Poppa Was a Playa

To my nigga (to my nigga) Who brought me in this world (brought me in this world) Taught us right, nigga (taught us right, nigga) My ol' dad important to the family structure, provider, a god My moms a queen, that universal team civilized us My pops maybe was late, but always came home My moms would put us to bed, and she would wait on Soon as he walked in the door, she barking I turned down the 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 poppa played the street all-day Mama was either home or at work While we playing inside the hallway She sacrifices all she got to feed us When she was alone, she cried by the phone Peeping out the window, heated But still, I didn't see it, mama hid it from us We was kids, younger, 'til we got bigger, on to Bigger things, that we knew what the time was That daddy was leaving his crib and my mom's love Poppa was a player, player was in poppa Poppa loved the ladies, never got enough of The pretty brown round, running 'round town "(Shhh!) Don't tell your mother what's going down" Poppa was a player, player was in poppa Poppa loved the ladies, never got enough of The pretty brown round, running 'round town "(Shhh!) Don't tell your mother what's going down" So many kids I knew, never knew who Pop' was That's why I show my pop love 'Cause he was still around when I popped up He could have left my moms pregnant, shook to death, but stayed Watched me crawl 'til I took my first step, to the first grade To my first fistfight, right behind me, he would stand No matter how big or tall, he made me fight you like a man Throw dirt in ya eye, swing my right, scoop your ass and slam He watched me so I wouldn't get jumped by shorty's fam Roaches of 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? And, Poppa, why you butt-ass from the waist And, who's this lady I'm facing? Dark skin, you not my mommy!" He grabbed me up to run some smooth words by me Promised me 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" Poppa was a player, player was in poppa Poppa loved the ladies, never got enough of The pretty brown round, running 'round town "(Shhh!) Don't tell your mother what's going down" Poppa was a player, player was in poppa Poppa loved the ladies, never got enough of The pretty brown round, running r'ound town (ugh, my nigga) "(Shhh!) Don't tell your mother what's going down" Pops told me hold my own, pops 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 touring At home, I played his latest recordings And it's strange how I do my thing now, I'm in the game now Inherited his brainpower, to pull strings and gain power Our weed habits the same now No white lines, or trumpets, just tight rhymes And beats that's bumpin', 'fore he left, he taught me something A child's young years the most important time to be there That's why he stayed 'til 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 will 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 goes on (goes on, goes on, goes on)