Did you realize, that you were a champion in their eyes?
Were you aware that others saw you as a champion?

Yes I did, so I packed it up and brought it back to the crib
I knew, so I picked up my success and took it home

Just a lil' somethin' show you how we live
A small example of the way we live our lives

E'r'body want it but it ain't that serious
Everyone wants it, but it's not that important

Mm hm, that's that ****
Yes, that's the way it is

So if you gon' do it, do it just like this
If you're going to do it, do it like I did

You don't see just how wild the crowd is?
Do you not notice how excited the people are?

You don't see just how fly my style is?
Don't you see how great my fashion sense is?

I don't see why I need a stylist
I don't see why I would need someone to dress me

When I shop so much I can speak Italian
I shop so much that I know the Italian language

I don't know I just wanted better for my kids
I didn't grow up in poverty, but I still wanted my children to have the best

And I ain't sayin' we was from the projects
I'm not saying we grew up in public housing

But every time I want it, layaway or a deposit
But whenever I wanted something, I had to put it on layaway or make a deposit

My Dad'll say "when you see clothes close ya eyelids"
My dad would say 'when you see clothes, close your eyes (to avoid temptation)'

We was sorta like Will Smith and his son
We were similar to Will Smith and his son

In the movie I ain't talkin' 'bout the rich ones
But I'm not talking about the wealthy characters in the movie

'Cause every summer he'll get some
Because every summer, he would get a new idea

Brand new hare-brained scheme to get rich from
A new and impractical plan to become wealthy

And I don't know what he did for dough
I don't know how he made money

But he'd sent me back to school wit' a new wardrobe and hey!
But he would send me back to school with new clothes, and hey!

When it feel like livin's harder than dyin'
When it feels like living is more difficult than dying

For me givin' up's way harder than tryin'
For me, giving up is more difficult than trying

Lauryn Hill say her heart was in Zion
Lauryn Hill said her heart was in a place of spiritual purity and holiness called Zion

I wish her heart still was in rhymin'
I wish she still enjoyed making music

'Cause who the kids gon' listen to? Huh?
Because who will the kids listen to now?

I guess me if it isn't you
I suppose it will be me if it's not you

Last week I paid a visit to the institute
Last week, I visited the school

They got the drop out keepin' kids in the school
They have someone who has dropped out of school keeping kids in school

I guess I'll clean up my act like Prince'll do
I suppose I'll improve my behavior like Prince did

If not for the pleasure, least for the principle
If not for the enjoyment, at least for the moral values

They got the CD then got to see me drop gems
They obtained my CD and saw me produce great work

Like I dropped out of P.E.
Like how I dropped out of physical education class

They used to feel invisible
They used to feel overlooked and unimportant

Now they know they invincible
Now they realize they are capable of anything

This is the story of a champion
This is a tale of someone who succeeded

Rounders in the mob and they pop the guns
Members of the gang who carry firearms

Stand up stand up! Here he comes
Stand up, here he comes

Tell me what it takes to be number one?
What qualities are needed to be the best?