I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be great
I'm gonna be

Verse 1:
About me? I been rapping since 14
To impress a boy in 9th grade, tryna make it seem
Like I'm the cool girl in class instead of a cute girl with ass
They used to think I was a hoe, didn't know I had flow with these raps
'Cause I never had siblings or a mom or a dad
I wrote songs to move on past what I didn't have
My great grandmother raised me as best as she could
Being a poor single parent just trying to do good
There was a void I never filled setting fire in my soul
Our relationship was tense and started to take a toll
I ran away from home, leaving the safety that I'd known
But I knew I had to do it if I ever want to grow
I got to college on a full scholarship at the UC
Became the first in my fam to touch a degree
Pavin' a path for others like the one paved for me
I'm tryna be somebody my grandma could watch on T.V.

Chorus:
I wanna be
I wanna be on
I wanna be
I wanna be known
I wanna be
I wanna be everything I know I can be

I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be great
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be placed
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be everything I knew I'd become

Verse 2:
Making a living in the Bay ain't a game mayne it's hard
Neighborhoods getting gentrified by the boulevard
So I always kept three jobs and some side work
Been 10 years at Marriott at the front clerk
My main job now is teaching kids how to rap
Not just that but Hip Hop culture and it's past
Got a fourth, fifth grade, and kindergarten class
And a bunch of teaching expenses to write off on my tax
Also taught middle school dance in addition to rhyme
While picking up some paid gigs on my off time
I'm a Zumba instructor, a rape counselor, and more
10,000 Degrees was the non-profit I work for
There, developing curriculum is my craft
Perfect every Powerpoint and train the whole staff
They bring it to the class, deliver it to the students
even when I'm not in the room, I'm still an influence

Chorus:
I wanna be
I wanna be on
I wanna be
I wanna be known
I wanna be
I wanna be everything I know I can be

I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be great
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be placed
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be everything I knew I'd become

Verse 3:
I met my dad when I was seventeen
But even then it was in jail through a phone and T.V. screen
A little after that I became homeless - I was sleepin’ in my car
Sitting alone with my pain just wishin' upon the stars
If you asked how I survived I couldn’t really say how
But I knew there was hope - I was close to a way out
Then found out I was pregnant and that news came heavy
Nine weeks in - I miscarried while working at Chevys
Some folks that I had stayed with had me robbed up in a set up
Tried to brag about it later, my homie there had 'em wet up
I never asked him to but it felt good to know he’d ride for me
He did it on some love, I never even let him slide in me
Maybe I shoulda cause I ended up with the wrong guy
Who left some bruises on my arm and tears in my eyes
Sometimes I think about it and still feel what I felt
But I cant come to regret it cause that pain made me myself

Chorus:
I wanna be
I wanna be on
I wanna be
I wanna be known
I wanna be
I wanna be everything I know I can be

I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be great
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be placed
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be everything I knew I'd become

Outro:
I'm gonna be on
I'm gonna be known
I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be everything I knew I'd become

Kaila Love. 2019. ZG on the beat.