[Hook] Did you realize That you were a champion in their eyes? Yes I did So I packed it up and brought it back to the crib Just a little something, show you how we live Everybody want it but it ain't that serious Mhm, that's that shit So if you gon' do it, do it just like this
[Hook]
[Verse 1] You don't see just how wild the crowd is You don't see just how fly my style is I don't see why I need a stylist When I shop so much I can speak Italian I don't know I just want it better for my kids And I ain't saying we was from the projects But every time I wanna layaway or deposit My dad'd say "when you see clothes, close your eyelids" We was sort of like Will Smith and his son In the movie -- I ain't talking 'bout the rich ones Cause every summer He'll get some brand new harebrained scheme to get rich from And I don't know what he did for dough But he'll send me back to school with a new wardrobe
[Hook]
[Verse 2] When it feel like living's harder than dying For me giving up's way harder than trying Lauryn Hill said her heart was in Zion I wish her heart still was in rhyming Cause who the kids gon' listen to, huh? I guess me if it isn't you Last week I paid a visit to the Institute They got the Dropout keeping kids in the school I guess I cleaned up my act like Prince'd do If not for pleasure, then at least for the principle They got the CD, they got to see me Drop gems like I dropped out of PE They used to feel invisible Now they know they invincible
[Hook]
[Bridge] This is the story of a champion Runners on their mark and they pop their guns Stand up stand up here he comes Tell me what it takes to be number 1 Tell me what it takes to be number 1