8 Miles And Runnin'
Jay Z & Freeway Lyrics

Yeah Renegades is back and the beat is sick,
Renegades (Jay Z and Freeway) are back with a sick beat.

8 miles and running, got my 7 album droppin',
Jay Z is on his 8th mile, releasing his 7th album while feeding many needy people.

And my 8 album coming,
Jay Z has plans to release his 8th album.

Feedin' a thousand growling stomachs,
Jay Z is helping to feed a thousand hungry people.

But I could rewind the counter ta back, back,
Jay Z remembers when he was nothing and had nothing, but persevered.

When it was now or nothing,
Jay Z had to make it in the music industry, otherwise he would have nothing.

People said I would amount to nothing,
Many people doubted Jay Z's success.

That I had time for nothing,
Many people didn't think Jay Z would have time for success.

Said I wasn't from the velars
People claimed Jay Z wasn't from a prestigious area.

Or the sellers by your gunman,
People claimed Jay Z wasn't from a dangerous area.

I can see the folks now he got what he had coming,
Jay Z reflects on the people who used to doubt him now realizing his success.

Everybody smiling wanting something,
People are trying to benefit from Jay Z's success.

Claiming that they done something for em,
People are claiming they helped Jay Z achieve success.

Got Jay Z and pom poms in they whole uniforms,
People are trying to associate themselves with Jay Z's success like cheerleaders.

Claiming they be running and telling everybody like Martin Lawrence,
People are trying to take credit for Jay Z's success and share it with others.

About how hot my rap performance was before I was who I was,
People are claiming they recognized Jay Z's talent before he was well-known.

Claimin' that they threw it up before I threw it up, you what
People are claiming they promoted Jay Z's music before he did.

Where was you before I blew this up,
Jay Z questions where these people were before his success.

I didn't see you in the courtroom when everyone was suein' us,
Jay Z didn't see these people helping him when he was involved in lawsuits.

I didn't see you in all black when everybody was suitin' up,
Jay Z didn't see these people helping him prepare for lawsuits.

Back on the block, kickin' it in and it was no you with us
These people were not with Jay Z when he was struggling on the streets.

6 miles and running got my fist straight poppin',
Jay Z is on his 6th mile now and has a lot of energy and motivation.

And my first album coming feedin' 20 promises I made
Jay Z is going to deliver his first album and fulfill promises he made.

6 miles and running in the Pontiac,
Jay Z is hustling in his Pontiac.

6 thousand 86 trans mic shift,
Jay Z has a specific model of Pontiac with a manual gearshift.

While the engine run,
Jay Z's car engine is running while he's grinding to succeed.

Anyone turn around
Jay Z asks if anyone is watching him work hard.

And give me one more chance,
Jay Z is asking for another opportunity for success.

Let em smoke and scream em one more grams,
Jay Z allows people to celebrate their success with him.

So I'm a bring them, homie, son and my pop,
Jay Z plans to bring his friends, son, and dad on his journey to success.

Stick close to my momma, keep toasters for drama,
Jay Z protects himself and his family from dangerous situations.

Mix a lot with my son, my son growin' and he learnin' a lot,
Jay Z is spending time with his son and teaching him valuable lessons.

That's what I'm toastin', that's what I'm burin', so pop,
Jay Z is celebrating his family and success with a toast.

Right on your own, rell 'em nigga, tell 'em nigga,
Jay Z encourages people to tell their own stories and be independent.

Its like a biblical scripture,
Jay Z's philosophy is similar to a religious scripture.

Look back turn to salt like the sinners
Jay Z reminds people to not look back or they'll experience consequences like the Biblical story of Lot's wife turning to salt.

And most y'all heartless and self-centered
Jay Z thinks most people in the music industry are selfish and lack empathy.

Like me shaggin', me shack,
Jay Z is like a shaggy dog, always hustling to succeed.

Set up your brother cause you tell us nigga,
Jay Z expresses disappointment in people who betray their own race for personal gain.

Heat back, uh, like, you never love for never
Jay Z warns people who turned their back on him that they will regret it later on.

And cops watch every step, 6 miles and running
Jay Z is aware of police surveillance while he's hustling to succeed.

Dodge in every trap, the rap ginger bread man,
Jay Z avoids traps and obstacles, like the gingerbread man from the children's story.

Cherish every precious breath, stat pick a second gat
Jay Z values every moment of his life and has a backup plan for protection.

Back when nobody would find me a talent,
Jay Z reflects on a time when no one believed in his talent.

Nobody would sign me, nobody believed in me,
Jay Z was disheartened because he didn't have any support.

Nobody but mommy blindly, but how could she deny me,
Jay Z's mother was his only supporter and believed in him wholeheartedly.

Me being the youngest friend to come up out of her,
Jay Z is grateful for his mom's support and praises her for raising him to be successful.

When niggas would worn me the industry shun me,
Jay Z remembers when others warned him that the music industry would reject him.

That's why I'm taking all the industries money,
Jay Z is determined to succeed despite those who doubted him.

Revenge is sweet honey, we run this,
Jay Z is taking revenge on those who doubted him by succeeding and proving them wrong.

Young is the illest, free is the future,
Jay Z believes that youth is the most powerful and that the future belongs to those who are free.

Beans and bleekers right now,
Jay Z is collaborating with his friends, Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek.

We can see our 8 miles nigga
Jay Z and his friends can see their success ahead of them, they are on their 8th mile.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the main theme of the song, which is Jay Z's success and determination to overcome obstacles.