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Northwest Philadelphia born and raised
but the transient spirit wouldn’t allow me to stay
still have dreams that I can return one day
with a Grammy and a full ticker tape parade
with blue streamers, and wise words for the dreamers
who heard us making plans and chose to believe us
feel like Ryu at the ending of Street Fighter 2
keep it pushing, cause i did the best that I could do
all you can, for the movement
but the further you get it’s just more confusing.
Feel like we had it on lock back in 06,
now the old dogs stilll expect the old tricks
music’s the only thing you can’t grow with
I think about where I’ll be when I pass away
a solo act like Tom Hanks in cast away
Hemmingway, meets Hardaway and Hathaway
throw the past away, and wake up and smash the day
shift my speed into hyper
trying to hit the target i hold my breath and squeeze like a sniper
we finally made it, i got me a spot on Billboard
checked my Bank account yesterday, still poor
they say you got the life most rappers would kill for
working 16 hour days and yet I’m still bored
I put a rock on my lady hand
200 days after I told Kyle he was a crazy man
but when I got that feeling I started making plans
I’ll probably never ever forget how that day began
hand shaking right now even thinking bout it
but when you know you know it, you aint gotta think about it
they stream the shows now so the venues ain’t as crowded
but we’re thinkers, we just gotta find a way around it
but how’s an artist supposed to pull rent
when Spotify can’t even give him a full cent
now i point the mic at the fans and they know the songs
a beautiful feeling i fought for, for so long
now my name gets bigger on the party fliers
which means i get to play when everybody’s tired
another year, new steps, new promenade
rest assured that it’s honest as long as I’m involved
so here I am, still doing my thang thang,
same as it ever was, its just a name change
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2. |
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We all die. But the goal isn't to live forever, but to create something that will.
CHORUS
Infinite Lives..Infinite Lives
never say never, we're gonna live forever
Infinite Lives...Infinite Lives
never say never we're gonna live forever
I heard you only live once, well ima disagree,
Cause you can live forever and forever doesn't cease,
Live through your creations and the people that you teach
So I Live through my music, eternally through the beats
First email says I'm diggin that verse
Next 4 emails im missing that merch
They say you can't take it with you and so I never intended to, before my last interview
This is the gift I'm sending you
D&D SLUGGERS:
Never gonna die..no we're never gonna die
You can hear my words in this song...it'll play on after I'm gone
Never gonna die..no we're never gonna die
You can hear my words in this song...it'll play on after I'm long gone
VERSE 2
Heard you only live once, that's cool I suppose, but you can live forever through the songs you compose,
Experiences you share, the highs and the lows,
Experimentation with flows cause god knows,
She learned more about life from Pac's posthumous works
Than she ever could've got in a church,
Is that wrong? Living for that song,
Learning from that lyric and steering others from wrong,
We living off love so, never needing a meal,
Full from the enlightenment and the warmth that we feel
It's ill
Overflow of emotion from chillin chasin the girls
To float in over the oceans
And maybe changing the world
First 2 emails like hey that's tight
Next few emails you change my life
So even if I expire and people call it untimely,
All you gotta do is rewind me, cuz I've got
CHORUS
Infinite Lives..Infinite Lives
never say never, we're gonna live forever
Infinite Lives...Infinite Lives
never say never we're gonna live forever
Heard you only live once, Well I beg to differ
Cause you can live forever through the feelings U deliver
From the first raindrop to the rush of a mighty river, I give ya,
The bigger picture the split ya and leave a fissure
An opening full of hoping,
That's smoldering like a cauldron,
Proceeding with caution will never fill up your garden, pardon-
for everybody who doubted and left my memories clouded *I decided instead of complaints I'd
Do something about it
Forever isn't a time it's a place or a state of mind,
No they never just gave me mine, I
I elected to Stay behind
Cuz there's deeds I need done,
Pages I haven't filled
Places I haven't been to, and
Stages I haven't killed
There's lives I haven't touched
words I need to say,
Tell me Who needs forever
When our forever's today
If I die it's right on time
It's meant to be this way
Now Tell me who needs forever , our forever's today, come on
CHORUS
Infinite Lives..Infinite Lives
never say never, we're gonna live forever
Infinite Lives...Infinite Lives
never say never we're gonna live forever
Never gonna die..no we're never gonna die
You can hear my words in this song...it'll play on after I'm gone
Never gonna die..no we're never gonna die
You can hear my words in this song...it'll play on after I'm long gone
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3. |
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He Had a dream it would rise up and elevate,
Pictured a day that we all got to celebrate,
And by creating a term, he was spawning a movement of rappers who waited their turn
To speak about being outcasts and coding and things
Rather than controlling a lane
The flow was insane
My homies assumed it wasn't real,
Then they were blown away by the brothers skill
This wasn't parody
And every word was emoted with an astounding level on clarity
And then the documentary-
It wasn't all complimentary
I felt a kindred kinda energy
So Colorful and lovable
Made our own skin feel so comfortable
Nerdcore rose up, and that's wonderful
We all owe it to the MC who Fronts the most
CHORUS
I want it all..
Put my name up on the wall in the hall of fame
But the time I'm done here
the whole world gone know the name
Rushmore...
put me up on Rushmore...
