Real (featuring Anna Wise) [Prod. by Terrace Martin]
[Hook:] I do what I wanna do I say what I wanna say When I feel, and I... Look in the mirror and know I'm there With my hands in the air I'm proud to say yea I'm real, I'm real, I'm really really real [x4]
[Verse 1:] I promise that I know you very well Your eyes never lie even if they tell Sweet lullabies that come with a smell Of a dozen roses flippin' down the green hill You living in a world that come with plan B Cause plan A never relay a guarantee And plan C never could say just what it was And your plans only can pan around love You love him, you love them, you love her You love so much, you love when love hurts You love red-bottom and gold they say queen You love hand-bag on the waist of your jean You love french tip and trip that pay for You love bank slip that tell you we paid more You love a good hand whenever the card dealt But what love got to do with it when you don't love yourself
[Hook]
[Verse 2:] I promise that I know you very well Your eyes never lie even if they fell Out the sky and your optics? turn stale Where they mow that's green I can see you fit the bill Of living in a world that come with Plan B Cause Plan A only can make another mistake And you can't see success coming from plan C When it all breaks you, you still say you love me And love them and love when you love her You love so much, you love when love hurts You love fast cars and their present is old You love fast women You love keepin' control Of everything you love, you love beef You love streets, you love runnin', duckin' police You love your hood, might even love it to death But what love got to do with it when you don't love yourself?
[Hook]
[Verse 3:] The reason why I know you very well Cause we have the same eyes can't you tell The days I tried to cover up and conceal My pride, it only made it harder for me to deal When living in a world that come with plan B A scapegoat cause plan A don't come for free And plan C just an excuse like because Or the word "but", but what if I got love I love them, I love when I love her I love so much, I love when love hurts I love first verse cause you're the girl I attract I love second verse cause your the homie they packed Burning like a stove top, they love cooking from scratch I love what the both of you have to offer In fact, I love it so much I don't love anything else But what love got to do with it when I don't love myself To the point I should hate everything I do love Should I hate living my life inside the club Should I hate her for watching me for that reason Should I hate him for telling me that I'm season Should I hate them for telling me ball out Should I hate street credibility I'm talkin' about Hatin' all money, power, respect in my will I'm hatin' the fact that none of that shit make me real
[Skit 1:] "... I ain't trippin' off that Dominos anymore, just calling, sorry to hear what happen to your homeboy, but don't learn the hard way like I did homie". "Any nigga can kill a man, that don't make you a real nigga". "Realness is responsibility, realness is taking care of your motherfucking family, realness is god, nigga"
[Hook]
[Skit 2:] "Alright that's all I wanted to tell you, just make sure you call us back when you get this message. Here go your mom."
"Boy you better have my jawn on full all this time you done had my damn car, but look I ain't tripping. Look, the neighbors say they seen you and your little friends over there by the food for less, and they was preaching to you over there telling you about the good book because right about now that's what ya'll need. Oh, and Top Dawg called the house too. I guess they want you and Dave to come to the studio. But look, you take this music business serious, and put out something me and your dad can step to. Shit, you know we from Chicago you know that's what we do."
[Bridge:] Sing my song, it's all for you [x16]
[Skit 2 Continued:] "If I don't hear from you, by tomorrow... I hope you come back, and learn from your mistakes. Come back a man, tell your story to these black and brown kids in Compton. Let 'em know you was just like them, but you still rose from that dark place of violence, becoming a positive person. But when you do make it, give back, with your words of encouragement, and that's the best way to give back. To your city... And I love you Kendrick, if I don't hear you knocking on the door you know where I usually leave the key. Alright? talk to you later, bye."
[Sound of a cassette tape being stopped and fast forwarded.]