Dave, whattup man? It's me Just callin' to see, if possible, if you have any time today Or within the next couple of days If, if, you're in the studio or if you're at home or car, whatever That song, that, it's called trying or something Mase was tellin' me that I needed to hear? He said it was amazing The way he was talkin', man, I wanna hear it Am I just another lost in the pack? We for shack ship, you know laugh it off Years just blow by My eyes stay fixed but the picture's kinda outta focus I cry a lot but admit to it Enjoyin' life now but I've been through it Sometimes I wish that I can go back No bills, no kids, just getting tore back I want a wife, I love women How could I front like I don't be in love wit 'em? A li'l man that I can teach A li'l sand but not the beach I figure excess'll only bring An excessive amount of fussin' So when I'm gone, make sure The head stone reads, 'He did it for us' I'm like your modern day Jesus I cherish warm thoughts like a gray goose And float soft kisses to my baby (Yo ain't that Dave's little girl?) Yeah, respect her for that She gon' be somebody instead of somebody-baby-mama You see young minds are now made of armor I'm tryin' to pop a hole in your Yankee cap absorb me The skies over your head ain't safe no more And Hip Hop ain't your own And if it is then you fuckin' up the crib son You make life look like I don't wanna live one You might as well hold your breath until you die In a corner somewhere bent over in the crevice This God theory overcomes the worst of weathers As long as you willin' to try, you on a good start, homie You on a good start, see nigga tryin' People are you ready? Yes, we're ready Are you really ready? We wanna be ready Ready for the change that may approach you? Yes Follow down the path that you supposed to? Yes People are you ready? Yes, we're ready Are you really ready to try? We wanna try harder You know mistakes are trials that we learn from? Yes I order to live life, you must earn one? Yes People are you ready? Throughout my change to grow Some of my people got left behind They didn't listen for the gun As I leaped from off the line Thirteen years deep In this marathon I'm runnin' Paid dues and still got bills to pay When I came back around the way Old friends gave me dead eyes And fake smiles, half wide We were supposed to rid the world of danger These days we nod heads and small talk like polite strangers It's natural to fall off Just land close to the tree I'll be there if they need me to be And I know all my local shorties 'Cuz they all know who I am And lately wanna flip grammar instead of grams Like that's the only choice they got They tell me how they gonna shake up the game But came to me to see if I could give 'em guidance for change Shit y'all, I need guidance myself And I chisel right words to make gems Got fans around the world but my girl's no one of 'em And my relationship's a big question 'Cuz my career's a clear hindrance to her progression Said she needs a man and our kids need a father I'm not at all ready to hear her say don't bother And break And this I know I can't take But C. Smith said to hold on My brother Luck said to hold on My nigga Dave said to hold on My nigga Mase said to hold on Yo, Maseo, we need to hold on Eh, yo, y'all we need to hold on People are you ready? Yes, we're ready Well, what you wanna be? We wanna be ready Do you wanna lose hate for love? Yes Do you wanna see these gates above? Yes I said people are you ready? Yes, we're ready But are you willing to try? We wanna try harder Do you really wanna carry some weight? Yes Are you ready to design your fate? Yes Yo, people are you ready? Yes, we're ready Well, what you wanna be? We wanna be ready Operation complete Preparing for installment three