This is my language
Check it out, ya
The risk of blunderin' to rep in front of a couple a hundred kids knowin' my licks is humblin'
Spit the struggle of an addict to puff in them swisher split but the light that was lit, I quickly run from it
I turn away from that source inside, a slicker for happiness, thinkin' I need a store to buy it
Recordin's priceless but look at how important ice is
I thought rhymin was forever now it's imported diamonds
My point is eyein', music that's absorbed my life an'
You glorify guns, they bust sex and drugs of course they'll try it
And I can't even front like I didn't, cause I still do and that's why I'm spittin'.
I'm lookin' for this thing called moderation that I heard some found
The only problem with drugs is sometimes you gotta come down
I lived half my life numb and bud drowned and rum, vodka how many bucks 'ave I spent on dubstyle
I'm 23, look at my lungs now, the amount of THC from the swish of sweet blunt count?
I can't even conceive, that's why I run wild. In these streets like I was 13, like fuck now
I make that revolution music. But not for the army, A reminder against the vices that harm me
'Cause I could... never see how affected my lung is, you only get one shot at life, no ad-libs or punch ins
This is my language
Nah, nah,
My mom once told me that we're not finished products, homie, authors of a book, and the object is to write it slowly
This is my last 16, I'll go for it. Four years in college and this is all I have to show for it
I said, this is my last song, so here's my passion, 18 tracks, each one an attempt to take my mask off
Woo! The oral tradition's been passed on, while she ride the rhythm to the points that I'm a blast off
Hah, And as the music absorbs through me to be like don p. to be hearin' beats from my dorm room
XP! It's been a joy and blessin', my boy till my death and my step-cousin with voice from heaven
Yes, Budo! It was you who produced through, I am connected and now our friendship is the truth, dude
My last two, hafranoon [?] to acourse [?], I dedicate it to you, but this album's already yours, c'mon,
This is my language
I'm proud to say this is my language
I'm out
That's it
The language of my world
It's been a long journey, and a struggle indeed, and I'm so glad that it's over
Thank you for listening
Until next time
Peace and blessings
I'm gettin older now
23 years old and half of me just wants to make the move and go and settle down
The other half's like, "Hell no, you better mess around. Don't let me down, especially when you got an album comin' out"
When I first saw you, I'm like "Aw shit, goddamit look what God did. Hail Mary Jesus! "
Three years later I'm sittin' in our apartment thinkin' about all the places that my heart's been
I mean it's crazy right?
This is maybe wife [?] - the one that found me in a drought, pulled me out and made me right
Through the ups and downs we stuck it out and now you're leavin' town
Another couple thousand miles south, which leads to crazy fights
[Phew]
And I don't know how to deal with it, I gotta be real with ya
Each day I get filled with the - feelin' of realer love, I wanna continue, what
But,
This ain't the same old love song cause we been through the depths where all the trust is gone
For months on end all we have is phone calls
What,
You know what makes it worth it?
To watch someone progress
To have them watch you
Someone that you respect and value and cry to
It's something so comforting cause it could bring so much truth
But then magic can be stagnant and the relationship doesn't move
The commitments to yourself
And that you're always learning, to acknowledge you're both perfect and still wanna keep working
To progress as a person but as an individual entity and then come together as a unit but still maintain that identity
It sounds so elementary but it's so complex, it's the most delicate balance to get away from attachments
But it could work
I'm attemptin' it,
Nah, we're livin' it
To keep defining and redefining what love and commitment is
Sing that, come on
Every time I can't ignore you
Every time I come around I see your face always movin'
Just workin on dependency
Sometimes the thing you love the most in this world you just gotta let it be
It hurts to have to set it free
And if it does, it doesn't work we both know that it was meant to breath
Can't hide from experiences
And there's so many people out there in this world were gonna find interestin'
It's only a matter of time before that right connection
Thousands of miles away, whatchu expect?
You see I'm wonderin' where are you?
Tearin' the label off of a beer as I'm sittin at this barstool
You would tell me not to call you, to never use you as a fall through
To sit with my emotion, but the lump in my throat builds as the heart rips open up
And not even your voice alone can shift to go and close it shut
So I just let it flow through me
Feelin' lifted from the spirit like the bag in American Beauty
And if your life truly flashes in front of you, when you die just know the best time of my life has been lovin' you
I love you, you know
Let's get em, c'mon
We been together but in my head,
We would break apart; I would hold my heart, tied inside
But you knew that my soul could not be given to anybody easily
Woah-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh
(Ohhhhhhh yeah)
Woah-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh
It's a beautiful thing isn't it?
One more time Ev,
Every time I can't ignore you
(Feels good don't it?)
I don't know why
But it's like I can't stay quiet
This is my voice
I can't let it die inside me
See I'll be scared if there wasn't a riot
Pushin and pullin, grabbin some hair,
Pukin and fuckin up the sidewalk
This battle makes it interestin
I abide desires
Like a dog pissin on the hydrant
Just to spite the fire
It's not to be taken lightly
The page is a set of eyelids
The booth is an instrument that God created
To record us tryin to find him
But don't let the word throw you off
Religion and spirit are two different pilots
Just know that it's bigger than me and my ego
When I'm flyin
Take me higher
I've got somethin to pray for
Please leave me when I'm guided
Who said that life is cinema
This is epic, be present
I'm right here
Selfish, selfish, selfish me, yeah, me
Yeah, girlfriend, break-up, new one, one-night stand, cheat, cheat, repeat that
Drug use, clean up, drug use, drug use, clean up, drug use, rehab
Fuck you I suck dude, self-loathing, self-esteem, ego, then me again
Put a soundcheck right in the middle
A never ending quest to try and get fans
There you have a beginning, a middle and a really shitty end
Nah, give me a break through, can I get a montage, come on I need that
Humble me, give me a conflict, a hardship, let me break through this cement
They're gonna be so disappointed when they roll the credits in
I realized that my movie sucked and I was the only one that could edit it
Well the course, the chain of events, that would be the evidence, some say it's coincidence
I say I found something greater than myself and started accepting it
And I can see, feel, taste and smell again
And I'm the only one with the hammer to break this shell I'm in
It's gonna take me crackin' this mirror to finally be myself again
Met my potential a long time ago and I'm not stopping til I resemble him
I've been obsessed with words ever since I was a little buck
Then I grew bigger and figured drawing pads weren't big enough
I wanted to use a wall, but in school was taught not to
And that graffiti was the root of all evil
It's just letters and making them unnatural shapes
So clean caps, surgical masks is actually sayin activate
To coat our empire
Liftin' mad cans of paint from Fred Meyers
Empty 'em out under bridges and walls of alleyways
Givin the graph task force a sour taste
The same flavor that makes haters salivate
It was my goal as a minor, caught a felony, so now what they
I don't struggle to prove nothing to you
I get a head full of letters,
I'm cuttin 'em loose, speakin the truth
Cousin, it ain't a gift, it's a habit
Whether good or bad, I won't regret it when I'm lookin back
Cause I'm a letterhead
I'm a letterhead
So don't sweat the technique
When I represent me
Get em
Lunch time, I was tryin to bring that realness back
Fuck the lunch line, cause I ain't have no sprill or sprash
I was on the way to Fred Meyers just to fill my bags
Steppin in the home improvement section with my sticky hands
That's why I got these baggy pants, to conceal the stash
But undercover security can't conceal his badge
I know every single camera that this building has
And I racked so many cans that I'm almost feeling bad
That's exactly what a bad look ain't
Cause it's quite good, like the backwood taste
And I never stole a Snickers but I have took paint
So hello my name is pickers in the black book, thanks
Shit, I'd be admired if I was trying harder
But I'm a riot starter, beef igniter
Just a street writer but I hope to die a martyr
Freedom fighter, woulda stolen pilot marker
Why you got all that spray paint on your finger tips?
Cause I'm a letterhead
I'm a letterhead
So don't sweat the technique
While I represent me
I was just a kid in Seattle doin kick flips in a flannel
With some fat cats, I wracked off midget enamels
In Cali, they rhyme chateaus with mellows
My posse was on Broadway, scribin on the Metros
Gettin pound by the bus driver
"Hell nah! "
I was a letterhead, my life was graffiti
Letters I lived, I put pride in that mean street
Adventures to your ribs, I'm not goin to the precinct
You can buff me, you can cuff me
You can't stop me
I'm young, cocky, gettin up with my sharpie
Michelangelo with the concrete
That little ball in the paint can was the metronome to my heart beat
I put my freedom on the line, for the letters on the walls
Shubu, patriot, flat black up in my palm
Cherry red in my blood, I bleed the ink through my arms
It's like America bombin buildings and not gettin caught
Nope I'm not gettin caught
Cause I'm a letterhead
Yes I am, I've been tellin you that
Don't sweat the technique, while I'm killing these beats
[Hook:]
In the darkest of days
Men become kings and still die of old age
While the children become gods
At last the whole world begins to play
[Verse 1: Pearl Dragon]
My body is adorned with thorns
King with a crown of thorns
I wash my feet and kiss the ground I'm on
I wash my feet kiss the ground I'm on, I'm on
Jump niggas cause they thought I was a pawn
But knowin' I'm a king I'm about to get on
This the sirens for the quiet of the storm
Ring that alarm, R-r-ring that alarm
Yo her body was adorn adorned,
And I adored her, so much that I had to ignore her
Her body I explored it, like an explor-her
Her first name was Dora, her first name was Dora
I opened up the door and saw
My queen getting raw, getting raw
So like me beatin Resevoir Dog
Had to hit it raw, no not raw dog
I was a, hog, but I don't eat the pork
She was a swine, crippling' my time
On the cast of my pearl, yo she wasn't my girl
This wasn't reality, this wasn't my world
Like Jimi or Kurt before
King with a crown I shall be adored
Even if I have, always been ignored
I was not the norm I will not be ignored
[Hook]
[Verse 2: Thomas Gray]
Young world this the story of the kings
A nigga couldn't decide should I rap or should I sing
And since God blessed me with my wings
I'm like a lil' nappy-head Bill Russell with the rings, feel me?
Lately globetrottin' through a lotta traps
Friends become rats, I'm talkin Judas in expensive slacks
Fuck em, to tell the truth now I'm over that
Sucker 'I'll be suckers, it don't matter that you roll with pack
I steady grab my nuts and you can roll with that
Pardon my back, and the weight on my shoulders black
History's on my side, these niggas hard in they cars
But in the streets they can't look me in the eye
(Look me in the eye, look me in the eye)
(Champagne Champagne)
[Verse 3: Macklemore]
(Can I get em?)
Stand like a man, move like a legend
Talk but with action, that's how you'll be remembered
The greats learned that humility is a weapon
Sever ties with the part of you too big to learn a lesson
Sit in silence, to fight the mind and try to find the present
Cause we only get a couple chances to be epic
And I'm connected, like God plugged my headphones
Directly into heaven and told me to go and get em with this
Mic cord, I am, nothing you can tell me
They bark when they talk but they walk like the legless
The purpose of my art, is for people to respect me
I'm not a king I'm a servant to the desires that tempt me
Only way to escape the cage in a valley of roots
Be a mirror to the people when they're searchin for truth
Only way to escape the cage in a valley of roots
Claim the mirror, my people, keep searchin for you
I was seven years old, when I got my first pair
And I stepped outside
And I was like, Momma, this air bubble right here, it's gonna make me fly
I hit back-court, and when I jumped, I jumped, I swear I got so high
I touched the net, Momma I touched the net, this is the best day of my life
Air Max's wAS next,
That air bubble, that mesh
The box, the smell, the stuffin', the tread, in school
I was so cool
I knew that I couldn't crease 'em
My friends couldn't afford 'em
Four stripes, some Air-didas
On the court I wasn't the best, but my kicks were like the pros
Yo, I stick out my tongue so everyone could see that logo
Nike Air Flight, but bad was so dope
And then my friend Carlos' brother got murdered for his fours, whoa
See he just wanted a jump shot, but they wanted to start a cult though
Didn't wanna get caught, from Genesee Park to Othello
You could clown for those Probings, with the velcro
Those were not tight
I was trying to fly without leaving the ground,
Cause I wanted to be like Mike, right
Wanted to be him, I wanted to be that guy, I wanted to touch the rim
I wanted to be cool, and I wanted to fit in,
I wanted what he had, America, it begins
[Chorus:]
I want to fly
Can you take me far away
Give me a star to reach for
Tell me what it takes
And I'll go so high
I'll go so high
My feet won't touch the ground
Stitch my wings
And pull the strings
I bought these dreams
That all fall down
We want what we can't have, commodity makes us want it
So expensive, damn, I just got to flaunt it
Got to show 'em, so exclusive, this that new shit
A hundred dollars for a pair of shoes I would never hoop in
Look at me, look at me, I'm a cool kid
I'm an individual, yea, but I'm part of a movement
My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it
They told me to just do it, I listened to what that swoosh said
Look at what that swoosh did
See it consumed my thoughts
Are you stupid, don't crease 'em, just leave 'em in that box
Strangled by these laces, laces I can barely talk
That's my air bubble and I'm lost, if it pops
We are what we wear, we wear what we are
But see I look inside the mirror and think Phil Knight tricked us all
Will I stand for change, or stay in my box
These Nikes help me define me, but I'm trying to take mine, off
[Chorus:]
I want to fly
Can you take me far away
Give me a star to reach for
Tell me what it takes
And I'll go so high
I'll go so high
My feet won't touch the ground
Stitch my wings
And pull the strings
I bought these dreams
That all fall down
They started out, with what I wear to school
That first day, like these are what make you cool
And this pair, this would be my parachute
So much more than just a pair of shoes
Nah, this is what I am
What I wore, this is the source of my youth
This dream that they sold to you
For a hundred dollars and some change
Consumption is in the veins
Now nod your head and wake up.
