Dreams )
The Game Lyrics

I woke up out that coma 2001
I came back to life after a long period of unproductivity

'bout the same time Dre dropped 2001
Around the time of Dr. Dre's album 2001 release

Three years later the album is done
Three years later, my album was ready to be released

Aftermath presents: Nigga Witta Attitude, Volume One
The record label Aftermath presents my album titled: Nigga Witta Attitude, Volume One

Rap critics politickin, wanna know the outcome
Rap critics are talking about my album and wanting to know how it will turn out

Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt and Doggystyle in one
My album is expected to reach the same level of success as these other notable albums

I feel like 'Pac after the Snoop Dogg trial was done
I feel like Tupac after he was acquitted of his trial regarding Snoop Dogg

Dre behind that G series and All Eyez on Me
Dr. Dre had a prominent role in producing the album All Eyez on Me by Tupac Shakur

I watched the death of a dynasty, so I told Vibe Magazine
I witnessed the fall of the West Coast hip-hop scene, so I spoke about it in an interview with Vibe Magazine

Workin' with Dr. Dre was a (dream)
Collaborating with Dr. Dre was a dream come true for me

I had visions of makin a classic, then my world turned black
I had aspirations of creating a classic album, but then something bad happened

Like I was starin' out of Stevie Wonder's glasses
I felt blind, like Stevie Wonder, to what was happening around me

It's kinda hard to imagine, like Kanye West
It's difficult to believe, like how Kanye West recovered so quickly from his accident to continue making music

Coming back from his fatal accident to beatmaking and rapping
Recovering from his near-death experience to continue making music

But, we the future, Whitney Houston told me that
Whitney Houston believed that we were the future of the music industry

And it's gon' take more than a bullet in the heart to hold me back
I won't let anything stop me from achieving success in the music industry, not even a serious injury

Blushin' in this 40 ounce, lettin' the ink from my pen bleed
Drinking a 40 ounce while inspired to write lyrics

Cause Martin Luther King had a (dream)
Referencing Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech about his dream for equality

Aaliyah had a (dream), Left Eye had a (dream)
Referencing Aaliyah and Left Eye's personal aspirations and dreams

So I reached out to Kanye and (I brought you all my dreams)
I collaborated with Kanye West and shared all my personal aspirations and dreams with him

(Cause I love you, I love you, I love you)
Expressing affection towards Kanye West

I had dreams of fuckin' a R&B bitch like Mya
I had aspirations of having sex with an R&B singer like Mya

When I saw that ass on the front of that King
Referring to when he saw Mya's photo on the cover of King Magazine

Read the article in the magazine, she loved gangsters, loved nasty things
Reading the article about Mya, where she expressed an interest in gangster culture and sexual activities

So I'm in the glass house having nasty dreams
I'm in my luxurious home having sexual fantasies about Mya

Good girls never give it up
Implying that women who are perceived as 'good' are unlikely to have sex

But anything is possible, if 50 fucked Vivica
Even women who are perceived as 'good' can have sex, as demonstrated by rapper 50 Cent and actress Vivica A. Fox

Hurdled life's obstacles, found my way through the maze
Overcoming life's challenges and navigating through difficult situations

Then joy turned to pain like Frankie Beverly and Maze
Experiencing pleasure and then sorrow, like the lyrics to the song 'Joy and Pain' by Frankie Beverly and Maze

Used to dream of being Unsigned Hype
Having aspirations of being featured in The Source magazine's 'Unsigned Hype' section

'til I was crushed by Dave Mays, almost let my pen fall asleep on the page
Feeling defeated after being turned down by Dave Mays for the 'Unsigned Hype' feature, almost giving up on music

Daydreamin' yesterday, dozin' off backstage
Thinking about my aspirations and falling asleep backstage at a concert

I thought I saw Eazy talking to Jam Master Jay
Having a surreal moment where I thought I saw two deceased rappers, Eazy-E and Jam Master Jay, speaking to each other

So I walked over, heard Jam Master say
Approaching the two rappers to hear what they were saying

"It's a hard knock life, then you pass away"
Quoting a lyric from Jay-Z's song 'Hard Knock Life', reflecting on the harsh realities of life and death

They say sleep is the cousin of death, so my eyes wide open
Acknowledging that resting and not being productive is similar to death, so I remain alert and active

Cause a dream is kin to your last breath
Referring to the idea that people often have vivid dreams right before they die

The dream of Huey Newton that's what I'm livin' through
Living the dream of Huey Newton, the co-founder of the Black Panther Party

The dream of Eric Wright, that's what I'm givin you
Providing listeners with the same type of inspiration and motivation that Eric Wright, also known as Eazy-E, had during his career

Who walked through the White House without a business suit
Referring to the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, who once entered the White House wearing casual clothing

Compton hat, jheri curl drippin on Ronald Reagan's shoes
Describing a fictional scene where a person from Compton, California meets former President Ronald Reagan while wearing a traditional Compton symbol, the hat, and sporting a popular hairstyle, the jheri curl

Gave Mike Lem my demo, came here to pay my dues
Giving my demo tape to Mike Lem and trying to make a name for myself in the music industry

Started off with Whoo Kid, then I start blazin' Clue
Beginning my career with DJ Whoo Kid and then later working with DJ Clue

It was all a dream like Big said it'd be
Referencing a lyric from The Notorious B.I.G.'s song 'Juicy', where he says 'It was all a dream' in the chorus

Don't sleep on me homey, I bring nightmares to reality
Don't underestimate me, I have the ability to make your worst fears come true

Rap phenomenon, defyin' the rules of gravity
Achieving huge success in the music industry and breaking expectations and norms

Studied all the classics, start revisin' my strategy
Learning from the greats in the music industry and refining my approach to music-making

Cause Marshall Mathers made it, Curtis Jackson made it
Drawing inspiration from rappers Eminem and 50 Cent, who both became successful despite their difficult upbringings

Head in the clouds, wonderin' where the hell Marvin Gaye went
Feeling lost or unsure about life, comparing it to the situation of Marvin Gaye, who struggled with drug addiction and was murdered by his own father

How do I say this? I'm livin' for my son
Expressing that I am working hard to provide for my child

But I can't figure out, why I'm at my temple with this gun
Feeling conflicted and struggling to understand why I am carrying a gun when I am supposed to be devoted to a higher power

Wake up to a Jesus piece like a catholic nun
Wearing a necklace with a religious symbol, I am reminded of the importance of faith in my life

The war to be a rap legend, has just begun
The battle to become a respected and successful rap artist is a never-ending struggle that I am ready to take on

This song is dedicated to Yetunde Price
Dedicating this song to the memory of Yetunde Price, the sister of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, who was tragically killed in a gang-related shooting

Who was slain during a gang shootout in Compton
Explaining the reason for the dedication to Yetunde Price

Sunday, September 14th, 2003 - rest in peace
Providing specific details about the date of Yetunde Price's passing and expressing a wish for her to rest in peace