Why You Hate The Game?
The Game feat. Nas Lyrics

To everybody who knows my story
Addressing all those who are aware of my journey

To all of those who came before me
Honoring the ones who paved the way for me

My time is now I'm goin' do it all over again
I'm ready for my moment and I'll make the most of it

Ain't nothin' new ain't 'bout to change
I'm sticking to my authentic self and there will be no compromises

I'm still gonna do it my way
I refuse to conform to anyone else's expectations

Yeah I still remain
I am steadfast in my beliefs and principles

So tell me why you hate the game?
Asking those who dislike me or my approach to explain themselves

This time I do it better just because
Striving to improve and reach new heights for personal satisfaction

Yall know what it is
Addressing those who are familiar with my reputation and reputation

The streets named me Illmatic but yet I'm still at
Though I'm known as the king of the streets, my success has only grown

Felon, fights behind me on the intersection
My past is shadowed by criminal acts and violence

Sex and drugs my anthology on perfection
My musical repertoire often references illegal and indulgent behavior

Dress superb admired by conspirists
My fashion sense is appreciated by those who believe in secret plans and schemes

Who wanna try me but ain't high enough to 4-5 me up
Those who want to challenge me lack the courage to use weapons

Child of the 80s, y'all niggas is lazy
Growing up in the 80s, I was instilled with a strong work ethic, which is lacking in many today

Complainin' 'bout labor pains nigga show me the baby
Don't complain about the struggles of the process if you haven't achieved anything

And my nigga Game light another L pass the bottle
My friend Game is sharing a joint and a bottle of alcohol with me

Pro-black I don't pick cotton out a aspirin bottle
I am a proponent of black rights and freedom, but I won't use drugs as an outlet

Yeah I learned my lessons and heard y'all snitchin'
I have gained knowledge from my mistakes and am aware of those who betray me

Witnessin' you rockin' with narcs confirmed my suspicion
Seeing you socialize with law enforcement officials only confirms my distrust of you

Green fatigues on my niggas I'll bleed for 'em
I am loyal to my friends and will go to great lengths to support them

I can show 'em the water but can't make 'em drink it
I can provide insight and guidance, but ultimately it's up to them to apply it

And I can show them my fortunes but can't force 'em think rich
I can share my wealth and success stories, but they have to develop their own mindset for prosperity

And still I'm out on the boarder wonderin' if they sink quick
Despite my efforts, I am sometimes left wondering if those I try to help will fail anyway

Ignore the ignorance I rep the brilliance of Queensbridge
I rise above the negativity and embody the pride of my hometown of Queensbridge

And pray the feds let Murder Inc. live
I hope the government doesn't take down my friends at Murder Inc.

I don't talk about my guns nigga I Just Blaze
I don't brag about my weapons, but I am known for my talented producing skills under the name Just Blaze

'Pac is watchin' B.I.G. is listenin'
The late Tupac is watching over us, and the late Notorious B.I.G. is still inspiring us

While Pun talkin' to us Jam Jay still spinnin'
The late Big Pun is communicating with us, and the late Jam Master Jay's music is still being played

To every nigga listenin' I was supposed to be
For all those tuning in, I was destined for greatness

Amongst kings my mom shouted out at my christenin'
My mother proclaimed me to be among the royalty at my baptism

And while you still listenin' Shyne locked in a manhole
While you're still listening to me, Shyne is currently imprisoned

And Cam got shot inside his Lambo it's ample
Cam'ron was shot while in his luxurious Lamborghini, which shows the danger involved in living a lavish lifestyle

Life is a gamble, 15 years old red rag around my head
Life is uncertain and risky, and at 15 I was already associated with gang activity represented by the red bandana around my head

My sisters used to laugh and call me Rambo
My siblings used to tease me and compare me to the fictional character Rambo because of my tough exterior

Seen Eazy's legacy melt away like a candle
I have witnessed the legacy of a great artist like Eazy-E fade away over time

I rekindle the flame Dre created The Game
I am determined to reignite the passion for music that Dr. Dre helped spark in me

Nigga Wit a Attitude from the cloth I came
I originate from the same tough, no-nonsense mentality as other West Coast rap giants like N.W.A.

Young homie ate his way up from the bottom of the food chain
I worked my way up from the bottom of the social hierarchy like a predator at the bottom of the food chain

Keep the crown clown I rock a L.A. Dodger fitted
I don't care about being seen as the king; I'm just proud to represent my hometown Dodgers baseball team

Showed my ass at Summer Jam but New York was down wit' it
I gave an energetic performance at Summer Jam in New York, and the crowd loved it

Now the ball's in my court never dribble out of bounds wit' it
I have control of my own destiny, and I won't let anything take me off course

Behind the back to Nas he alley oop to Jigga nigga
I set up Nas to pass the ball on to Jay-Z with my lyrical skills

Me and Nasty puffin it's a classic trust me
Collaborating with Nas is always a classic, trust me on that

How he gon' pass the dutchie to them niggas that don't love me
Why would Nas collaborate with those who don't appreciate or support me?

I'm talkin' niggas that never wanted to see me on top
I'm referring to those who were never happy for my success and achievements

Same niggas that never wanted to see The Doctor's Advocate drop
Referring to those who didn't support the release of my album, The Doctor's Advocate

Flop I think not, I fuck you rap niggas like virgins
Defending my album's success and boasting about defeating my competition in the rap scene

Dre took my trainin' wheels off it's curtains
Dr. Dre helped me become a skilled musician and now I'm ready to shine on my own

I don't need no encore no claps no cheers
I am confident in my abilities and don't need validation from anyone

The Game ain't over this the beginning of my career
This is just the start of my journey to greatness

The endin' of yours the endin' of his
While my career is just starting, yours and your competition's are coming to a close

Like Flavor Flav's clock I'm back to handle my biz
Referring to the famous clock-wearing rapper, I'm back and ready to take care of business

Nigga it's Game time that was Dre's favorite line
I'm invoking a sense of determination and confidence, and Dr. Dre appreciated this attitude of mine

Back when Proof was in the booth and I recited his lines
I drew inspiration from the late rapper Proof and even rapped his verses in the studio

And I still think about my nigga from time to time
I still reflect on my friend who passed away and who influenced my music

Make me wanna call 50 and let him know what's on my mind
My emotions about my friend and other issues make me consider calling 50 Cent and talking to him about it

But I just hold back 'cause we ain't beefin' like that
I ultimately decide not to call him because we are not currently in a conflict, though we have had issues before

He ain't B.I.G. and I ain't 'Pac we just eatin' off rap
We're not trying to compete with the legacies of Biggie and Tupac, we're just making a living through music

And the sun shines with you
Ending the song with a positive note, celebrating the warmth and joy of life