Appreciation

[Verse One]
The stress got my mind racin'
It's testin' my patience
I guess that I'm anxious
To see if I can justify greatness
And prove once and for all to y'all that I'm talented
But family life can dissolve so I trying to balance it
Speaking on the road can take a toll on your soul
The distance might cause an emotional overload
So you gotta have a strong fam and solid foundation
I love the music but I need dollars for down payments
Not that I'm outrageous 'bout the wages or the funds
But wait a minute, I ain't standin' on the stage for fun
The day that I become a star is less than a 100 bars away
Forget the startin' pay
I want to be a legend, similar to Marvin Gaye
And "Supastition did his thing" is all y'all can say
So walk this way
With me through the walks of life
And we can, talk a price if the offers right
It's alright y'all

[Hook] {x2}
For all my hard work and dedication
I just want to be appreciated
I just want to be appreciated
Or maybe compensated for the years and the days spent

[Verse Two]
I try to imagine, without music, where would I be?
Stuck in a jail cell and none of y'all would care that I breathe
Since the age of nine I've been fillin' paper with rhymes
Remain dedicated when this dream was takin' it's time
Had the support of my grandparents from the day I started
Until the dying day that they departed so it's hard for me regardless
They knew they grandchild was an artist
And there was not a second thought or argument at all
So y'all can get involved, talk or just call me bitter
But I ain't tryin' to volleyball back and forth with niggas
Critics get it twisted like I care about opinions from a stranger
They think they know the key to make you famous
My aim is to push my name to a larger audience
And be applauded for my rap skills, I work hard at it
My market on my target is to be appreciated
And teach a life lesson through my CD when you play it

[Hook]

[Verse Three]
Now in a peaceful manner, I keep throwin' these poems at you
But I keep chips on my shoulder like a stone statue
That's why I don't be fuckin' with these rap dudes
God forbid if you get a deal and they don't, here comes the attitude
Mad at you because they felt you blew overnight
And now you frontin' cause you don't come to the open mics
Nigga please, I done had it with MCs
Talkin' backwards {words in reverse}, man please
Find a hobby or a job and keep rhymin' for your squad
You probably in awe but it's obviously a prob
You can't believe I overcame the everyday odds
And made through the pain in the same vein as Mary J Blige
I'm raising the bar like I'm supposed to
I'm close to going postal on some of these old locals
My time to shine is so long overdue
That's old news
Plus the song is over too

[Hook]