Dave, what up, man? It's me, um
Just callin' to see, if possible
If you have any time today or within the next couple of days
If, if, you're in the studio or if you're at home or car, whatever
That song that it's called "Trying" or something
Mase was tellin me that I needed to hear?
He said it was amazing
Woo, the way he was talkin', man, I want to hear it

Am I just another lost in the pack?
We for shack ship, you know laugh it off
Years just blow by
My eyes stay fixed but the picture's kinda outta focus
I cry a lot but admit to it
Enjoyin' life now but I've been through it
Sometimes I wish that I can go back
No bills, no kids, just getting tore back
I want a wife, I love women
How could I front like I don't be in love wit' 'em?
A lil man that I can teach, a lil sand but not the beach
I figure excess'll only bring an excessive amount of fussin'
So when I'm gone, make sure the head stone reads, 'He did it for us'
I'm like your modern day Jesus
I cherish warm thoughts like a gray goose
And float soft kisses to my baby (Yo, ain't that Dave's little girl?)
Yeah, respect her for that, she gon' be somebody
Instead of somebody baby mama
You see young minds are now made of armor
I'm tryi,' to pop a hole in your Yankee cap, absorb me
The skies over your head ain't safe no more
And Hip Hop ain't your home
And if it is then you fuckin up the crib son
You make life look like I don't want to live one
You might as well hold your breath until you die
In a corner somewhere, bent over in the crevice
This God Theory overcomes the worst of weathers
As long as you willin' to try, you on a good start, homie
You on a good start, see nigga tryin'

People are you ready?
(Yes, we're ready)
Are you really ready?
(We want to be ready)
Ready for the change that may approach you?
Follow down the path that you supposed to? (Yes)
People are you ready?
(Yes, we're ready)
Are you really ready to try?
We want to try harder
You know mistakes are trials that we learn from? (Yes)
I order to live life, you must earn one? (Yes)
People are you ready?

Throughout my change to grow, some of my people got left behind
They didn't listen for the gun, as I leaped from off the line
Thirteen years deep in this marathon, I'm runnin'
Paid dues and still got bills to pay
When I came back around the way
Old friends gave me dead eyes
And fake smiles, half wide
We were supposed to rid the world of danger
These days we nod heads and small talk like polite strangers
It's natural to fall off, just land close to the tree
I'll be there if they need me to be
And I know all my local shorties
'Cause they all know who I am
And latey want to flip grammar instead of grams
Like that's the only choice they got
They tell me how they gonna shake up the game
But came to me to see if I could give em guidance for change
Shit, y'all, I need guidance myself
And I chisel right words to make gems
Got fans around the world, but my girl's not one of 'em
And my relationship's a big question
'Cause my career's a clear hindrance to her progression
Said she needs a man and our kids need a father
I'm not at all ready to hear her say don't bother
And break
And this I know I can't take, but uhh
C. Smith said to hold on
My brother Luck said to hold on
My nigga Dave said to hold on
My nigga Mase said to hold on
Yo, Maseo, we need to hold on
Ayo, hy'all, we need to hold on

People are you ready?
(Yes, we're ready)
Well, what you wanna be?
(We want to be ready)
Do you want to lose hait for love? (Yes)
Do you want to see these gates above? (Yes)
I said people are you ready?
(Yes, we're ready)
But are you willing to try?
We want to try harder
Do you really wanna carry some weight? (Yes)
Are you ready to design your fate? (Yes)
Yo, people are you ready?
(Yes, we're ready)
What you wanna be?
We wanna be ready
(Yes)

Operation complete
Preparing for installment three

Copyright: Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer, Laura Nyro, Lucious Mercer, Neal Oscar Forrester, Salavander Parker, Vincent Mason