Released: September 12, 2000

Featuring: Carl Thomas

Songwriter: LL Cool J Carl Thomas Vada Nobles

Producer: Vada Nobles

[Intro: LL Cool J]
I'ma give all y'all somethin', word up
Word up, all my live cats out there gonna love me for this one
Uh-huh.. they gon' be like
"Yo you, you need to listen to that joint L made"
Heh-heh.. word up
That's the joint you gotta listen to, y'knahmean?
Check this out y'all

[Verse 1: LL Cool J]
I got the key that fits the lock of a real dog's mind B
The answer to the question chicks ask most the time see
Why my man cheat and give some bitch my heat?
Slap me one day then Sunday he's so sweet?
To me and mine, this nigga's hard to define
'Cause he beefin' when he broke but he arrogant when he shine
It fucks you up, you wonder if you wastin' time
Mention marriage, he lit a Dutch and peeped out the blinds
What different niggas feels in they hearts is scary
I used to say shit like
"C'mon baby, you should be honored to share me"
She used to throw the cakes up, plus the burger was hairy
I used to have to think of shit to keep 'em comin', you niggas feel me?
Baby or no baby, I wasn't loyal or nothin'
Just me and my niggas on tour, frontin' and hittin' somethin'
Red lipstick prints all over my drawers
Oh you wanna be an actress huh? Well my movie's hardcore
Like Dungeons & Dragons; gettin' brains in a Benz wagon
Step out, jeans saggin', crew laughin'
Gettin' blazed by the fiend for ten bones a piece
Nothin' but the dog in me needin' to be released
This is us

[Chorus: Carl Thomas]
You know that I do, the best that I can
But you don't seem to love me no more, no more
I try to please you, and be your man
But you don't seem to love me no more, no more

[Verse 2: LL Cool J]
The flipside of the coin, what team you wanna join?
You in The Tunnel every Sunday exposin' your tenderloins
In every rap cat's face, with some ol' flirty shit to say
Need to go home, wash your kids up, and put your tits away
Me and my clique in motion, champagne and Alize
Got your mind bubblin crazy, wanna flip Cool J
Spend your last on your hairdo, but you ain't save a dime
To put your child through college baby, now have you?
Go get a job interview, your bad-ass kids a curfew
And skip that "Bills Bills" shit broads is goin' through
I know this prostitute who said that life ain't cute
Child born with a destiny only God can dispute
Players giggle and laugh, flashin' gats and cash
My dogs don't care about you Boo, they like your ass
Told me if I call and your man answer, ask for L
So he can say, "No L live here," our code is ill
Tell him you about to catch a flick with Sherell
Plottin' and schemin' in the shower, masturbatin' on the cell
The neighborhood hustler, that cat we all know
That nigga we grew up with, son from next do'
My dream was to flow and escape the hell below
But the demons in my life set fire to my dough
I thought about murder, I vowed my revenge
Like the devil's pumpin' hate through my heart with a syringe
This is us

[Chorus: Carl Thomas]
You know that I do, the best that I can
But you don't seem to love me no more, no more
I try to please you, and be your man
But you don't seem to love me no more, no more

[Verse 3: LL Cool J]
They say a man gon' be a man, but that's only half the scenario
You nag a cat, you givin' him a license to fuck a hoe
When a man come home late, he want his girl to say hello
Not hear all that bullshit, bout, "Nigga where you go?"
Fried chicken ready, t-shirt and panties at the stove
Messages written down, blunt rolled ready to go
Give me a hug, not too long, give me space
When a cat got issues don't need you all up in his face
Rub your breasts, kick back, smile a little
If it's rainin' outside, chill, listen to the drizzle
Now kiss my chest, call me Superman
Pull down my boxers by the Calvin Klein band
[?] wash it, enjoy the flavor, I return the favor
This behavior, should save ya
From me all night freakin', with a nineteen-year-old
Half naked Puerto Rican, creamy ass leakin
Every man will agree, when she nag it's killin' me
I don't always wanna talk about how the world is shittin' on me
I sip some Alize and meditate the pain away
And get in my own zone where I wanna be alone for solo
Reminisce with photos
And missed opportunities to make some dough flow, you know?
Chill, relax baby, support me from the background
Believe in my dreams, instead, you and your girls sat 'round
Complain about, who's tradin' ass for cash
If there ain't no trust then just us can't last
This is us, I know you feelin' that
Think about that shit, word up

[Chorus: Carl Thomas]
Your man, your man, your man
Everything we've been through yeah
All the places we've been yeah
Just don't know if I'll be the same again, ha
Ever since you walked all all over me, ha
And even if we bring this back together, ha
You know it won't be the same, no no no no
No no no no no, ha
Oh I, I, baby I, tried to be your man
Woah, oh, yeah
Hooo hooo hooo
Can't you hear me? Can't you hear me?
Woah

LL Cool J

Deriving his name from the statement “Ladies Love Cool James,” LL Cool J became a superstar rapper after his Def Jam debut in 1984. He mixed a hardcore hip-hop style from songs like “I’m Bad” with R&B style on songs like “I Need Love,” which led him to multi-platinum success and several awards. He would later venture into movies and television, write several books, and start different business ventures.

Born January 14, 1968, Queens, New York native James Todd Smith began rapping at the age of nine and started to seriously pursue rapping when he was 16 years old after his grandfather bought him music equipment, which he used to create a demo tape that was sent to numerous labels. He was signed by upstart independent label Def Jam, working with founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin to release his debut single “I Need a Beat” in 1984, which sold over 100,000 copies. This success helped Def Jam secure a distribution deal with Columbia Records.

LL released his debut album Radio in 1985, which achieved platinum status with help from the hit singles “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock the Bells.” After working exclusively with Rick Rubin on his debut, LL worked with the West Coast production crew L.A. Posse on his second album Bigger and Deffer, released in 1987. The album featured two of LL’s signature the hard-edged “I’m Bad” and the “rap ballad” “I Need Love,” which was a Top 20 pop hit, helping the album achieve double platinum status.