Hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
You need a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
First up, it's important that you keep your shit original
Try and keep that copycat shit to a minimal
People want something that they never heard before
If it's been done leave it, they don't wanna hear no more
Secondly, here's another clever thing that you can do
Find yourself a good manager who's really got a clue
'Cause there's so many to choose from, they all look the part
But it's difficult to come across the ones that's really smart
And can stand firm and steady when the label's talking shit, will respect it, keeps it gangsta, but does everything legit
And dependable, you can trust to handle your biz, and can really make you sure of what the situation is
Next up, find a record label that ain't full of pricks
One that lets you breathe artistically but makes you come with hits
Congratulations now you've got your deal you're set to go
Lemme fill you in on just a couple things you need to know
You need a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
You need a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
Next up change your number, change your phone and change your chip
'Cause there's gonna be a lot of people ringing talking shit
Whether bredrens wanting money 'cause now suddenly you're rich
Or some dumb hating fassies trying to take you for a bitch
Yeah I know it's minor and you can handle it, it's nothing, but eventually you're really gonna wanna do something
And that's counter-productive, beefing over bullshit
You can never stop those dumb bredrens trying to bullshit
Plus you're in the limelight, well-paid verbalist, which leads me onto my next subject; journalists
These are the people that could put your name about
So be careful what you're saying when you're talking out your mouth
And avoid being ignorant, tone down the thug-shit
Come to interviews buzzing - tone down the drug shit
Keep your eye on the ball, mind on the job, and before you know you'll have the whole world on your knob
You need a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
You need a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
Here's something that I shoulda stressed early on, don't go spending all your money till it's gone
'Cause the tax man's gonna want his paper when it's due and there's nobody above the tax man especially you
And another thing, buy your house before you buy your car
Don't tell no-one where you are, even better if you're far
Everybody knows you're gangsta and that Porsche looks great but do you really want it sitting on that council estate?
Differently, watch where you choose to socialise
Keep an eye out for trouble, watch for devils in disguise
Please don't be fooled by no pretty females, play it safe
Never let 'em know your full details
I ain't saying be para', I'm just saying be sure
You can never know if that bitch will be bragging what she saw
And aside from making money keep loving what you do
I ain't saying nothing more because the rest is up to you
I got a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling
You need a hardback, stern face
Play your position and know your place
Only move when the money's calling
Take my advice you'll be balling