[Intro: Jay-Z]
How can you fairly assess something from the outside looking in?
There's gotta be them times you'll be wrong, nah'mean?
How can a muh'fucka go round and hate a n***a
He never even met that, he don't even know and shit?
I think this rap shit is all beef

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
Y'all don't even know every day I'm living with stress
Got up out the streets, you think a n***a could rest
Can't even enjoy myself at a party unless
I'm on the dance floor, hot ass vest
You think I'm freaking these chicks, right?
Try not to brush against they chest
You get a lawsuit for shit like that, I feel trapped
Swear to everything when I leave this earth
It's gon' be on both feet, never knees in the dirt
You could try me fucka but when I squeeze it hurts
Fine, we'll lose two lives, yours and mines
Gimme any amount of time, don't let Ms. Carter grieve
At the funeral parlor, dripping tears on my sleeve
Told the judge, "Didn't budge, it was him or me."
And I ain't trying to be hard but I'm guilty as charged
Put my mercy on this court and my faith in God
And pray hard none of my nephews wanna be stars, lucky me
[Chorus: Karen Anderson]
You only know what you see
You don't understand what it takes to be me

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
I hate all girls with ulterior motives
That's why I'm 20 plus years old, no sons, no daughters
Hate putting my life in the hands of fake promoters
Hear the hate in my voice, right? I hate that you noticed
N***as wanna strip you to the bone for shit you own
Hate a n***a like that, faggot, get your own
Hate that I can't roam the street without the clip and chrome
Knowing one day I'ma have to flip, c'mon
You know the shit don't stop 'til the Cris' don't pop
And you have to kill a n***a and your wrist don't lock
I'm trapped, the whole world's against me in fact
But ain't no turning back, bring it on
Hate the price of fame 'cause it cost too much
Can I live without y'all n***as saying I floss too much?
Hate the way you make this hate flow all through us
Steady looking for flaws through us, lucky me

[Chorus: Karen Anderson, Jay-Z]
You only know what you see
You don't understand what it takes to be me
You only know what you see
Since I was four years old
I been told, everything that glitters ain't gold
You only know what you see
You don't understand what it takes to be me
And now that I've arrived
I see those truths unfold before my eyes in a world so cold
[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
And n***as see you in the street, pretend to be friendly
But I know any type of success breeds envy
I know in the back of your mind you're conjuring ways to hem me
Leave my friends in a circle pouring out Henny
But G's is heaven bound so how I'm gon' receive
Anything y'all pour to the ground next time throw it up
And ain't nothing changed so even in my afterlife I show it up
Don't grieve for me, my art remains
Like a dart from the speaker to your heart
Spiritually through the portal now my words is immortal
Don't plan to leave without a fight, I plant a seed I give life
Though I can't see past the girl's greed to call her wife
Next time you're thinking heist better be precise
'Cause I'm fully prepared, one of us is gon' leave here
I have no regrets even though I won't see grow
My godson Boogie, Sonny and Remo, lucky me

[Chorus: Karen Anderson, Jay-Z]
You only know what you see
I been told, since I was four years old
Everything that glitters ain't gold
And now that I've arrived
You don't understand what it takes to be me
I see those truths unfold before my eyes in a world so cold
Since I was four years old
You only know what you see
I been told, everything that glitters ain't gold
And now that I've arrived
You don't understand what it takes to be me
I see those truths unfold before my eyes in a world so cold
You only know what you see
You don't understand what it takes to be me
You only know what you see
You don't understand what it takes to be me
You only know what you see
You don't understand what it takes to be me