Till I'm up on Rushmore
with the ones who changed the game
Verse 2
A chance meeting with an animator,
would turn a mild mannered comic to a major player
Yeah, Quick witted with a distinctive voice,
now the networks have made him their choice
a recurring character on a hit show
No more struggle now it's time to get dough
Took on the road, to sold out shows
Fanbase grows, highs then lows,
He read a negative tweet
Kicked the kid out the club instead of letting it be,
This could've killed his career
But thanks to dedicated audiences he still here
Respect Deserves a lot more than he gets
He brought a certain former teacher on tour when he quit
For the talent and overcoming the challenge, mc, you hall of fame, first ballot
No doubt about it
CHORUS
I want it all..
Put my name up on the wall in the hall of fame
But the time I'm done here
the whole world gone know the name
Rushmore...
put me up on Rushmore...
Till I'm up on Rushmore
with the ones who changed the game
Verse 3
Stanford grad with a gift of gab
Bred in Punk rock but decided to hit the lab
And spit some raps-- about literature classics,
With commercial appeal When it hit it was massive
A bundle of energy on or off stage,
And it isn't an act, he's on one all day
Complex with mad flows and concepts
Nerd rap was making some progress
We even rocked a world tour
50 dates, but I'm unsure which one of us learned more
Picked up my freestyle bit,
But everybody does it, who could call a freestyle bit,
True Player for real, no doubt he got hits,
And it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he got rich
Post punk laptop to lit hop it's hip hop
unquestionably He earned his spot
CHORUS
I want it all..
Put my name up on the wall in the hall of fame
But the time I'm done here
the whole world gone know the name
Rushmore...
put me up on Rushmore...
Till I'm up on Rushmore
with the ones who changed the game
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4. |
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Yo there’s a party going on the east side
call up the peeps get the car washed and we ride
cuz everybody’s gonna make it all the shakers and movers
the illest DJs too so dust off all your maneuvers
and Imma probably need to iron my shirt for this
use my shoes i reserve for church for this
gonna socialize till we suffocate
each a bunch of stuff I hate, then be ask for another plate
maybe get asked what I do for a living
tell em I rap, so they can produce me a rhythm
and make me rhyme on the spot, My favorite activity
yay! festivities....the captivity
they’ll tell a bunch of jokes, I’ll pretend to enjoy
and i’ll be stuck in conversations that’d tend to avoid
sounds great, so I sigh and grab my coat,
the new book tat I’m reading and I prepare to go...
about to turn off the lights and hit the TV
when across my screen, yo, what do I see?
Netflix ad, Daredevil’s out , the full season
this is pleasing... I don't think I'm leaving.
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5. |
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(CHORUS)
I got my game face on,
Usually I don't take this long
But I'm on a mission
To make this song your favorite song
The song you can't turn off
There's no escaping from
I'm on a mission
To make this song your favorite song
(4x)
I could hear it in an apple commercial
The hip stock firm or home loans
Even a sick animal montage
But I been struggling with this for so long
I want something that'll make you wanna reminisce
Repeatable with very little lyrics in it
Something that lovers can kiss in the rain to
In slow mo, with angles that'll capture the human spirit
The soundtrack to the newest startup
the First song you play in your car or truck
The kind that'll keep royalties comin when I'm hard up,
broke falling into hard luck
The kinda track you hear in public restrooms
The track white girls get dressed to
The kinda song that'll make old people tell me
"I don't listen to no other rappers, just you"
CHORUS 4x
I wanna make the 2015 "Happy,"
Be the rap game Carly Rae Jepsen,
Sports center top 10 on ESPN
Saturday Night Live doing impressions
Make Starbucks wanna carry me
Make total strangers wanna marry me
Make Clear channel start adding me
Make Weird al wanna parody
A song that the hipsters hate
When they discuss it they always pontificate
And say it isn't as good-as it indicates
But when it come on they always participate
And all the critics just diss me and instigate,
While I'm Paris just chillin' like *this is great*
So if you think that your movie could handle it
Do me a favor: and get at my management
yeah
(CHORUS 4X)
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6. |
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..an old friend?
Okay, let him in.
R- let him in.
Verse One (Random)
Hello Mega Ran, I know it's a surprise,
It's been a little while, what a sight for sore eyes,
Before you hit the stage I just wanted to say congrats,
Cuz you've cashed in on your passion and I'm really proud of that -
Newspapers websites adorn you with awards
And I can hardly keep up man you're always on a tour
You know, it's really awesome man, how everybody loves you
And to think you almost quit, now look what it's come to,
While most indie rappers struggle, you make it look so simple,
Dope rhymes indeed but 8 bit instrumentals were the kicker
Remember when we polly'd it on the block
And you said you'd never change, no matter how awesome it got
Well I couldn't help but notice you don't talk about those moments
If I didn't know any better I'd think you had disowned it
I was your biggest proponent, but you probably think I'm jealous,
Cause you're too busy being a star to kick it with the fellas,
You should be out in Ferguson speaking against injustice,
But it seems you got better things to do than to discuss it,
I wouldn't be a true friend if I didn't point it out.
Used to chalk it up to youth but I'm just disappointed now.
