater success could be overwhelming or burdensome

Parades down Flatbush, Confetti on my fur
I am celebrated in my community, with parades and accolades, and I wear luxury items like fur coats

Turn right in Red Hook, niggas heavy on the curb
Even in my success, I remember the struggles and violence of my past and my community

See most my niggas died early twenties or late teens
Many of my friends and peers did not make it to adulthood due to violence, poverty, or other adversities

I'm just trying to come from under the thumb of this regime
I am striving for individual success and autonomy, despite the societal and political obstacles that limit black people's opportunities

1% of a billion more than niggas ever seen
I am worth more than the vast majority of black people in terms of wealth and privilege

Still they wanna act like it's an everyday thing, clean
Despite my exceptional success, some people still treat it as though it is commonplace or expected for me

High Yellow sky dweller and the rose gold
I am a light-skinned black person of high social status, with expensive jewelry

Legend of the summer in the Rose Bowl
I am a celebrated figure, a legend in my field, who performs at prestigious venues

Came through Pasadena in the low low
I arrived in Pasadena in a low-riding car, likely a symbol of my affiliation with hip-hop culture

Just to show respect to the cholos
I demonstrate respect to the Hispanic people, particularly those involved in gang culture or urban subcultures

Feelin' like a stranger in my own land
Despite my success and status, I still feel like an outsider or marginalized person in society

Got me feeling like Brody in Homeland
I feel like a double agent, a person with conflicting loyalties, who must navigate complex political and cultural dynamics

I just want a shot to show my genius
I desire the opportunity to showcase my talents and intelligence

Standing on the top hold my penis
I am asserting my dominance, my power and authority as a successful and wealthy man

America tried to emasculate the greats
Society and culture have tried to diminish or undermine black men, particularly those who challenge the status quo or assert their intelligence and success

Murder Malcolm, gave Cassius the shakes
The assassination of Malcolm X and the pressure put upon Muhammad Ali (formerly named Cassius Clay) represent the ways in which black activists and leaders have been suppressed and punished by society and government

Wait, tell them rumble young man rumble
Encourage young black men to resist oppression and fight for their rights and success

Try to dim your lights tell you be humble
People may try to undermine or discourage your success, telling you to be meek or humble

You know I'm gon' shine like a trillion watts
I am confident in my abilities and success, and know that I will stand out and shine brighter than anyone else

You know a nigga trill as Michael Jackson socks
My authenticity and realness is comparable to the quality and authenticity of Michael Jackson's iconic socks

Sendin' light out to Compton and the hundred blocks
Acknowledging and supporting impoverished or underprivileged areas of Los Angeles, particularly Compton

Lil bastard boy, basking on top
I have come from difficult circumstances and poverty to achieve great success and wealth

Sipping D'USSE boy this ain't your daddy yak
I am drinking a high-quality cognac, rather than the cheaper or less prestigious alcohol my father may have consumed

He in a Cadillac; me? I'm in the Maybach
My father may have driven a Cadillac, a symbol of middle-class success, while I am now driving a more luxurious and expensive car, a Maybach

This ain't grey sweat suits and white tube socks
I am no longer dressing in humble or casual clothes; instead, I wear expensive and high-end fashion

This is black leather pants and a pair of Stance
My clothing is now more edgy, trendy, and luxurious, with designer leather pants and high-quality socks

Socks is my synopsis is clear
Even my choice of socks reveals my fashion sense and status

Got strip clubs feeling like Oxford, I swear
I have achieved such wealth and success that even strip clubs feel like elite or high-class establishments

Teacher teacher, I'm trying to unteach ya
I am challenging the norms and teachings of mainstream society or education, seeking to change people's beliefs and practices

All the shit they taught y'all, they got you all in the bleachers
The traditional, mainstream education system has limited and marginalized people, rather than empowering them to succeed and thrive

When you front row at the Knicks game, those the Spike Lees
I have achieved such wealth and status that I can sit in the front row at a prestigious basketball game, like famous director Spike Lee

You front row everywhere, you in the H.O.V.'s
I am not just successful in one area or field, but everywhere I go, I am at the top

Jordan 1's and dungarees
I wear stylish and expensive Jordan sneakers with denim overalls

And that's just the half of my warpath
My journey towards success and greatness is only beginning, I have even more to achieve and accomplish

Make a million another million let my niggas make a million
My success and wealth are not limited to myself, but I seek to help my friends and community achieve similar success and wealth

'til we all check a billion, shit it's just the way I'm feeling
My goal is not just individual success but to create a community of successful and wealthy black people

We have yet to see a ceiling, we just top what we top
There is no limit to what black people can achieve and accomplish, and we will continue to surpass expectations and set new standards

Cause the bars don't struggle and the struggle don't stop
Despite my success, I will never forget the struggles and hardships that black people face, and will continue to fight against inequality and oppression