I see so many people lost who really try to pretend
But am I just another white boy who has caught on to the trend
When I take a step to the mic is hiphop closer to the end?
'Cause when I go to shows the majority have white skin
They marketed the windmill, the air flair and head spin
And white rappers albums really get the most spins
The face of hip hop has changed a lot since Eminem
And if he's taking away black artists' profits I look just like him
Claimed a culture that wasn't mine, the way of the american
Hip hop is gentrified and where will all the people live
It's like the central district, beacon hill to the south end
Being pushed farther away because of what white people did, now
Where's my place in a music that's been taken by my race
Cultural appropriated by the white face
And we don't want to admit that this is existing
So scared to acknowledge the benefits of our white privilege
Cause it's human nature to want to be part of something different
Especially when your ancestors are European Christians
And most whites don't want to acknowledge this is occurring
Cause we got the best deal, the music without the burden
Of being black in a system that really wants you to rock
Cause all you need is a program and you can go and make hiphop
And we hate the mainstream cause we're the ones that took it
Now we listen to Aesop Rock and wear t-shirts that say Brooklyn
But it's not about black and white right
I mean good music is good music regardless of what you look like
But when you don't give them props isn't that selfish?
That's like saying rock was actually started by Elvis
So where does this leave me?
I feel like I pay dues but I'll always be a white MC
I give everything I have when I write a rhyme
But that doesn't change the fact that this culture's not mine
But I'm gonna be me so please be who you are
This is something that's effortless and shouldn't be hard
I said I'm gonna be me so please be who you are
But we still owe 'em 40 acres now we've stolen their 16 bars
Hiphop started off in a block that I've never been to
To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through
If I think I understand just because I flow too
That means I'm not keeping it true, nope
Hiphop started off in a block that I've never been to
To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through
If I think I understand just because I flow too
That means I'm not keeping it true, I'm not keeping it true
Now I don't rap about guns so they label me conscious
But I don't rap about guns cause I wasn't forced into the projects
See I was put in the position where I could chose my options
Blessed with the privilege that my parent's could send me to college
Now who's going to shows the kids on the block starving
Or the white people with dough that can relate to my content?
Marketed the music now adapted to the lifestyle
What happened to jazz and rock and roll is happening right now
Where's my place in the music that's been taken by the media
With white corperations controlling what their feeding ya
I brought up aesop rock but I'm not even dissing dude
We love hiphop and what do you think caucasians are listening to
And I speak freely when I write this
If a black emcee examined race there goes half their fan base, white kids
And this is so true. and we didn't even have to fight the system
We just went and picked up the microphone too
And we got good at it so we should be rapping
But only supporting them is like burning Jimmy and buying Clapton
Now Clapton's incredible. but no Jimmy no foundation
So here comes history and the cultural appropriation
White kids with do rags trying to practice their accents
From the suburbs to the upperclass mastering a language
But hiphop is not just memorizing words
It's rooted in authenticity something you literally can't learn
But I'm gonna be me so please be who you are
This is something that's effortless and shouldn't be hard
I said I'm gonna be me so please be who you are
But as I'm blessed with the privilege, they're still left with the scars
Hiphop started off in a block that I've never been to
To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through
If I think I understand just because I flow too
That means I'm not keeping it true, nope
Hiphop started off in a block that I've never been to
To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through
If I think I understand just because I flow too
Yesterday, forget it
Tomorrow is, nada
The present is, right here, through the breath, watch it
Atheist Jesus piece, hangin' on a cross
We sit and discuss God on lawn chairs
About how we got here,
What it is, what it isn't, shit
Fate versus faith, scrimmagin' with coincidence
Leave out the market and hold up on the business end
Focus on the genuine, with everything else, you can shed the skin
I was a couple moves away from being dead
In that ER overdosin', eyes bleedin' red
I fell in love, made an album, got a buzz
Lost it all, sobered up and guess what?
Now we meet again
And I'm back, finally just laughin'
Expectations are resentments waiting to happen
Studying the Dharma, Karma of a pastor and his practice
Bahá'u'lláh Buddha, God, to the mountaintop and I'm traveling
Learnin', yes, reflectin' on what matters
People, permanence, lack of attachments
It's space and time, a couple man-made distractions
The measure of a spirit that no human can ever capture
Church, this booth is my Vatican
I don't control life, but I can control how I react to it
Student of the breath, brick beats and balancin'
Desire versus truth until I finally find happiness
I was put here to do something before I'm lyin' in that casket
I'd be lyin' on the beat if I said I didn't know what that is
The world's a stage and we play a character, I found him
It took me 20 something years and a bunch of shitty sound checks
I'm not gonna be content, until I find gratitude
Regardless of my sales or the record deals they're handin' you
If the next generation takes our legacy and samples you
We'll have a bunch of mp3's and misled kids to pass 'em to
I use my veins to create the color I paint from
Delve into something 'til my heart becomes my paint brush
I told my mama I'm not stoppin' 'til my name's up
Thinkin' those comments on that blog is gonna save us
Searchin' for everything but Gods and validation
Get insecure and then we start blamin' the haters
Used to look to women to fill a part of me that was vacant
Truth, the only thing that I ever used in moderation
So I stare into this paper instead of sitting at a cubicle
Take all ugly shit inside and try to make it beautiful
Use the cement from rock bottom and make it musical
So the people can relate to where I've been,
Where I'm going, what I've seen, what I've heard
From the guts, fuck the glory
Just a person on a porch putting it all into recording
Many in my past and many that came before me
What, what, what, what…
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got 20 dollars in my pocket
I, I, I’m hunting, lookin’ for a come-up
This is fucking awesome.
Walk into the club like what up, I got a big cock
I’m just pumped, I bought some shit from a thrift shop
Ice in the fridge is so damn frosty,
The people like “damn, that’s a cold ass honkey”
Rollin’ in hella deep, headed to the mezzanine
Dressed in all pink, except my gator shoes, those are green.
Draped in a leopard mink girls standin’ next to me
Probably should have washed this, it smells like R. Kelly’s sheets
Pissssssssssssss.
But shit, it was 99 cents.
If I get caught in it, washin’ it,
‘Bout to go and get some compliments passin’ off in those moccasins
Someone else has been walkin’ in, but me and grungie fuckin’ ‘em
I am stuntin and flossin and savin’ my money
And I’m hella happy, that’s a bargain, bitch.
Imma take it grandpa style, imma take it grandpa style,
No, for real I asked your grandpa, can I have his hand-me-downs?
The lord’s jump suit and some house slippers,
Doukie brown leather jacket that I found diggin’.
They had a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard
I bought a ski blanket, then I bought a knee board
Hello, hello, my ace man, my mello
John Wayne ain’t got nothing on my friends game,
Hello!
I can take some pro wings make ‘em cool, sell those
The sneaker heads will be like
“Ah, he got the Velcros”
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got 20 dollars in my pocket
I, I, I’m hunting, lookin’ for a come-up
This is fucking awesome.
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got 20 dollars in my pocket
I, I, I’m hunting, lookin’ for a come-up
This is fucking awesome.
What you know ‘bout rockin’ the wolf on your noggin
What you knowin’ about wearing a fur fox skin
I’m digging, I’m digging, I’m searching right through that luggage
One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up.
Thank your granddad, for donating that plaid button-up shirt
‘cause right now I’m up in her skirt
I’m at the Goodwill, you can find me in the attic,?
I’m not, I’m not, I’m not searching in that section.
Your grandma, your auntie, your momma, you mammy,
I’ll take those flannel zebra ‘jammies secondhand, I’ll rock that
motherfucker.
They built an onesie with the socks on that motherfucker,
I hit the party and they stopped that motherfucker.
They be like oh! That Gucci, that’s hella tight.
I’m like Yo! That’s 50 dollars for a t-shirt.
Limited edition, let’s do some simple addition,
50 dollars for a t-shirt, that’s just some ignorant bitch.
I call that getting swindled and pimped
I call that getting tricked by a business.
That shirt’s hella dope and that bliss,
I am one and six other people in this club is a hella don’t.
Eat game, come take a look through my telescope
Trying to get girls with my brand, man, you hella won’t.
Man, you hella won’t.
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got 20 dollars in my pocket
I, I, I’m hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome.
I'll wear your granddad’s clothes,
I look incredible,
I’m in this big ass coat from that thrift shop down the road.
I'll wear your grand dad’s clothes,
I look incredible,
I’m in this big ass coat from that thrift shop down the road.
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got 20 dollars in my pocket
I, I, I’m hunting, looking for a come-up
Now when I say 2-0, you say -
Nah, you know the rest
This is our scene
Our music, our movement, the history lives through us
I write to the beat and let life play the guitar
strings
Despite the drama, there's respect and camaderie
Every time one of my friends is mentioned in my
philosophy
It's a rite of passage, I'm not trying to be corny
I got love for Sportin' Life, Alpha P, Massline, and
Onry
Every time somebody steps out on the road
They bring a little Northwest soul with them, amen
Alright then, just so you know
I try to carry that everytime that I rock a show
So, turn my sound up
Ricochet off our mountains
It's Good Medicine that Chief Seattle would of been
proud of
Sends our city, town pride, heart, blood, sweat, tears,
I-5,
North, South side, vibe, live, ride down these city
blocks
And never will be stopped
They tryin' to shut down the clubs that my city rocks
Now Mr. Mayor why would you enforce an ordinance?
Music, it saves lives, these kids out here are
supporting it
And through the art form we've learned the importance
of community
Truth to the youth so they know what's up
Yup, and as a public school student
I learned from my teachers, but became through my music
Take that away, that's a vital
14 Fathoms Deep, Do the Math, Tribal
My greatest teachers: Beasope and Bida
Wordsayer was my mayor and things have changed
But I carry the torch and what I do with that flame
Is lit everytime that I step on the stage
The skyline is etched in my veins
You can never put that out, no matter how hard it rains
That's right, when you put on a show
And watch the people seat in between the creases and
the doors
Hitting the melly or sneaking in 'cause they're broke
Now leaving in between sets because they're needing to
smoke
The reason being whatever
The scene from Beacon to Everett
is in need of less ego when we kick it alright
I get on stage, style, share my whole life
Try to reach 'em at the bar where they're drinking
Miller Lite
But the kids in the front, they bring out the passion,
dude
Make noise throughout the show and not only when we ask
'em to
I watch the older cats jaded in the back
Hands clasped, forgot when they weren't too cool to be
a fan, damn
Hatin' at the concert
You don't remember RKCNDY, watching Heiro, or vibing
out to Alkaholiks
I know it's not the same, it never will be
But my, my, my, my city's filthy
And we've been truly dope since Supreme was up on
Broadway in the dookie rope
Mean muggin' in Sir Mixalot's video
Back when Scene was rockin' house parties on the floor
JMG's, Sit N' Spin, and The Paradox
Back when Mark introduced Geo to Sabz
So much has changed here, so much has not
I was just a kid hopin' I could earn my spot
Try to get some props
Meet a promoter who'll give me a shot
To let me get up on stage and get the crowd to rock
Read a page out my notebook
What I thought would be respected, they would connect
with it
Now looking over the city's the only thing that keeps
me calm
Scattered thoughts jotted down by this pen in my palm
It's like my city stands still, the world looks on
And then I remembered the magic,
Forgot that you can't plan it.
It's always there in front of us
Just trust and it happens.
And the star dust from the universe of this planet
I just get stressed when I try to understand it.
And I remember the magic,
Forgot that you can't plan it.
It's always there in front of us
Just trust and it happens.
And the star dust from the universe of this planet
It's always there, you can't try to understand it.
Now, I don't know why this world is a trip
See, I just float by hoping that I can live.
With a pen I'm so high, using this medicine
I got a little bit of it to give
Come on hear me now.
My momma says the trip inside of you gon' hear it child.
We all got it, if you want it gotta get it out.
I know you know what I'm talking about
See it's the music from the magic, got me on top of these clouds, come on
Keep it poppin' with my favorite song
There's no feeling like the city walking with my walkman on
It gets to me, giving me goosebumps and I'm gone,
And when I die just make sure that I got my pen and headphones on.
In good times and upsets,
Rain, hail, beats, sand, heat, land, and a lot of damn sunsets.
They say that you can never capture the moment
Photograph or record it, but I swear I can when I bump them.
As I bear witness to existence setting in the distance
For a sheer instance I become one with it
Dismeant up to ten when I listen like I was set on this mission
Places I've been when I with them
I'm feeling the most high when I got my pen snd I'm scriptin'
No engines speakin as I enter religion.
No crosses, pews, prayers, or repentance for sinning
Just the RCA jack, a sentence and a vision.
Inside of the gut, time with the cut, right from the plug
That feeling that goes right into us.
Instead of bump live, but with eyes wide
Church you got some fire and a lighter on my fire and uh
Depending on the month, sometimes I feel high with just pen and pad
If the gab, the light's within us.
I can apply my touch on the mic stand and bust
To the whole planet, and my headphones on
And to the magic
Forgot that you can't plan it.
It's always there in front of us
Just trust and it happens.
And the star dust from the universe of this planet
I just get stressed when I try to understand it
And I remember the magic,
Forgot that you can't plan it.
It's always there in front of us
Just trust and it happens.
And the star dust from the universe of this planet
It's always there, you can't try to understand it.
(Speaking)
Have you ever done hallucinogenics?
