You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up, and watch how we roll up, and

I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts

I take a sip of that 'gnac, I wanna fuck

I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck

But really, what's amazin' is how I keep blazin'

Towel under the door, we smoke until the day's end

Puff-puff, then pass, don't fuck up rotation

Hpnotiq for Henny? Now, ****, that's a chaser

Turn nothin' to somethin', now, pimpin', that's a savior

Best things are green, now, pimpin', get your paper

High off the ground, from stair to skyscraper

Cool out thinking we local. C'mon, homie, we major

We major? C'mon, homie, we major

We major? C'mon, homie, we major

We major! C'mon, homie, we major

We major! C'mon

Feelin' better than some head on a Sunday afternoon

Better than a chick that say "Yes" too soon

Until you have a daughter; that's what I call karma

And you pray to God she don't grow breasts too soon

Projects tore up, gang signs is thrown up

**** hats broke off, that's how we grow up

Why else you think shorties write rhymes? Just to blow up?

Get they first car and then, IRS show up

He ain't never had shit, but he had that nine

**** come through flickin' and he had that shine

Put two and two together and a little bad weather

Gon' be your whole family on that funeral line

Asked the reverend, "Was the strip clubs cool

If my tips helped send a pretty girl through school?"

That's all I want, like winos want they good whiskey

I ain't in the Klan, but I brought my hood with me

You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up, and watch how we roll up, and

I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts

I take a sip of that 'gnac, I wanna fuck

I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck

But really, what's amazin' is how I keep blazin'

Towel under the door, we smoke until the day's end

Puff-puff, then pass, don't fuck up rotation

Hpnotiq for Henny? Now, ****, that's a chaser

Turn nothin' to somethin', now, pimpin', that's a savior

Best things are green, now, pimpin', get your paper

High off the ground, from stair to skyscraper

Cool out, thinkin' we local. C'mon, homie, we major

We major? C'mon, homie, we major

We major? C'mon, homie, we major

We major! C'mon, homie, we major

We major! C'mon, homie, we major

I heard the beat and I ain't know what to write

First line—should it be about the hoes or the ice?

Four-fours or Black Christ? Both flows'd be nice

Rap about big paper or the black man plight

At the studio console, asked my man to the right

"What this verse sound like? Should I freestyle or write?

He said, "Nas, what the fans want is Illmatic, still" (Illmatic, still)

Looked at the pad and pencil, and jotted what I feel

Been like twelve years since a **** first signed

Now, I'm a free agent, and I'm thinking it's time

To build my very own Motown

'Cause rappers be deprived of executive nine-to-fives

And it hurts to see these companies be stealin' the life

And I love to give my blood, sweat and tears to the mic

So y'all copped the LPs and y'all fiends got dealt

I'm Jesse Jackson on the balcony when King got killed

I survived the livest **** around

Lasted longer than more than half of you clowns

Look, I used to cook before I had the game took

Either way, my change came like Sam Cooke

Bah-dah-bah-bah (Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)

Feelin' better than I ever felt before today

Like better late than never; it's orientation

Still, we can make it better, throwin' all your cares away (Oh, oh, oh! Ooh)

You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up, and watch how we roll up, and (Bah-dah-bah-bah)

I can't control it, I can't hold it, it's so nuts

I take a sip of that 'gnac, I wanna fuck

I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck

But really what's amazin' is how I keep blazin'

Towel under the door, we smoke until the day's end

Puff-puff, then pass, don't fuck up rotation

Hpnotiq for Henny? Now, ****, that's a chaser (Oh, oh, oh, ooh!)

Turn nothin' to somethin', now, pimpin', that's a savior (Bah-dah-bah-bah)

Best things are green, now, pimpin', get your paper

High off the ground, from stair to skyscraper

Cool out, thinking we local. C'mon, homie, we major

We major? (C'mon, homie, we major)

We major? (C'mon, homie, we major)

We major! (C'mon, homie, we major)

We major! (Oh, oh, oh!)

Ooh! Bah-dah-bah-bah

Feelin' better than I ever felt before today

But better late than never; it's orientation

Still, we can make it better throwin' all your cares away!

Can I talk my shit again? (Can I talk my shit again?)

Can I talk my shit again? (Can I talk my shit again?)

I can't believe I'm back up in this motherfucker (I can't believe I'm back up in this motherfucker)

I'mma be late, though (I'mma be late, though, I'mma be late, though)

I gotta figure out what I'm finna wear (I gotta figure out what I'm finna wear)

Yeah (Yeah, yeah)

The Roc is definitely in the building (Building, building)

G.O.O.D. Music's definitely in the building. Ugh (Building, building)

I gotta say "What's up" to Tony Williams (I gotta say "What's up" to Tony Williams, Tony Williams)

On the vocals! (On the vocals!). Sings—He sings quite beautifully, don't you agree? (Don't you agree? Don't you agree?)

Don't you agree? (Don't you agree? Don't you agree?)

Ugh (Ugh)

And Jon Brion on the keys right now (And Jon Brion on the keys right now)

And Warryn Campbell on the keys right now (And Warryn Campbell on the keys right now)

So, they asked me: (So, they asked me, so they asked me)

"Why you call it Late Registration, 'Ye?" (Why you call it Late Registration, 'Ye?)

'Cause we takin' these muhfuckers back to school ('Cause we takin' these motherfuckers back to school)

La, la, la, la-la-la-la la

If you know this part right here (If you know this part right here)

Feel free to sing along (Feel free to sing along, sing along)

La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la

Bah-dah-bah-bah (Oh)

Feelin' better than I ever felt before today (If you feelin' good)

But better late than never; it's orientation (It's orientation)

But we can make it better throwin' all your cares away (We want you to get used to this) (Oh, oh, oh!)

Ooh! Bah-dah-bah-bah

Ugh! They can't do what we do, baby

Uh-uh, uh-uh! They can't do what we do, baby

Uh-uh, uh-uh! They can't do what we do, baby

Yeah

Oh, oh, oh! Ooh!