You said you'd come back for me, that musta been a lie,
So I came to holler at you and give a final goodbye
Nothing personal bro, I still consider you a friend
But we're way too different, so you'll never see me again
Chorus (Edy Blu)
No one but me can see my face,
In the shadows to the light, my saving grace
No one but me can see my face
Out the shadows to the light my saving grace
Verse 2
(Mega Ran)
Listen, as you said it's been a while since we last chatted
And in that period Id say whole lot has happened
I've been across seas, gained a little recognition
I wish we could roll together but you just would never listen
You were about the spitting and trying to make a difference
And I was too, but how was I to make a living
I watched you spend 11 months making the first record
Rehearsing and perfecting it hoping to be respected
but ultimately neglected press outlets, you were starting to doubt it,
I recovered the fumble and did something about it
8 years later I thought the remixes would move you
But I was truly saddened they didn't meet your approval,
And I apologize for not standing on social issues and not blowing the whistle on all these corrupt officials
But I'm the escape, my music can help them get through
And if you going for good then Im seriously gonna miss you
But you don't understand the pressure and the demands,
It was easy as Random it's hard as Mega Ran,
And what's the joy in being the broke dude who kept it real,
Can't change the community when you can't pay your bills
But I promise to make sure they see a piece of you
Cause you're the inspiration in every single piece I do
But if this isn't pleasing you to see me live my dreams,
Then maybe we weren't quite as close as it used to seem
nah mean?
Chorus
No one but me can see my face,
In the shadows to the light, my saving grace
No one but me can see my face
Out the shadows to the light my saving grace
(adlibs out)
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7. |
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Spark the match, then ya arch ya back
heat rocks cause deep shock, heart attacks
make amends, take it in like a starving pup
when the dealer waves is hand and the card is plucked
double down on the Ace and 8's don't tempt fate
put the crown on the stage and wait, it's in place
for the luminous if you insist, I'm feel in numinous
who is this, you in this? That makes two of us
free will, remember that speed kills
i come for the cheap thrills and stay for the refills
wait til the beat build - then i conquer it too
I'm on 12th and maple where the monsters are due
wit a MagLight flashlight partially charged
and a scar i caught facing a larceny charge
terror in the sky guess it's odd being God
When it's over ask him is it always this hard
CHORUS
At the end of the day when my sun sets west,
and my clock slows down to a crawl
Ain't no battery charger, that'll recharge ya
that day, you have to miss that call
Shame that the so called experts look like fools
when the market is passing them by
Meanwhile all the believers appalled at egregious
acts under the mackerel sky --- go
Go
Go
Mackerel sky..go.
I am Chance Bordreaux in the 5th ward, i implore
you can see the light like french doors get sent for
equal opportunity impunity,
soon to be a melee cause i'll never let you ruin me
four-flushers at the labels wanna bleed me dry
A pretty penny, wooden nickel and measly dime
A politician pays a psychic to read his mind
I bet it's dirtier than three six lines
Tell, Would you trade capital for a bit of the power
Or your soul for 40+ Billable hours
you can make that at bike week with a camcorder
Worldstar
toss the baby with the bath water
The threat is just so Incredulous
Get ready set
Thought I had plenty left just wasn't ready yet
Keep slow, you know how that greed go
Cause it's done--Where we go, we don't need roads
CHORUS
At the end of the day when my sun sets west,
and my clock slows down to a crawl
Ain't no battery charger, that'll recharge ya
that day, you have to miss that call
Shame that the so called experts look like fools
when the market is passing them by
Meanwhile all the believers appalled at egregious
acts under the mackerel sky --- go
Go
Go
Mackerel sky..go.
Verse 3 (RoQy TyRaiD)
Big faces on projectors,
the crowd how they bow for respect like
thou art endowed to protect us
astound and perplexes
the crowd that enshrouds its intentions
somehow is endowed with protection
youtube's like a yellow brick road
better tip toe, hella precious info
ignorant brothers with dreams
thinking you run with the team
a stringless puppet, just some monkeys with wings
off the shelf you fly, propelled to new heights
cause of wax,
icarus fell from the sky, such are facts
light embrace it, time it changes
no hiding place for karma's primal nature
corporate attempts to destroy ya,
life's like chess and pawns are inherently royal, so
miss this guy with your minstrel rhymes
under the Mackerel Sky there's bigger fish to fry
let's go
CHORUS
At the end of the day when my sun sets west,
and my clock slows down to a crawl
Ain't no battery charger, that'll recharge ya
that day, you have to miss that call
Shame that the so called experts look like fools
when the market is passing them by
Meanwhile all the believers appalled at egregious
acts under the mackerel sky --- go
Go
Go
Mackerel sky..go.
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8. |
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I dont stand around acting tough
Record labels still wanna snatch me up
like jacks and stuff,
everybody mad cuz they passed em up
i don’t ask for much
maybe a sound system that’s adequate
im attacking it, so ravenous
So passionate it's no accident
these boys gassed up like they flatulent,
need a maalox cause they ain’t hot, got the game locked
and i can’t stop, like a car with the brakes popped
at a club playing K-pop in a tank top,
they repackaged like they work for game stop,
can’t box so they flail they lungs, tuck tail and run like cowards do
my power overload scouters - last measurement was over 9000
housin, like realtors for real bruh,
keep ya head down and your shield up
don’t worry whatever don’t kill ya is just exp that you gone build up
and I’m maxed out on Critical Amp
rappers claim they gone get it but can’t
wake up and apologize if you ever dream
about hitting the champ
CHORUS (Storyville)
Up and down your timeline
there I go again
See em hating on my reign
wonder when it's gonna end
I hear you making noise
but you just not there
Wanna take me out the game
Cause it's just not fair
Boy I'm OP, OP
none of these rappers can hold me
I'm OP, OP
Got the codes from the OGs
I'm OP, OP
None of these rappers can hold me
I'm OP, too OP
That's Over Powered
Over Powered.
