This song is dedicated to all the up an' comin' rappers
Singers, hustlers, actors, whatever you may be, remember
Without no struggle, you get no progress
So keep grindin', keep on mashin' an' get yours
You're nothin' far from comin' up, keep on
Money's just a touch away, keep on
So keep on grindin', don't give it up, keep on
There'll always be another day, keep on
An' now I'm sittin' at the pad, teary eyed an' depressed
Starvin' an' sufferin' from mental stress
Now a true sinner, to the game, a beginner
But hard to feel like a winner when you eat spreads for dinner
Hit the streets, late night in the corner, star mission
On the 211 mission, just to pay tuition
For my kids, I got to grind an' develop street savvy
Servin' stress 'cause I just ain't got enough to cop Cavi
But I can't stop, I won't stop 'til I got it made
Either build my clientele, get a job or learn a trade
Like Hip Hop an' make enough to live good forever
So I learned to write rhymes an' get my metaphors together
Then I joined a rap crew with the homies on my street
Sellin' underground tapes out the local swap meet
Gettin' tighter on the mic as I worked day to day
So now I lay down at night an' I hear voices say, "Mack"
You're nothin' far from comin' up, keep on
Money's just a touch away, keep on
So keep on grindin', don't give it up, keep on
There'll always be another day, keep on
Now I'm new to the scene, [Incomprehensible]
So like EPMD, could you 'Please Listen to My Demo'?
I left the local crew, felt like I was the man
In popular demand an' now ready for Sound Scan
So I searched for a deal with no luck, I kept rappin'
Felt like it would take a miracle to make it all happen
Marble said it was a test, "Mack don't do nuttin' wrong
Just have faith in God an' keep your hustle goin' strong?
? Stay hopin', keep writin', don't quit, you're too close
Remember good things come to those who want it most"
So I never left the house without my rap book
Thought I found a new crew but eventually got shook
First they said I was cool but then started to doubt me
Put me on the backburner an' just forgot all about me
Partna said I wasn't fresh an' sent me on my way but you know what?
As I was leavin', I could hear voices say, "Mack"
You're nothin' far from comin' up, keep on
Money's just a touch away, keep on
So keep on grindin', don't give it up, keep on
There'll always be another day, keep on
Now the tables turned but I remember they used to clown me
The hard work paid off an' luck finally found me
So call every publication, Billboard an' the Editor
An' tell 'em Mack's bein' signed by dude workin' on 'The Predator'
I got the Midas touch, now everythin' be the bomb
Hooked up with The Don, now made a few million
I don't bang, I write the good rhymes, you know about mines
Man, I'm the tightest MC, Ice Cube ever signed
Now if it ain't the radio, it's a video shoot
Livin' life in the limelight with a bank full of loot
Now my crew is solid, shook the haters an' the leeches
Runnin' full court at my house with our girls on the beaches
Plus the violence is ceased, no more bi-coastal beef
'Cause now I get down with the North, South an' the East
I reminisce on hard times, seem like yesterday
But now Hoo Bangin' is official an' I remember they used to say, "Mack"
You're nothin' far from comin' up, keep on
Money's just a touch away, keep on
So keep on grindin', don't give it up, keep on
There'll always be another day, keep on
Money's just a touch, just a simple touch
Money's just a touch away
Money's just a touch, just a simple touch
Money's just a touch away