How Much a Dollar Cost (feat. James Fauntleroy & Ronald Isley)

How much a dollar really cost? The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y'all Gotta see how I'm chillin' once I park this luxury car Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo 20 on pump six, dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo 20 years ago, I can't forget Now I can lend all my ear into how to stack these residuals tenfold The liberal concept of what men'll do 2006, he didn't hear me Indigenous African only spoke Zulu My American tongue was slurry Walked out the gas station A homeless man with a semi tan complexion asked me for ten Rand Stressin' 'bout dry land Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin' He begged and pleaded Asked me to feed him twice, I didn't believe it Told him, "Beat it" Contributin' money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it He said, "My son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated" "Listen to me, I want a single bill from you" "Nothin' less, nothin' more" I told him I ain't have it, and closed my door Tell me how much a dollar cost It's more to feed your mind Water, sun and love, the one you love All you need, the air you breathe He's starin' at me in disbelief My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me, I grab my key He's starin' at me, I started the car then tried to leave And somethin' told me to keep it in park until I could see A reason why he was mad, a stranger like I was supposed to save him Like I'm the reason he's homeless and askin' me for a favor He's starin' at me, his eyes follow me with no laser He's starin' at me, I notice that his stare is contagious 'Cause now I'm starin' back at him, feelin' some type of disrespect If I could throw a bat at him, it'd be aimin' at his neck I never understood someone beggin' for goods Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could And this particular person just had it down pat Starin' at me for the longest until he finally asked "Have you ever opened to Exodus 14?" "A humble man is all that we ever need" "Tell me how much a dollar cost" It's more to feed your mind Water, sun and love, the one you love All you need, the air you breathe Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment I never met a transient that demanded attention They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin' Sour emotions got me lookin' at the universe different I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless My selfishness is what got me here, who the fuck I'm kiddin'? So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum, crumbs and pennies I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time I got better judgement, I know when n—'s hustlin' Keep in mind, when I was strugglin', I did compromise Now I comprehend, I smell grandpa's old medicine Reekin' from your skin, moonshine and gin Nigga you're babblin', your words ain't flatterin', I'm imaginin' Denzel be lookin' at O'Neal Kazaam is sad thrills, your gimmick is mediocre, the jig is up I seen you from a mile away losin' focus And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy He looked at me and said, "Your potential is bittersweet" I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep" He looked at me and said, "Know the truth, it'll set you free" "You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the Higher Power" "The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve of Nazareth" "And I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost" "The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God" I wash my hands, I said my grace, what more do you want from me? Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what is meant to be Shades of gray will never change if I condone, oh yeah Turn this page, help me change, so right my wrong