Children don't get it twisted, I'm not reccomending.
(Rapping)
But it's not fried brains and hippies and kids jumpin' off buildings
It can be spiritual epiphanies and medicine.
Now I first tried shrooms when I was 16,
And the universe became more interesting.
I began to contemplate my place in this landscape
And reflect on what it meant to be a human being.
What I went through felt as though I dreamt it.
Through my experience, became aware of my breath, then
Began to cultivate my art with the intention of the heart,
Started to use my sentences as reflections.
And what I saw was God was in all of us and we all come to be interconnected.
And all that was depended on all of us
And had effects like a domino when you let it.
Go with the flow, that the universe holds.
Understand that there's more than you expected.
I don't do shrooms anymore 'cause I don't need to explore.
All that I was looking for was was the present.
And I remember the magic,
Forgot that you can't plan it.
It's always there in front of us
Just trust and it happens.
And the star dust from the universe of this planet
I just get stressed when I try to understand it.
And I remember the magic,
Forgot that I can't plan it.
It's always there in front of us
Just trust and it happens.
And the star dust from the universe of this planet
Came in together, but you held me
The process walking right through that door, at the entry
I can't seem to remember, the lights were so bright
And the discoball blurred in the turn of that night
But it was perfect I was told the tux was starched and all
Grabbed the glass of punch nervousness, structured by that wall
Arms folded, myself I didn't know yet
Until you came over, stood by me, you posted
You put your hand out like I was stranded
Tried to pull me on that dance floor
I stepped backwards
See I wasn't ready yet, but you were my medicine
Showed me that trust through that love that you held me with
Our backs against the wall as the DJ would spin
The soundtrack had changed as he played that mix
Our lives flashed in front of us, just a glimpse
We were together and experience this
You finally pulled me up, I didn't want to
But you filled me up, from the bottom of my heart
And as we walked through that gymnasium that I'd been watching
Feeling like my chest would explode from my heartbeat
To the middle of the floor I almost panicked
You put your hand out and I fearfully grabbed it
The most beautiful thing that I'd seen on this planet
She laughed 'cause you could tell that I didn't know how to dance yet
We started moving
And I, didn't know what I was doing
You whispered, "don't you love music
It's such a gift and I'll give it to ya
But you gotta use it"
I strayed
You brought me back in
Trying to sneak a flask outside of that gym
She said "You don't need that, look within"
She hugged me, looked into my eyes, she gave me a kiss
And she said "I can't help you, if you don't let me
You're here to live just be, don't forget me
The end of this dance you don't want to regret me, live
'Cause tonight you'll all be set free"
Last dance the Dj yelled
Looked into her eyes and I could see myself
Slow motion, frozen, toast of this moment
Like there is no morning, like there is no morning
No emotions, you on my shoulder
Me lead and you follow
As we circle the floor like the globe
Through this infinite mass
Makes us seem so small
With you in my hand like the skyline holds the stars
Not letting go, but I can't hold on
Fading through my fingertips, watching us fall
I try to catch you with my arms
I would never take you for granted when I had you in my palms
To all I ever wanted, please play my song
And put the record to the needle, don't ever touch that off switch
You are perfect, forget that prom dress
My God, seconds away from God yes
Somebody turned the heat on in this party
Or we're becoming one because I'm melting into your body
One being, heartbeating, universe falling
The ground split right between us and that concrete
Separated my love, I could hear her calling
Separated, but I could hear her calling
Goodbye forever, never see you again
[Verse 1: Macklemore]
When I was in the 3rd grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-K"
Trippin', yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like
"Yeah, I'm good a little league"
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those who like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think it's a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition
Playing God
Ahh nah, here we go
America the brave
Still fears, what, we don't know
And God loves all His children
Is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written
35 hundred years ago
I don't know
[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]
[Verse 2: Macklemore]
If I was gay
I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
"Man that's gay"
Gets dropped on the daily
We've become so numb to what we're sayin'
Our culture founded from oppression
Yeah, we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots
Behind the keys of a message board
A word routed in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender and skin color
Complexion of your pigment
The same fight that lead people to walk-outs and sit-ins
It's human rights for everybody
There is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
When I was in church
They taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service
Those words aren't anointed
And that Holy Water
That you soak in
Is then poisoned
When everyone else
Is more comfortable
Remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans
That have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same
But that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal
Damn right I support it
I don't know
[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]
[Verse 3: Macklemore]
We press play
Don't press pause
Progress, march on!
With a veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
'Till the day
That my uncles can be united by law
Kids are walkin' around the hallway
Plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful
Someone would rather die
Than be who they are
And a certificate on paper
Isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law's gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up
[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]
[Outro: Mary Lambert]
Love is patient, love is kind
Love is patient (not cryin' on Sundays)
Yo, remember High School?
With that dude who thought he was so cool
Walking around like everybody should know who, he is
Like he was some superstar in the biz
Just because he had a Japanese car and some rims
It's silly ain't it?
It goes to show how tainted
'Cause these hoes jocked him like he was somebody who supposedly made it
And I'm not hating man, the dude was my boy
But I watched girl after girl get their world destroyed
Now when a squirrels a squirrel and a nut is a nut
And I seen a lot of girls cut so they could get stuffed
Or at least be cool in the High School soap opera
'Cause kids do anything to be popular
Guys get their hair cut so girls can jock ya
But if girls get with guys their known as a trick
But if a dude does the same shit he's known as a pimp
And the question is: Is there really a difference?
Remember that girl in high school that everyone wanted to hit
She wore them dresses with the bestest breasteses in sizes with x's
And she was the queen of estrogen white black puerto rican and mexican
And she sat next to you in third period
She powdered her face but her skin had no flaws
Her tits looked like she wore three wonderbras
Thank God for that math book you put on your lap to,
Cover up your jeans when your dick got hard
I mean she was amazing I'm not playing
You were like 14 but she was still the kind of girl you wanted a baby with
And I could tell the way that she would rock them pants
That a lot of dudes hit it but she wanted a chance
You talked to her but she gave you the shoulder
She was the type of girl that was cold as Boulder
She'd only mess with ya if you drove a Rover
What I push? Well fuck it
Let's just say a bucket. OK
Anyway one day I rocked a show
And I see her right there chillin' up in the front row
Next time I go to my math class fer sho she's talking about
"Hey yo bro, I didn't know that you flowed
Hey yo what's up with that CD? Maybe we could eat lunch after P.E.
Ah he he he he"
If it's the mic you rock, the car you got, the 3-pointer you shot that get's the girl then she's probably a breezy
Remember high school with that girl you can't remember
Who?
The one that never stuck out, she was kind of like whatever
Kinda nerdy, never came to the parties
She went home after school and never really chilled with nobody
She was in one of your classes and used to wear glasses
With braces that accented her pimples that weren't really attractive
But she was good in Spanish and let you cheat off her answers
But when you'd see her in the hall you would walk right past her
You acted like a bastard and never treated her right
'Cause her body wasn't bucklin' and her face wasn't tight
Well guess what
See that beautiful girl with the big butt
Standing at the incense shop reading the poetry that she writes
That's her. oh hell nah, I know that's not her
Wait minus the pimples, the braces, and a lot less nerd
Take off the overalls and the baggy sweatshirt
Yeah there she is, reading about her words
Shit, man I'm a go spit some game
Wait I see some resemblance from like way back in the day
I rememeber that girl that only liked me 'cause I rhymed
And now I'm really only talking to this girl 'cause she looks fine
Back when she was normal I wouldn't give her my time
Shit that's crazy
I kinda feel sleezy
If I could flip the scenario
I'm the same as these hoes
Ladies and gentlemen
Introducing, the penis song.
(Oh no he didn't)
(Honk a dick)
This is my penis song
I wish that I had a bigger shlong
One that was quite a bit more thick and way more long
One of those porno king kong dongs
Check it out
I wish my dick was bigger, I can admit it
I'm above average on inches but I want a damn double digit
If I had a big ol' cock what would I do?
I'd probably go to Florida and show it Katrina and screw
Get buck naked and start streaking at my school
And get arrested but at least the girls would be impressed
With my third leg and, and then I'd go to a keg and
Do a keg stand, get drunk and do the running man
With no clothes on just to show off
My dick's bigger than yours when mine is cold and soft
Haha, oh yeah I forgot that's not really the cock that I have
I went out and party-bagged 'em and quickly opened the package
And it fit me like Kriss Kross's old school starter jackets
Trying to convince myself like, "Size doesn't matter, "
Anyways I'd probably just put it on backwards cause I mean
I know that god made us all different and special
But shit did he really have to invent lopsided testicles?
I don't have them I just feel bad for the like you know the guys with like
Their left one hangs like lower than the right, kinda like a lazy eye like on your balls
I mean I don't know, I just feel bad
This is my penis song
I wish that I had a bigger shlong
One that was quite a bit more thick and way more long
Fellas if ya'll feel me sing along
Yo ladies
Yeah?
Ladies!
Yeah?
Do you want a guy with an average dick?
Hell no
Then- wait you don't?
No you honkey dick
Okay that's cool, no that's fine
I promise, I'm so self conscious
That's why you never see me skinny dippin' in August
Always walkin' around with my hands in my pockets trying to pump blood into my guy Alfonso
I mean, goddamn I don't think you girls understand
I've had a complex since that song Short Short Man
And even though girls have told me that I'm big when I watch a porno I feel like a little kid
I mean, let's take Ron Jeremy
Now if a girl sees him she'll compare him to me
And every MC in hip hop has got a huge cock
Or at least talks about it in every song that they've got
I mean, shit
If I was really hung I'd make a whole album called Me and My Dick
With interludes of all the girls that I'd been with
And talk about my package and multiple orgasms
'Cause all that I see is that size does matter
We got Enzite, penis pumps surgery to Viagra
But when it all adds up you can't really change it
I'm not a porno star I just gotta face it
You know, what can I do
This song goes out to like all the like little bit above average dudes
So like all the small dudes, medium dudes but all you big dudes stop
This is my penis song
I wish that I had a bigger shlong
One that was quite a bit more thick and way more long
He rolled up, asked him what he was sippin' on
He said lean, You want to hit it, dawg?
That's the same stuff Weezy's sippin' huh?
And tons of other rappers that be spittin' hard
Yup yup five a bone
When he passed him that styrofoam
The easter pink, heard it in a rhyme before
Finally got to see what all the hype was on
And then he took a sip, sittin' in the lincoln
Thinkin' he was pimpin' as he listen to the system
Little did he know that it was just as addictive as base
Not the kind of hit from the kick drum
Hot box, let the base bump
Take it to the face, gulp
Months later the use went up
Every blunt was accompanied by the pink stuff
But Goddamn he loved that feelin'
Purple rain coated in the throat
Just so healin'
Medicine alleviate the sickness
Liquid affix and it comes with a cost
Wake up, cold sweat, scratchin', itchin'
Trying to escape the skin that barely fit him
Gone, get another bottle just to get a couple swallows
Headed towards the bottom couldn't get off it
Didn't even think he had a problem
Though he couldn't sleep without gettin' nauseous
Room spinnin'
Thinkin' he might of sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup
His eyelids closed shut
Sat back in the chair clutchin' that cup
Girlfriend came and a couple hours later
Said his name shook him but he never got up
He never got up, he never got up
We live on the cusp of death thinkin' that it won't be us
It won't be us, it won't be us, it won't be us
Nah, it won't be us
Now he just wanted to act like them
He just wanted to rap like him
Us as rappers underestimate the power
And the effects that we have on these kids
Blunt passed, ash in a tin, pack being pushed, harassed by the feds
The fact of it is most people that rap like this
Talkin' about some shit they haven't lived
Surprise, you know the drill
Trapped in a box, declined record sales
Follow the formula violence, drugs, and, sex sells
So we try to sound like someone else
This is not Californication
There's no way to glorify this pavement
Syrup, percocet, and an eighth a day
Will leave you broke, depressed, and emotionally vacant
Despite how Lil Wayne lives
It's not conducive to being creative
And I know 'cause he's my favorite
And I know 'cause I was off that same mix
Rationalize the shit that I'd try after I listen to dedication
But he's an alien, I'd sip that shit, pass out or play Playstation
Months later I'm in the same place
No music made, feeling like a failure
And trust me it's not dope
To be 25 and move back to your parent's basement
I've seen my people's dreams die
I've seen what they can be denied
And "weeds not a drug" - that's denial
Groundhog Day life repeat each time
I've seen oxycontin take three lives
I grew up with them, we used to chief dimes
I've seen cocaine bring out the demons inside
Cheatin' and lyin'
Friendship cease, no peace in the mind
Stealin' and takin' anything to fix the pieces inside
Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere
Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying
That rush, that drug, that dope
Those pills, that crumb, that roach
Thinkin' I would never do that, not that drug
And growing up nobody ever does
Until your stuck,
Lookin' in the mirror like I can't believe what I've become
Swore I was goin' to be someone
And growing up everyone always does
We sell our dreams and our potential
To escape through that buzz
Just keep me up, keep me up
[Verse 1: Geologic]
Now we live from the side of the last of the four corners
Just short of the northern international border
Was born a town upon the pond that all the people call The Sound
It's time to call 'em out, you standin' up or fallin' down?
Saba dug inside a crate and Jake responded, he was on it
We interpreted the sample canceled
The opportunist on the corner acting stupid
We plotting to take it back
The crying and dedication on Gentrification Ave.
