At What Cost

Balcony overlooking the city, Los Angeles never felt this lovely

Pacing back and forth for hours, spoke my peace

Anticipating, don't let it budge me

I pray they listen before they judge me

Straight up, I need to go in my own direction

Make my own selections

Retorted back with some claims of turning

My back on the homies who made it possible

For you to have a voice who looked out with nobody stopping you, sure

Sugarcoat to protect the perception

Don't wanna break nobody's hearts over truthful reflection

I shed some guilty tears moments after

Thanksgiving dinner with Benavente

Rolling through Seaside, new adventures for this loner

Bringing in 2015 with friends and Coronas

New year's resolutions to fuel this endless persona

Meanwhile, a couple interesting plots are thicken among you

Dino's back in the bay, San Diego is home

I guess you got some choices to choose

Blankets coming off the bed you made, the voice isn't true

They get to talking like you finished, got some points you can prove

But lose when you set the record straight

Drunken nights in Studio City with Chip the Ripper

But I'm fucking my really

I broke it off with Cassandra, shit was getting too silly

And my muse from Oakland's been growing

Impatient, we've been at it for months

Too busy acting my rapper fantasies in a bunch

I started making rounds to Northern Cal, the shit is wild

Oakland international

LIG attire, construction, Timberland boots

Couldn't tell me I wasn't fashionable, damn

Not too long ago when I was on board

Snapbacks, Jordans, and chains became the highest of law

Hoping Logic's fans would like me on tour

"Search Yourself" had dropped and all I got was theories on

How the industry moves and advice that I never asked for

A couple pointless meetings that fizzled when **** left

Zach Iser was on the fence, he stepped

Talking shit that I swore I'd never forget

Now them shoulders is feeling stretched

A couple rappers, friends you did stop returning them texts

Ain't spoke to Skizzy since I wrote "Down Ain't Asks For A Check"

I just thought it was all respect, but you know

Shout out to Mickey too

Thought we was brothers but ego just made the shit defuse

It's funny when your mentors end up getting it misconstrued

Was once in love with the thought of feeling accepted

Some breakdowns made me face the fear of rejection

Some prophecies I projected have manifested

I was only trying to mesh with

Legends who sought the throne but my guess is these

Times are changing, I should get with the shift

Made it back to Miami with grace

Just in time to escape

Was Hollywood a nova trapped inside this quest persona?

Too many expectations threaten Yoda, where does it end?

Sleepless nights on County Line with my face in the mirror

Mama's words of wisdom helping me seeing it clearer

"Nothing is destined, better learn how to step in your full self"

I'm guessing I've been waiting too long

Don't wanna get in God's way but he's been patient too long

Downing Henny when the taste is too strong

Asking questions that never mattered

Distracting me from taking what's wrong

Out of its misery, my faith has been torn

I reunited with pops, he still using but the hatred is gone

****, family is family

They say the key to harmony is to practice new understanding

And I've been working on communication

Many broken relationships, done with losing patience

A newer sense of leadership, man, the crew has been waiting

These wise ones need direction, my truth is the pavement

Thinking bigger than ever

I gotta keep it together, no time to treat this whatever

Fuck them prior engagements

I trust myself and still manage to dodge humiliation

No interest in reconciliation, forgiveness

That chip on that ****'s shoulder still

Present, don't think I've lost my hunger

Ain't gotta hear thunder to know a storm is coming, for real

This is far from familiar

I came a long way from ignoring blessings

Mama interrupted recording sessions

I used to think my mountain was too hard to climb

But I just stepped up to the starting line, for real

Well, well, well

Made it this far, didn't you?

Alone you stood when it was highly advised not to

Through the trenches you fought

Though most, if not all, would doubt you

You remember just in the nick of time

God has a way of swooping in right before

The last finger slips off the cliff

Self was found in the most unfamiliar of circumstances

You now know who you are

You know where you're going

God is still with you

The benefits of your faith you shall reap

When everyone questioned your sowing

No longer ifs, nor when

These notions have been tossed

You are more than ready to attain everything your heart desires

The question now is at what cost?