Can't Knock The Hustle -- Jay-Z

I'm makin short term goals, when the weather folds just put away the leathers and put ice on the gold Chilly with enough bail money to free a big willie High stakes, I got more at stake than Philly
Shoppin sprees, copin three Deuce fever IS's fully loaded,
bouncin in the lex luger, tires smoke like buddha 50 G's to the crap shooter, niggaz can't fade me Chrome socks beamin
Through my perephreal I see ya schemin Stop dreamin, I leave your body steamin Niggaz is fiendin, what's the meanin?
I'm leanin on any nigga intervenin with the sound of my money machine-in my cup runneth, over with hundreds
I'm one of the best niggas that done it, six digits and runnin
Y'all niggas don't want it, I got the Godfather flow
The Don Juan DeMarco; swear to God, don't get it fucked up

I'm takin out this time to give you a piece of my mind 
Who do you think you are? Baby one day you'll be a star

Last seen out of state where I drop my slang I'm deep in the South kickin up top game Bouncin on the highway switchin fo' lanes
Screamin through the sunroof - money ain't a thang
Your worst fear confirmed Me and my fam' roll tight like The Firm
Gettin down for life, thats right, you better learn
Why play with fire, burn We get together like a choir, to acquire what we desire We do dirt like worms, produce G's like sperm
'til legs spread like germs I got extensive hoes, with expensive clothes
and I sip fine wines and spit vintage flows What y'all don't know?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, cause you can't knock the hustle

But until the late thang I'm the one who's crazy cause that's the way you're makin me feel I'm just tryin to get mine, I don't have the time
to knock the hustle for real

y'all niggaz lunchin, punchin the clock My function is to make much and lay back munchin Sippin Remy on the rocks, my crew, somethin to watch Nothin to stop, un. stoppable Scheme on the ice, I gotta hot your crew I gotta, let you niggaz know the time like Movado
My motto, stack rocks like Colorado Auto off the champagne, Cristal's by the bottle It's a damn shame what you're not though (who?) Me
Slick like a gato, fuckin Jay-Z My pops knew exactly what he did when he made me Tried to get a nut and he got a nut and what
Straight bananas; can a nigga, see me Got the US Open, advantage Jigga Serve like Sampras, play fake a rappers like a campus
Le Tigre, son you're too eager You ain't havin it? Good, me either
Let's, get together and make this whole world believe us huh?
At my arraignment, screamin all us blacks got is sports and entertainment, until we even Thievin, as long as I'm breathin
Can't knock the way a nigga eatin - fuck you even!

I'm takin out this time to give you a piece of my mind
Who do you think you are? Baby one day you'll be a star
But until the late thang I'm the one who's crazy cause that's the way you're makin me feel I'm just tryin to get mine, I don't have the time
to knock the hustle for real

In this song, Jay-Z recounts his difficult childhood. He was raised by his single-parent mom Gloria. His father Adnes Reeves, who is now deceased, walked away when Jay was only 12. Left with no father figure to model after, young Shawn Carter turned to the streets of Marcy, delved into drug-peddling, and immersed himself in various clandestine street activities.               (songfacts)