[Intro: Cozz]

Yeah

Third take, nigga

Cozz & Effect, nigga, yeah

Yeah, I got to

Ha, yeah, yeah

Trauma Tone, yo, uh

[Verse 1: Cozz]

Jealousy holdin' enemies hostage

Eventually the penalty will come and haunt ya

Hennessey memories leavin' me nauseous

But the Hennessy makes the melodies awesome, so instead of me

Talkin', I'm steady jottin' and steady plottin'

On how to gain spaghetti toppings, you know that parmesan

That cheddar, mozzarella, the list goes on and on

You know my heart is strong, I'm a young phenomenon, it's like these

People keep forgettin', it's always

The least expected who ends up gettin' it

So don't tell me 'bout no niggas hatin', what's the point if I hear?

Mr Not-Givin'-a-Fuck with a joint in his ear

Put that steak on his plate, the sirloin disappear

Empty gut, I'm hungry, man, the guns pointin' this year

I'm feelin' like I'm dealin' with children, boy, I'm killin'

Niggas already tryna bite styles, you break your tooth

If you bite down, bitch, I go way too hard

[Chorus 1: Cozz, Cozz & J. Cole, J. Cole]

I been in this hood, dawg, for way too long, man

I been quiet for way too long

Been patiently waitin', can't wait too long, dawg

I been broke, man, for way too long

No hot water for way too long

You can't knock the hustle, it's way too strong

Man, we way too strong (Yeah)

[Verse 2: J. Cole]

Death to the imposters, label me the king

My dreams could win Oscars, my niggas turned mobsters

My white friends doctors, fatherless child

Listen, how I got this knowledge is wild, streets taught me

Speak softly nigga watch from the crowd, 'cause any nigga that's loud

Just want attention and eventually blaow

No fake niggas allowed in my circle, dawg

You been through half the shit I been through it'll hurt ya, dawg, tread softly

My nigga movin' state-to-state, runnin' late, watch 'em

Tryna avoid state troopers, that's the weight watchers

Run this dope, stack this cake 'til they say, "Gotcha"

Or 'til the fat lady sing, and niggas hate operas

And Oprah hate niggas, make no mistake

That we know the stakes, still we hope to make over eight figures

Slim chances, but niggas bet against the odds

And who am I to criticise how you play your cards, dawg?

[Chorus 2: J. Cole]

'Cause I done beat the odds goin' way too hard

I been gettin' slept on for way too long

I been patiently waitin' for way too long

I been quiet, dawg, for way too long

You can't knock the hustle, dawg, it's way too strong

It's way too strong, I said

You can't knock my hustle, dawg, it's way too strong

It's way too strong, look

[Verse 3: J. Cole]

I never admit it, tryna get my brother acquitted

Yo, tell the judge, I be happy to pay him off if he's with it

My flesh and blood, hauled off to the cell, I search for heaven

As I see him gettin' lost in this hell, headed for coffin or jail

To never try is the ultimate fail

But love is wantin' more for someone than they want for themselves, deep

I guess I love a lot, because the more

I do my thang, the more I feel the guilt and shame that my brother's not

Reminisce as we was kids, screamin' "Fuck a cop"

Guess he took it serious, for me, that shit was just for props

Arms too skinny to hug the block

I found comfort in my dreams of things seen on the screen

Of fortune and fame, decisions, decisions, the Porsche or the Range?

I take a trip back to the 'Ville, only corpses remain

Some of them niggas still breathin', but they dead inside

Victims of a genocide, tears fill my eyes, dawg

[Chorus 3: J. Cole]

'Cause I been out of touch, man, for way too long

I been out in Hollywood for way too long

I been gettin' this paper for way too long

I ain't called my pops back in way too long

I done made my girl wait for way too long

I wonder if I changed, am I way too on?

Can't knock my hustle, but it's way too strong

It's way too strong

[Outro: J. Cole]

Cozz & Effect

Dreamville

Cole World

Let me hear that back