live your life
T.I. featuring Rihanna Lyrics

Ey, this is special what's happenin' to all my
Hey, this moment is significant for all my

All my all my soldiers over there in Iraq
All my courageous soldiers serving in Iraq

Everybody right here,
Everyone in this vicinity,

What you need to do is be thankful
What you must do is express gratitude

For the life you got, you know what I'm sayin?
For the life you possess, you understand?

Stop lookin' at what you ain't got
Cease focusing on your lacking possessions

And start being thankful for what you do got
And start appreciating what you do possess

Let's give it to 'em baby girl
Let us convey this message, young lady

You're gonna be, a shinin' star
You will become a brilliant and successful individual

In fancy clothes, and fancy cars
Wearing luxurious attire and driving extravagant cars

And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
Then you will realize that you will achieve great success

'Cause everyone knows, just who ya are
Because everyone is aware of your true identity

So live your life (Hey! Ay ay ay)
Therefore, live your life without restraint

You steady chasin' that paper, just live your life
You persistently pursue money, so just continue living as you desire

(Oh! Ay ay ay)
(Expressing exclamation or excitement)

Ain't got no time for no haters, just live your life
Do not have time to pay attention to negative individuals, simply live your life

No tellin' where it'll take ya, just live your life
There is no predicting where your journey will lead, so just live your life

'Cause I'm a paper chaser, just livin' my life
Because I am ambitious and focused on financial success, just living as I desire

(Ay) my life (Oh) My life (Ay) my life (Oh)
(Interjection emphasizing personal experience)

Just livin' my life (Ay) my life (Oh)
Simply living as I desire, (Interjection emphasizing personal experience)

My life (Ay) my life (Oh) just livin' my life
My own life, just living as I desire

Hey, never mind what haters say
Ignore the negative comments of jealous individuals

Ignore 'em 'til they fade away
Disregard them until they disappear

Amazin' they ungrateful
It's astounding how unappreciative they are

After all the game I gave away
Despite the knowledge and opportunities I shared

Safe to say I paved the way
It is reasonable to claim that I cleared the path for others

For you cats to get paid today
So that you individuals can earn money in the present time

You'd still be wastin' days away
You would still be wasting your time

Now had I never saved the day
If I had never rescued the situation

Consider them my protege
Regard them as my apprentices

Homage I think they should pay
They should show respect and gratitude

Instead of bein' gracious
Rather than showing appreciation

They violate in a major way
They disrespect in a significant manner

I never been a hater
I have never been envious or resentful

Still I love 'em in a crazy way
Nevertheless, I love them intensely

Some say they sold the yay'
Some claim they sold drugs

You know they couldn't get work on Labor Day
They were unable to find employment even on a public holiday

It ain't that black and white
It is not as simple as it seems

It has an area the shade of gray
It has a certain ambiguity

I'm Westside anyway
I represent the west side regardless

Even if I left today and stayed away
Even if I departed and never returned

Some move away to make a way
Some relocate to create opportunities

Not move away 'cause they afraid
Not out of fear, but to seek better prospects

I brought back to the hood
I returned to the neighborhood

And all you ever did was take away
And all you did was deprive and exploit

I pray for patience
I hope for patience

But they make me wanna melt they face away
However, they provoke me to the point of losing control

Like I once made 'em spray
Similar to when I made them use guns

Now I could make 'em put the K's away
Now I could make them refrain from using firearms

Been thuggin' all my life
I have been living a tough life for a long time

Can't say I don't deserve to take a break
I cannot deny that I deserve to rest

You'd rather see me catch a case and watch my future fade away
You would prefer to see me involved in a criminal case and witness my potential fade

I'm the opposite of moderate
I am the complete opposite of being average

Immaculately polished with
Exquisitely refined with

The spirit of a hustler
The determination and ambition of a hard worker

And the swagger of a college kid
And the confident and stylish demeanor of a young student

Allergic to the counterfeit
Extremely averse to anything fake or inauthentic

Impartial to the politics
Unbiased towards the political games

Articulate
Well-spoken

But still'll grab a nigga by the collar quick
Yet, I will still confront someone assertively

Whoever havin' problems
Anyone who is facing difficulties

With their record sales just holler TIP
With their declining album sales, just call out for TIP

If that don't work and all else fails
If that strategy fails and nothing else succeeds

Then turn around and follow TIP
Then turn around and imitate me

I got love for the game
I have a strong passion for the music industry

But ay I'm not in love with all of it
But hey, I am not deeply infatuated with every aspect of it

Could do without the fame
Could live without the celebrity status

And rappers nowadays are comedy
And contemporary rappers are a source of amusement

The hootin' and the hollerin'
The shouting and noisy excitement

Back and forth with the arguin'
Engaged in constant arguments

Where you from, who you know
Questions about your origins and connections

What you make and what kind of car you in
How much money you earn and what type of car you possess

Seems as though you lost sight
It appears that you have lost focus

Of what's important when depositin'
Of what truly matters when depositing

Them checks into your bank account
The income you receive into your bank account

And you up out of poverty
And you are out of poverty

Your values is a disarray, prioritizin' horribly
Your morals are in disarray, prioritizing incorrectly

Unhappy with the riches
Not content with wealth

'Cause you're piss poor morally
Because you are morally bankrupt

Ignorin' all prior advice and forewarnin'
Disregarding all previous advice and warnings

And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden, aren't we?
And suddenly, we are excessively self-absorbed, aren't we?

Got everybody watchin' what I do
Have captured the attention of everyone observing my actions

Come walk in my shoes
Experience my life firsthand

And see the way I'm livin' if you really want to
And witness the lifestyle I lead if you truly desire it

Got my mind on my money
Constantly focused on my financial goals

And I'm not goin' away
And I am not fading into obscurity

So keep on gettin' your paper, and keep on climbin'
So continue to earn money and strive for success

Look in the mirror, and keep on shinin' (Shinin')
Reflect on yourself and continue to radiate brilliance

Until the game ends, 'til the clock stop
Until the game of life concludes, until time ceases

We gon' post up on the top spot
We will establish ourselves in the highest position

Livin' the life, the life
Embracing the lifestyle, the lifestyle

In the Windmill City got my whole team with me
In the city characterized by constant motion, I have my entire team accompanying me

The life, my life
The lifestyle, my lifestyle

I do it how I wanna do
I do things according to my own desires

I'm livin' my life, my life
I am living my life on my terms

I will never lose
I will never experience defeat

I'm livin' my life, my life
I am living my life on my terms

And I'll never stop it
And I will never cease

(So live your life)