Released: February 12, 2013
Songwriter: Lauryn Hill J. Cole
Producer: Lauryn Hill J. Cole Carlos Santana
[Sample: Lauryn Hill]
One day, you're gonna understand...
[Intro: J. Cole]
Hey
Can I holla at you?
Let me holla at you
[Verse 1: J. Cole]
Special, never forget the day I met you
We was destined for each other like a, son to his mother, or a
Sister and brother, man this bond is deep
We go a couple years and don't even speak
But know it's love though
Could never let 'em dirty your name
I got the utmost respect for you
Came back home and had to check for you
Word round town is you locked down
Some older nigga snatched you up gave you a rock now
Damn, hey could it be—
She like, "If you was me you wouldn't wait for me
Living fast and wouldn't mash the brakes for me"
Big city slicker nigga on a higher track
Bigger now but when she send a letter always write her back and
Time revealed, she feels that she settled too soon
While she see me go for mines and she admire that
We speak about time as if we could just buy it back
If only it was that simple, damn I miss you
[Hook: J. Cole]
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while but ain't no better time than now
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while, but—
[Verse 2: J. Cole]
You betrayed me
The day you played my momma you played me
Can't believe I let you in my heart nigga
I shoulda, followed my instincts, a stranger in my house
Only five years old but sensed danger in my house
I was too young to scrap you, but damn if I ain't want to
I'm blowing up fast and I hope these words haunt you, uh
Thirteen years, knew you more than my real pops
Put me on to 'Pac and all the rappers that killed cops
Who woulda thought that you'd leave my momma high and dry
Last words to a bitch nigga "why you lie?"
Feeling bitter so these words might seem jumbled
When you left I watched that lady crumble
I know by now you probably a old man
But I still I feel I won't be satisfied until we throw hands
For all the ass whoppings
Heard you tryna talk, tell that punk don't call me
You ain't shit, and I'm scared it rubbed off on me
[Hook: J. Cole]
May I holla at you?
I'll holla at you
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while but ain't no better time than now
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while, but—
[Verse 3: J. Cole]
I heard you on that shit, I hope it ain't true
Was hard to holla at you last time I came through
Could barely recognize you, naw nigga this ain't you
'Cause you ain't lookin' like that nigga that I once knew
And plus you act like you don't know me
We was homies, now you call me by my rap name
See me do my thing so you expected me to act strange
Ain't holla but you on my mind nigga
I don't forget the good times nigga
White tees in the club, jeans baggy as fuck
Sometimes I look back on my life, that was the happiest stuff
We had potential to be monumental, 'ville mentality
You know that old kill-or-be-killed mentality
I look at where you at now it's a, real fatality
'Cause where you s'posed to be is on top, close to me
Chasin' hoes like the old days, but now we overseas
Dawg, congratulations on your seed
Yo, my nigga
[Hook: J. Cole]
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while but ain't no better time than now
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while, but—
Hey
One day, you're gonna understand...
[Intro: J. Cole]
Hey
Can I holla at you?
Let me holla at you
[Verse 1: J. Cole]
Special, never forget the day I met you
We was destined for each other like a, son to his mother, or a
Sister and brother, man this bond is deep
We go a couple years and don't even speak
But know it's love though
Could never let 'em dirty your name
I got the utmost respect for you
Came back home and had to check for you
Word round town is you locked down
Some older nigga snatched you up gave you a rock now
Damn, hey could it be—
She like, "If you was me you wouldn't wait for me
Living fast and wouldn't mash the brakes for me"
Big city slicker nigga on a higher track
Bigger now but when she send a letter always write her back and
Time revealed, she feels that she settled too soon
While she see me go for mines and she admire that
We speak about time as if we could just buy it back
If only it was that simple, damn I miss you
[Hook: J. Cole]
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while but ain't no better time than now
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while, but—
[Verse 2: J. Cole]
You betrayed me
The day you played my momma you played me
Can't believe I let you in my heart nigga
I shoulda, followed my instincts, a stranger in my house
Only five years old but sensed danger in my house
I was too young to scrap you, but damn if I ain't want to
I'm blowing up fast and I hope these words haunt you, uh
Thirteen years, knew you more than my real pops
Put me on to 'Pac and all the rappers that killed cops
Who woulda thought that you'd leave my momma high and dry
Last words to a bitch nigga "why you lie?"
Feeling bitter so these words might seem jumbled
When you left I watched that lady crumble
I know by now you probably a old man
But I still I feel I won't be satisfied until we throw hands
For all the ass whoppings
Heard you tryna talk, tell that punk don't call me
You ain't shit, and I'm scared it rubbed off on me
[Hook: J. Cole]
May I holla at you?
I'll holla at you
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while but ain't no better time than now
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while, but—
[Verse 3: J. Cole]
I heard you on that shit, I hope it ain't true
Was hard to holla at you last time I came through
Could barely recognize you, naw nigga this ain't you
'Cause you ain't lookin' like that nigga that I once knew
And plus you act like you don't know me
We was homies, now you call me by my rap name
See me do my thing so you expected me to act strange
Ain't holla but you on my mind nigga
I don't forget the good times nigga
White tees in the club, jeans baggy as fuck
Sometimes I look back on my life, that was the happiest stuff
We had potential to be monumental, 'ville mentality
You know that old kill-or-be-killed mentality
I look at where you at now it's a, real fatality
'Cause where you s'posed to be is on top, close to me
Chasin' hoes like the old days, but now we overseas
Dawg, congratulations on your seed
Yo, my nigga
[Hook: J. Cole]
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while but ain't no better time than now
Can I holla at you?
Can I holla at you?
Ayy, let me holla at you!
Yeah, I know it's been a while, but—
Hey