Idols

[Intro]
Uh, I think it's time I told my, yeah, huh
I think it's...

[Verse 1]
I think it's time I told my story, not so many know it
No, I ain't come from the gutter, man, nothing heroic
When I was signed, I was seventeen, but way before it
Was just a kid with so many dreams of world touring
But Epic Records, damn, they ain't no joke
I showed the world my X Factor when I was just fourteen
That lil' youngin' tryna get it, you know what I mean
And like my brother Bobby say "Tryna bust on the scene"
I gotta thank L.A. Reid, JT, L-O-G-I-C
For everything you seen in a younger me
But, there's a different reason that I'm thanking you all
Some of y'all were in the right, some in the wrong
L.A. Reid, L.A. Reid, why you even signed me?
When you had no intention to put the label up behind me
Maybe it was trust, maybe it was timing
Or finding myself as an artist instead of what you designed for me
Remember all the times you almost put me out?
Four or five times at the finish line
Talkin' 'bout, "Look, he ain't a star, look, I can tell when he walk
And he don't suck the air out the room every time that he talk" Damn, huh, yeah, that shit was personal
Ain't nothing to do with my talent or my versatility
Or my ability to make music that every single person in this world needs
The fuck do you know?
No disrespect, I take it back
You made a lot of stars who they are, but you don't talk about the ones you passed
Chris Brown, Gaga, even passed on Mr. West
And J.L. 'bout to be on top of that list
But I ain't coming for your neck like that
I'm still grateful and you know I got respect like that
You gave me music education and I just might add
That getting dropped from Epic Records was the best lesson I ever had
It made me greater than I ever was or ever been
Up in my bedroom cooking records 'til I couldn't stand
It's all love, it's all love, now watch me ascend
And if I see you, swear to God I'm gonna shake your hand

[Bridge]
Yeah, ooh, ooh, huh
So this how we gon' be, huh-huh
Yeah, uh, yeah, uh-huh, wait

[Verse 2]
Just little John, working so hard to be an idol
Tryna be just like Justin and Michael
Memorizing every note for piano recital
Teacher would yell at me, telling me I should read my notes
Uh-huh, yeah, I should read my notes
I remember meeting JT way back in my hometown show, was seventeen
In 2013, you was on tour, before you went on, you said to me
"You good, boy, you good
I heard you when you sing
You good, boy, you good
They tell you not to dance
You should, boy, you should, uh
You good, boy, you good"
Yeah, I told him "You're my living idol and I know that it gon' come with the grind, though
Hundred percent in my mind, though
How you be hitting them high notes when you still be dancing on time, though?
Haven't missed a beat, I can't find one
Never could believe how you glide on 'em, wait" (Wait)
We talked about you producing my album, man
From the executive standpoint, we never got the chance
'Cause plans fell through, my deal fell, too
To be honest, the only reason they kept me on was 'cause of you
'Cause you're the validation they needed
Thought I was nothing on my own but with you, they believed it
But even you started to tell me that at some point you need to be the baddest motherfucker in the room, don't conceal it, yeah
Boy, where your confidence at?
You walk up in this room thinking you belong in the back
You think I got to where I am without me leading the pack?
You got more talent in your middle finger than the rest of these cats
Why it don't make sense, no, it don't make sense
How you be walking 'round acting all tongue twisted
'Cause they don't listen, treat you like a lil' kid
But half of it's your fault, you put up with that shit, I wouldn't
I shouldn't, huh, you right, man, I shouldn't
Why am I focusing on the past back when I couldn't
Get out of my own head, so scared what people gonna think
Thank you, brother, for your honest opinion
I ain't seen you in a minute but I know you been winning
Heard you missed a few shows, homie, get well soon
And if you ever need a friend, I'll be there for you, too
I'm out
(And if you ever need a friend, I'll be there for you, too)
I'm out

[Verse 3]
Uh, the biggest thank you of all, Sir Robert Bryson Hall
If you had never called, don't know where I'd have gone
You passed me the baton, showing me the greatness
While all my dreams had already burned down in flames and
My parents told me I should go to college
"You're not that far behind, we can start you in the fall time
And get you a degree, it's gon' be alright
We're so tired of seeing you cry, it's gon' be alright"
Yeah, I always had the perseverance
Since I was a kid, man, I knew that I was fearless
But it's the first time that somebody broke my spirit
Screaming at the top of my lungs, but no one hear it, except you
The older brother that I never had
The only voice of hope when I thought everything was bad
The only one who told me "You can beat this, you can do this, pull through this
Fuck anybody and everybody who said you can't
Now look around, you got the whole world singing like
This is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life
Yeah, I always knew that you would make it when the time's right
Damn, "I used to wonder what it feel like"

[Outro]
Love you, Bobby