Paid Dues Lyrics - Cee-lo

Yeah, yeah, Space Age forever; Niggas and hos better recognize 

Eightball and MJG, been ten toes down in this game 

Since we were two young playas in a one-horse town 

Then hopped to a muthafuckin' grasshopper 

Nigga, my life would have been done got cut off 

If my dues weren't paid 

It's a thinnin' line between wrong and right 

Trapped in a trap till the mornin' light 

Ghetto ain't left me no choices; I had to fight 

My mama and daddy was too young to raise me right 

Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made 

Niggas dead, niggas gone; I still ain't afraid 

Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played 

My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid 

In the middle of doin' crime; it never stopped me from writin' rhymes 

It never stopped me from playin' music 

God, but it didn't mean I had to use it 

It was obvious: I had to give up the streets for the beats 

Not knowin', but havin' faith on just how long that it would be 

Before I made it, before somebody picked up my tape and played it 

With a remark like, "Hey, played that instrumental, you cat's got potential." 

In the process of doing talent shows, parties, and mix tapes 

We even put it down on some of our homeboys jail release dates 

I can remember in the past closin' down at fast foods 

Strictly stickin' to my dreams, but feelin' like I'd be the last dude 

Who can make it in this rap; I thought that they ain't gon' see me in Memphis 

It was like a time they looked over Tennessee 

And didn't know hip-hop was in us 

To all my vets in the game, I got love; stay on your toes 

'Cause back in the days, I used to use your 4-5 instrumental to do my shows 

And, look, I was seventeen when I signed my first contract 

And about eighteen and a half when I signed my worst contract; we hurt from that 

And till this day they still distributin' our first tape 

Before Comin' Out Hard, now can you feel it? 

Be humble and patient with whatever you should choose 

'Cause to get to where I am right now, I done paid my dues 

It's a thinnin' line between wrong and right 

Trapped in a trap till the mornin' light 

Ghetto ain't left me no choices; I had to fight 

My mama and daddy was too young to raise me right 

Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made 

Niggas dead, niggas gone; I still ain't afraid 

Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played 

My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid 

A c-note for a concert; I know that sounds preposterous 

Nigga, we didn't have a pot to piss 

So we got on stage, and we rocked the bitch 

Fuck the cheese; I love to see my niggas in the front row 

Get buck wild, start a fight; the police make a nigga stop the show 

Niggas all in the parkin' lot, bustin' shots, fuckin' with hos 

Box Chevy with the spokes and vogues 

Niggas didn't know shit about a twenty inch Mo-Mo 

Hard head, young nigga don't believe that shit till I see that shit 

See them heavyweight niggas; one day, I'm gonna be that shit 

Okay, everybody know everybody done sold dope, ran with a gang 

Pimp some hos and snorted a little coke, but, uh 

I'm space again, and we'll forever be 

Eightball, the fat mack, and M-J-fuckin'-G 

Turn the page from then to now, and we still grindin' 

Small clubs and small towns think they bouncin', and we find them 

Put them on the guest list, make them pump their fist and get buck to this 

Make one of them weed smokin', gangsta bitches get fucked to this 

Expand, give all my true fans what they demand 

Do my part again and, uh, come out hard again, and, uh 

Keep space again, and we'll forever be 

Eightball, the fat mack, and M-J-fuckin'-G 

It's a thinnin' line between wrong and right 

Trapped in a trap till the mornin' light 

Ghetto ain't left me no choices; I had to fight 

My mama and daddy was too young to raise me right 

Maybe I been made a man from all the mistakes I made 

Niggas dead, niggas gone; I still ain't afraid 

Ain't too grown to get back on with ghetto games I played 

My life would have been done got cut off if the dues weren't paid