How Much A Dollar Cost
Kendrick Lamar feat. James Fauntleroy & Ronald Isley Lyrics

How much a dollar really cost?
This question is important and is making me anxious.

The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts
The question is causing me harm and making me unable to think.

Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y'all
I have a bad feeling about this.

Gotta see how I'm chillin' once I park this luxury car
I want people to see that I'm doing well.

Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo
I feel powerful and important.

Twenty on pump six dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
A man called me a name and made me feel stupid.

Twenty years ago, can't forget
I remember something that happened in the past.

Now I can lend him a ear or two how to stack these residuals
I know how to make money and I can teach him too.

Tenfold, the liberal concept of what men'll do
People have an idea of what men will do to become wealthy.

Twenty on six, he didn't hear me
The man didn't hear me when I spoke.

Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
The man only spoke a language I didn't understand.

My American tongue was leery
I was hesitant to speak because of language differences.

Walked out the gas station
I left the gas station.

A homeless man with a semi-tan complexion
I saw a homeless man.

Asked me for ten rand
He asked me for money.

Stressin' about dry land
He was worried about his situation.

Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
The environment around us wasn't ideal.

A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin'
He wanted drugs.

He begged and pleaded
He begged me to help him more.

Asked me to feed him twice, I didn't believe it
He asked for more help but I didn't think he really needed it.

Told him, beat it
I told him to leave me alone.

Contributin' money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it
I didn't want to give him money for drugs.

He said, my son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated
He claims to have overcome temptation.

Listen to me, I want a single bill from you
He only wanted one dollar from me.

Nothin' less, nothin' more
He didn't want anything other than a dollar.

I told him I ain't have it and closed my door
I didn't have any money to give him.

It's more to feed your mind
There are things more important than material possessions.

Water, sun and love, the one you love
Things that truly matter in life are love and the essentials needed to sustain life.

He's starin' at me in disbelief
The man was surprised by my words.

My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me, I grab my key
I was getting angry and ready to leave.

He's starin' at me, I started the car then I tried to leave
I was trying to get away from him.

And somethin' told me to keep it in park until I could see
I felt compelled to stay and listen to him.

A reason why he was mad at a stranger like I was supposed to save him
He was angry at me, as if I was responsible for helping him.

Like I'm the reason he's homeless and askin' me for a favor
He believed I was partly responsible for his situation.

He's starin' at me, his eyes followed me with no laser
He was glaring at me without breaking his gaze.

He's starin' at me, I notice that his stare is contagious
I felt drawn to him and his gaze.

'Cause now I'm starin' back at him, feelin' some type of disrespect
I was staring back at him, but felt disrespected.

If I could throw a bat at him, it'd be aimin' at his neck
I was so angry that I wanted to hurt him.

I never understood someone beggin' for goods
I never understood why people beg for things.

Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could
I thought people begged and took what they could.

And this particular person just had it down pat
This man knew how to beg well.

Starin' at me for the longest until he finally asked
He stared at me for a long time before asking.

Have you ever opened up Exodus 14?
He asked me if I knew a specific passage from the Bible.

A humble man is all that we ever need
He was trying to teach me the importance of humility.

Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment
I feel guilty and resentful.

I never met a transient that demanded attention
I have never seen a homeless person demand attention.

They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin'
He made me feel frustrated and unsure of myself.

Sour emotions got me lookin' at the universe different
I started to feel negative emotions and view the world differently.

I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless
I should avoid situations like this in the future.

My selfishness is what got me here, who the fuck I'm kiddin'?
I realize that my own selfishness and choices have led me to this moment.

So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum, crumbs and pennies
I told the homeless man that I only had a little bit of money.

I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time
I need to keep what little money I have, and I recognize begging when I see it.

I got better judgement, I know when nigga's hustlin'
I have good judgement and can tell when someone is trying to manipulate me.

Keep in mind, when I was strugglin', I did compromise
I remember when I was struggling and had to make compromises.

Now I comprehend, I smell grandpa's old medicine
I understand things better now and can relate to older generations.

Reekin' from your skin, moonshine and gin
He smelled of alcohol.

Nigga your babblin', your words ain't flatterin', I'm imaginin'
I didn't like what he was saying to me.

Denzel but lookin' at O'Neal, Kazaam is sad
He was making a comparison between me and two different actors.

Thrills, your gimmick is mediocre, the jig is up
He called me out on being fake and said I was exposed.

I seen you from a mile away losin' focus
He knew that I was easily distracted and losing focus.

And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy
He called me insensitive and lacking in empathy.

He looked at me and said, 'Your potential is bittersweet'
He said that I have potential, but it comes with drawbacks.

I looked at him and said, 'Every nickel is mines to keep'
I told him that I wanted to keep all the money I had.

He looked at me and said, 'Know the truth, it'll set you free'
He gave me some advice about the truth.

You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehova, the higher power
He claimed to be the Messiah and a higher power.

The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve
He used religious language to describe himself.

Of Nazareth, and I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost
He identified himself as being from Nazareth, and said he can tell me what a dollar is worth.

The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God
He said that the cost of getting into heaven is high, and that he is God.

I wash my hands, I said my grace, what more do you want from me?
I feel like I have done what I can.

Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what is meant to be
I feel like I am not living up to expectations.

Shades of grey will never change if I condone
Things won't get better if I simply accept them as they are.

Turn this page, help me change, to right my wrongs
I want to turn over a new leaf and do better in the future.