If I Knew Then

[Intro]
Yo
I need to let it off my chest and into your ears
Smiler
Elementary '010
Do you feel how I feel?

[Verse 1]
Young and ambitious, look at my fam, this is
The reason why the game's on its knees, I stand vicious
True to my word, the Lord's been acknowledgin' my journey
So he's grantin' mine before another man's wishes
Stride after stride (Uh), mile after metre (Yeah)
Sins have been forgiven, why should I harbour either? (Why should I?)
Still I need to cut stress
Surrounded by some niggas who would love to see me fail
But also love to share my success
Livin' in the hood still, mentality fucked
Breddas are breddin' me but still scheme on havin' me sucked
My thoughts are eerie cah I came from minus to renovatin' yards
Buyin' leases, ice pieces, flossin' in designers
I can't make niggas be happy for me, but why hate?
We had the same opportunities, look at your mind state
Listen to all, speak to few, this is all from me to you
Keep it real 'til I'm buried, this is all he can do

[Chorus]
If I knew then what I know now, would it be different?
The streets raised me from I was a infant
I've learned to trust my intuition
And from a close-up, shit is quite the opposite to how it looks from a distance
If I knew then what I know now, would it be different?
The streets raised me from I was a infant
I've learned to trust my intuition
And from a close-up, shit is quite the opposite to how it looks from a distance

[Verse 2]
Been OT from the beginnin', gram after parcel (Uh-huh)
Slangin' out, bringin' home sand for my castle
They're gonna spoil who's dream? New soil, new cream
'02 to '09, loyal to my routine
Felt like I was missin' out, my team ballin', ravin'
Invites, Smiler declinin' cah fiends callin', cravin'
Focused on my long-term while brehs was on a long ting
Born a prince, came from strong sperm from a strong king
Cheese came and went for them, beef came, my temperament
Had me knockin' breddas out, racists, I'll see the pen for them
I'm lyin', fuck the prison, all the shit I sacrificed to make it
I don't think that I could ever walk the length again
Feels like yesterday
Spillin' out a hundred grand cash onto my bedsheets and swimmin' in the money
That was four years ago and I been on the rise since
I don't wanna see my past, not even a slight glimpse

[Chorus]
If I knew then what I know now, would it be different?
The streets raised me from I was a infant
I've learned to trust my intuition
And from a close-up, shit is quite the opposite to how it looks from a distance
If I knew then what I know now, would it be different?
The streets raised me from I was a infant
I've learned to trust my intuition
And from a close-up, shit is quite the opposite to how it looks from a distance

[Verse 3]
Picture this, a strong unit torn, apparently years comin'
Givin' comfort to mum while her tears runnin'
How can I mediate what I was made from? It's larger than me
I couldn't even take sides, my dad has really been a father to me
Forced into manhood, grew up overnight
You taught me and now I stand good, you was over-right
The world's my oyster, through experience, I seen and done loads
I been piecin' the puzzles up and seen them unfold
Pops, I seen your health diminish, diabetes, blood pressure
Strugglin' to function, that don't mean I love you lesser
You know you're in my heart, when you was diagnosed with cancer
I broke down quietly, still I had to stand up
Wires in your nose, catheters
Clothes are baggy after weight loss
Jeans draggin', hangin' in your robe
Pumps for your asthma, it's nuts for me to deal with
So, I can't imagine what you're goin' through, I feel if
There's somethin' on my mind, it's only right to ask it
How long has it been goin' on? How long you had to mask it?
Lastly, if I'd of asked when I was young, would you of told me?
Or held back 'cause I wasn't old enough to grasp it?
Unless they waked the distance or fought with persistence
Maintain, I ain't to be judged, real as the ink between my shoulder blade
Grant me somethin', Lord, if it's my last wish
To see my fam comfortable, before I hit my casket