I’m Heimerdinger in LoL, I’m Michael Jordan in 96
rappers getting over, cuz someone told them BARS is just rhyming quick
I took the oath and i honor it,
confident without consequence
dominant on my continent
I’m like God Shammgod at Providence
and I’m Superman in Injustice, im Alex Mercer in Prototype
overhyped, you know the type,
cup the head when they hold the mic
so i snatch that from a rap act, kick wack raps
and attack that, like a soldier do
tell ya dad that, you a sad sack,
and you shan’t rap and to smack that cat who told you to
…and i don’t play well with others
that is unless its my brothers..
Guild, and I don’t mean Felicia Day
and we keep it fresh like easter day
we take the mic and play keep away
Rep myself and still beat the case
cuz I’m hungry like i aint eat today,
and you looking like a big piece of steak
well as you can see, it's unlikely that I'm hungry right now,
but you know.
CHORUS (Storyville)
Up and down your timeline
there I go again
See em hating on my reign
wonder when it's gonna end
I hear you making noise
but you just not there
Wanna take me out the game
Cause it's just not fair
Boy I'm OP, OP
none of these rappers can hold me
I'm OP, OP
Got the codes from the OGs
I'm OP, OP
None of these rappers can hold me
I'm OP, too OP
That's Over Powered
Over Powered.
Verse 3 (Richie Branson)
You are not up on my level
I'm overpowered in the game like Kazya the devil
yo we runnin' through them trenches
like we mobbin' with them rebels
Super Sonic on that Sega
emeralds all up in my bezel
every flow I spit is sure to knock your block off
like an Eddy Gordo kick or a shot from OddJob
got that flame like Molotov, dont you disrespect the boss
unless you feelin' like Aerith trying to step to Sephiroth
look I'm lancelot with that lightsaber,
never used to have a lot of dry haters
til I canceled off of that hiatus
like *unknown spelling* in that time chamber
see I'm at the top like Abdul-Jabbar
Sky hook, 85 Lakers
I'm too far, you can't touch the heels
even if you had a squad full of White Mages
CHORUS (Storyville)
Up and down your timeline
there I go again
See em hating on my reign
wonder when it's gonna end
I hear you making noise
but you just not there
Wanna take me out the game
Cause it's just not fair
Boy I'm OP, OP
none of these rappers can hold me
I'm OP, OP
Got the codes from the OGs
I'm OP, OP
None of these rappers can hold me
I'm OP, too OP
That's Over Powered
Over Powered.
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9. |
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here we go again..
Here we go again!
(female)
one more time,
one more time
one more, one more, one more time... (2x)
Verse 1
Ha.
i went to comic con in 07
(that's crazy)
and everybody laughed at me
(that's crazy)
i went to comic con last week
(that's crazy)
same fools was in line right in back of me
(that's crazy)
I started rapping bout my favorite games
(that's crazy)
everybody said that wasn’t real rap
(that's crazy)
Now we rockin at the concerts
(that's crazy)
all the homies talking bout they feelin' that
(that's crazy)
(that's crazy)
people be like I’m a gamer too!
(that's crazy)
I be like what yo, what you playing dog?
(that's crazy)
they be like madden and call of duty!
(that's crazy)
I be like that aint quite the same dog...
(that's crazy)
I quit my job back in 2011
(that's crazy)
I been blessed a full time rapper since
(that's crazy)
now I pay a grip in taxeeeeeeees
(that's crazy)
and i really miss my benefits
Pre-Chorus:
Life is so crazy I never imagined the day it would be like this
You can make all of the plans that you wanna
but G-O-D you know that he got his,
Chorus
He laughin at ya, you know he laughin at ya
yup, he laughin at ya, you know he laughin at ya (4x)
I used to tell my students never quit,
(that's crazy)
Their perseverance, it inspires me,
(that's crazy)
So my principal told my students that I quit...
(that's crazy)
When in actuality they them bastards fired me
(that's crazy)
My ex girl told me to get serious
(that's crazy)
And stop chasing stupid rap fantasies. ,
(that's crazy)
So that's same the day I got serious
(that's crazy)
That was the end of her and me
(that's crazy)
My momma told me to go back to school
(that's crazy)
Be respected as a professional
(that's crazy)
I called my old advisor for some guidance
(that's crazy)
He doing network marketing and SEOOOOOOOO
Pre-Chorus:
Life is so crazy I never imagined the day it would be like this
You can make all of the plans that you wanna
but G-O-D you know that he got his,
Chorus
He laughin at ya, you know he laughin at ya
yup, he laughin at ya, you know he laughin at ya (4x)
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10. |
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step inside of my office, about the size a new york apartment
Doctor Jarbo, not Jarvis, my mother’s name is doris
got my Wu-Tang records on the wall but 3 degrees to dwarf it
soundtrack is NPR had a crush on audie cornish
I do orthodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics and surgery
and today only, take 10% off cause its my anniversary
am i a rapper? that’s a odd query, cause I am a rap listener
but i spend my days in my choice of trade which is oral health practitioner
dentist, to the layman - or a DDS cuz my DAT’s
were outstanding, its demanding, 8 years of school and still standing
got them weekly readers on deck, or the new york times for the older folks
used to keep some Jet magazines but Page 43, kept going ghost
and I don’t play games with that nitrous, my practice here is most righteous
yet if i was a musician, I’d probably go out like Linus
How’d I pick this profession? it seemed it came so easily,
most children they fear the dentist, but my visits went pleasingly
So here I am
CHORUS
you look so familiar but I can’t figure out
why i think that i recognize ya, don’t know what its about
it’s like a parallel existence, but i know that’s fiction
or is it… or is it..