No imitation of way back, preservationist rap
We honor the past maybe to move it toward the future
From fresh tracks to emerald street, it's foundation
And Mr. Anthony Grey paved the way and now we chase him
But they didn't have the patience to place it as a priority
Herbs and haters never have served the greater majority
Words will never capture the glory of our story
Performing but never forgetting who came before me
In the northwest, northwest, northwest, north west
[Verse 2]
I'm from the city where it rains at
Where we bring the pain at
Put you lame cats where the lames at
We fly, we fresh, we hood
And in the northwest, Seattle...
I'm good with that nonsense
See I'm on everything constant
So you better ask him who I'm is
The lost city is the last one standing
We came through the forks so the crown demanding
[Verse 3]
The town is enhancing at the current date and time
And in the state of refinement definitive when the climb [?]
When it's sink or swim
You want to test us? Better think again
Going hard 'til we reach the end
One day at a time I just move faster, I just move forward, I just move past ya
This is a new chapter from here on after
206 north by northwest we... [?]
[Verse 4: Thig Natural]
I'm from the city of rain and we came to spit flame
But come equipt with many mix that could solicit your dame
I'm kind of sick with it mane
I'm from the city where you probably find 'em twisted in chain
I keep it natural that's the name
I love my town so damn much I never change
But I will speak to you through rhythms and over melodies
Travel the Emerald City with visions that you'll never see
And clowns that front ain't worth my energy
So here's the remedy
Northwest, northwest, northwest, northwest
[Verse 5: Macklemore]
I was that kid on 23rd and Alder
With the ghetto blast that jacked and ran and told my mama
Came back, quarterback, playing Steve Largent
With lines and stay on your mind like Brian Bosworth
Aw heck no, this the best coast
Since Vida was ridin' rays on the metro
One radio station they're really not playing it
We need Cube like we need to build another stadium
From Chop to Showbox to the spots that we playin' at
We rock it like this rock, rock turn it hella quickly
There really isn't anything that you could tell my city
The crowds gonna be like "oh wow that was hella filthy" (That was hella filthy though)
I brought my showtoes with me long ass march, but the clientele's listening
Now while I'm at it I'll throw in a backpack
Put the northwest on the map, then go out and sell fifty
Anybody contest, North by Northwest
And it's still no rest 'cause we're not finished yet
We're broke, but not broken
Cold, but not frozen
Lost but not forgotten, we're kickin' the doors open
Anybody contest, North by Northwest
And it's still no rest 'cause we're not finished yet
We're broke, but not broken
Cold, but not frozen
I used to sit with my dad in the garage
That sawdust that pine sol and the moss
Around every spring when the winter thaw
We'd huddle around the radio twist the broken knob
710 AM no KJR Dave Niehaus voice would echo throughout the yard
Couldn't have been older than 10
But to me and my friends
The voice on the other end might as well have been God's
1995 the division series
Edgars up to bat
Bottom of the 11th inning got the whole town listening,
Swung on and belted the words that started, Joey Cora rounds third
Here comes Griffey the throw to the plate's not in time
My oh my the Mariners win it
Yes, fire works they lit up ceiling in the king dome
We had just made history.
[Dave Niehaus announcing:]
And swung, Lined down the left field line for a base hit!
Here comes Joey! Here comes Junior to third base!
They're gonna wave him in! the throw to the plate will be'.
Late! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship!
I don't believe it! It just continues! MY OH MY!
Laces woven barley holdin' that stitch
The creases are time amongst the grime and the grit
Where the leather he used to pound his fists
To some it's just a mitt, but see that glove was him
Yep, tell me stories on the field with that sun stained brim
Blood under my chin, he taught me how to spit
Sunflower seeds back when me and my crew sun burnt arms
Big league chew, yeah we were like the sand lot after dinner
After practice we listen to the M's in the kitchen
And if mom wasn't trippin' come on dad please I swear just one more inning
Voice went pump pump through the system break out the Rye bread it's grand salami time
My oh My another victory yes, my city my city.
Childhood my life watchin' Griffey right under those lights
Under that light rain gleaming in that night came, can't stop now
Keep moving no break pads came here to prove a point, live my life on the field
Make history in between the base path
And compete against the fear that is in me that's my only barrier and I swear I'm going to break that
From the mud the cleats that we drug threw the feet this is that moment and you cannot take it back
I don't really collect cards anymore, just a box and some old card board
Memories embedded in the dust, in the fighters that age just like us livin' some where off in the drawer
This is what you make of it yeah we play to win
Live it like we're under the lights of the stadium fight until the day that God decided to wave us in,
Right until he waves us in
It's my city my city childhood my life that's right right under those lights
My city my city childhood that's right Niehaus
My oh My come on, my city my city childhood my life that's right under those lights
Still trying to figure out what I find comforting
And who's gonna take account for all this suffering?
It's not always gloomy I'm assuming if you sing too,
It might give me the power to wake up again
Let's be honest, it's kind of hard to find beauty here
And a cobweb of a longleg, solace it would appear solid
Mr. blockhead with a wooden spirit
Tell the doctor we're all dead and it's looking serious
I've been at shows where the acted like they couldn't hear it
So I substituted my saliva for truth serum
This crooked look is piercing, it could burn a hole through you
I see through your two-faced ways despite the both of you
Askin' for a penny in a mechanical city
Black phantom of the back alleys, poet of the square smokers
Rappin filthy where the animals with guilty pasts
Ration out their fat yellow bellies? the share holders
Damn it's cold here
Will the people start dancing when the smoke clears?
I need a reason to keep walkin
Daydreamin of the evil in my walkman
Say a prayer for the people in the audience
Say a prayer for the people in their coffins
And keep walkin
Vanish through the alleyways (ghosts)
Past the green room
And have drink tickets to the point where I can't perceive truth
If god is in the building then I can't see you
Even if they put their hands up in the air that won't redeem you
It's the place where they start fables
They spend money on jack and coke but are flat broke when they hit the merch table
Now we hand out for the wolves and the people that are hungry
And won't sacrifice records to get some cheddar with their lunch meat
I just pray for that some day, around here we get more rain then we ever get a sun break
It's never enough to get something and I wish I could say that I was humble enough to be blessed at some king
But it feels like hip hop's dead, I don't know who killed it
The poison in the pen or in the heads of who built it
If I don't know the ledge how can I expect that the children won't jump to their death when they question what real is?
There is cold here
Will the people start dancing when the smoke clears?
I promise that I will leap first
Just a starving artist surviving off eating my words
Say a prayer for the people in their coffins
Say a prayer for the people in the audience
I'm an Irishman
Leather weathered Irish skin
Beard orange as the sunset over the flag
In the night sky we fly it in
Pride for the life we fight to live
History, I write with it
Spit it with the dialect
And this is a celebration of course
The green, white, orange
And when they pulled up on that shore
First generation born
Toast to those that made it on a boat to New York
And when the English came the colonizer came
They filled up bottles of gasoline, turned 'em into
balls of flame
And hurled 'em to protect what's ours
Don't touch these lucky charms
Whole bunch of Irish screaming "Fuck the London Guard"
I'm kidding not dissin' London, it's bloody raw
But go against the Irish and get a bloody jaw
Preaching nonviolence but reminds of the scars
And the bias, put a pint up everybody sing a song
We put our glass to the sky and lift up
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
So raise a pint for the people that aren't with us
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
We put our glass to the sky and lift up
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
So raise a pint for the people that aren't with us
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
From New England to New Brunswick
Galway to Dublin
A rebellious nation of freckled face hustlers
Heart, blue collared workers and family
My heritage, proud to be a Haggerty
Now with whiskey in our veins
Claiming were the bravest men
I drank Old Crow, but pretended it was Jameson
Dad sipped Guiness, I sipped Old English
'Til he sat me down at 16 and said "boy, this is what a
beer is"
I put down the drink, couldn't drink like a gentleman
That doesn't mean I can't make a drinking song for the
rest of 'em
Challenge us in football, yeah we might lose
But don't put us next to a bar stool
We take the history, script it in song
Light the torch then you pass it on
That's right I said, lineage through the rhythm we
script it from the palm
And we give til' Ireland is on
Bottoms Up
We put our glass to the sky and lift up
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
So raise a pint for the people that aren't with us
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
We put our glass to the sky and lift up
And live tonight 'cause you can't take it with ya
So raise a pint for the people that aren't with us
We all know life can get hectic
But if you live in the second,
You exist in the present
And that's how you stay connected
Go through good times and hardships
And if you learn to accept it
And know that every struggle in life,
Is there to teach you a lesson
It's times like this that make you
It's always the darkest part of the night, before the sun has it's break through
The spirits will knock you down,
But if you make that the end
You will never know the beauty
Of being able to stand up again
And face it, with patience,
The Pace set is Deliant [?]
With judgements and hatred,
Repressed hopeless feelings
But I've been told,
You only create your own ceilings
Life is limitless,
And knowing this is what the spirit is
That's why I try to inhale deep, so I can find peace, and it can find me [?]
That's why I lose myself in these beats,
Let myself become one with the drum and set myself free
Whatever direction life leads me,
There is a purpose behind it
That's the way it was supposted to be
And any time you can turn over a new leaf
Y'all know the truth,
It's up to us to use the key
Been three years since my first album dropped
It's been fear that's really got me stuck on the spot
Not wanting to put out anything whack
So inside of putting licks on my tracks,
I put my lips to a sack
It's easier to spend your life drunk,
And high on drugs
Than to put everything on recording,
And put it out to be judged
We look for the audiance,
To put their hands up in love
But when they put their hands down,
Our confidence really takes the plunge
So instead of putting out,
Something people might not like
I traded my mic in for the pipe
I lived the college life,
Drinking and smoking every day
Rationalizing to myself,
That I was going through a phase
Then I stopped,
Thinking my music would take it's place
But when you live in fog,
Inspiration is hard to create
It takes more to get connected,
Than to quit smoking every day
And when I get frustrated I get a Swish,
And get blown away
Then all of a sudden it hit me,
These kids are listening
If I'm not making music,
Then why the fuck am I existing
How can I talk about the problems,
Of some one else
When I don't have the motivation,
And confidence to change myself
It's been so long since I really truly felt
What it's like to live without substances to help
With addiction in my blood,
I play the cards I was dealt
The wind is the most calm,
Right before the storm
And when you least expect it,
It doesn't rain, it pours
I swear to God you can never be warned
Because with or without that umbrella
Nature is still gonna take it's course
That's why I try to inhale deep,
So I can find peace, and it can find me [?]
That's why I lose myself in these beats,
Put away the weed, And turn to my MPC [?]
C'mon'
If I could change, I would change
If I could change, I would change
If I could change, I would change
Yo, the first time I heard Digital Underground I was in the first grade
My homie Lace brought it over and he dubbed it on a mixtape
I would do the Humpty Hump and perform to his verses
Twelve years later I learned that Shock-G and him were the same person
I loved Hammer, I can't front he taught me how to dance
Along with Bel Biv Devoe I had Jay Ohs and a pair of zebra pants
But this was the foundation of what would come to be
A life long passion journey and drive; an emcee
Some people ask me what it means, I don't know where to start
It's the deepest connection between my soul and my heart
When I first stepped into a cipher and a jam in the park
I got served, no for real I got served
But see I learned something
Observed others and watched
An urged hunger burst, earned a turn at that park.
I don't care who you are, where you're from or what you believe in
But if you love hip hop I bet it's more or less for the same reason
This is it when you spit you exist in that moment
And if you're sick with that gift then you rip it when you perform it
Then all the shit that you live begins to lift up your shoulders
And the audience well they get to experience where your soul is
The most amazing feeling, rocking the crowd to your anthem
From the front to the back with their motha fuckin' hands up
'Cause I'm an emcee, won't be the first won't be the last
Just another b-boy and I'm a die in my stance
If you got a pen and a pad put your heart down
If you got a record and can crab lay a scratch down
If you got a marker and a can bomb your art now
If you got a floor and you're fast kick that I'll style
If you got a pen and a pad put your heart down
If you got a record and can crab lay a scratch down
If you got a marker and a can bomb the whole damn town
But if you live for hip hop don't ever put your hands down
Don't put your hands down, keep that shit up
We're goin' to rock it like this, do this with me
It goes front, back
Front, back
Front, back
Front, come on
It goes front, back
Front, back
I said front, back
To my people you know it
Now I don't know if it's the clothes, the hoes, or the cars
That makes people rap like they're trapped inside of these bars
This shit ain't complicated man just be who you are
To busy searching for the light and missing the fact that you're a star
Now who's got passion now stand the hell up
'Cause I want to hear somebody rapping who's got it inside their cuts
Or you can get intricate displaying your fancy cadences
But if you're not speaking the truth you might as well not be saying shit
I said who's going to teach the kids?
You'd rather blow up and get famous so you can get some new rims
All the money in the world can help you look like a star
But money can't buy you the heart to go and put inside your bars
And I like nice shit too
Believe me, I got a closet full of Nikes and a whole bunch of Lenore suits
They'll give you the white tees and the icy earring like the whole youth,
Population of hip hop but look beyond it when I record through,
These beats 'cause if I don't speak me
What's the difference between my lyrics and what you hearin' on MTV
People fear that if they're steering away from the mainstream
Then their album won't sell
Well I could give a fuck
I'm just goin' to freestyle and spit what's in my gut
And if you want to you can go and label me conscious
But remember there's a kid at a bus stop beat boxin'
Who's life will be effected by what's inside of his Walkman
If you got a pen and a pad put your heart down
If you got a record and can crab lay a scratch down
If you got a marker and a can bomb your art now
If you got a floor and you're fast kick that I'll style
If you got a pen and a pad put your heart down
If you got a record and can crab lay a scratch down
If you got a marker and a can bomb the whole damn town
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky.
