Paid Dues

Eightball & MJG

featuring Cee Lo




Intro (Eightball)




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



then hopped to a muthafuckin grasshopper



Nigga my life would have been done got cut off...



If my dues weren't paid.




Chorus (Cee Lo)




It's ah skinnin lines between wrong and right



Trapped in a trap til the mornin light



Ghetto ain't left me no choices, I had to fight



My momma and daddy was too young to raise me right.



Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made



Niggas dead, niggas gone, I still ain't afraid.



Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played



My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid.




MJG




In the middle of doin crime (Uggh), it never stopped me from writin rhymes



It never stopped me from playin music,



God, but it didn't mean I had to use it



It was obvious, I had to give up the streets - for the beats



Not knowin, but havin 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, "Hey, played that instrumental, you cat's got potential."



In the process of doing talent shows, parties, and mix tapes



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 can make it in this rap, I thought that they ain't go see me in Memphis



It was like a time they looked over Tennesseee,



and didn't know Hip-Hop was in us.



To all my vets in the game, I got love, stay on your toes