(Open Mike Eagle)
Step inside of my office I heard you lost it
your teacher said you been talking
and the lunchroom monitor saw you dumping your sausage
man get off it
you acting out like you don't know what this is costing
I'm trying to be cool and rap with you
but you lose your privileges often
you say you trying but I can't tell
cause you ain't in class by the late bell
and I'm only gone freestyle with the students
that act right and behave well
and you know this..
you have all the control
focusing on your goals
and you too old...
trying to ask me about rapping
to some students it's an outlet
and to others it's a distraction
it all depends on how you be acting
did you finish your application?
cause rap for me was a passion
but the path is graduation
be cool...
CHORUS
you look so familiar but I can’t figure out
why i think that i recognize ya, don’t know what its about
it’s like a parallel existence, but i know that’s fiction
or is it… or is it..
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11. |
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Verse 1
No Child Left Behind means more teachers booted
another great idea poorly executed
they wonder why I bounced and decided to make music
empty promises came but I knew not to hold them to it
wonder why the 100th day's a holiday?
cause up to that day the state has still gotta pay
and after that day problem kids are expelled
the first step to jail, your system has failed.
don't get me started on the cultural bias
selling lies to the students, teachers hoping you buy it
can't tell em that the principal you love so much
could give a damn if you succeed, long as funds go up
and now the best teachers want to be administrators
hard to fight the power when you don't know what's for dinner later
charter schools bring in kids on the 3rd strike
with more mileage than the turnpike
but everyone can learn, right?
CHORUS (Elle Winston)
You lied...
rewrite my story you tried...
and I'm crawling in the dark
cause the truth I can't find
I wish I may I wish
I wish I might
but I'm tired of your lies.
Verse 2
they say that those who can't do will teach it
and you can't teach it if you don't believe it
and if you don't love it then you should leave it
and finally, you can't stay if you can't keep a secret
hrad to excavate to find the facts on the diaspora
they'll have you denying Egypt's even in Africa
literal rewrite of history, they printing lies
And if you criticize, that's when you're ostracized
diluted and mythologized
white washed and homogenized, I feel like i should apologize
cause I was part of it although i hated all of it
plausible deniability's what they calling it
history is written by the victors
and you gotta break the frame sometimes to get the bigger picture
they confuse correctness with political correctness
subconsciously these methods will belittle your perspective
you go through life believing that you're subordinate
twisting facts like contortionists, and this is the argument
tell the legislators we need a new ordinance
the numbers are important their terribly disproportionate
Columbus' journey still in my text, huh?
we know it's a farce, no hurry to make corrections
We gotta raise these kids right, protect them
get it right the first time, we might not get a next one.
CHORUS (Elle Winston)
You lied...
rewrite my story you tried...
and I'm crawling in the dark
cause the truth I can't find
I wish I may I wish
I wish I might
but I'm tired of your lies.
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12. |
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You see the great thing about this land
is that you can be whatever you please
whatever you do, whatever you need
the world is your oyster, take it from me
a couple of pointers real quick
people will join ya just to exploit ya,
what a spoiler to deal with
most of your victories will be Pyrric
and if you’re anything like your old dad
you gone grab a pen and notepad
and jot down, what you got now
just to compensate
for what you don’t have
man, that’s as good a toe tag, let me explain
this treacherous game, I pray every day
that you don’t have
the inherent desire to go rap
all the pressure you feel from your homies
pain of watching them fade slowly
and your heroes transform to competition
family mad you aint rockin with em
advertising all you do to get tours
critics saying you should do a bit more
significant others secretly wishing you fail
while cheering for you to get yours
but hard times can’t last
I’m just looking out of stained glass
half empty, i hustled all my life and
I aint tryna raise a Dame Dash,
save some beans then chase the dream
stray from the chicanery
storms will come you change the scene
learn the game from A to Z
a poet
CHORUS
I gotta tell you this now,
cause when i was young i wasn’t told
all the things that you want during childhood
aren’t best for you when you’re old
The grief stricken and the stoic,
the constantly misquoted
you’ll never know true satisfaction
if you decide to be a poet, a poet.
I recall back when i was 19
dating the girl that i thought I would wed
couldn't get her touches out of my head
till the day that on my heart she would tread
a couple of years my senior, shorty even had a little son
I loved him like he was my own, made a house a home
to put it short i was sprung
my momma thought I was an idiot,
just for falling for a fast girl
so on the day she stopped calling the crib
it hurt me like a hundred hammer curls
Sat up in my room sulking, wishing i wasn’t so open
even used my last bus token to go to visit her crib in Logan
sat on her steps till she walked up - told me she came from the doctor
she had just an abortion, and she didn’t want me to stop her
I had my whole life ahead of me, she didn’t wanna complicate that
i didn’t really know what to say to her, I just had to take that.
cause what would i do, drop out of school, to raise a baby when I’m one
i wanted to say it but deep down, the words just couldn’t be found
so if you do get a chance, don’t sway a sister or brothers dream
show em the whole palate, but let the child choose a color scheme
CHORUS
I gotta tell you this now,
cause when i was young i wasn’t told
all the things that you want during childhood
aren’t best for you when you’re old
The grief stricken and the stoic,
the constantly misquoted
you’ll never know true satisfaction
if you decide to be a poet, a poet.