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive.
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by-
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize.
A friend of mine once told me,
We have many paths in this journey.
They act in different directions
So when you question don't be worried,
It's not a wrong one-
Beauty can be found in all of them.
You'll meet people whose paths intersect
But you don't know how long you'll walk with them,
Cause' the truth is, and it's so hard, but you'll never know
How long we'll continue with our loved ones down this rugged road.
The path veers and it's clear that we must steer alone.
I've learned if you can't hold on to that moment that exists-
Let it go.
Cause' freedom is god.
Freedom is acknowledging the mask you have on
And possessing the strength to take it off.
Freedom is accepting every step of the path
And when it's hard having faith in the ability to embrace that
That's where you are,
And this is it.
The same shit that we work towards,
But go against in the same sense.
My friend hit me to some game and truth unravelled, she said
"The brighter the light, the darker the shadow",
And since I'm on cliche terms, knowing is half the battle.
But I don't know,
So I just go with what was destined.
Life can be a burden or a blessing,
The choice is yours to be connected.
It's there if you want it, you got it, now let it.
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky.
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive.
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by-
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize.
I feel like I have nothing to give right now,
This is my trial, tribulations, and it must go down,
But where's the up?
I'm stuck with the broken smile,
No jokin' now, wantin' to grab a swish and smoke this out.
The moment of a man choosing what path I will go down
Do I give in, give up, or get up and live right now?
With a split gut, pick myself up and spit my style,
This is the only thing that can holds my ground.
You're born into this world alone and alone you'll go out
All I have is myself and everyone else I doubt.
You can only trust yourself and depend on the help of the pound
Inside the chest that beats with the breath of the now.
No sunshine when she's gone, I can only see clouds.
No homies can hold me down, the spirit's testing me now
But I can withstand this world, but it seems so foul
Flood of emotions, it's like I'm being held down to drown.
Hell's right around the corner, but I can turn it around.
You always have a choice, no matter the situation, you're not bound,
To nothing, no one. You're chosen for this job,
This is your life, you can't escape this bitch when it's hard.
Just know that it passes, but you'll collect scars-
They never go away, but they will make you who you are.
This is a beautiful struggle, I share it in song cause'
I can't control this, remember: the moment's beyond us.
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky.
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive.
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by-
Now you know what's good for you
Got that, not gonna warn you
We got that to make it right right right
You know all women, I adore you
Bodies [?]
The energy, melody life life life
Now you know what's good for you
Got that, not gonna warn you
We got that to make it right right right
You know all women, I adore you
Bodies [?]
The energy, melody life life life
See I don't know why I gotta go and creep around
You've seen me and my penis [?]
Not used to having to sleep without somebody
And I've been chugging alcohol and I'm leaving now
And I don't wanna go home alone tonight
I was freaking with some hunny named Lisa
She was squeezing alpha [?] Puerto-Rican Diva
Weaving her hair with the cleavage
She's flashing the keys to go peep the house
And then my phone rings, it's my girl on the line
It's like, I don't know what the hell to do
It's like women like this are subtle [?] and few
I'm fucked up in the club with a blunt and a butt
But my love will hang up if I tell her the truth
See, I can be a selfish dude especially when
I'm off a blunt and a brew but
But she's so sexy, now let me spend the night
It's like HELP, either way I'm screwed
Get it?
See if I lie, I got my conscience to deal with
But if I go with the lie [?] then I'm gonna get
To grind with a fine Puerto-Rican Brazilian
But is it really worth it? I don't know
I gotta ask myself that question
Booty's truly [?] an option but [?]
My girl Evan
Now you know what's good for you
Got that, not gonna warn you
We got that to make it right right right
You know all women, I adore you
Bodies [?]
The energy, melody life life life
Now you know what's good for you
Got that, not gonna warn you
We got that to make it right right right
You know all women, I adore you
Bodies [?]
The energy, melody life life life
I don't wanna do it but I can't help it
I'm so selfish
Lady, what you want me to say?
Foolish
The lies and deception
I tried to confess it
Committed, but I still wanna play
If I gave into the fact that you hate me and take me back
I'm saving face by staying at the bar
And embracing this Jack
She wanna leave, I can tell by the way
She react to the mouth piece
No more dollar drinks so she
Followed me with the house keys
And I know what I'm doing is wrong
Hoping that you were the one
But out 'til like two in the morn
With nobody you wanna know
It's comforting to know you're home
When I'm out on the road
I know you're lonely though
Or maybe got some flow of your own
In the looking glass, you shake your ass
I sat back and I watched
Then I took your hand, and we both danced
While thinking of the thoughts
It might've been the circumstance that hurt
This man - I'm a circus act at most
Nobody's perfect girl, it's a perfect world
But we don't have to know
And I'm not trying to justify it
But I might try to simplify it
One touch and I'm mesmerized
So I mess around in disguise
Flesh to the eyes, test to the lies
Sex gets my vote unless...
You're destined to die with the one
Next to your side
Fsho
I don't wanna do it but I can't help it
I'm so selfish
Lady, what you want me to say?
Foolish
The lies and deception
I tried to confess it
Committed, but I still wanna play
Now you know what's good for you
Got that knock [?] and I warn you
We got that to make it right right right
And all women, I adore you
Bodies [?]
I swear I've been here before, there's a war in my heart,
Inside my chest is a thorn it's been torn from the start,
The picture painted is warped, the hearts aching and scarred,
Music's the band-aid I'm too afraid to take this shit off
Another drink at the bar but I'm not drunk enough,
Each shot burns less but the chest isn't numbin up,
A voice keeps talkin' in my head and I'm a fuck him up,
Fill the gun with lead and bust until the pump shuts him up,
Emos and rockers and rockers and emos another shot of some vodka to get myself up off of my ego,
There's a door to my conscious, I can't unlock it or see the peephole,
This angel held my baggage and then vanished like where did she go,
I was beside her but I was walking by myself though,
Break the silence with my cell phone it doesn't help though,
I can't believe this is happening, sinking into depression,
I've been here before and now I'm back again
I keep fallin, I keep fallin, I keep fallin, down the rain
Keeps pourin, keeps pourin, I don't know if I can get up today
Keep fallin, I keep fallin, fallin, down the rain
Keeps pourin, keeps pourin, I don't know if I can get up today
6am hung over leaving my booty call watch the sunrise
Head over I-5 headed North but there's no sign of sunshine,
Empty brandy bottles spilled on the forgotten memories
Know I gotta let it go I'm just to selfish to set it free
Like forced release, two hours later I just got up and bounced
If she could only see me now head lost swallowed and drowned
The path is up but I followed it down
A man gone and hollowed out because you opened it up,
You can't start over now
What's to keep going for? validated by drunken whores bloody knuckles so numb and sore from punching these rusty doors
Freeway signs underpasses man stranded dusty mattress
This world is bipolar, beautiful for some for others the fuckin' saddest...
So sick of lugging baggage
All I got is drugs and alcohol and these cuts of passion
Brain serenade razor blade punk madness
Pain is love plug the drain but the rain keeps crashing like
I keep fallin, I keep fallin, I keep fallin, down the rain
Keeps pourin, keeps pourin, I don't know if I can get up today
Keep fallin, I keep fallin, fallin, down the rain
Ladies and gentleman, my name is Macklemore, this is my music and it feels so damn good right about now. Check it I got a story, yo it goes a little something like...
When I was 17 I was staying in NYC
And my homie told me where I could get a fake Id
"Aiyo son you better get that shit when you in NY"
So I hopped on the subway and I gave it a try
Plesant surprise the Id looked fine
5'9, blues eyes, born in 1979
Nervous as hell I went to the store with my homie
Came out and yelled "Dawg they sold me a 40"
You know that I was the man
Buying the contraband with a fake ass hologram
No more looking for bums, standing in the rain
Stranded on Broadway and giving 'em all my change
For the rest of the summer man I was on fades
17, had it made, getting drunk everyday
Eh, I got treated a whole new way
Because of a piece of plastic that proved I was of age
You know what I'm saying, all of a sudden you get this little piece of plastic and you're in the club.
Now for the next three years I had so much fun
Getting drunk in Hip-Hop clubs where you had to be 21
Then one day I was walking and I saw a sign
That said KRS-One 21 up and live
That's hella tight
Aiyo I heard he always ripped it
So I hopped up in my Civic and went out to by a ticket
When I got up the the door the bouncer checking Id's
Looks at mine and he's like "Nah we don't take these"
I tried to reach and grab my shit back
But the mother fucker was tougher than Shaq, on crack
I should of punched him, but I would have reached his knee cap
And that probably wouldn't have hurt him very much
He kept laughing and smilin' and he called me a dumb shit
And if I would of let myself I would have cried in public
Oh no, I'm like give it back bro
But no, my Id was jacked by the Caucasian Deebo
Ha I'm laughing right now but at the time it really was not funny and it's still not very funny. Fucker
Bitch why you got to take my Id?
Why do I have to be 21 to drink a Long Island Ice tea?
I hate bouncers with their bald heads and ten foot long legs and shirts that they outgrew when they were like ten
Get 'em
Your mother is dumb for having you
You're a bouncer because you have a small dick and as a kid everyone laughed at you
Get 'em
You're too big and you never seemed to listen
You look injected with the shit they give to KFC chickens
Get 'em
I don't like ya, at all I despise you
If I was tall I would fight you
If I was a dog I would bite you
Every single day you make people cry
And your job is to go and ruin teenager's lives
Ok I'm going too far bouncers aren't all bad
I'm sure they make great husbands and really strong dads
But hopefully you learned a lesson from me
Never take an MC's fake Id
Yup, I said never take an MC's fake Id
You could be buff and tough, it don't matter to me
[Intro: Speaking]
Ladies and gentlemen
Second Thoughts on the beat
Big up to Lace Cadence
Good lookin' out for this one, man
[Verse 1:]
I love hip hop music
I just hate the ego
The politics that follow it
Getting caught in it can be lethal
See I love the community
'Cause a community will embrace you
But you turn it back the community is the people that will hate you
See everybody's striving for that same shit
To get paid and make it
And I'll be honest, I'm trying to become famous
When someone makes a move
Watch that person next to you
Cause I'll warn ya
I love Hova but jealousy's The Takeover
Here come the mean mugs
"I can't do what he does"
And where does that lead us?
To the ego that feeds us
I wish that I could just do what I do
But when a door opens for him I'm afraid there won't be enough room
Comparison's a mother fucker
Like MLK said,
"We all want that band leader syndrome and it won't stop"
This concept makes me wonder
Is it the commodity of the music or the ego that is killing hip hop?
[Chorus:]
It's the ego
That makes me not give respect in death
It's the ego
That makes me talk shit behind people's back
You know that it's the ego
That's constantly polluting my consciousness
So ingrained in my brain that I can barely even acknowledge it
It's the ego
That makes the present moment jet lagged
I said it's the ego
That has me trippin about the next man
You know that it's the ego
That makes me not go to the front
Of the show 'cause the performers have exactly what I want
[Verse 2:]
I'm so cool
F'real?
No dude, I'm serious spit it different and if you just flow too
I'll listen lookin for glitches and rip 'em to shove improve
That my rhythm's a little bit more intricate, just to boost
My ego
Is so evil
Threatened by so many different kinds of people
It seems that if you're goin' through somethin' and life is feelin' uncomfortable
The immediate place you go is to your ego to comfort you
When Boom Bap got signed
I hated on him
When Grayskul got signed
I hated on him
And that's hard to admit
But since I'm really bein' honest
I wanted to be one of the first to make it as a Northwest rap artist
Instead of takin it as a plus for my region
I took it as a cut to my dreams of makin' it out of this political scene of Northwest haters
To be next I guess I'm just like them
Jealous of who's taking that step
[Chorus]
[Outro:]
Now everybody got one but people tryin' to front
Claimin that they on the humble but cocky
Now it comes up when we judge
Or are threatened by someone
But everyone still be like 'man that's not me'
Now let me break it down son
It's only a lack of love for ourselves
Cause we're submerged in 'I gotta be'
The best or number one
But it's just that we don't trust
In our heart and that's what stops me
If it ain't fresh then you ain't gettin' play in my tape deck
Way back, I used to rock the hat with the suede strap at ABC's
Bought my food from the Arabs
Played craps on corners where the OG's slang at
Cross colors I'm the boss of the playground
I hit you on the nuts 'cause I know how to play house
The 8-ounce baby from '84 to grow up
Cleaner than my Easter suit was with my shoes buffed
Don't step on my new ones
These Reeboks beat blocks, you give 'em a few pumps
Baby while you're at it too boo boo
She came from a new school and all I wanna do is my zoom zoom
My uncle stayed faded like crew cuts
But I was just too young to know the what's-what and the who's-who
'Round here, they could give a fuck if you got props
You get clowned for rockin' British Nine to the sock hop
The BK stood for "black kids, " the hood was crackin'
And Poison was on everybody's tracklist
Spandex was in fashion, back then
And bad chicks had tracks in that lasted
Before CD's, and internet the kings was in effect
You fiends wasn't gettin' respect
Before MP3s and CD-J's we pop in a tape cassette
Chain on my chest, I'm fresh
Let's take it back, b-b-b-back to the days of AC/DC Back in Black
Gimme a mullet, a 1984 Chevrolet
Alright I'm lyin' I was listenin' to rap
OshKosh B'Gosh, stone wash, so hard
Overalls hung, one strap on, one off
Eatin' on my cold lunch, grabbin' on both nuts
Mom I want a jerry curl; fuck this bowl cut
Ice cube's got one
Quick in my walkman
Blowin' on the cartridge
Hypercolor: "awesome! "
Cube's in my pocket and I'm outta here
I'm bouncin' and Sam Goody's not gettin' shit from my allowance
Day dreamin' in class, know I'm zonin' out and
Rosie Perez's titties are right where my mouth is
Who says that white men can't jump? They were hella wrong!
