I'ma be the man
One day, one day, one day, one day
I'ma be the man
One day, one day, one way, one way
I'ma be the man yeah
One day, one day, one day, one way
I'ma be the man
One day, one day, one way, one way
One way or another I'ma be the fucking man

I'm proud to say I made my way through the pain and trauma
Remember days I wore that shit like my daily armor
All of that shit only made me stronger
Became the man of the house at an early age cuz of an abstent father
So my momma did what she had too, to hold it down
And to keep any tears on my face from rollin down
So when hard times came I learned to keep a smile
All because things somehow would always turn around
What I know for certain, that my life was far from a picture perfect
Regardless of what you see on the surface
I come from the projects, and them section 8 apartments
Where the sky seemed to be starless
I'm tellin' you, I done had roaches in my cereal
I would open the fridge and it be empty issa miracle
Knowing I survived through the worst, here in the physical
And kept from gettin' blood on my shirt, that shit was critical

I'ma be the man
One day, one day, one day, one day
I'ma be the man
One day, one day, one way, one way
I'ma be the man yeah
One day, one day, one day, one way
I'ma be the man
One day, one day, one way, one way
One way or another I'ma be the fucking man

I made a promise to myself I would be all I could be
Nas taught me I can I started believin' in me
I began to imagine everything I wanted to be
Cuz I ain't wanna be another nigga dead on the street
And though I was persistent, one of the toughest commitments
Was learnin' to love myself in a world that always hated me for my pigment
I knew that I had to surpass my limits
I had to go the distance, develop a clearer vision
My mission, to get over hurdles as well as myself
I was slave to my mind until I started masterin' self
So when I reflect in the mirror I can look at myself
Be thankful for my blessings appreciate god for his help
Allowing me to see that I truly am a king
For every single day and the happiness they bring
Cuz I been through alot but I wouldn't change a thing
Because it all truly made me the man I am today