A Tale Of 2 Citiez

## Song by J. Cole

"**A Tale Of 2 Citiez**" is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released as the fifth track from his third studio album, *2014 Forest Hills Drive* (2014). It samples the 2013 song "Blocka" by Pusha T.

## Personnel

* Anderson "Vinylz" Hernandez – writer, producer
* Brian Gardner – mastering engineer
* Jack Mason – assistant recording engineer
* Jermaine Cole – vocals, writer
* Juro "Mez" Davis – recording engineer, mixing engineer
* Kaye Fox – additional background vocals
* Mark Pitts – producer
* Rose "T.S." Desandies – additional background vocals
* Sean Kellet – assistant recording engineer
* Yolanda Renee – additional background vocals

## Gallery

* Audio
* Live

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

Uh

[Verse 1]

Since a youngin' always dreamed of gettin' rich

Look at me, my n\*\*\*a

Fantasize about a white picket fence

With some trees, my n\*\*\*a

Used to want a Pathfinder with some tints

That's all I need, my n\*\*\*a

Throw some 20's on that bitch and get it rinsed

But now I see, my n\*\*\*a

That the world's a lot bigger ever since

Picked up the paper

And they say my n\*\*\*a Eddie caught a body, I'm convinced

Anybody is a killer, all you gotta do is push 'em to the limits

Fuck being timid in the Civic

Politicin' with the pushers and the pimps

I'm tryna write a story, can I get a glimpse?

Yeah, can I get a glimpse?

[Chorus 1]

Last night I had a bad dream (Bad dream, bad dream)

That I was trapped in this city

Then I asked is that really such a bad thing? (Bad thing, bad thing)

They robbin' n\*\*\*as on the daily

Can you blame a n\*\*\*a that ain't never had things?

(What's the value of a thing?) Guess not

Last night they pulled up on my n\*\*\*a at the light like—

Ugh, nice watch, run it

Hands in the air now, hands in the air, run it

Hands in the air now, hands in the air, run it

Hands in the air now, hands in the air

Hands in the air now, hands in the air

[Bridge]

Small town n\*\*\*a, Hollywood dreams

I know that everything that glitters ain't gold

I know the shit ain't always good as it seems

But tell me 'til you get it how could you know?

How could you know? (How could you know? How could you know? How could you know? How could you know? How could you know?)

How could you know? (How could you know? How could you know? How could you know? How could you know? How could you know?)

[Verse 2]

Listen up, I'm 'bout to go and get rich

Fuck with me, my n\*\*\*a

We gon' circle 'round the Ville and hit a lick

Cop some trees, my n\*\*\*a

And some powder, bag it up and make it flip

You gon' see, my n\*\*\*a

One day we gon' graduate and cop a brick

And that's the key, my n\*\*\*a

Listen up, I'm 'bout to go and get rich

Stand back and watch if you want to, n\*\*\*a

Me, I want my pockets fat, a badder bitch

Tired of seein' n\*\*\*as flaunt, I wanna flaunt too, n\*\*\*a

Watch some rollers in a fuckin' Crown Vic

Tryna lock a n\*\*\*a up, that's what they won't do, n\*\*\*a

Wanna know a funny thing about this shit?

Even if you let 'em kill your dream

It'll haunt you, n\*\*\*a, haunt you

[Chorus 2]

Last night I had a bad dream

That I was trapped in this city

Then I asked is that really such a bad thing?

I look around like—

Do you wanna be another n\*\*\*a, that ain't never had things? (What's the value of a thing?)

Guess not

Last night we pulled up on a n\*\*\*a at the light like

(You know what the fuck it is, n\*\*\*a, run that shit right now)

Uh, nice watch, run it

Hands in the air now, hands in the air, run it

Hands in the air now, hands in the air, run it

Hands in the air now, hands in the air

Hands in the air now, hands in the air

[Outro]

Father forgive me for my childish ways

I look outside and all the clouds are gray

I need your hands to take me miles away

Your wish is my command, my command, my command

But before you go I've got to warn you now

Whatever goes up surely must come down

And you'll get your piece, but know peace won't be found

So why just take me man, take me man, take me man

Your wish is my command, my command, my command