A'ight they were right, but I was really good at tetherball
Before the days of gettin' drunk at kegs
We were bumpin' some jodicie and dry-humpin' legs
That's right: I was born in the '80s
Pimpin', adventure shined upon my babysitter
House party? crackin.
Humpty dance? crackin.
Never find the baby: David Bowie, Labyrinth.
Why don't you reminisce and bring it back, rap shit
Dodge caravan, humpin' in the back: classic.
Before CDs and internet the kings was in effect
You fiends wasn't gettin' respect
Before MP3s and CD-Js, we pop in a tape cassette
The other day, me and XP opened for Souls Mischief
I'm like "Yo, let's get on some angry MC showmanship and hit 'em"
Rocked all the cocky songs and not too many soulful lyrics
Even a couple dissin' women callin' 'em groupies, hoes, and bitches
Got off stage, and I'm like "Yo, I know that we killed it"
Ran into a familiar face, a female who comes in and supports us
I said "Peace! " She said "Wait! Let me talk to you for a minute
I know it's none of my business, but I wasn't impressed by your performance."
I said "Word? Shit, I love feedback and criticism"
She said "I miss the passionate spirit, your political vision
Quite honestly I wasn't offended by those references to women
But you're only continuing society's conditioning"
It hit the heart of me
I told her that this was part of me
I stand up for human rights, and treat others how I would wanna be treated
But every song can't be seepin' with freedom
'Cause the other side of me is sexist then people will feel that I'm preachin'
"Everything's peace and love? " uhh, that's somewhat misleading
Because this world is fucked-up and I'm a pro-duct to what I'm seeing
Not to justify, but just to touch on my being
I learn from these verses and my purpose gets surfaced with demons
Now I am sexist, I'm prejudice, I put that in my music
She said she heard that perspective, but before she turned around
She said "We have a flame, your fire's ignited with sound
Are you building the empire up, or using your fire to burn it down? "
[Chorus: x2]
Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite,
And through these songs you can witness it.
The differences, I admit this shit, because I'm just like you;
Walking a fine line between saying and living it.
[Overvoice:]
Light it up to burn it down, light it up to burn it down
Light it up to burn it down, down, down
Light it up to burn it down, light it up to burn it down
Light it up to burn it... down, down, down, down, down, down, down
Now one thing that I've always struggled on
Is how to incorporate drugs and alcohol into my music
Outside of sober songs
'Cause on that perspective, that's all over my records
But the other side isn't represented unless it sessions with XP
How can I admit that I love to smoke weed
Knowing the kids are listening and many of 'em look up to me?
Not to say that I'm a role model
But I know that words are power
And if I condone bottles and chronic, I am sending out the
Message "It's okay, " hey I believe that it is. Chronic can be medicine
But it's all about your relationship with it
See I'm either off in the wagon riding and everyday with the spliff
Constantly looking for a balance but habit turns to addiction
And hip-hop music & weed: they're inseparable
So MCs that don't smoke or drink, talking about it to me seems questionable
It proves how much people just want to be accepted
And not seem straight-edge to their audience, so keeping it real is neglected
'Cause when I'm smoking, I wouldn't wanna bump a song like this
Put on some Devin, break out the Swishers and a bong and some licks
See that's a part of me too
And I know that I would make more money if I wasn't as true
To all the stuggles of the blunted consumption I'm going through
Make music for the party, and the people support you
I burn Brother Ali and buy 50, what does that say to you?
Bring it back around
Am I building the empire up or using my fire to burn it down?
Life moves pretty fast,
You don't stop and look around once awhile you could miss it.
Look, I've been away from my city, the city's changes ain't pretty
Theys still be playing the dizzy.
Forgotten corners, the city's forgotten it's warriors,
Who died young, I ain't taking the sun is shining before us.
I rhyme, rotten bodies spread lies in the boarders of concrete and glass
Foul hearted police aiming their gas.
My head hangs low but beats my hope goes slaying the past
And days I couldn't glade to the pack.
We the same kids they'd be sending to invade Iraq, and the per say to crack.
I got that Gray Goose and OJ in the glass.
The last day before my cousin hit the pen down the swing,
I came back to the town just to be down with the king.
And love is surrounding it seems,
Just then he find out it his baby cousin fell off a balcony.
Images of involving paradise is drowning me.
Lost souls and I can't let go until no
The same scenario that rules double bello
Black, brownted yellow
Southsiders tell the devil hello
And heaven by and it hurts to much to ask why.
From places of plenty to the space with no pity the force is changing our city,
One day at a time.
If I don't change what's been given,
What can I say to my children who gonna be claiming this city,
One day at a time.
I grew up on Capitol Hill
With two parents and two cars.
They had a beautiful marriage, we even had a swing set in our yard.
My mom didn't have a job, because my dad made enough money that we could live comfortably and he could support us.
Now, he commute to Tacoma, so we knew we be good.
But then I realized everybody looked just like me in my neighborhood.
I go to school, which was diverse.
But indeed us, I got sandwiches and carpi suns well my friends ate their free lunch.
It's crazy trying to look back, cause when I was growing up
I didn't understand the fact was there's something called a social status.
And my black friends wanted my financial bracket.
And then my city's divided,
From neighborhood to neighborhood
We're polarized but we claim we're progressive.
The police shoot in the hood but never once in my residence.
As a white person been shot at we'd stopped in a Lexus.
And to think that we have claimed that so much has changed
Since Brown verses the bored of education and Roe verses Wade.
But around my way it all stays the same,
They just figured out a way to septate the black and white ways.
From places of plenty to the space with no pity the force is changing our city,
One day at a time.
If I don't change what's been given,
What can I say to my children who gonna be claiming this city,
One day at a time.
From places of plenty to the space with no pity the force is changing our city,
One day at a time.
If I don't change what's been given,
What can I say to my children who gonna be claiming this city,
One day at a time.
Say it's the richest city in the world,
Riding, it's just a pimp city in the shadows of Amazon's office site.
And the jungle down the slide in Jose Rizas park.
It's hard in the gate with a trail to a place over I-5
Where families survive, most my early life we'd known about it
Called development.
They kick them folks out and move them around every chance they can since so sacred of homelessness but ignoring them ain't goin to change it
And tearing down there decks ain't gonna make your ass safer.
For all that paper wasting, just to build up Safeco,
While Garfeild High School still remains like a slave.
Oh, we gave up on hope a long time ago son.
I woke on this floor after pacing hours before, mind racing like a child torn in war zones.
With every side challenge we need to manage and understand this balance I can't fall or falter.
Brother, I'm just the author and no amount of words offered is ever been enough alter this system swallowing souls broke my own folks from up coast.
Only dreams close of what America was supposed to be.
But works for rich only the south in reality.
Take my family back to what they were running from before, when they left that war.
Same shit, different continent.
Home don't exist anymore.
Home don't exist anymore.
Now every day that I walk out of my building
I see homeless people sleeping and chillin on the steps
To the apartment that I live in
I'm not saying everyones a victim
But the people that I live with
Are treated more like villians than actual citizens
I walk past a man laying in his own vomit
He gets his food and his garments
By digging in the garbage
I beg your pardon Mr. president
But I'm a resident
And since you've been in office
I haven't seen any evidence of things changing
We go into Iraq and attack
But we got people on the streets
Without a roof over their back
We've gotta accept the homeless
As part of our landscape
The money the government wastes
Could provide them with the same place
To eat and sleep
But we cease to see
That our home country is based around
War power and greed
We got families on the street
With nowhere to go
And the concretes' the only place they have to call home
Nowhere to call your own
Out here in the cold
Wishing you had a home
Feeling you're all alone
Nowhere to call your own
Out here in the cold
Wishing you had a home
Feeling all alone
Now every face tells a different story
A different message
Now how can we judge the book
When we don't know the beginning
We don't know what turned em to the bottle
Or started injecting
Just see dirty clothes and another bum begging
We don't see the kid who was an addict
The second his mom was pregnant
Or the young girl who was raped
And stripped of everything sacred
Who now stands down town walking on the block, pacing
'Cause the only way she knows how to make it
Is gettin naked
We don't want to face it
And "it" being the fact
That the government created the ghetto and gave it crack
To opress immigrants and blacks
And give 'em more of a setback
Like the last 500 years wasn't enough to accomplish that
And look at the homeless rate
And tell me to my face there race
Does it play an inrticate part in your fate in the United States
And think about your home
And the place that you sleep
And the homeless
Who only have the concrete
Nowhere to call your own
Out here in the cold
Wishing you had a home
Feeling you're all alone
Nowhere to call your own
Out here in the cold
Wishing you had a home
Feeling all alone
Now if you wanna see change
Then throw your ones in the air
If you think the system that we're living in is not fair
If you wanna see change
Then put your ones in the air
Now point it to the ground cause change starts right there
If you wanna see change
Then put your ones in the air
If you think the system that we're living in is not fair
If you wanna see change
Then put your ones in the air
Then point to yourself cause change starts right there
Cause change starts right there
The streets are cold all alone in the city
Where you lay you're head is your home
What a pity
People pass you by with a glance
Say "you're filthy"
But they don't know the pain
You've been through
[Jim Valvano speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards:]
Time, time is very precious to me. I don't know how much I have left and I have some things I would like to say. Hopefully at the end I'll have something that will be important to other people too.
[Geologic:]
Stand up, sit down, stand up again
Morse Code sent to God, are you listening?
He must have been too busy fixing other shit
No call, no response shows the opposite
We confess to the man who was faceless
I still do the same but to thousands of strangers
Went through some changes, some said I'm faithless
'Cause I replaced the altar with a basement
I often fought the explanation of where people go when their bodies let go of the soul
Does it just turn cold?
Or do we get judged and told where to go?
And if so, how the fuck would you know if nobody came back and said I'm telling you, bro?
I could never get past the shit that was spit out the pastor's lips
And the rapper's started making more sense
I guess that's the reason that some people cringe when they kids get a hold of my shit
If the grip of a God is insistent on not questioning if he truly exists
No wonder that I got caught up in the music it filled my spirit to the brim, amen
Motha fucker
[Macklemore:]
This is my offering card
The only thing I have to offer is bars
The only time I felt like I was talking to God
Was in my Walkman walking with Nas
Alright see I be going to Sunday school every week
In the back trying to read, but see that something was off
Maybe it was 'cause I was trying to huddle in the yard
Preacher didn't connect when he would mumble the Psalms
I was in my head and I was bustin' with Pac
Takin' off my wifebeater and getting drunk in the park
After that part, I found God, it wasn't Jesus
Some psilocybin and the ink released him
I began to hold communion every time my music came out the speakers I used it
And it fuled my movement I believed in, voice of reason, just me and my Adidas
And I could achieve it, I put my hand over my heart, pledge allegiance
I solemnly swear by the faith that raised my since Kool Herc dropped the needle
The South Bronx, that's hip-hop's Egypt
The word of our God is manipulated and twisted by the same system
That is infiltrated and falsely interpreted Jesus
One life, one love, one God, It's us, treated your neighbor how you would want to be treated
The universal laws of God, don't look too far it's right here, us human beings
The spirits right here and I don't have to see it
Now every time I want to connect with God I put my headphones on
Then I nod, grab my pen, my pad, let it seep in, in
And that's my process
And God's always watching
Got God in my Walkman
Aye! Aye! Aye!
Let's go!
Yupp!
Let's go!
Hahaha!
Alright!
Alright!
Okay!
Uh right! Okay!
Alright!
Okay!
Return of the Mack, get up! What is it, what it does, what is it, what it isn't
Looking for a better way to get up out of bed instead of getting on the Internet and checking a new hit me. Get up!
Fresh out of pimp strut walking, little bit humble, little bit of cautious
Somewhere between like Rocky and Cosby sweater gang nope nope y'all can't copy
Yup. Bad, moonwalking, this here, is our party, my posse’s been on broadway.
And we did it, our way
Grown music I shed my skin and put my bones into everything I record to it
And yet I’m on
Let that stage light go and shine on down.
Got that Bob Barker suit game and plinko in my style.
Money, stay on my craft and stick around for those pounds
But I do that to pass the torch and put on for my town
Trust me, I’m an I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T shit hustler
Chasing dreams since I was fourteen with the four track bussing halfway cross that city with the backpack, fat cat, crushing labels out here
Nah they can’t tell me nothing
We give that to the people
Spread it across the country
Labels out here
Nah they can’t tell me nothing
We give it to the people
Spread it across the country
[Chorus]
Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
Nah, can I kick it? Thank you. Yeah I’m so damn grateful
I grew up, really wanted gold fronts but that’s what you get when Wu Tang raised you
Y’all can’t stop me, go hard like I got an 808 in my heartbeat
And I’m meeting at the beat like you gave a little speed to great white shark on shark week
Raw. Tell me go up. Gone!
Deuces goodbye, I got a whole world to see, and my girl she wanna see Rome
Caesar make you a believer, nah I never ever did it for a throne
That validation comes from giving it back to the people
Nah sing a song and it goes like
Raise those hands, this is a party
We came her to live life like nobody was watching
I got my city right behind me if I fall, they got me then from that failure gain humility and then we keep marching ourselves
[Chorus]
Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
[Trumpet Solo]
SO WE PUT OUR HANDS UP
SO WE PUT OUR HANDS UP
Oh oh oh ooh
Oh oh oh ooh
Oh oh oh oooooh
Let’s Go!
