Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley - How Much A Dollar Cost(2015)

[00:23.12] How much a dollar really cost?
[00:25.08] The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts
[00:27.37] Parasites in my stomach keep me with a good feeling, y'all
[00:30.24] Gotta see how I'm chillin' once I park this luxury car
[00:32.76] Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo
[00:34.75] 20 on pump six, dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
[00:37.44] 20 years ago, I can't forget
[00:38.80] Now I can lend all my ear into how to stack these residuals tenfold
[00:42.66] The liberal concept of what men'll do
[00:44.51] 2006, he didn't hear me
[00:46.37] Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
[00:48.13] My American tongue was slurry
[00:50.18] Walked out the gas station
[00:51.31] A homeless man with a semi tan complexion asked me for ten Rand
[00:54.74] Stressin' 'bout dry land
[00:56.12] Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
[00:58.41] A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin'
[01:00.76] He begged and pleaded
[01:01.96] Asked me to feed him twice, I didn't believe it
[01:03.65] Told him, "Beat it"
[01:04.81] Contributin' money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it
[01:07.17] He said, "My son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated"
[01:10.42] "Listen to me, I want a single bill from you"
[01:12.79] "Nothin' less, nothin' more"
[01:14.54] I told him I ain't have it and closed my door
[01:16.22] Tell me how much a dollar cost
[01:20.37] It's more to feed your mind
[01:25.79] Water, sun and love, the one you love
[01:32.60] All you need, the air you breathe
[01:39.41] He's starin' at me in disbelief
[01:40.92] My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me, I grab my key
[01:43.92] He's starin' at me, I started the car then tried to leave
[01:46.30] And somethin' told me to keep it in park until I could see
[01:49.79] A reason why he was mad, a stranger like I was supposed to save him
[01:52.56] Like I'm the reason he's homeless and askin' me for a favor
[01:55.16] He's starin' at me, his eyes follow me with no laser
[01:58.14] He's starin' at me, I notice that his stare is contagious
[02:00.11] 'Cause now I'm starin' back at him, feelin' some type of disrespect
[02:03.87] If I could throw a bat at him, it'd be aimin' at his neck
[02:06.71] I never understood someone beggin' for goods
[02:09.32] Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could
[02:11.65] And this particular person just had it down pat
[02:14.14] Starin' at me for the longest until he finally asked
[02:17.51] "Have you ever opened to Exodus 14?"
[02:19.86] "A humble man is all that we ever need"
[02:22.19] "Tell me how much a dollar cost"
[02:26.13] It's more to feed your mind
[02:31.67] Water, sun and love, the one you love
[02:38.15] All you need, the air you breathe
[02:45.59] Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment
[02:47.22] I never met a transient that demanded attention
[02:49.86] They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin'
[02:52.47] Sour emotions got me lookin' at the universe different
[02:55.35] I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless
[02:57.96] My selfishness is what got me here, who the f— I'm kiddin'?
[03:00.20] So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum, crumbs and pennies
[03:03.67] I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time
[03:07.13] I got better judgement, I know when n—'s hustlin'
[03:09.40] Keep in mind, when I was strugglin', I did compromise
[03:11.97] Now I comprehend, I smell grandpa's old medicine
[03:14.85] Reekin' from your skin, moonshine and gin
[03:17.12] N— your babblin', your words ain't flatterin', I'm imaginin'
[03:19.90] Denzel be lookin' at O'Neal
[03:22.35] Kazaam is sad thrills, your gimmick is mediocre, the jig is up
[03:25.71] I seen you from a mile away losin' focus
[03:27.47] And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy
[03:30.01] He looked at me and said, "Your potential is bittersweet"
[03:32.76] I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep"
[03:35.98] He looked at me and said, "Know the truth, it'll set you free"
[03:38.39] "You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the Higher Power"
[03:41.17] "The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve of Nazareth"
[03:45.40] "And I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost"
[03:47.13] "The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God"
[03:51.41] I wash my hands, I said my grace, what more do you want from me?
[03:57.11] Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what is meant to be
[04:02.48] Shades of grey will never change if I condone, oh yeah
[04:08.00] Turn this page, help me change, so right my wrong
[04:12.85]