03’ Adolescence (Explicit)

03’ Adolescence (Explicit) - J. Cole

Lyrics by：William "Willie B." Brown/Jermaine Cole/Johnny Burke/Jimmy van Heusen

Composed by：William "Willie B." Brown/Jermaine Cole/Johnny Burke/Jimmy van Heusen

Produced by：William "Willie B." Brown/Jermaine Cole/Dreamville/Mark Pitts/Roc Nation

Yeah yeah

I grew up a **** as screw up

Tie my shoe up

Wish they was newer

Damn need somethin' newer

In love with the baddest girl in the city

I wish I knew her

I wish I won't so shy

I wish I was a bit more fly

I wish that I could tell her

How I really feel inside

That I'm the perfect ***** for her

But then maybe that's a lie

She like a certain type of nigga

And it's clear I'm not that guy

Ball player star player

I'm just watchin' from the side

On the bench

'Cause my lack of

Confidence won't let me fly

I ain't grow up with my father

I ain't thinkin' 'bout that now

Fast forward four years or

So from now I'll probably cry

When I realize what I missed

But as of now my eyes are dry

'Cause I'm tryna stay alive

In the city where too many niggas die

Dreamin' quiet tryna dodge a suit and tie

Who am I

Aye who am I

Yeah

Things change rearrange and so do I

It ain't always for the better dawg I can't lie

I get high 'cause the lows can be so cold

I might bend a little bit but I don't fold

One time for my mind and two for yours

I got food for your

Thoughts to sooth your soul

If you see my tears fall just let me be

Move along nothing to see

I always did **** the hard way

My niggas slangin' in the hallway

Burnt CD's and trees like this was broadway

Times square

Kept the dimes there in the locker

Some Reggie Miller

With more brown hairs than Chewbacca

Whispers that he got it for the low low

Sell a dime for a dub

Them white boys ain't know no better

Besides

What's twenty dollars to a nigga like that

He tell his pops he need some lunch

And he gon' get it right back

I peep game

Got home snatched my mama keychain

Took her whip

The appeal too ill to refrain

I hit the boulevard pull up

To my nigga front door

His mama at home

She still let 'em hit the blunt though

I told her hello

And sat with my nigga and laughed

And talked about

How we gon' smash all the ******* in class

I complimented

How I see him out here getting his cash

And just asked

What a nigga gotta do to get that

Put me on

He just laughed when he seen I was sure

17 years breathing his demeanor said more

He told me

Nigga you know how you sound right now

You wasn't my mans

I would think that you a clown right now

Listen you everything I wanna be

That's why I **** with you

So how you looking up to me

When I look up to you

You 'bout to go get a degree

I'ma be stuck with two choices

Either graduate to weight

Or selling number two

For what

A hundred bucks or two a week

Do you think that you would know

What to do if you was me

I got four brothers

One mother that don't love us

If they ain't want us

Why the **** they never wore rubbers

I felt ashamed to have ever complained

About my lack of gear

And thought about how far we done came

From trailer park to a front yard

With trees in the sky

Thank you mama dry your eyes

There ain't no reason to cry

You made a genius and I

Ain't gon' take it for granted

I ain't gon' settle for lesser

I ain't gon' take what they handed

Nah I'm gon' take what they owe me

And show you that I can fly

And show ol' girl what she missing

The illest nigga alive

Aye who am I

Things change rearrange and so do I

It ain't always for the

Better dawg I can't lie

I get high 'cause the lows can be so cold

I might bend a little bit but I don't fold

One time for my mind and two for yours

I got food for your thoughts

To sooth your soul

If you see my tears fall just let me be

Move along nothing to see

I never felt better

Better

Better

Better