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Ayyyyyyyyeeee and all my people say!
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Ayyyyyyyyyyyee and all my people say!
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Ohhhhhhhhhhhh and all my people say!
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah May Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohhhhhhhhhhh
[Chorus]
Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
[Intro:]
Hello Americans
My name is George Bush, and I'm goin' to do a rap for ya'll
Check it out
[Verse 1:]
Bitch I'm from Texas
We're homophobic and sexist
And if these Mexicans keep comin in I'm a dismember em
You don't see me in El Paso, selling their tacos
Shit in my el bano, I'll cut off your asshole
God damnit, don't even talk about the faggots
If I ever seen one singin the national anthem I'm a strangle em
Hell nah they can't get married, but they can fight in the military
Hopefully they'll end up buried in a cemetery
I don't even consider em people
Go ahead put 'em in the front lines
Next to them negroes
But I'm not racist
Colin Powell's like my brother, aright I admit it I hate 'I'm
Where's Dick Cheney at? Probably off in Iraq
Findin some oil to tap, tell em I got up on that
And y'all still think it was Bin Laden
When it was us and the Masons, plottin on oil profits
[Hook: x2]
I'm evil
But y'all didn't know though
Now y'all stuck with a president that y'all didn't vote fo'
Unemployment is up, the economy's in a ditch
Our country's at war, but I don't give a shit I'm rich
[Verse 2:]
My brother said some racist shit a coupla years back
Then the blacks came out and started to protest and crap
And I knew I'd have little hope, cause all the sudden
The blacks got together and started to register to vote
But thank God for computers and them helping
Cause we got the last names of every single felon
We programmed the computers to find the names that were the same
Whoever came up couldn't vote on th' election day
Way to go Jeb, really great strategy
We got rid of the majority of black families
And I'm not even talkin' about Dade County
The expired military ballots are bogus counted
I'd like to thank my cousin and the help from my pappy
My cousin owns Fox and it made me very happy
He told the entire world that I won
Before the votes were bein done counted
And even though Gore had more, what matters in the end
Is the Supreme Court, and those are my dad's friends
So thank you very much, and please remember
If you don't vote, I'll see you back in November
[Hook x2]
[Outro:]
I'm rich, George muthafuckin Bush, what? what!?
O- ok, uh nothing dad- nothin daddy, nut- I'm not doin nuttin
No it's country, do-don't Da-Daddy, Daddy, ok (smack smack smack)
[Intro:]
Ladies and Gentlemans
This an oath to the b-boy, b-girls,
The people out there who do it for the love
And belive me I'm not tryin' to diss anyone who's trying to get paid,
I'm trying to get paid too
But I got one question
[Verse 1:]
What ever happend to the heart
The pump the passion into the art
The energy to wanna start
Breaking, battling doing it at the park
Defintion to expression doesnt make it to top charts
I don't know what happend wanting to blow rap
The soul the passion full flow's
As soon as I wake up
I'm going to change my ways
Because the music's my savior
And no one can take my pain
Except for this paper
The page flows like rain
As soon as I wake up
I'm going to change my ways.
Instead of staying the same
Because I see better days ahead of me
I paint them on the page
Then I save them for the rainy ones
When anger and the anguish want to hang around
I say em outloud and complain to them.
I figure I'm made to live and haven't gone that far
But I made it here so if there is a god I give thanks to him.
Then I take a pen and make amends again,
The only way I know to repent.
I know somebody listenin.
Dear God I'm so thankful for you keeping my plate full,
The struggles, heartache, pain, the progress and the breakthrough.
Every single track has made who I am to this day
Prove this page is the only way to paint you
But lately it's like my soul feels counterfeits
Scared to pick up the pen to see what the hell might come out of it.
So God grant me the serenity without giving me the christianing
Because all I ever needed was a beat and people listening.
Step cousins.
As soon as I wake up
I'm going to change my ways
Because the music's my savior
And no one can take my pain
Except for this paper
The page flows like rain
As soon as I wake up
I'm going to change my ways.
Instead of rotting away and plotting my grave, hiding in a bottomless shame.
I found a way to fight my way out and see the light of day
And proud to say I took the safe route but there's a price to pay.
They like to keep my name in they mouth and tell lies on me.
What you see is what you get, truth in the flesh homie.
You can do the rest I'm through with trying to prove myself to you.
I'll see you when you wake up, hope the feeling is mutual.
Now for artists and musicians you see the target's to list,
To the heart inscripts with no margins, no limits
To make to pain, strengths and rays a part of the picture
And can bathe in every shade and take it further and vivid.
They're going to say what they say,
The - and whatever the dj plays they mark and they gimik.
But I've got a path to follow and along with the distance I realize I'm already awake,
I'm just starting to live it. My language.
As soon as I wake up
I'm going to change my ways
Because the music's my savior
And no one can take my pain
Except for this paper
The page flows like rain
As soon as I wake up
Oo lay hey hey
Oo lay hey hey
Oo lay hey hey
And we danced
And we cried
And we laughed
And had a really really really good time
Take my hand
Lets have a blast
And remember this moment
For the rest of our lives (our lives)
Our lives (our lives)
Our lives
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Tonight (tonight)
Tonight (tonight)
Tonight
Cause tonights the night
Am I right?
DANCE
Feels like a night for a party
My neesha so naughty
There's a knock on the door
It's the neighbors
Quit cock blocking
We're having a ho-down
You ho's down?
Don't let me pull my hose out
Cause it's big, long, pink, strong
And been known to dance like all night long
Grab my hand
Play this song
DJ save my live c'mon
Leave your fear back off the wall
Free your beat and pussy pop
If you don't have a pussy
Pop a cock into a bootay
Into a bootay yeah
And we danced (oh oh)
And we cried (oh oh)
And we laughed (oh oh oh)
And had a really really really good time (oh oh)
Take my hand (oh oh)
Lets have a blast (oh oh oh)
And remember this moment
For the rest of our lives (our lives)
I am not
I am not
Going to stand on the wall
I will dance
I will dance
I will break that ass off
And I see you in the corner
Corner looking so small
Doing the robot like a fada
Tonight at least I went hard
I will not
I will not
Giva a damn who watches me
I will live
I will live
Liberate the thoughts in me
I will be the disco ball
Freak and give my all
To whatever girls booty I'm freaking on
I'm not skeeting naw
I'ts just freaking hot
... alright I skeeted
I will not be a manaquin
The ego bannish it
The roof's on fire
Let's burn down the vatican
I will moonwalk to pluto
In honor of Michael Jackson
In heaven he'll be saying
Than man is tight at dancing
RIP to the King
Michael Jackson
We learned it all from you
Dedicate this to the dance floor
Party out the sorrow
Till tomorrow morning happens
We pledge alliegence to the DJ
Put your hands up
And we danced (oh oh)
And we cried (oh oh)
And we laughed (oh oh oh)
And had a really really really good time (oh oh)
Take my hand (oh oh)
Lets have a blast (oh oh oh)
And remember this moment
For the rest of our lives (our lives)
You see me looking at you from that bar right over there
But your friends are huddled up and they are hating on a player
I just wanna dance with you
Get on the back of you
T-tap the boot
Extract the truth
D-dance with you
Get on the back of you
D-dance dance dance dance
Awesome
Oh we oh we oh
Oh we oh we oh
Hey oh hey oh
Hey oh hey oh
Doo wap a oh
Doo wap a oh
Zibidueebob badop bop bop
Zibidueebob badop bop bop
Go go go go go go go go go
Ladies
I just wanna dance with you
I just wanna dance with you
Come here
Alright
I see you girl
I just wanna dance with you
I just wanna dance with
And we danced
And we cried
And we laughed
And had a really really really good time
Take my hand
Lets have a blast
And remember this moment
How y'all doin there folks?
My name is Aberdeen Washington
And I'm a proud American
And a terrorist fighter
That's right
Hey gimme another beer bitch!
Now when the day Bin Laden comes to town
Ima drop a duece
Wipe it up with his towel
Mow my lawn
Sit on the couch
Ima watch some football
I pray to the lord the Cowboys win
And beat the hell outta them damn redskins
Call up the boys
Get drunk as shit
God damn right I'm an American
That's right
I'm American
Got a picture of Regan above my fire
Next to the deer I shot with my rifle
NRA hell yeah I support 'em
No pro choice
No abortion
Mexicans, send em back over the boarder
Ride on home to Samoa
Or wherever they come from
Takin' our jobs
Eatin our hamburgers
Takin our jobs
They takin our jobs
I see them in the field
I'm takin their head off
I hate my job
And I hate my boss
But I love my country
And I pray to god
That the cowboys win
Fuck yeah Romo!
And the Cowboys win
That's right that's right that's right
C'mon
Everybody
Just clap your hands
If you love our country
If you love our land
That's right
And if you're not clapping your hands
You're a terrorist
And you eat sand
... sandwiches
The day Bin Laden comes to town
Imma drop a deuce
Wipe my poop with his towel
Mow my lawn
Sit on the couch
And Imma watch some football
And I pray to the lord the Cowboys win
And beat the hell outta them damn redskins
Call up the boys
Get drunk as shit
God damn right I'm American
I'm Ameri-fuckin-can
And john McCain and Sarah Palin
I know you lost out there
It was a tough one
But you're still 2 mavericks in my book
Don't worry about it
And listen Palin
I heard you like beer
Me too
I don't have a 6 pack
But I got a beer bong in my pants
What do ya say we go get shit faced
In a helicopter and kill a moose
America
The chosen
Guns
Explosions
McDonalds
Bowling
You don't like it
We exploit you
Pop a pill
Get a boner!
Hell yeah
Tony Romo
Man that guy is so damn cute
I wanna sack his boner
And ride him broke back
All the way to Wyoming
No homo... sike
Hey I said no homo
Fuck terrorists!
I mean like, I don't wanna fuck terrorists
Guys I'm kidding!
I like Romo
I don't "like" Romo
I said fuck terrorists
Not I wanna fuck a terrorist
You would
If you woulda caught bin laden
You wouldn't give him one in the butt?
For America?
If you said "no homo" right after you did it?
It doesn't count if it's terrorists
Hey little Aberdeen
Come in here
Yeah?
Hey come sing the national family anthem
Come on
Hey hey
Hey hey
That's right
I'm an American citizen
Aberdeen Washington
This is my country
And just because Barrack Obama
Won the presidential election
Does not mean that half the country
Doesn't feel the same way I do
Man I came to America yeah
And I live in America c'mon
And I live in America
I do too dad
Lemme get em
And I live in America
Dad And I live in America
Shut up
Little Aberdeen shut the fuck up
My bad
Lemme tell em
That's right
(Piano)
Uh, uh, uh... Uh, uh, uh...
(Drums)
Dumdumdumdumdumdumdum
Duh-tukituh, duh-tukituh...
[SKIP REST OF SONG]
[Speaking] Alright baby girl, lets sing to it
You're getting your degree, you're going to college
I'm making music and hoping it puts me on
But If I don't make it baby, will you be mad at me
If I just chilled at home as your stay-home-daddy?
Come on, Ill make you coffee (coffee), and a bagel (bagel), and another bagel (2 bagels)
Keep on reading that paper, then its off you go
Hun your gonna be late, don't forget your briefcase, drive safe, peace babe
Wake up the kids, toast the toast, put the raisin bread up in the bowl
The toast. did I forget the toast? The toast is toast, damnit I burnt the toast
Start crying, the kid's like Dad what's wrong? Oh its not you kids.
Its just me I'm alone. Dad's a little bit stressed. Oh FUCK!
Feeling so sensitive, Im going for a latte, see whats popping at Polate's
Hit up my friends like yo what up man, you trying to have a spa date?
The fuck? Your a stay at home dad... that's not gay!
Ay, ay, ay, ay, you go to work, I mow the lawn
Ay, ay, ay, ay, you make the cheese Ill bring the guac (Nacho Sauce, Spanish)
Ay, ay, ay, ay, you buy the clothes, I'll take them off (?)
Ay, ay, ay, ay, I'm a stay at home dad, this is my job
You go girl, get that promotion
Ill be on the sofa, collecting unemployment
Yelling at the tv, watching Mory Povich
Who is this Shelly Jones bitch?
Shit is 4 o'clock, time for Oprah (Oprah)
Gospel loves the lord for that
Who stay at home even though we can't get boners
But still Ill trade that for your lane cooking lasagna
Swoopin up the kids from soccer practice (soccer practice)
Then time for gymnastics, rice crispy treats and wax baggies
I'm with my kids in the mini-van, listening to MPR
With the windows down, through the (?)
Then its homework time, dinner time, set the placemats
Cut clean, tuck the rugs, rafts and blankets
Then I lay you down,
pop two cialis
, put on stain and then go quench my palette
Is that douche, or does your
cootch
just smell like flowers?
Your feet are calloused, peppermint towlette
Jasmine pedicure? Sented oil, a perfect backrub?
I am Aladin, your carpet is magic, your wish is magic
I would just love to ride your carpet out of the palace
Now keep on bringing the green baby, and Ill keep on tossin' salad
Ladies and gentlemen, we have been, conditioned to believe, we must fit in a role?
