J. Cole
The Upbringing
The Upbringing
By Studrique
Prod. by J. Cole

["Rocky Balboa" Sample]

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!

[Verse 1]

I've been on my grind since I turned thirteen
Married to the stage, I mean cross country
I would sing along to this on my way to track meets
Never thought that I would be the one to kill a rap beat
I ain't living rich I ain't living upper classy
House a few apartments I ain't living super lavish
No I'm not the poorest I don't live like other rappers
But I sure as hell treat my house like its a castle
Family jewel father put me on a mantle
Man I was a brat when Cat Stratch got cancelled
Come a long way from watching shows like Danny Phantom
Now I'm on the news for running laps change the channel
I lost a chance to play piano
I lost a chance to bulk like Commando
I lost a second chance with Susanna
I'm way too mature to be taking all these chances for granted
Granted I'm not as depressed as before
I still hear the heartless at my front door
I keep 'em locked away with the Keyblade from Mickey
Always wear a frown keep a smile when they see me
I used to think that life was so shitty
Put you before I feeling stupid guilty
Used to get upset feeling stressed over shit that didn't matter
Now I'm saving money and my pockets getting fatter

[Hook]

To know where you're going you gotta have a plan understand it ain't easy to be brilliant
You ain't got to be the smartest or the toughest to know how to make a living
Hard worker independent stay scheming yeah that's a given
The way I am today's a result of my upbringing
My upbringing
My upbringing
My upbringing
My upbringing

[Verse 2]

People used to talk like
"Procrastinator you'll never be a star
You can't carry weights no you can't carry bars
You're not strong you'll never make it far
Your rhymes are more congested than your parents' car
Inbred, chicken legs stay in bed
You suck at every sport, do dance instead"
Oh boy proved wrong every word you said
Chunk of change in my pocket I'm a walking sleepyhead
I get ahead without getting head
I could've gone to Burroughs, I could'a rep the red
But I didn't Easy to love easy to hate
Call me Andy Kaufman the kid's on stage
Suffered through the summer
Ran against the rain
Climbed the highest mountain
Yet still feeling pain
Won't stop my hustle
'Til God tells me so
Look out universe
It's Enrique Vizcaino

[Hook]

To know where you're going you gotta have a plan understand it ain't easy to be brilliant
You ain't got to be the smartest or the toughest to know how to make a living
Hard worker independent stay scheming yeah that's a given
The way I am today's a result of my upbringing
My upbringing
My upbringing
My upbringing
My upbringing