MIDDLE CHILD (J. Cole Cover)

[Chorus]
I just poured somethin' in my cup
I’ve been wantin' somethin' I can feel
Promise I am never lettin’ up
Money in your palm don't make you real
Foot is on they neck, I got 'em stuck
I'mma give 'em somethin' they can feel
If it ain't 'bout the squad, I don’t care at all
Pistol in your hand don’t make you real

[Verse 1]
I'm thanking you now
Was watching you when you was paving the ground
I copied your cadence, I mirrored your style
I studied the greats, I’m the greatest right now
Don't care if you feel me, you ain't got a choice
I ain't do no promo, still made all that noise
This year gon’ be different, I set my intentions
I promise to slap all that hate out your voice

[Refrain]
'Cause they've been countin' me out, I'm countin' my bullets, I'm loadin' my clips
I'm writin' down names, I'm makin' a list, I'm checkin' it twice and I'm gettin' 'em hit
The real ones been dyin', the fake ones is lit, the game is off balance, I'm back on my-
The Bentley is dirty, my sneakers is dirty, that's how I like it

[Chorus]
I just poured somethin' in my cup
I've been wantin' somethin' I can feel
Promise I am never lettin' up
Money in your palm don't make you real
Foot is on they neck, I got 'em stuck
I'mma give 'em somethin' they can feel
If it ain't 'bout the squad, I don't care at all
Pistol in your hand don't make you real

[Bridge]
Pistol in your hand don't make you real
Pistol in your hand don't make you real
Pistol in your hand don't make you real, aye, aye

[Verse 2]
Cycle of jail, spending they birthdays inside of a cell
We coming from a long bloodline of trauma, we raised by our mamas, Lord, we gotta heal
We hurting our sisters, the babies as well, we killing our brothers, they poisoned the well
Distorted self-image, we set up to fail, I'mma make sure that the real gon' prevail

[Refrain]
'Cause they've been countin' me out, I'm countin' my bullets, I'm loadin' my clips
I'm writin' down names, I'm makin' a list, I'm checkin' it twice and I'm gettin' 'em hit
The real ones been dyin', the fake ones is lit, the game is off balance, I'm back on my-
The Bentley is dirty, my sneakers is dirty, that's how I like it

[Outro]
I just poured somethin' in my cup
I've been wantin' somethin' I can feel
Promise I am never lettin' up
Money in your palm don't make you real