Brainwashed by (?), depicting our role must match our genitalia, hail to the no
Its men who go to work, and women raise the children, but I know the hardest job is maintaining the household
And they say, "Don't forget where you come from
Don't die holding on to your words
Cause you know you got a whole world to change
But understand who you got to change first"
And I was like "Fuck that", humility bust back
I remember the days with nothing but a bus pass
I was just a little shorty hoping that I could find a bum to buy a 40 for me
And have enough for a bud sack
Yeah, and I dance on that instrumental
Unorthodox like Basquiat with the pencil
Give me a microphone and a beat box I could vent to
Music the only medium that I could find myself through
Recluse, sipping on some lean I would let loose
Looking in the mirror, watching myself lose
Cleaned up in '08, got a job making barely minimum wage
To get into that page
Hit the road with RL, performing in front of 8 people
And that shit will check your ego
About around that time I'm watching that EP go
From nothing to getting us booked around the country
I know no limits, life can change in an instant
8 People turn into sold out shows in a minute
And I'm watching my pops in the back row grinning
With his glass up to my mom, toasting this Guinness
And we on (we on)
Good music, it lies in the ambiance
When we leave here
Will these words live on
Till then, we keep on making the songs
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
Put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
I remember that Freshman edition
Last year thinking to myself like
Yah, nah, I won't win it yet
Probably won't get it, but I'm gonna give it everything
Play my position
The next 11 months I gave it all everything I had left in me
Left blood, sweat, tears in every god damn city
No label, no deal, no publicist, indie
Just music that connected and fans that rode with me
Throw me a gold mine, and a co-sign
While you're riding a couple dope rides
2 women, both dimes
Not gonna lie, that shit sounds so nice
But I got creative control and my souls mine
I wouldn't trade it, maybe I'm crazy
I put on for my city
Seattle that raised me
Rule 4080, it's really not changing
Now a days make good music, the people are your label
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
Put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
So put 'em up, up up, up up (so high)
Oh my god, feels like a victory lap
Can I have that moment
Can I talk my shit
And they say, "Don't forget where you come from
Don't die holding on to your words
Cause you know you got a whole world to change
But understand who you got to change first"
Put 'em up, up up, up up
Up, up up, up up
Up, up up, up up
Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Seattle
Put 'em up, up up, up up
Everything is gold, everything is equal
Posted on the porch just chillin', me and my people
Eyelids closed, gold sun shines on
The world's coated in the gold Krylon
Yea, and these days days days
They never run away
Gold tints, shades, that block out that golden haze
Take all the gold from the pawnshop that lives behind the case
And get to give it away
My gold erupted from volcanos in the heavens
And every shrine that existed in time melting
Tombs open, Dookie Ropes on the bells
When everything is gold, who cares about the carats?
They say that gold's the skin of the gods
You can't take the band there when you're gone
Now I'll tip over that kiosk in the mall
As the sunset falls into tomorrow
Today we're feeling like gold, five hundred thousand sold
Slick Rick Gold, row fun, hella cold
And we stay fresh, so fresh head to toes
Ghost slowly faded, 14 carat plated
So we're feeling like gold
Five hundred thousand sold
Slick rick gold, row fun, hella cold
Yea we're feeling like gold
So fresh head to toes
Ghost slowly faded, 14 carat plated
So we're feeling like gold
Alright now we open up that car door
Hop out, hope they notice us
Throughout society we been locked in that cobra clutch
More gold bottles, gold bottles, never sober up
Ditch Jesus, In Gold I Trust
I solemnly swear to wear my cross and stunt
Separate myself by sticking out just because
That's how you illustrate power and who you're above
But nah, tonight we take it, take it, giving it back
Crack open the vault, let everyone mob in the bank
Take whatever they want, we party and give thanks
I've been rocking gold chains since pee was in the tank
You only live once, you only live once
Watch Rick Ross give his Jesus piece to a bum
Cause tonight we ball, we ball, we comin' up
Paintin' the globe gold, two steppin' on the sun
Like gold, five hundred thousand sold
Slick Rick Gold, row fun, hella cold
And we stay fresh, so fresh head to toe
Ghost slowly faded, 14 carat plated
So we're feeling like gold
Oh oh oh oh oh
Today we're feeling like gold
Oh oh oh oh oh
Gold coins, gold phone, gold car
Costs at least 10 racks to get 16 gold bars
Gold rush, suck on my gold dust stuntin
Under these gold trunks, that's 2 golden nugget
Flyin' on the gold eagle, flier than the rest of ‘em
Passing space needle, golden shower on pedestrians
Excuse me, that's my bad, that's my eagle and he shouldn't of
My eagle got hair, that motherfucker got a mullet bruh
And it's gold, two girls gold brass
Lounging on the water, feet in the gold sand
Sipping on Orangina, arms around them both pants
They're sipping Olde English right out of a gold can
Two girls, gold spandex so pretty
That girl ain't even gold, she just got golden girl titties
I'm kidding, everyone is gold in my city
You paint Betty White gold, even Betty White can get it
Get it get it get it.
Today we're feeling like gold, five hundred thousand sold
Slick Rick Gold, row fun, hella cold
And we stay fresh, so fresh head to toes
Ghost slowly faded, 14 carat plated
So we're feeling like gold
Today we're feeling like gold, five hundred thousand sold
Slick Rick Gold, row fun, hella cold
And we stay fresh, so fresh head to toes
Ghost slowly faded, 14 carat plated
So we're feeling like gold
Oh oh oh oh oh
So we're feeling like gold
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
This is for my soldiers
Not my soldiers that chose to be soldiers
But the soldiers that were forced to be soldiers
Now what's the trouble, you scared of being a human?
If the truth is a tool I double dare you to use it
Hit the booth and I'm well aware of what I'm doin'
If I confuse you with the humor I'm preparing them for the movement
I've been alive before and every person's got a purpose
Most don't observe it or know what they're striving towards
Only you can light the torch
Cause you won't survive the war if you don't know what the fuck it is you're fighting for
Most of us won't open up and trust the inner source
Combined with being tempted to just accept it
But don't twist the message, if you must think of my support
Sometimes you gotta pull off the tees and get on some left right left shit
I worked with 80 soldiers hooded behind locked doors
Forced into a war, an entrance with no exit
Before they could grow up, just some crazy soldiers
Armin them with crack and guns, in essence, defenseless
Yup my man rappin killsmatic enhance them
In his own words 21st century panther
13 years old gets into a fight
Decided to steal the kid's bike
Cops come and he ends up in hand cuffs
Two months in and now he's caught in the trap
Got out, got caught with a gat and crack
Now whatta these people think
Juvenile life like that he grew up in a room with a mac
And he'll be policed until the day he can legally drink
Now tell me what's the matter with this picture
I wish it was a dream but it seems too vivid
There's blood on these streets I can't see who's is it
I should probably mind my business
I said tell me what's the matter with this picture
I wish it was a dream but it seems to vivid
There's blood on these streets I can see whose is it
America wants me to mind my business
Now if you contain anything in a cage
Its natural tendency is going to try to be escape right?
When these kids get out of the gates and face life
If you raised them as a criminal what do you estimate they'll behave like?
The ratio is 80 something percent of kids who get locked up again or go straight to the pen
And that's strange right
It's a snowball effect, and they wanna see you again
So they can make sure that America remains white
Yup, going back on that race shit
Most of the neighborhoods are like cages they try and escape and
If the American dream is to make it
It's obviously blatant that if you're left with nothing, what do you do?
Attempted Murder was the case
My man got beat up, stomped in his face
Ask George bush what you do when you're attacked
His boy went and let it spray, hit one of them in the leg
Now George you can relate,
Remember Iraq, or was it Afghanistan? Just ain't funny
Proving sometimes you gotta take something to make money
My man's homie snitched and said that he planned to hit
And he'll be out when he's 46
Now ain't the game something
The soldiers follow the same orders
The generals are Crips folk and south of the boarder
Now is it a kid with a gun or the system he lives in that has his disorder
If there's a fiend on the block, somebody's servin em
If there's a teen with a Glock, there's a cop lookin to turn em in
If you have something I want, there's somebody murderin
Since 1492, where the fuck do you think we learned it from
Now tell me what's the matter with this picture
I wish it was a dream but it seems too vivid
There's blood on these streets I can't see whose is it
I should probably mind my business
I said tell me what's the matter with this picture
I wish it was a dream but it seems to vivid
There's blood on these streets I can see whose is it
1,2, Now...
Those 3 plus years, I was so proud of
Then I threw them all away, for two Styrofoam cups
The irony - everyone will think that "he lied to me."
Made my sobriety so public there's no fucking privacy
If I don't talk about it than I carry a date
08/10/08 - then that was Ben changed
And everyone that put me in some box is ashamed
That I never was - just a false prophet that never came
And will they think that everything that I've written has all been fake?
Or will I just take my slip to the grave?
What the fuck are my parents gonna say?
The success story that got his life together and changed
And you know, what pain looks like
When you tell your dad you relapsed and look directly into his face
The seat on your shoulders, the CD leave heavy weight
Haven't seen tears like this on my girl in a while
The trust that I once built has been betrayed
But I'd rather live tellin' the truth than be judged for my mistakes
Than falsely held up, given props, loved and praised
I guess, I gotta get this on the page
Feelin', sick and helpless
Lost the compass where self is
I know what I've gotta do, and I can't help it
One day at a time is what they tell us
Now I've gotta find a way to tell them...
God help him...
We fell, so hard
Now we gotta get back what we lost
Lost
I thought you'd go
But you were with me all along
Along
And every kid that came up to me
And said I was the music they listened to when they first got clean
Now look at me - a couple days sober
I'm fighting demons
Back of that meeting on the East Side, shakin' tweakin'
Hope that they don't see it
Hope that no one is lookin'
That no one recognizes that failure under that hoodie
Just posted in the back with my hands crossed, shook-en
If they call on me I'm passin' it, they talk to me I'm bookin'
Out that door
But before
I can make it
Somebody stops me and says "Are you Macklemore?
"Maybe this isn't the place or time, I just wanted to say that...
If it wasn't for 'Otherside' I wouldn't have made it..."
I just looked down at the ground and say "Thank you."
She tells me she has 9 months and that she's so grateful
Tears in her eyes lookin' like she's gonna cry, fuck
I barely got forty-eight hours, treated like I'm some wise monk
I want to tell her I relapsed, but I can't
I just shake her hand and tell her "Congrats"
Get back to my car, and I think I'm trippin', yeah
Cause God wrote 'Otherside', that pen was in my hand
I'm just a flawed man - Man, I fucked up...
Like so many others, I just never thought I would
I never thought I would
Didn't pick up the book
Doin' it by myself didn't turn out that good
If I can be an example of gettin' sober
Then I can be an example of startin' over
If I can be an example of gettin' sober
Then I can be an example of startin' over
We fell, so hard
Now we gotta get back what we lost
Lost
I thought you'd go
But you were with me all along
I wanna be free, I wanna just live
Inside my Cadillac, That is my shit
And I throw it up (I throw that up)
That's what it is (that's what it is)
In my C A D I L L A C bitch (biatch)
Can't see me through my tints (nah ah)
I'm riding real slow (slow motion)
In my paint wet drippin shorty like my 24's (umbrella)
I ain't got 24's (no oh)
But I'm on those Vogues
That's those big white walls, round them hundred spokes
Old school like Olde English in that brown paper bag
I'm rolling in that same whip that my granddad had
Hello haters, Damn y'all mad
30k on the Caddy, now how backpack rap is that?
Got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaning back, taking my time
I'm blowin' that roof off, letting in sky
I shine, the city never looked so bright
Man I'm lounging in some shit Bernie Mac would've been proud of
Looking down from heaven like damn that's stylish
Smilin', don't pay attention to the mileage
Can I hit the freeway? I'm legally going 120
Easy weaving in and out of the traffic
They cannot catch me, I'm smashing
I'm ducking bucking them out here
I'm like go fuckin their tastic, I am up in a classic
Now I know what it's like under the city lights
Riding into the night, driving over the bridge
The same one we walked across as kids
Knew I'd have a whip but never one like this
Old school, old school, Candy paint, two seater
Yea, I'm from Seattle, There's hella Honda Civics
I couldn't tell you about paint neither
But I really want the Caddy so I put in the hours
And roll on over to the dealer
And I found the car, junior, problem with this geezer
Got the keys in and as I was leaving I started screaming
Got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaning back, taking my time
I'm blowin' that roof off, letting in sky
I shine, the city never looked so bright
Backwoods and dope
White hoes in the backseat snorting coke
She doing line after line like she's writing rhymes
I had it hella my love, tryna blow her mind
Cadillac pimpin', my uncle was on
14 years out so excuse me and my niggas was gone
Sendin' portions of his liquor, water in the Patron
Rather smiling like I won the fucking lottery homes
(fuckin' lottery homes)
Tires with the spokes on it in the 4-2
Mustard and mayonnaise, keeping the buns on ‘em
My dogs hanging out the window
Young as whoosh, fuckin like we ball
Tryna fuck em all, kill the fuckin wimps
See what's poppin' at the mall, meet a bad bitch
Slap her booty with my palms
You can smoke the pussy, I was tearing down the walls
I'm motherfuckin' off
Son, swear these eyes tryna hypnotize
Grip the leather steering wheel while I grip the thighs
See the lust stuck up in her eyes
Maybe she like the ride or did she like the smoke?
Girl does she want it low?
This shit a Coupe de Ville so you'll never know
So we cool with niggas, my nigga fuck the limit
Got a window tinted for showing gangstas in it
Slice off when the gas is finished, Q
Got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaning back, taking my time
I'm blowin' that roof off, letting in sky
I shine, the city never looked so bright
Got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaning back, taking my time
I'm blowin' that roof off, letting in sky
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