Released: July 25, 1995

Songwriter: JAY-Z

Producer: Ski Beatz

[Produced by Ski]

[Intro]
This song here is dedicated to Danny Dan, may he rest in peace
Who at his funeral left us with the words that
He did it his way (uh-huh, uh-huh)
So I have no other choice but to do it my way
Uh-huh, uh-huh

[Verse 1]
Uhh, while niggas are shootin' stupid, I'm carefully plottin'
Ways to make it rotten, well-planned hits until you're long forgotten
Y'all niggas that utilize my style don't hurt me
'Cause on the low half of these rappin' ass niggas wanna work for me
Now picture me standin' on somebody block tryin' to rock
I drop bombs and niggas see me with that dough by eight o'clock
My feet never touch the concrete, just street sweep awards
While you're starin' on my dick nigga, gimme yours
I don't hassle with capsules, cause that'll make the grass grow
And get a project nigga paid up the asshole
If I'ma risk a frisk, gettin' my wrists wrapped up in steel
I'm out here trying to make a mill', my shit is real for real
While others worship guns I worship tons of money
Tons of fun, laughin' at shit that ain't even funny
So I ain't pressed to make a CD, I took it slow
80% of these niggas with deals
Can't see me with the dough, uh

[Chorus]
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of dough
I need a whole lot of dough
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of stash
I need a whole lot of cash
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of dough
I need a whole lot of dough
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of stash
I need a whole lot of cash

[Verse 2]
More ice than winter '94
I toured the 50 states with a trunk of raw
Recruitin', I'm hittin' shorties with consignment but don't play me
Oh, you gon' pay me, y'all niggas ain't crazy
I'm laid back in the five thousand Italian leather seat recliner
Under some vagina, discussin' the finer, things
My crib is mean, watchin' a hundred inch screen
Lettin' the shorties slide by once in a while and let 'em dream
They think I've mastered the game, cause dames scream my name
With passion, I tell 'em stop flashin' and start stashin'
And we'll all get off the corner, the only heat you'll feel
Is from a sauna, lettin' bubbles shoot up your ass if you wanna
And fuck that weed, it keeps you broke, invest in
Pounds of herbs and profit if niggas wanna smoke dope
But keep your nuts, 'cause this is a man's game
And we'll all pop champagne till it's a damn shame

[Chorus]
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of dough
I need a whole lot of dough
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of stash
I need a whole lot of cash
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of dough
I need a whole lot of dough
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of stash
I need a whole lot of cash

[Verse 3]
I'm shootin' to Vegas, gamblin' green-o at the casino
Schoolin' the dice like Vinny Barberino
Welcome back, the '95 version of The Mack
As soon as these ladies see me they don't know how to act
'Cause like that, nigga, never twist the cap of malt liquor
Only pop and droppin' Cristal's down my throat, take a swigga
My style, ladies intoxicated by my profile
You're rollin' with a pro with, money to blow child
You need to feel how sweet the skills be
To come and slide down Sugar Hill with me
The high roller, rolled up on your dice game
Unfold a pack of bills, grab my balls then bet it all
I never slept, 'cause sleeping keeps you deep in debt
On the block you lucky if you see my silhouette
I'm ghost, envied by most
So I keep a crew of crazy tenants that's sling toast, fucker

[Chorus]
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of dough
I need a whole lot of dough
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of stash
I need a whole lot of cash
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of dough
I need a whole lot of dough
In my lifetime, I need to see a whole lot of stash
I need a whole lot of cash

[Outro]
Haha, f'real, Jay-Z lives
Ski, Roc-A-Blok Productions, uh-huh, uh-huh
Dame Dash, ha-ha, Roc-A-Fella Records, uh huh
Everybody from Brooklyn
Sauce Money, Big Sarge, B High
DJ Clark Kent, everybody Uptown
Best Out, my V-A clique running thick
D'Shawn definitely in the house
Roughness y'all, this how we do

JAY-Z

Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, and holding the solo artist record of 14 Billboard 200 #1 albums, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter is possibly the most talented, accomplished and respected rapper of all-time. He has released 13 studio albums and five collaborative albums over his 30-year career.

Three of his albums, Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album, are considered landmarks in the genre, with all of them featured in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Hov has won 21 Grammy Awards from sixty-four nominations, making him the 10th most awarded artist of all-time.

Legendary for never writing down his lyrics, JAY-Z’s flow is considered one of the greatest to grace the genre, his wordplay and metaphorical ability is unmatched, and his live shows push the envelope of what it means to be a hip hop artist. His MTV Unplugged appearance introduced the idea of having a full band (The Roots) backing up a hip hop artist at major concerts, and during his 2004 documentary Fade to Black he doubled down, selling out Madison Square Garden (in mere minutes) while featuring an enormous live band performance.