[Intro: Jay-Z & Stevie Wonder]. Good morn' or ev ening friends. Smile you recordin'?. [Verse 1: Jay-Z]. Slammin' Bentley doors like we invented doors. 20 years ago we drove Bentley Azures. We drinkin' Cris stylin' yeah. Kept the tray on me like Chris Paulin'. Drinkin' Ace of Spades like it's codeine now. Tryna put a million on the whole team now. Push through the pain so we can see new life. So all the ladies havin' babies see a sacrifice. Mama had four kids but she's a lesbian. Had to pretend so long that she's a thespian. Had to hide in the closet so she medicate. Society shame and the pain was too much to take. Cried tears of joy when you fell in love. Don't matter to me if it's a him or her. I just wanna see you smile through all the hate. Marie Antoinette baby let 'em eat cake. [Chorus: Jay-Z & Stevie Wonder]. Bad times turn to good memories smile. Even when I'm gone and you remember me smile. Good times never fade away smile. Even if I'm not with you here today smile. Good morn' or evening friends. Smile. Here's your friendly announcer. Smile. [Verse 2: Jay-Z]. Far as draft picks my name did not get called. Bet before I go I put a billion on the board. Hall of Fame Hov I did it all without a pen. Y'all knew that was comin'. I had to remind y'all again huh?. Flyin' paper planes through the projects. Now the whole projects on my jet. Now you see the real in the front row. In every one of y'all televised shows. Super facts. Niggas switched sides traded pride. we don't do all that. A loss ain't a loss it's a lesson. Appreciate the pain it's a blessin'. [Chorus: Jay-Z & Stevie Wonder]. Bad times turn to good memories smile. Even when I'm gone and you remember me smile. Good times never fade away smile. Even if I'm not with you here today smile. Good morn' or evening friends. [Verse 3: Jay-Z]. I mastered my aesthetics. I know you often heard me wax poetic. 'Bout bein' back in the Lexus. But trust me that was nothin'. A nigga up in the hundreds of millions. I have no ceilings ah this that feelin' I'm that boy. Anita Baker's "You Bring Me Joy". Slappin' out of the toy the separation is clear. In my rear-view mirror. objects is further than they appear. Oh yeah I was born with a pair. Playin' for high stakes. Norman Cake he looked up and out of the Lear. How niggas can't relate?. Fuck a slice of the apple pie want my own cake. Chargin' my own fate. Respect Jimmy Iovine. But he gotta respect the Elohim as a whole new regime. And niggas playin' for power huh. So our music is ours. Niggas only own houses. Ours was "Fuck you pay me". Now it's "Fuck payin' me I pay you. Put the rest away for Blue". That blood money I giggle at it. Can't even support my Mrs. habit. Jewelry shoppin' in Paris. All y'all jewelers should be embarrassed huh. Blood diamonds drippin' we cute. I still ain't trippin' that's life winners and losers. Drug dealers and abusers America likes me ruthless. My therapist said I relapsed. I said "Prehaps I Freudian slipped in European whips". God sent me to break the chain. I'm the true and livin'. God in the flesh the rest of these niggas is vain. A stain on the white suit inferior Iq. Niggas'll rip your shit off Tidal just to spite you. Ahh what did I do?. 'Cept try to free you. Niggas'll love you but hate you 'cause they can't be you. Dump 'em all in the bayou uh. Everybody wave bye to the guy. you thought you could lie to. This was meant to be a haiku huh. But my story's too wide to fit inside the line. And too old these that drugs. Heroin flow I spaz on the stove. This is Hov no flex zone nigga who lied to you?. Look you a pedestrian. Don't ever question the security I provided you. Oh y'all thought I was washed?. I'm at the cleaners. Launderin' dirty money like the Teamsters huh. Shout out to Hoffa back home he in the church. When I heard you got booked that shit hurt. Feared for you bro we know the system don't work. Take a young niggas freedom over some dirt. Yet it's legal in Colorado. Yeah we deny. Black entrepreneurs free enterprise. That's why it's a black market. that's why it's called "the trap". That's why it's called "the projects". 'cause it's exactly that!. All these people was gon' kill me heh. 'Cause the more I reveal me. the more they 'fraid of the real me. Welcome back Carter smile. [Outro: Gloria Carter]. Living in the shadow. Can you imagine what kind of life it is to live?. In the shadows people see you as happy and free. Because that's what you want them to see. Living two lives happy but not free. You live in the shadows. for fear of someone hurting your family. or the person you love. The world is changing and they say it's time to be free. But you live with the fear of just being me. Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be. No harm for them no harm for me. But life is short and it's time to be free. Love who you love because life isn't guaranteed. Smile