I went from niggaz tellin' me I really shouldn't rhyme   To droppin' a classic album muhfuckers couldn't find   Took my respect, took lessons and took the time   And if you want a success story, just take a look at mine      I was blessed with the right components, so precise   'Cause I write so tight within the moment   And spit like my life depended on it, I target you herbs   On some teleprompter shit, I got you watching your words      Tay rhymes are real life, yours are so 'For instance'   Taxin' these niggaz like no dependents   12 bar courtroom drama with no co-defendants   Don't beat it off, come to your senses, you know, nigga      Hard rock, my block is where you better be from   Top of the line, my team will never settle for crumbs   And he's hated, but still rated 2nd to none   I'm everything you wanna be but have yet to become      It all started back in '99 when time was hard   North Carolina Central but we called it the yard   'Cause niggaz wasn't trying to study abroad   They was trynna study a broad or two ir three up in the dorms      Met my nigga Chaundon and I started to ponder   "Fuck this, I'mma quit the football team tomorrow"   Did shows around town and word got around that battling Tay   Was like yelling 'spic' in Tijuana      Build my rep up, that's when Pooh and 9th stepped up   9th was old school, Pooh was young and playing catch-up   Cool, 'cause he could still rock an instrumental   Our first joints, yeah they was wack      But niggaz could hear potential in 'em   Honing our skills for survival, hustling   Our flyers passed out like mamma at revival   The real deal on how I repped my peeps   You ain't goin' find this in no press release      Hard rock, my block is where you better be from   Top of the line, my team will never settle for crumbs   And he's hated, but still rated 2nd to none   I'm everything you wanna be but have yet to become      And he's shook   That's what your team is telling me, son   Still hated, but still rated 2nd to none   And Greensboro 'cause that's the only 'boro I'm from   I'm everything you wanna be, but have yet to become