Story Behind The Song

There's a lot of hidden knowledge in this song. I thought about songs i grew up listening to from 2Pac, Skinny Pimp, and others that dropped knowledge on the game, ethics & consequences, and life in general. Those songs had a strong impact on my teenage yrs cuz i didn't have a strong father figure in my life. so i wanted to return the favor, by doing the same for the next generation

Song Description

Touches on lessons I learned in the music business, and the spiritual consequences of my actions.

Lyrics

I Should've Known

Chorus

As I hear tha fans calling my name
i think about all tha pain
i've had to give and receive to get
even this little fame
tha price to make it now is written in stone
and it's too late to turn back,
but yeah, i should've known

V1

Coming up as a teen, i wanted a deal
and to have a platinum release
so i hit tha road, not knowing the number
of lessons it would bring
as i traveled all across tha country
promoting and pursuing money
building a fan base was vital
cuz fame is what i was hunting
but instead of an adoring public
my music was greeted by skeptics
they questioned tha truth of my lyrics
tha critics didn't get my message
yet i continued with my mission
cuz i could see tha bigger picture
had tha balls to risk it all
in order to get a little richer
i hated seeing others make it
when knowing that it should've been mine
they'd tell me i had to be patient
and maybe it'll come in time
but my pride wouldn't let it ride
so iÕd strive for it every night
but no matter how hard i tried
i was always a step/so far behind
but as i watched tha stars closely
i discovered tha price of fame
their success was just an illusion
their labels were tha ones that gained
and the only way i'd ever get rich
is if i did it on my own
and all along i'd been chasing a lie
but i should've known

Chorus

V2

We were once like brothers, part of an alliance
that was forged in the struggle
even though we'd chosen different paths
we vowed we'd ride for one another
but something told me that he'd betray me
if i made it out tha gutter
and sure enough i soon discovered
he was a fake mutha fucka
his own niggaz tried to warn me
but i was slow to believe it
'til/then i saw for myself that he was tha reason
my product was leaking
by then he was on tha run
from some other niggaz he'd burned
when he came for help i turned my back
and let him get what he deserved
now some would say i sold him out
but i say business is business
i'm strictly in it for my riches
keeping these niggaz at a distance
cuz i know that none of em really care
whether my records sell or fail
they're only here to help themselves
so why in tha hell would i share my wealth?
look, my motto's been tha same since i was a lil kid
"i'd rather be rich with enemies
than to be poor with friends"
never could depend on anyone else
so i stood on my own
and he actually thought i'd change now?
come on, he should've known

Chorus

V3

As i'm dismissed from the gates of Eden
i reflect on tha times i strayed
tha times i crossed my niggaz for money,
tha times i'd ride to increase my pay
i stepped on any i deemed a threat
in order to rise to become the best
i figured i'd buy my way in Heaven
now i'm burning with all tha rest
i'd guess i'd carelessly forgotten
tha knowledge that a nigga was given
and while i knew that i was sinning
i figured it would be forgiven
so i continued selling my soul
one dollar at a time
and when i finally saw that i'd fallen
i'd already joined the blind
cuz nothing comes without a price
and no one rides without a cause
there's a motive for every smile
you just gotta learn to spot tha flaws
when dealing with the biggest doggs
study each and every clause
cuz no matter what you've been told
there's always dirt beneath their paws
be cautious of every broad you meet
cuz in time you'll find
that all will give up them drawers
when enough money's on tha line
wish i would've understood that sometimes
even the good do wrong
i would've been better off on my own
but yeah, i should've known

Chorus