Tiny bit of humanity,
Blessed with your mother’s face,
And cursed with your father’s mind.
I say cursed with your father’s mind,
Because you can lie so long and so quietly on your back,
Playing with the dimpled big toe of your left foot,
And looking away,
Through the ceiling of the room, and beyond.
Can it be that already you are thinking of being a poet?
Why don’t you kick and howl,
And make the neighbors talk about
“That damned baby next door,”
And make up your mind forthwith
To grow up and be a banker
Or a politician or some other sort of go-getter
Or—?—whatever you decide upon,
Rid yourself of these incipient thoughts
About being a poet.
For poets no longer are makers of songs,
Chanters of the gold and purple harvest,
Sayers of the glories of earth and sky,
Of the sweet pain of love
And the keen joy of living;
No longer dreamers of the essential dreams,
And interpreters of the eternal truth,
Through the eternal beauty.
Poets these days are unfortunate fellows.
Baffled in trying to say old things in a new way
Or new things in an old language,
They talk abracadabra
In an unknown tongue,
Each one fashioning for himself
A wordy world of shadow problems,
And as a self-imagined Atlas,
Struggling under it with puny legs and arms,
Groaning out incoherent complaints at his load.
My son, this is no time nor place for a poet;
Grow up and join the big, busy crowd
That scrambles for what it thinks it wants
Out of this old world which is—as it is—
And, probably, will be.
Take the advice of a father who knows:
You cannot begin too young
You cannot begin too young
Not to be a poet.
-James Weldon Johnson
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13. |
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I once was king, the ruler of all things,
Biggest tree in the forest, last man in the ring
Made my home in the wilderness
Where survival was hell
The place where the most savage of creatures would choose to dwell
And here, there was a cavern next to where I resided
And No one for many centuries had been up inside it
The legend said it contained such unspeakable horrors
But if you got through it, then your life would change for the better
A place with the softest soil and the balmiest weather,
Totally uninhabited, it'd be yours forever
So on One autumn day I decided I would try it
Stared at the cavern's mouth and then bravely I stepped inside it
I conquered every trap, and vanquished every beast
Leapt over every chasm and after
A couple weeks
I Fought my way through the darkness, and finally I saw a light
Exited to a land that would truly alter my life
Verse 2
Boy meets world, it's nothing like I imagined it,
Everything I've wanted
Untarnished and uninhabited
In a few days I was cured of my every sickness
The skies are a hue that Id honestly never witnessed,
Built a home, planted crops, literally I'm the man
Took my place as sole controller of all the land
But man it gets lonely, wish that I had my friends,
They were on different paths, I'd never see them again,
Wanted badly for them to witness this paradise,
But for me to go back for them would be surely risking my life,
So I thought of a way, plans began to deploy,
Decided instead of building I would need to destroy
The cavern that separated us somehow had to open
Let there be light can't shine if my circle is broken
So I made a decision that might've altered my fate,
Opened the floodgates and now everybody escaped
Verse 3
The first days in paradise were absolute bliss,
Never knew humans were able to prosper like this,
With No restrictions everyone was invited
But of course that would eventually come back to bite us,
Everyone's can't be trusted I knew somebody would try us,
It was someone I knew, who just couldn't keep a promise,
Told us that he was loyal, turned out he wasn't honest,
That's when I decided, we needed some kinda laws
Everyone disagreed, they told me to get lost,
No judge no jury no kinda Probable cause
And Then their very first group decision was made
And it was that I should leave town, effective today
So I walked to the mouth of the cavern that I braved,
So that everyone could enjoy what they have here today..
Turned my back and I moved
Learned a valuable lesson
The very thing I destroyed was my only source of protection
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14. |
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George Bernard Shaw says:
“The single biggest problem in communication
is the illusion that it has taken place.”
CHORUS
It's just a normal case of mis communication
We just got our wires crossed
It's just a normal case of miscommunication
I don't know how we got lost
2x
Verse One
It's like those games we played as lads
An individual whispers in your ear and you pass
The secret , and by the time the game concludes
Everyone involved is utterly confused
I mistook your friendly glances
As intimations you were giving me chances
And it, was my lucky day,
You gave me play and I knew what to say
And that's such a rarity that it's scaring me
you sat near to me
And started talkin
And I in visioned us walkin
Down the aisle but that there is straight stalkin,
I keep my mouth shut and just stare,
you think it's weird but I don't really care,
I'm tired of playing these games,
Let me know if you feel the same,
CHORUS 2X
Verse Two
Tell me if this scenario rings a bell,
You're textin her everything's swimmingly well,
Until ya hit caps lock by accident,
And weird things start happening,
She like, darling, why you screaming,
What's the meaning, I'm cant even,
It's seeming we in for a misdirection
Now it's outta hand like interceptions,
Tone of voice can't be read in a text
I'd rather get on the phone instead and get it correct
It's a matter of convenience, vs respect,
Cuz if there's a problem I'll address you direct,
Thought I was mad, cause I ain't use a period,
a period... You serious?
