Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Isley, James Fauntleroy - How Much a Dollar Cost lyrics

How much a dollar really cost?
The question is detrimental
Paralyzin' my thoughts
Parasites in my stomach keep me
With a gut feeling, y'all
Gotta see how I’m chillin' once
I park this luxury car
Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo
"20 on pump 6
" dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
Twenty years ago, can't forget
Now I can lend him a ear or two
How to stack these residuals tenfold
The liberal concept of what men'll do
"20 on 6, " he didn't hear me
Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
My American tongue was leery
Walked out the gas station
A homeless man with a semi tan complexion
Asked me for ten Rand
Stressin' about dry land


Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
A piece of crack that he wanted
I knew he was smokin' he begged and pleaded
Asked me to feed him twice
I didn't believe it told him, "Beat it"
Contributin' money just for his pipe
I couldn't see it he said, "My son
Temptation is one thing that I've defeated
Listen to me, I want a single bill from you
Nothin' less, nothin' more"
I told him I ain't have it and closed my door
Tell me, how much a dollar cost?

It's more to feed your mind
Water, sun and love, the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe

He's starin' at me in disbelief
My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me
I grab my key
He's starin' at me, I started the car
Then I tried to leave
And somethin' told me to keep it
In park until I could see
The reason why he was mad at a stranger
Like I was supposed to save him
Like I'm the reason he's homeless and
Askin' me for a favor he's starin' at me
His eyes followed me with no laser
He's starin' at me
I notice that his stare is contagious
'Cause now I'm starin' back at him
Feelin' some type of disrespect
If I could throw a bat at him
It'd be aimin' at his neck
I never understood someone beggin' for goods
Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could
And this particular person just
Had it down pat
Starin' at me for the longest
Until he finally asked
"Have you ever opened up Exodus 14?
A humble man is all that we ever need"
Tell me, how much a dollar cost?

It's more to feed your mind
Water, sun and love, the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe

Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment
I never met a transient
That demanded attention
They got me frustrated
Indecisive and power trippin'
Sour emotions got me lookin'
At the universe different
I should distance myself
I should keep it relentless
My selfishness is what got me here
Who the fuck I'm kiddin'?
So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum
Crumbs and pennies, I need all of mines
And I recognize this type of
Panhandlin' all the time
I got better judgment, I
Know when nigga's hustlin', keep in mind
When I was strugglin', I did compromise
Now I comprehend
I smell Grandpa's old medicine
Reekin' from your skin
Moonshine and gin, nigga you're babblin'
Your words ain't flatterin'
I'm imaginin' Denzel but lookin' at O'Neal
Kazaam is sad thrills
Your gimmick is mediocre the jig is up
I seen you from a mile away losin' focus
And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy
He looked at me and said
"Your potential is bittersweet"
I looked at him and said
"Every nickel is mines to keep"
He looked at me and said, "Know the truth
It'll set you free
You're lookin' at the Messiah
The son of Jehovah, the higher power
The choir that spoke the word
The Holy Spirit the nerve of Nazareth
And I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost
The price of having a spot in Heaven
Embrace your loss I am God"

I washed my hands, I said my grace
What more do you want from me?
Tears of a clown
Guess I'm not all what it's all meant to be
Shades of grey will never change if I condone
Turn this page
Help me change to right my wrongs