Hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      You need a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      First up, it's important that you keep your shit original   Try and keep that copycat shit to a minimal   People want something that they never heard before   If it's been done leave it, they don't wanna hear no more   Secondly, here's another clever thing that you can do   Find yourself a good manager who's really got a clue   'Cause there's so many to choose from, they all look the part   But it's difficult to come across the ones that's really smart   And can stand firm and steady when the label's talking shit, will respect it, keeps it gangsta, but does everything legit   And dependable, you can trust to handle your biz, and can really make you sure of what the situation is   Next up, find a record label that ain't full of pricks   One that lets you breathe artistically but makes you come with hits   Congratulations now you've got your deal you're set to go   Lemme fill you in on just a couple things you need to know      You need a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      You need a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      Next up change your number, change your phone and change your chip   'Cause there's gonna be a lot of people ringing talking shit   Whether bredrens wanting money 'cause now suddenly you're rich   Or some dumb hating fassies trying to take you for a bitch   Yeah I know it's minor and you can handle it, it's nothing, but eventually you're really gonna wanna do something   And that's counter-productive, beefing over bullshit   You can never stop those dumb bredrens trying to bullshit      Plus you're in the limelight, well-paid verbalist, which leads me onto my next subject; journalists   These are the people that could put your name about   So be careful what you're saying when you're talking out your mouth   And avoid being ignorant, tone down the thug-shit   Come to interviews buzzing - tone down the drug shit   Keep your eye on the ball, mind on the job, and before you know you'll have the whole world on your knob      You need a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      You need a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      Here's something that I shoulda stressed early on, don't go spending all your money till it's gone   'Cause the tax man's gonna want his paper when it's due and there's nobody above the tax man especially you   And another thing, buy your house before you buy your car   Don't tell no-one where you are, even better if you're far   Everybody knows you're gangsta and that Porsche looks great but do you really want it sitting on that council estate?   Differently, watch where you choose to socialise   Keep an eye out for trouble, watch for devils in disguise   Please don't be fooled by no pretty females, play it safe   Never let 'em know your full details   I ain't saying be para', I'm just saying be sure   You can never know if that bitch will be bragging what she saw   And aside from making money keep loving what you do   I ain't saying nothing more because the rest is up to you      I got a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling      You need a hardback, stern face   Play your position and know your place   Only move when the money's calling   Take my advice you'll be balling