Jay Z - The Prelude Lyrics:
You know, you`ve got this fantasy in your head about
Gettin` outta the life and settin` the corporate world on its ear
What the f**k you gonna do except hustle?
Besides pimpin`, you really ain`t got the stomach for that
The game`s f**ked up
Ni**a`s beats is bangin`, ni**a, your hooks did it
Your lyrics did and your gangster look did it
So I would write it if y`all could get it
Bein` intricate`ll get you wood
Critic on the Internet, they like, “You should spit it”
I`m like, "You should buy it, ni**a, that`s good business"
Forget this rap s**t, I need a new hustle
A little bit of everything, the new improved Russell
I say that reluctantly `cause I do struggle
As you see, I can`t leave, so I do love you
But I`m just a hustler disguised as a rapper
In fact you can`t fit this hustle inside of a wrapper
Back when crack was what these pills are, I was a real star
Complete with real cars, no video ones
You can come and set up a camera, let the video run
And my real life, complete with real ice
VVS boulders, oh, they`re visibly set
Head and shoulders, my invisible neck
You see Hova wasn`t digital yet
Befo` Steve Jobs made the iPod
Was gettin` head jobs, we call that intimate
Back when rappers wouldn`t dare play lyrical roulette
With a automatic weapon, I was reppin` with a tec
Fresh like Mannie be, chain like anti-freeze
Shoe box full of cash, dealer man, hand me ki`s
Pantries full of Arm & Hammer
Don`t take Nancy Drew to see what it do? I`m a damn G
Just sent a million dollars through a handsfree
That`s big money talk, can you answer me?
Before the answer was a 3
I was down in Georgetown with a Hoya chick, lawyer chick
Sure he`s rich now `cause he saw the s**t, all this s**t
That`s why they call him Hov `cause he came before all this s**t
Bought a 6, quarter seven, skipped on them quarter eights
Bought a 9 for non-stop glock work all the time
Guess who`s back?
Since this is a new era, got a fresh new hat
Ten year veteran, I`ve been set
I`ve been through with this bulls**t game but I never can
I used to think rappin` at 38 was ill
But last year alone I grossed 38 mill`
I know I ain`t quite 38 but still
The flow so special, got a 38 feel
The real is back
Gettin` outta the life and settin` the corporate world on its ear
What the f**k you gonna do except hustle?
Besides pimpin`, you really ain`t got the stomach for that
The game`s f**ked up
Ni**a`s beats is bangin`, ni**a, your hooks did it
Your lyrics did and your gangster look did it
So I would write it if y`all could get it
Bein` intricate`ll get you wood
Critic on the Internet, they like, “You should spit it”
I`m like, "You should buy it, ni**a, that`s good business"
Forget this rap s**t, I need a new hustle
A little bit of everything, the new improved Russell
I say that reluctantly `cause I do struggle
As you see, I can`t leave, so I do love you
But I`m just a hustler disguised as a rapper
In fact you can`t fit this hustle inside of a wrapper
Back when crack was what these pills are, I was a real star
Complete with real cars, no video ones
You can come and set up a camera, let the video run
And my real life, complete with real ice
VVS boulders, oh, they`re visibly set
Head and shoulders, my invisible neck
You see Hova wasn`t digital yet
Befo` Steve Jobs made the iPod
Was gettin` head jobs, we call that intimate
Back when rappers wouldn`t dare play lyrical roulette
With a automatic weapon, I was reppin` with a tec
Fresh like Mannie be, chain like anti-freeze
Shoe box full of cash, dealer man, hand me ki`s
Pantries full of Arm & Hammer
Don`t take Nancy Drew to see what it do? I`m a damn G
Just sent a million dollars through a handsfree
That`s big money talk, can you answer me?
Before the answer was a 3
I was down in Georgetown with a Hoya chick, lawyer chick
Sure he`s rich now `cause he saw the s**t, all this s**t
That`s why they call him Hov `cause he came before all this s**t
Bought a 6, quarter seven, skipped on them quarter eights
Bought a 9 for non-stop glock work all the time
Guess who`s back?
Since this is a new era, got a fresh new hat
Ten year veteran, I`ve been set
I`ve been through with this bulls**t game but I never can
I used to think rappin` at 38 was ill
But last year alone I grossed 38 mill`
I know I ain`t quite 38 but still
The flow so special, got a 38 feel
The real is back