Song Lyrics

From the age of ten I used to do a paper round
Just so I could see the paper round
So I could splash in the porna shop
And buy sweets till my teeth would rot
I used to play football, I used to like dancing
Man I tried everything, even karate
After five years I had to pull it,
'Cause black belt can't teach you how to dodge bullets
I never knew what I wanted to be
But I knew what the man above wanted for me
They said Jehmal your smart enough to be a doctor, or a lawyer
But f*** that them jobs are boring!
And footie's getting dry like raving,
But shout out to Craig, he's some other kind that made it
I don't know my profession yet, quite
But one day I'm gonna get signed

Just write the check,
I'm out here spending money so I gotta make it,
Rest to make it
Things are different so
Don't you take this s*** for granted
When the money's in your hand yeah

My big bro's emceeing now
I might have to try this out
And Dizzee Rascal's on TV now
S***, this could be my way out
Good at English but I hate reading
Good grades, just a few exclusions
My story's inspirational
And with the right help I can execute this out to the nations
Or my words can lock down the pavement
Skip jamma's basement, Eskimo dance aside,
Winding take it straight to the big stages, that'll be amazing
But damn I gotta make some
I'm doing it independent, spent before you make some
Think I know my profession now guys, damn I got stars in my eyes

Just write the check,
I'm out here spending money so I gotta make it,
Rest to make it
Things are different so
Don't you take this s*** for granted
When the money's in your hand yeah

If you ever knew what was getting sold
Just so we can pay for videos
Eight R from the bottom we roll
So when the cheques came the first hundred bags got blown
Shout at to boy better know, me and Skeppy from the north side we charted on our own
So they approached us, we never approached the majors
And now look, we majors

Just write the check,
I'm out here spending money so I gotta make it,
Rest to make it
Things are different so
Don't you take this s*** for granted
When the money's in your hand yeah

Karl Jairzhino Daniel, Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, Jermaine Riley

The duration of Then and Now is 4:12 minutes and seconds.