Nas - Poppa Was A Player

To My Nigga who brought me in this world Taught us right Nigga My old dad important to the family structure Provider, god, My moms a queen, that universal team symbalizer My pops maybe was late but always came home My moms would put us to bed and she would wait up Soon as he walk in the door she barking I turned down to Johnny Carson Jumped out the bed We grabbed both his legs Me and my brother Not knowing the pain he gave my mother Night after night, fighting yelling at each other My papa played the street all day Mama was either home, at work, while we played inside the hall way She sacrifices all she got to feed us When she was alone she cried by the phone peeping out the window heeding But still I didn't see it Mama hid it from us We was kids younger Till we got bigger, on to Bigger things that we knew what the time was That daddy was leaving the crib and moms love Papa was player, player wasn't papa Papa loved the ladies Never got enough of Pretty brown round Running round town (Shhhhh) Don't tell your mother what's going down [Repeat 2x] So many kids I knew, never knew who Pop was That's why I show my pop love He was still around when I popped up He could have left my moms pregnant Shook to death but stayed Watch me crawl till I took my first step, to the first grade To my first fist fight Right behind me he would stand No matter how big or tall he made me fight you like a man Throw dirt in your eye, swing my right scoop your ass and slam He watched me so I wouldn't get jumped by shorty's fam Roaches and weed all over my crib him and moms relaxing Next thing you know he packing So then I asked him What's this white shit on that plate and your face? Papa why you butt ass from the waist And who's this lady I'm facing Dark skin you're not my mommy He grabbed me up to run some smooth words by me Promised things that he would buy me If I kept my mouth closed and don't tell mommy He said one day I'll understand little me What's in you, is inside me Papa was player, player wasn't papa Papa loved the ladies Never got enough of Pretty brown round Running round town (Shhhhh) Don't tell your mother what's going down [Repeat 2x] Pop's told me hold my own Pop's told me value home Could I help it papa was a rolling stone Who loved the pretty brown round Out of town bound Trumpet in his jazz band, he's touring At home I play his latest recordings And it's strange how, I do my thing now I'm in the game now Inherited his brain power To pull strings and gain power From weed habits are same now No white lines to trumpets to tight rhymes And beats that be pumping Before he left he taught me something A child's young years the most important time to be there That's why he stayed till we grew up, respect is still here I'm older now see what having a father's about One day they can be in your life next day they be out It's not because of you, you know the deal Him and your moms feel If they stay together then someone would get killed I love you still Always will Cause that's my nigga Although you felt you was wrong I still feel you kid Life gose on