T.I.: Ready For Whatever

Hate the price of fame, it cost to much
These niggas talk to much
I'm ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em
Boy, I'm ready for whatever
Hey, hey, hey

Even though my head in the clouds, I'm planted on the pavement
How I'm walkin' 'round, people starin' in amazement
I play a lot of games, but well-being I ain't playing wit'
They so judgmental, man, but they don't understand
If ya life was in jeopardy everyday, is you tellin' me
You wouldn't need weaponry just because of ya felonies?
Consider this at least, I got everybody sweatin' me
On the streets is people who won't rest unless I rest in peace
Killed my folk a year ago, still, in my sleep they threaten me
Paranoia stressin' me, ain't nobody protectin' me
I'm dealing wit' the pressure from my partner dyin' next to me
Think 'cause no one's arrested, they comin' for me eventually
This was all the things that I was goin' through mentally
This could be the reason I ignored the penitentiary
Not mentionin' New Orleans, niggas comin' in the city
Killin' all summer long, ain't nobody pay attention

Now is it that hard to understand if ya listen?
Either die or go to jail, that's a hell of decision
But I'm wrong and I know it, my excuse is unimportant
I'm just tryin' to let you know that I ain't think I had a choice, for real

I had straps in my ride, gotta go to prison
You waitin' on me to die, you gon' be waitin' for a minute
Boy, I'm ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em
I be here when the smoke clear and everything settle for real
Can't afford the price of fame 'cause it cost too much
Plus these sucka niggas lame and they talk to much
That's why I'm ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em
I be here when the smoke clear and everything settle for real

For real, ay, for real
I say, when everything settle for real
Ay, for real, ay, for real
I say, when everything settle for real

I'm a man, I ain't perfect, I admit it, I'm guilty
But understand, feel me, I was ridin' filthy
'Cause niggas out there plottin' to rob me and kill me
500,000 every year spent on security
My future was bright, but now its gettin' blurry
'Cause niggas in a hurry to find me and bury me
But surely, God'll deliver me up out it
I'm a fighter to the heart, I'll forever be about it
I'm a father to my sons, asset to my community
Look all that I done done, my good outweigh the negativity
'Ay mentally, I was focused on not lettin' history repeat itself
That's why heat was kept in the vicinity
Yes, officially, I broke the law, but not maliciously
Through all of the publicity, was anyone considerin'
My position and the logic hid in my decision?
But they caught me wit 'em, now I'm off to prison, period

But is it that hard to understand if ya listen?
Either die or go to jail, that's a hell of decision
But I'm wrong and I know it, my excuse is unimportant
I'm just tryin' to let you know that I ain't think I had a choice, for real

I had straps in my ride, gotta go to prison
You waitin' on me to die, you gon' be waitin' for a minute
Boy, I'm ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em
I be here when the smoke clear and everything settle for real
Can't afford the price of fame 'cause it cost too much
Plus these sucka niggas lame and they talk to much
That's why I'm ready for whatever, somebody better tell 'em
I be here when the smoke clear and everything settle for real

For real, ay, for real
I say, when everything settle for real
Ay, for real, ay, for real (I be here)
I say, when everything settle for real
For real, ay, for real (Ay, I say listen, homeboy)
I say, when everything settle for real (You can talk all you want, man)
For real, ay, for real (You know what I'm sayin,' everybody talkin' to the King, you know what I'm sayin')
I say, when everything settle for real (They like Escalades, everybody got one)

Ay, but the fact of the matter remains
If ye ain't walked a mile in my shoes, and ye ain't lived a day in my life
Ye ain't survived the shit I done survived
Ye ain't had to deal with the shit I done had to deal with, homeboy
You can't motherfuckin' judge me, partner
I mean, look at folk like Sean Taylor
You know what they said? They said had he had a strap
He'd have lived today, you know what I'm sayin'
Now true enough, I was dead wrong, I broke the law
I deserve to be punished, I understand that, a'ight, cool
But listen, man, I got a house full of kids
A mama and an old lady whose life is my responsibility, you dig that?
Now, for all of y'all who think I was just ridin' around on some dumb shit
Ay, you know I'm smarter than you, man
You know I'm smarter than you, dog
Ay, if you think I was just bein' stupid
Shorty, I got some motherfuckin' oceanfront property in Idaho for sale, homie
If you beleive that, I got a bridge in Brooklyn I wanna sell you, partner
Ay, man, real talk
In order to understand my train of thought, you done have to put yourself in my position
you cant expect me to think like you, 'cause my life ain't like yours, you know what I'm sayin'?
If you don't understand that, you don't understand English, homeboy
I'm done talking