[Pharrell] Yeah 3 in the morning on the Westside highway, top down baby, fuck y'all The motivation for me was them telling me what I couldn't be, oh well
[Jay-Z] This a special dedication I wanna thank you for the fuel No really thank you
[Verse 1 - Jay-Z] I felt so inspired by what my teacher said Said I'd either be dead or be a reefer head Now sure if thats how adults should speak to kids Especially when the only thing I did was speak in class I'll teach his ass, even betters what my uncle did I pop my demo tape in start to beat my head Peaked out my eye, see if he was beating his He might as well say beat it kid, he's on the list It's like I'm searching for kicks like a sneaker head He gon keep pushing me until I reach the ledge And when I reach the ledge I'll tell em all to eat a dick Take a leap of faith and let my eagle wings spread Spread spread
[Hook - Pharrell] Motivation for me was them telling me what I could not be, oh well I'm so ambitious I might hit two sisters Hey I'm on a mission No matter what the conditions Forget the personal issues When you been what I been through Hey if you believe it Then you could conceive it
[Verse 2 - Jay-Z] I had to lace up my boots even harder Father is too far away to father Further-more all the kids either smoke reefer Or either move white, there's few writers in my cypher So they made light of, my type of Dreams seem dumb, they said wise up How many guys-a, you see makin it from here The world don't like us, is that not clear? Alright but I'm different, I can't base what I'm gon' be Offa what everybody isn't, they don't listen Just whisperin behind my back No vision, lack of ambition, so whack!
[Hook]
[Verse 3 - Jay-Z] Had a couple of meetings no offers yet Maybe I ain't good enough for these offices Back to the drawing board ducking officers It's all good cause the streets is A&R'ing this So with or without any of your involvement Coming for all of this, respect my conglomerate I went from pauper to the President Every deal I made set precedent Niggas thought I'd fall without old buddy Oh buddy, what I do is make more money Dear Teacher, your probably somewhere near a speaker I'm ballin' outta control, can you hear my sneakers Fuck y'all
[Hook]
[Outro] You see, the motivation for me Was them telling me what I could not be