Paid Dues - Steven Cooper

Yeah

It took a long time

To get to it

To a good spot

But I weren't where I need to be

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

Ever since I wrote it trying to get up on it

Can't touch this with a ten foot pole

To all my opponents people have voted

Next one up this elections closed

I'm so bold this I know

I don't need jewelry to prove that I'm cold

Ya'll just go wherever the wind blows

Talking 'bout each other

So we never leave the door

That's okay it's alright now

I back here to shine a different light now

Ya'll stay clear 'cause this one's bright now

It's my year I can hear that hype now

I never did understand it

Why another hater when we so demanded

Thinking I don't see 'em but I catch 'em candid

Thinking they rough but they just got sanded

Ya'll kept on pushing

And pulling me now I'm fed up

Not one for groupies but

This competitions got her leg up

And now it's my time to shine

I'm passing my rhymes while you passing time

I don't really care that I'm last in line

'Cause the last shall be first

And I'm first to be live

I might be small but

I'll crawl and pull my weight

You can see me how you see me until

Your pupils dilate

There ain't no faking it

10 years 'till I started making it

Say money don't grow on trees

But if it did I'd be there shaking it

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

It took me a minute but I

Came back on the track they love my

Quick style but I can't sleep now

Ticking even quicker

To the max no shut eye

Now it's time to spread like butter

You can say you hate it but there ain't no other

Who's laughing now that I shut it all down

I was born to do it you can blame my mother

Now can't you see they hate but it's jealousy

I was writing raps just like them when I was 16

16 ya'll no need for me to prove it

'Cause it's in the pudding

Bringing back the music to the way it should be

You can stand against it but you've got no footing

So if they constantly hate it better go and warn 'em

I've got so many bars other rappers

Think that I'm a warden

Off in the corner with their fingers pointing

Thinking I don't see 'em but just wait 'till morning

Dawn of the day I'ma spring up from the underground

Left the whole industry tired of the run around

Bet you hear my name when I come around

Bet you feel my reign when the thunder sounds

I can hang with you or the next

It's true then I guess

I'm the best that you never found

Not one to listen to hatred but man I feel it

I'm not violent but I'll write another verse

Just to kill it

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

10 whole years

Finally breaking through

Nobody gets a handout

You've gotta pay your dues

It's been a long while but I just getting started