Poppa Was a Player
Nas Lyrics

To My nigga who brought me in this world Taught us right nigga
My father was the one who brought me into this world and raised me right.

My old dad imported to the family structure Provide her God
My father was an important part of our family structure and provided for us.

My moms a queen at university civaliza My pops maybe was late but always came home
My mother was a strong woman and my father, though he may have been unfaithful, always came home.

My moms would put us to bed and she would wait on Soon as he walk in the door she barking I turned out the Jonny Carson Jumped out the bed We grabbed both his legs Me and my brother Not knowing the pain he gave my mother
My mother would wait for my father to come home, ready to fight with him even though we were asleep. We didn't know the pain he caused her.

Night after night, fighting yelling at each other My papa played the street all day Mama was either home, at work, while we played inside the hall way
My parents fought all the time, while my father spent most of his time out on the street. Meanwhile, my mother was either at home or at work, leaving us to play inside.

She sacrifices all she got to feed us When she was alone she cried by the phone pepping out the window heeding But still I didn't see it Mama hid it from us We was kids younger Till we got bigger, on to Bigger things that we knew what the time was That daddy was leaving the crib and moms love
My mother sacrificed everything she had to feed us and take care of us, even when she was alone and crying. But I didn't realize it at the time since I was a young child. As we got older, we realized that our father was leaving our home and our mother's love.

Papa was player, player wasn't papa Papa loved the ladies Never got enough of Pretty brown round Running round town (Shhhhh) Don't tell your mother what's going down (Repeat 2x)
My father was a ladies' man who loved to have affairs outside of his marriage, especially with women of color. He didn't want us to tell our mother what he was doing.

So many kids I knew, never knew what Pap was That's why I show my pop love He was still around when I fucked up He could have left My moms pregnant shock to death but stayed Watch me crawl till I took my first step, to the first grade To my first fist fight Right behind me he would stand No matter how big or tall he made me fight you like a man Throw dirt in your eye, swing my right scoop your ass and slam He watched me so I wouldn't get jumped by shorty's fam Roaches and weed all over my crib him and moms relaxing Next thing you know he packing So then I asked him What's this white shit on that plate and your facing? Papa why you butt ass from the waist And who's this lady I'm facing Dark skin you're not my mommy He grabbed me up to run some smooth words by me Promise things that he would buy me If I kept my mouth close and don't tell mommy He said one day I'll understand little me Was in you to side me
Despite my father's infidelity, I still show him love because he was there for me when I needed him. He watched over me, helped me take my first steps, and protected me from bullies. Even when our home was infested with roaches and drugs, he and my mother were able to relax. But one day, he had to leave and I discovered that he was involved in drugs and prostitution, and was cheating on my mother with a darker-skinned woman. He promised to buy me things if I didn't tell my mother about it, and told me that one day I would understand.

Pop's told me hold my own Pop's told me value home Could I help it papa was a rolling stone Who loved the pretty brown round Out of town bound Jumping in his jazz Benz he touring At home I play his latest recordings And it's strange now how, I do my thing now I'm in the game now And heard of it his brain pow To pull strings and gain power >From weed habits are same now No white lines to trumpets to tight rhymes And beats that be pumping Before he left he taught me something A child's young years the most important time to be there That's why he stayed till we grew up, respect is still here I'm older now see what having a father's about One day they can be in your life next day they be out It's not because of you, you know the deal Him and your moms feel If they stay together then someone will get killed I love you still Always will Cause that's my nigga Although you felt you was wrong I still feel you kid Life gose on
My father told me to be strong and to value family, but it was hard when he was always chasing other women. He often went out of town, leaving me to listen to his music at home. But now I'm successful and making a name for myself in the music industry, and I know that my father's influence helped me get there. Before he left, he taught me that my childhood years were important and that being there for me was crucial. That's why he stayed until we grew up, even though it was hard for him and my mother to stay together. I still love him, even though he did wrong, and life goes on.