PAID MY DUES

Clicks, clicks, clicks, they'll do anything to get a few
Tick, tick, tick, that's the sound before my head explodes
Quit, quit, quit, look at you up on your pedestals
Quick, quick, quick, here the critics come, it's time to go
I read your article, it kind of hurt me
I don't know who hired you or what your friends say in your circle
But the fact that you released it tells me two things are for certain
They get paid for trashin' people, I get paid 'cause I stay workin'
Dropped The Search and they emerge up out of nowhere to the surface
Just to peek behind the curtain, throwin' salt at all my burdens
I'm aware I shouldn't give this my attention, life's a journey
I should just stay on my path and learn to laugh, you think they heard me?
Ears are burning, put 'em out, quiet, quiet, look around
Why don't they find someone way more interesting to write about?
Us we're kinda boring, aren't we? All we do is whine and pout
It's confusing, so amusing how I argue with myself—hello!

I spit it with ease, so leave it to me
You doubt it but you better believe
I'm on a rampage hit 'em with the record release
Dependin' the week, I'm prolly gonna have to achieve
Another goal, let me go when I'm over the beat
I go into beast mode, like I'm ready to feast
I'm fed up with these thieves, tryna get me to bleed
They wanna see me take an L? Yup, see what I mean?
How many records I gotta give you to get with the program?
Taken for granted, I'm 'bout to give you the whole plan
Open your mind up and take a look at the blueprint
Debate if you gotta, but gotta hold it with both hands
To pick up the bars, you gotta be smart
You really gotta dig in your heart
If you wanna get to the root of an issue
Pursuin' the mental can be dark and be difficult
But the pay off at the end of it can help you to get through it, hey

Paid my dues, made it through
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Spread the news, I'm on the loose
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Makin' moves, I need some room
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Thought we's cool
Well, don't assume, don't assume, hey

I'm the truth
Oh, they want some proof? Here, don't be rude
Somethin' new
Even when I lose I make it look cool
Do the show
Then we hit the room, wife is lookin', oh
What to do?
I don't need the shades up to like the view
Yeah! It's time to get back in the swing of things
When my life crashes, I'm not the guy that'll flee the scene
I'll take ownership and own it and raise my hand if it's me
Just remember though, I'm only a man, I'm a human being
Don't they see? Shoot the breeze, I'd rather just stay discrete
People claim they're in your corner, but leave you in times of need
They don't listen, do they? (What?) They don't listen to anything
I'll accept advice if it's not presented ignorantly
Look! Costs are high, they multiply, then cause divides
I'm forced to fight the poison I been
Sippin' on has quite the bite, it killed me twice
They rigged the lights so y'all can see the parts of mine
That aren't so bright, see, often I apologize
Then authorize the awful times to pop up (Nate)
Like I'm right behind you, I'd advise you not to try to
Climb inside the mind like I do
Keep the rhyme book, expedite it, overnight it
Hold it tight and hope that time is on my side
'Cause if it's not then I'll decide to override
My own demise, I tow the line too close and I
Could improvise, I'd empathize but recognize
The fact that I could jeopardize and wreck your lives
You better give me your attention, the undivided

Paid my dues, made it through
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Spread the news, I'm on the loose
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Makin' moves, I need some room
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Thought we's cool
Well, don't assume, don't assume, hey
Paid my dues, made it through
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Spread the news, I'm on the loose
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Makin' moves, I need some room
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Thought we's cool
Well, don't assume, don't assume, hey