[Jay-Z] It's the thought of a ride that make my eyes wide, I'm caught up I'm trying to make, all of my dreams materialize, so I sorta say my goodbyes to the straight and narrow I found a new route, you bout to see my life change I make the means justify the ends, I make the cream materialize keys to a Benz, and so I'm rollin For now, holdin down the fort, who's controllin? The ground's gotta blow em, yep, y'all shoulda told em Uhh, my first felony's approachin, copped my first key Took a freeze, now I'm frozen I bought a black Mac, I'm outta control Losin bankrolls on blackjack, you gotta know it always crossed my mind that Feds be tappin the lines like Gregory Hines Still on the phone discussin my biz like it could never be mines I know the price, know the risk, know the wrongs, and the rights Still my blood flows ice, it's just my life
[Chorus:]
What's the meaning, what's the meaning of life? [scratched \"In my lifetime\"] What's the meaning, what's the meaning of life? [scratched \"In my lifetime\"]
[Jay-Z] I'm like the bass with the ass, splashin cold cash The Big Willie get you chilly when I pass, brrrrrr Is it, just a mirage all these girls thankin God Is this, world my world, am I the star of stars? Baby pimped out, I'm gettin too large and smokin cigars All chicks is hollerin bout chica, the whole city's buzzin wasn't checkin for me a dozen or so, months ago Now I'm all they know, I'm a person Lettin the Cristal's breathe at the Barnacle Bar Under my sleeve, vernacular, 50 G's I'm talkin big cheese, you gotta be down to dig these, uhh Give me a rush like you wouldn't believe, my head's about to bust Acceleratin what drives me, hope I don't gotta die to see, see I can't lie to me I know the price, know the risk, know the wrongs and the rights Still my blood flows ice, it's just my life
[Chorus 2X]
[Jay-Z] Uhh, from the beginning see we never seen the ending Running up in all the women, all the linen, all the jewels, huh We sported Pele's, gold diamonds and Pirelli's Sports cars, the good life'll give you a belly but that's cool as I, zone in the Al Capone, watch me cause the Medusa's head on Versace turned me to stone Now my poems just ain't poems, they bloody, when I recite em Bones get disconnected like the phones Now, I'm a hardened criminal with game Like the Garden, all my penpals life controlled by the warden Still the drill makes me blind to the fact I could do real time, I'm a prisoner, of my crimes Know the price, know the risk, know the wrongs and the rights Now I'm, incarcerate for my life