Lookin' Back Lyrics - Revenue Retrievin: Overtime Shift - E-40

(Devin the Dude) 

[Verse 1]: 

Lookin back at the times when we had to grind 

When it came to freestylin we was glad to rhyme 

When it was hard to make a dime, let alone get a dollar 

Had to get your hustle on, knew not to ask your mama for it 

When you got it you couldn't blow it 

So I saved what I had in the bag, then I would go get 

Radio batteries, I'd buy the cassettes 

LPs, 4-tracks, wires and 

And we was down for hours, we was known around town 

Come through with the crew and break the cardboard down 

Heh... glide 

Then the whole thing started with the Odd Squad parties 

Met E-40 at the Rap-A-Lot office 

Straight up old school, wasn't no ProTools 

Jack you for your jacket, and they'll jack you for yo shoes 

Back then you had friends who had your back 

You only had three choices - sports, rap or crack 

And ah, it's a blessing to still be part of the game 

And I wouldn't change one thing 

Lookin' back when the days wasn't so easy 

(It wasn't easy, man) 

Were either hustlin' or strugglin' 

(Workin, hustlin and strugglin) 

Make it or break it, would take all different pieces 

(All of the pieces) 

And we'll make somethin' of nothin' 

(That's right, man, we'd make somethin' of nothin', man) 

Make somethin' out of nothin' 

Hey Devin 

This 40, man 

Let me gas it right quick, bro 

Let it tell it from my perspective, you smell me? 

Look here 

I just wanna spit a few bars 

Listen up, family 

Listen 

(E-40) 

[Verse 2]: 

Lookin' back before YouTube and social networks was founded 

A&R's would go to the hood to find artists with talent 

Recording engineers was low-key lightweight crooks 

Not all of 'em but some of 'em'd take all day to fly hooks 

That's how they did it back then, based on a hourly rate 

The longer they take, the more money they make 

All we wanted to do was rap, young and enthusiastic 

Hopin' that one day our tapes would be in stores shrinkwrapped and packaged 

We used to beg the promoters to do us a favor 

'Let us perform for free, pimpin' - man, the money gon' come later!' 

Rehearse and practice, practice and rehearse 

Me and Too $hort, Bun and Pimp C wouldn't charge each other to spit a verse 

We all knew what we was worth, future legends up in the game 

RIP Pimp C, way ahead of his time 

Everybody wanna be that guy, everybody wanna be that dude 

but everybody don't wanna pay dues like 40 and Devin The Dude 

Two good dudes, old school but new school 

Meet 'em in person, you gon say, 'Them some cool fools!' 

Good music still around, just gotta know where to find it 

The seasoned entrepreneur independently grinding 

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