Paid Dues

Lyrics

[Intro: 8Ball] Yeah, yeah Space Age forever Niggas and hoes better recognize Eightball & MJG Been ten toes down in this game Since we were two young playas in a one horse town Knee-high to a muthafuckin' grasshopper, you knowl'm talkin' 'bout? Nigga, my lights would have been done got cut off If my dues weren't paid [Chorus: Cee-Lo Green] It's a skinny line between wrong and right Trapped in the trap 'til the morning light Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight My mom and dad was too young to raise me right Maybe I've been made a man by all the mistakes I've made Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid Ain't too grown to get back on the ghetto games I played My life would've been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid, uh-huh [Verse 1: MJG] In the middle of doin' crime (Ugh) It never stopped me from writin' rhymes It never stopped me from playin' music God put it in me, I had to use it It was obvious, I had to give up the streets for the beats Not knowin', but having faith on just how long that it would be Before I made it Before somebody picked up my tape and played it With a remark like, "Aye... play that instrumental, cat's got potential" In the process of doing talent shows, parties, and mixtapes We even put it down on some of our homeboys' jail release dates I can remember, in the past, closin' down at fast foods Strictly stickin to my dreams, but feelin' like I'd be the last dude Who could make it in this rap I thought that they ain't gon' see me in Memphis It was like a time they looked over Tennessee And didn't know Hip-Hop was in it To all my vets in the game – I got love, stay on your toes Cause back in the days, I use to use your 4-5 instrumentals to do my shows And look, I was 17, when I signed my first contract And about 18 and a half when I signed my worst contract We hurt from that And 'til this day, they still distribute our first tape Before Comin' Out Hard, now can you feel it? Be humble and patient with whatever you should choose 'Cause to get it to where I am right now, I done paid my dues [Chorus: Cee-Lo Green] It's a skinny line between wrong and right Trapped in the trap 'til the morning light Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight My mom and dad was too young to raise me right Maybe I've been made a man by all the mistakes I've made Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid Ain't too grown to get back on the ghetto games I played My life would've been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid, uh-huh [Verse 2: 8Ball] A C-note for a concert, I know that sounds preposterous Nigga, we didn't have a pot to piss So we got on stage and we rocked the bitch Fuck the cheese, I love to see my niggas in the front row Get buckwild, start a fight, the police make a nigga stop the show Niggas all in the parkin' lot, bustin' shots, fuckin' with hoes Box Chevy with the Spokes and Vogues Niggas didn't know shit 'bout a 20 inch Mo-Mo Hardheaded young nigga, don't believe that shit 'til I see that shit See them heavyweight niggas, one day, I'm gonna be that shit Okay, everybody know everybody done sold dope,  Ran with a gang, pimped some hoes, and snorted a little coke But, uhh – I'm Space Age-ing And will forever be Eightball the Fat Mac, and M.J. fuckin' G.  Turn the page, from then to now, and we still grindin' Small clubs and small towns, if they bouncin', we find them Put them on the guest list Make them pump their fist and get buck to this Make one of them weed smokin' gangsta bitches get fucked to this Expand, give all my true fans what they demand Do my part again and, uhh... come out hard again, and uhh.. Keep Space Age-in' And we'll forever be Eightball the Fat Mac, and M.J. fuckin' G.  [Chorus: Cee-Lo Green] It's a skinny line between wrong and right Trapped in the trap 'til the morning light Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight My mom and dad was too young to raise me right Maybe I've been made a man by all the mistakes I've made Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid Ain't too grown to get back on the ghetto games I played My life would've been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid, uh-huhhh