I'm workin' over time
and you tripping cuz I used the wrong emoticon
oh my god!
CHORUS 2X
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15. |
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(song plays)
(countdown)
Verse 1- Mega Ran
The situation is snafu'd an alien race done kidnapped my rap crew,
To get em back, I got permission to do what I have to
The year is 2300, i hunt Kaiju who don't wanna be hunted,
stick long swords in the stomach,
I'm a robeast, roll deep on yo street at a slow creep
And throw heat at Those who oppose me,
The intergalactic champ- brandishing weapons
through a narrow spectrum
all of my recon is dead I reckon-
we all in, I was crestfallen by what happened
in New New Orleans - a foreign alien ordinance is coming for it,
Ayo they say they gone drop the bomb,
Looks like a job for Mega Ran and Dr. Octagon
(Kool Keith)
Doctor reppin' choose any weapon
catch a space chick pregnant
my Nassau flight
aerodynamic adventure
Ultraman spectacular, giant aliens
destroying monsters like lobsters
colossal region, I'm on the ship on the weekend
asteroid glide..
she show her cleavage,
I scoop her in the galaxy maneuvers
I'm Jackie I'm Stewart,
rolling through the black hole affluent...
with influence
(Wordburglar)
woke up from cryo-sleep in a sommnambulator
exposed to gamma rays, may grow antlers later
horny in space, business as usual
used to play Last Starfighter at my cubicle
before getting assigned to my team at 19
now the finest machines are intertwined with my genes
I combine my mind to read alien thought patterns
which comes in handy, if you don't want your spot splattered
but I'd rather star travel the heavenly cluster
with space cougars like Beverly Crusher
so, if the other crew start asking where are they?
tell them the Captain's Log had a Stardate
CHORUS
Alien Raiders done knocked the fence down
guess we're last line of defense now
scanners is tweaking guess it's intense now
tell em to give it up, or get it down
get it down
get it down
get it down
tell em to give it up or get it down
get it down
get it down
tell em to give it up or get it down
Verse 2
(Wordburglar)
Wordburg in my vertitech mech I catch wreck
Transform into a star-jet and trek into heck
Commanding Skull Squardron dodging cheapshots
From Alien Legions – Zentraedi to Ewoks
Ones with 2 heads like Zaphod Beeblebrox
Speaking in Beatbox and lookin like people’s socks
Then In my 3 O’clock I see a heat seeker
My man Mega Ran cranking beats from the speaker
(Keith
I'm for operation without hesitation
my microchip planted in your chick
leaning in my aircraft kinda sick
my wicked ebonics destroy
my adversaries atomic
i'm blasting off land and objects
you see the fiber optics
my aim drop the blob monsters, kid
the radar got you comatose
real big, the ufos and frozen wigs
my visionary laser, I'm an astronaut major
(Ran)
All star blazer, darth vader ,promising a swift erasure to any invaders
Walk the line, keep it hotter than lightsabers
A punch in a mouth, that's what I call an icebreaker
Asteroid field shiftin with my misfits
Scoopin alien chicks with my xeno-linguistics
Hirosihi Amano wit the physics, I literally kick ballistics that soften your bones like rickets
My rockets are laser accurate,
An aggregate of anything less is absolutely inadequate
Ultraman got the gun pad, my buster is charged,
My blast Sending savages like hundreds of yard
My bars, so hard, that they give me a Sore throat
Mastered this, I'mma prolly need a green sports coat
Beta capsule, escape pod ready,
To turn enemies to confetti- you better aim steady
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16. |
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CHORUS
He paid that cost (that's what I believe in)
Up on that cross (That's what I believe in)
Forgave my sins (That's what I believe in)
And He rose again (That's what I believe in)
They pierced his side (That's What I believe In)
For you and I (That's what I believe in)
Forgave my sins (That's what I believe in)
He coming back again (That's what I believe in)
By the time I was 8, I had a trial of my faith
already knew what I would do, what kind of job I would take
teased by classmates, who told me
"God is a fake"
but I knew, what was true,
despite the whispers and dissin'
cause they were up in service every sunday
just like the regular Christians
relating religion to urban mysticism
and superstition
and trying to convince me
that they controlled the way they're living
like a Philistine
cutting his nose to spite his face
like a guillotine
from the land of dealers, fiends,
killer teens
Michelangelo couldn't paint a realer scene
20 years later and serenity is still a dream
but back to the topic, back to the block
we ain't have much but learned how to
work with what we got
and not long after I came up out the sac
pop dukes pulled a Terry Mac
Disappearing Act
but, i aint mad at that, at night I sat
in a dark room
begging for God to bring him back
but he never did come, by age 21
wonder what I'd done
to make him abandon his son
how we get to this, it's kinda ridiculous
to keep the lights on, momma work triple shifts
then she wonder why we not close
i see the babysitter more than I see my folks
is this the American Dream?
then send me to Mexico
can we go? no?
schedule's not flexible
everyday my momma got up to leave,
i cried, but she told me you gotta believe
so I (BELIEVE)
It'll get better
(BELIEVE)
we get through it
(BELIEVE)
God's real busy,
(BELIEVE)
but He gone get to it
(BELIEVE)
First you pray for it
(BELIEVE)
then you wait for it
(BELIEVE)
Gotta have faith for it
(That's what I believe in)
He paid that cost (that's what I believe in)
Up on that cross (That's what I believe in)
Forgave my sins (That's what I believe in)
And He rose again (That's what I believe in)
They pierced his side (That's What I believe In)
For you and I (That's what I believe in)
Forgave my sins (That's what I believe in)
He coming back again (That's what I believe in)
I still remember the last conversation we had
you were going OT down to Pop-Pop's pad
in SC
just a routine trip, you'd be back in a flash
while me and Jon Bap chillin
listening to raps
you aint give me no crap, just asked did I wanna go
I was busy writing so respectfully I said no
yo,
who wouldve known that this would be your fate
that an assassin would've been lying in wait
next morning Vince told me that you were shot
I was beyond shocked,
thought that my heart had just stopped
everyday i pray for the chance to do it over
a chance to roll with you and face it like a soldier
God told me to stay, and I begrudgingly listened
could've been dead instead
or dead in addition...
