What Happened?
T.I. Lyrics

What happened to the love man where is the love
T.I. laments over the lack of compassion and kindness in the world, questioning where has it all gone.

Is love lost is there anybody out there
He wonders if love still exists and if people even care anymore.

I walk this path alone always on my own
He has always been on his own, fighting his own battles, and never relied on anyone else for help.

Never wanted any help for me to get here
He achieved success on his own without needing assistance.

They only care about the numbers
The industry is only concerned with sales and statistics instead of true talent and artistry.

Always have and always will do till the end yea
This obsession with numbers is an ongoing and everlasting issue.

I try to drown out the noise and bullshit
T.I. attempts to block out the negativity and drama that surrounds him, including social media's shallow validation.

But I think I lost myself again
Despite his efforts, he still feels lost and disconnected, perhaps losing sight of his true purpose.

To the like this follow that
Social media has created a culture of blind conformity, with people caring more about likes, follows, and reposts than real connections and authenticity.

Repost shared text tweet back
Requests to share and repost content on social media to increase visibility.

Hey man can you check that link I sent ya
People reaching out for a favor or help, even if it's superficial and insincere.

Could really use that follow back
Asking for a follow back on social media as a means of self-promotion and validation.

Gimme feedback cause I swear I'm open
Requesting feedback on their work, appearing open to constructive criticism, but in reality they may be dismissive and defensive.

I attack this track with utmost devotion
Putting in all his effort and dedication into his music.

The land of opportunity but seems to me
America should be filled with opportunities, but to him, it seems like opportunities are scarce for him.

Like all my damn doors are closing
Metaphorically, he feels like all his doors are closing, and he has no chances left.

When tensions are high I'm high by contact
When there's tension and negativity around him, he absorbs it, causing stress and anxiety.

I'm blowin' stacks on makin' music
He's investing a lot of money into his music career, such as recording, producing, and promoting his music.

Barely making ten cents back asking
Describing the struggle to make a profit and earn a livelihood through music.

For me it's always been the music
Despite the obstacles, music has always been his true passion and calling.

Always has and always will be til' the end yea
Music will always be a significant part of his life and persona.

I write to drown out the noise and bullshit
Writing music is his way of dealing with the negativity and superficiality of the industry and social media.

And I think I found myself again
Music helps him reconnect with himself and his authenticity.

Found the sense in this but they still don't listen
Despite finding meaning and purpose through music, others still fail to understand his creations and message.

Ask why I do it man if I'm losing
Others question his dedication to music, especially since he's not making much of a profit or mainstream success.

Why you make this a competition
Others turn music into a competition instead of an art form or means of expression.

The truth is I don't do this for you kid
He creates music for himself, not for other people's validation or approval.

Honestly thought I was stuck was down on my luck
At times, he felt like he was at a dead end and unlucky in his career and life.

They couldn't give less of a fuck
Others didn't care or showed no support for his music.

But now they all hittin' me up
Since he gained success, now people are reaching out to him, perhaps for their own benefits or self-promotion.

And everyone's showin' me love
Now that he's successful, people are showing him love and praise.

Cause think I'm bout to blow up
People think he's about to become more successful and achieve greater success.

Said get off my stuff man what's in these drugs
People accuse him of being on drugs or other substances, perhaps out of jealousy or disbelief.

I do this myself
He's a self-made artist and didn't require any handouts or assistance to succeed.

Don't wanna be tied down to somebody else
He values his independence and doesn't want to be restricted or controlled by others.

If somebody tells me I'm wrong
If someone criticizes or disagrees with his work or vision.

Well then fuck em I'm doing this my way
He's determined to do things his way and not conform to others' expectations or standards.

Doin' this my way
His way of doing things may not be traditional or mainstream, but he's willing to take that risk to maintain his authenticity and creativity.