“SO MUCH CHANGED” is the first single off APT 6E, a collaborative album between Harlem rapper Dave East & producer duo Mike & Keys.
The beat is a slightly trappy rework of 2Pac’s “Pain” (1994), which itself is built around a sample of “Living Inside Your Love” (1976) by Earl Klugh.
[Intro]
Mike & Keys
[Verse 1: Dave East]
They'll never take me alive
From where the skinny niggas slide (Uh)
Songs with Mary J. Blige
Seen 'em die over they pride (Uh)
I could never confide (Never)
In authority, not the kind
Me and Ro was just buildin'
That's my ahk, but he call me "Slime," hey
Had to get out and grind
Watch family cross the line (Uh)
I could never co-sign
Your name on that dotted line (I can't)
Every time I got bail
Momma would tell me, "Be calm"
I was destined to fail, but the Lord allowed me to shine (Shine)
We was low the 'jects, you seen what happened? Nevermind
Now they throwin' me sex, I'm like a tree they tryna climb (Oww)
Niggas knew I was next
You resemble rats and pigs, a cobra at best (Snake)
Send your driver with a wig, go on and chauffeur your death (Boom)
Sometimes I get in my feelings, I think no one is left (No one), it feel like everyone gone (Everybody)
Aunt Barbara told me I was right, and everyone wrong (Barb')
Back when Chet was in the Navy, Halle Berry was on (Uh)
Brian left, I seen my pops cry, dead in his arms
2008, Barbara left, thought I would never move on (Never)
Life's crazy, memories buried, some of them clear
Pops raised me (Uh), so did the block, nothin' I fear
I'm Swayze (I'm Swayze, nigga)
The ghosts of these niggas lookin' for Demi Moore (Come on)
The Henny poured when the brodie died, then we did some more (Some more)
Death over designer, died with his Fendi on
I hate rats, I don't like when my daughter put Mickey on (I hate it)
[Chorus: Stacy Barthe & Dave East]
Ah-oh, oh-ah
Ah-oh, oh-ah
Ah-oh, oh-ah
Ah-oh, oh-ah (Oh, uh)
[Verse 2: Dave East]
They got me mobbin' like I'm low and ready to get my slug on (Ah)
I load my clip and slip my motherfuckin' gloves on
I ain't scared like the last nigga if they test me (Not me)
Trust, niggas never wanna discuss the way they left me (Nah)
Dust, I left them motherfuckers while I'm smashed (Skrrt)
Ramadan is on my mind, don't need no problems fast (Inshallah)
Mafioso like the Genovese (Uh)
Came up from nothin', niggas never gave me anything (Nah)
Don't talk about it, I get mad
Lord done blessed me with this paper (Blessed me)
Had to be the way I am, it's in my nature (It's in my nature)
I know these niggas wanna stop the way I eat (Uh-huh)
I'm real, I cannot sleep and everyday is just a struggle
Got to hustle just to breathe and I been
Ballin' low, don't let 'em tell you
Devil will fail you, you get in touch with Allah, you might get help
We raisin' Hell
A nigga from the gutter, word to mother, we rough
Police (Uh), they cuff us, we don't give a fuck
Still on the scene 'cause I love the green (Still, I love it)
Until they kill me, I'll be livin' this life
I know you feel me, so much change (So much)
[Outro: Kurupt & Stacy Barthe]
We been smashin' on these niggas, nigga, that's what we do
Fuck
(So much to change, ah-oh)
We keep pushin' that line
(So much to change, ah-oh)
You know I'm sayin'? Yeah
So much to change, things ain't the same, man
It ain't like back in the days
(So much to change, ah-oh)
Back in the days, we pushed a different life
We lived by the code
You see what I'm sayin', man? You know
I was tellin' a lil' homie the other day, I was like "What do you— wha-what do you wanna do when you grow up, nigga?"
He said, "I wanna be like you, Kurupt"
I said, "You don't wanna be like me, nigga. Be ya own man. Stand on ya own ten toes. You dig what I'm sayin'?"
SO MUCH CHANGED was written by Dave East & Stacy Barthe & Mike & Keys & Kurupt.
SO MUCH CHANGED was produced by Mike & Keys & Phonix Beats.
Dave East released SO MUCH CHANGED on Fri May 03 2024.