Role Reversal by Joe Budden
I be at the mall, walk up in the store
Glance up at the wall, pick out a few kicks
I need 11′s in these, matter of fact while you at it bring em’ in a size 6
I take shorty’s shoes off, like here try on these J’s make sure them shits fit
But in my head it gets thick, saying “Joey fall back, cuz thats not your kid”
I don’t know you lil n-gga, and plus I got a son of my own
But he’s at home and the ways hes being raised I don’t really condone
Naw, cuz his pops been gone, f-ck it ill explain it to him later when he’s grown
Old enough to have a phone
Asking why mommy hate me and he got the sneak to call me whenever he’s alone so
You wouldn’t know it but I got a soft spot for you
See, we would shared the same obstacles
Looking from the outside may seem like you neglect him
But when he slips up and calls me dad, I correct him
I protect him, when baby girl start venting about you I say “Respect him!”
And though it seems out of order, my own mistakes have turned me into your biggest supporter
Fast forward, you wouldn’t believe how I could love like mine what I didn’t conceive
Trying to help him reach sh-t what I never achieved
Am I doing it for him or is it my own greed cause see,
Me and my baby moms, we don’t do the conversations
Some cramped in the back, 2 bedroom shack
With 7 people living there just congregating
So when your child with me, I’m over compensated
I’m talking 8 bedrooms 7 baths
My son thinking, that’s the sh-t that only heaven has
Mines gotta keep it cool, your’s get to see the view
White marble around the end ground, heated pool
Mines got to go through the “why”
Sh-t, yours just got to walk outside
And the funny shit, the irony of it all and its just sad
Is You walked away and I’m the step dad
And then you get on Skype, saying “how you being, whats the word”
And I be on the background listening like “this mudaf-ckers he got some nerve”
He says “bye daddy, I love you”
I be wanting to snuff you but wouldn’t want him thinking less of you
But, hes perceptive and this sh-ts wild, he picks up on everything and hes just a child
So through all my resistance, I’m afraid this 2 year old can already see the difference
He see’s you don’t provide when you’re capable
Why we never fix things while were still able too?
So you’re annoyed, it kinda of hampers me
Get my boy, I always wanted a family
Just to greet when I get to the door
You gon have to take the L, I cant give you your’s
I’ll do all the work, you aint gotta be bothered
You can be his dad, ill be his father
I relate though, so I know it hurts
Got to be uncomfortable when the roles reversed