Music Saved My Life (feat. B.O.B & Mally Stakz)
[Verse 1: Joell Ortiz]
Yeah, early on I knew I was a fan
Hum the ice cream truck beat holding mama's hand
Told "˜em to turn it up in the dollar van
Nobody moonwalk better in their pajama pants
I used to try to tap like Gregory Hines
"Lean On Me" word for word, I knew every line
My mom's blasting Anita Baker
No wonder I can bake it with a piece of paper
Yeah, looking back daddy left bad
It was cool though, music was my step-dad
I was raised by Stevie Wonder
Lionel Richie, Luther and all the Jackson brothers
Used to close my eyes as he go away
On harder days I would chop it up with Marvin Gaye
It was just a matter of time
I took a crack at the rhyme and worked this magic of mine
[Hook: Mally Stakz]
So when I felt like doing wrong, you helped me get it right
And when I felt like giving up, you gave me one more try
And when I felt like it was over, you didn't let me die
No, you didn't let me die, music saved my life
[Bridge: Joell Ortiz]
So many different artists I get soul from
Still I move to the beat of my own drum
I'm an avenue or street away from where Hov from
Rest in piece, Biggie Smalls, baby baby
[Verse 2: B.o.B.]
Rock away, cats bumping gangster rap
I grew up in an era when it was a thing to trap
It was the world that I was always angry at, a maniac
Full of rage with nowhere to aim it at
We came up in the hood, but everybody ain't adapt
My parents did the best they could, I knew my best to pay them back
I pay "˜em back, but just let me take it back
With no fashion, just airbrushed shirts and faded slacks
If you could do it no better you'd rock a Coogie sweater
All we knew was the hustle, we never knew no better
Getting crumbles the phrase, everybody could relate
We thought it'd last forever, who'd knew it'd be just a phase?
They labeled me a delinquent
Wasn't nothing a teacher could ever teach me
It's a miracle I ain't get caught in this street shit
If it wasn't for hip hop I wouldn't be breathing
[?]
[Hook]
[Bridge]
[Verse 3: Joell Ortiz]
Somebody pinch me, this can't be life
All these big cameras and fancy lights
Man, this must be a mistake
Just yesterday my mother cutting the cake
On my tenth birthday she told me to make a wish
Here I am right now surrounded by all of this
All of this, man, what a crazy life
Music, you really save my life, you really saved my life
[Hook]
[Bridge]