Ministry vs Industry - T-Bone

Ask yo self, is you in dis for the ministry?

Or in dis tryin ta make a little loot ballin off of dis industry

Out for dead presidents to represent ta represent you

I’m stayin true many are called but the chosen are few

When I was just a young buc, my dream was to get a record deal.

and show teh

people I could flip rhymes like top

Gymnast or a seal I wanted to prove to the world and friends that I had what it

took.

Forget the crazy college homie

My futures in the rap book.

Thinkin a record label was the key to my success no

more gettin laughed at and people

Always doggin the way I dress.

DEPRESSED.

Cuz people told me I d never amount

to nate, and started believin

What people would say, cry to God when I would pray, tellin him why must people

doubt me and put me down da

Way they do.

Seems the only people dat got my back be da Organized Rhyme Crew.

So watch them people that be

Close to you cuz sometimes the closest people be the shiestiest snakes that

about to get you (and) forget you (when

They) back stab you (cuz they) jerk you (and) talk about you.

Cuz the only

thing these people want is to take

Advantage of you believe me, my managers set me up just like a tent.

Workin me seven days a week just carin about

That twenty percent, Pat na!

Ask yo self, is you in dis for the ministry?

Or in dis tryin ta make a little loot ballin off of dis industry

Out for dead presidents to represent ta represent you

I’m stayin true many are called but the chosen are few

I still remember when I won a contest out of a thousand different types of

artists.

Now I’m headed down to the finals

Tryin ta prove that I’m da hardest.

Regardless, of what everyone would do or

try to say I packed up all of my gear

And started drivin from da bay (down) to LA (and) Las Vegas, (and) through

Pheonix down to Texas.

Cramped up

In a station wagon cuz back then dey was no Lexus.

Payin all of my own gas,

food and cheap hotels.

I never seen no

Lobster all I ate was Taco Bell.

So believe me, when I tell you dat I paid all

of my dues.

I didn t rap and make loot, I

Used to rap and shine shoes.

Anywas, I finally got to Nashville Tenessee.

Now meetin all of deez people in da music

Industry, tellin me who they work with, and all the people they know.

But I’m not here to hear yo life storie I’m here

Ta do a Sh-a-show.

Then I finally performed at the new artist show case.

Standing ovation now I got twenty record

Contracts shoved up in my face.

I told my self everything would be F-a-fine,

til I looked up and seen they eyes full of

Dollar signs.

Every one tellin me to sign here, sign there.

Knowin they finna

gaffle me but yo these people just don’t care

Ask yo self, is you in dis for the ministry?

Or in dis tryin ta make a little loot ballin off of dis industry

Out for dead presidents to represent ta represent you

I’m stayin true many are called but the chosen are few

Then it finally happened, I got my first deal in 92. They flew me to Hawaii to

discuss the things they gonna do.

Told

Me dat they was gon do this and they gon do that, I’m trippin off the way

people act, always talkin behind my back

And now they talkin about my cousin too jealous ones envy son, cuz we got these

demons on the R-a-run.

Mad cuz

I’m rollin da Lexus sportin all these fat jewels.

Bank account all swollen and

got a house up in the hills.

Money ain t

Changed me tho I’m still strictly ministry whether I’m dead broke in da streets

or in dis crooked industry.

Believe that

I’m gon keep, liftin up da name of Christ, I’m out, see demons lurkin so gotta

go and pull a heist

Ask yo self, is you in dis for the ministry?

Or in dis tryin ta make a little loot ballin off of dis industry

Out for dead presidents to represent ta represent you

I’m stayin true many are called but the chosen are few