I'm living proof that the Son (Sun) can't chill
still here like an unpaid bill
and that's real
I (BELIEVE)
that everything occurs for a reason
(BELIEVE)
suffering only last for one season
(BELIEVE)
stop pleadin'
(BELIEVE)
and start heeding
(BELIEVE)
and keep reading
That's what I believe in...
That's what I believe in...
That's what I believe in...
That's what I believe in...
(adlibs until end)
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17. |
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LOSSES
(R. Jarbo, J. Ortiz, N. Carter, T. Estes, A. Minor)
(Ortiz)
We all took losses, workers to hood bosses
9 to 5ers drug dealers we all worship
Hood hoop stars could've went to the League
but they whole game went to the weed
litle girls trapped in the crib
on the strength of they seed
some older n*****
had her bent in the V
she was used to the Reeboks
but he got, them rims that keep moving
when the V stop,
so when the V stop, she stop, she got right
took flight
now her little daughter need socks
and her grandmother need rocks
cause she a victim of these street blocks
the hood is a wall
and it's not made of sheet rock
its made of project bricks
elevators full of project piss
incinerators is the project's snitch
thats where you find old WIC checks
and notices from housing
cause Miss Malcolm ain't paid her rent yet.
CHORUS
I can't go back
I've got to stay on track
let go to gain back
baby baby, you can't stop
(2x)
Verse Two (Mega Ran)
Im from a place called Illadel
where real killers dwell
dealers sell
keep the hook on lock
like Citadels
imagine a war zone, nobody wants to leave
younger G's stay busting shots
at the summer league
and shorty 23 no job with 5 kids
inviting all types of men up in her mom's crib
we aint convicts, just tryna survive this
my kids might've responded
like Trayvon did
try to explain it to my students
out in phoenix
they aint squeamish cause they seen it
and it's not hard to believe it.
took losses, when my cousin hit that pipe
I spit portrtaits: I'll never forget that night
and cats might think I left town
cause I couldn't make it
on the contrary
I left because I couldn't take it
the murderers and the rapist
corrupt police ad their fakeness
I pray that you find peace
before the day that you meet your maker
(CHORUS 2x)
Verse Three (MURS)
You know what's crazy
and I never took the time to trip?
I aint' seen a crackhead
since like '96
my lil homies sling pills to get that shiny sh*t
whether it's Nike kicks or designer whips
they sell to White girls wit Botox inside their lips
but when it come to red and blue
they on that grimy sh*t
I know a gang of bloods
and all kind of crips
that let shots fly like Hawkeye
when it's time to trip
but not as accurate cause accidents happen
a little girl struck by stray bullets
in her room napping
some rappers glorify, but only more will die
my grandma in Kingdom Hall
looking towards the sky
she looking for a why
I'm trying to show em how
you can come up from these streets
and still make it out
right now we need soldiers
we don't need bosses
we gotta take a stand
I'm sick of taking losses.
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18. |
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Mighty is defined as possessing great and impressive power or strength, especially on account of size.
the mighty nature inside a tiny man
can make the hardest task routine
and the smallest spark in a mighty man
can achieve the impossible dream
20XX, we living in the future now,
Getting by a little better than we used to now
But it ain't all good, cuz my hoods in a panic
So the government suggested robotic enhancements,
Just to level the playing field,
But they ain't playing fair,
So theyd be forced to yield,
Doctor White made 9 siblings,
Called the mighty numbers to boost competition,
Always in the top ranks,
They weren't dangerous they probably shot blanks
But one day, there was a cybercrime,
That made the top robot team lose their mind,
Took control of the facility,
Squandered utilities,
Now the world is in danger you feeling me?
But one of the bots was unaffected
Now it's up to him alone to protect us,
The most unlikely to succeed,
Lacking the power and speed he's gonna need
Once the weakest link, of the family,
Now he's the final hope of humanity!
In everyone's life
There comes a time
And it seems this one is mine
My talents were undermined
Now I'm, the one, Mighty Number 9
(2x)
(Storyville)
I wanted to be the big man on campus
the toughest, the strongest, the baddest
well not likely
now now, I guess it wasn't to happen
not without wishes and magic
not without, gizmos and gadgets
mechanical weapons
I grabbed up a pen and imagined
That's mighty...
you can't match me, can't fight me
outlast or surpass me at all,
Iron giant, I am 9 feet tall
I am flying, I'm defying the fall
and I don't need anyone trying to catch me/
Be Mighty - not because You want to but You have to,
Be bold - no time to be bashful,
Grab life by the horns like a natural,
gotta Be sharp be quick be agile,
Never ever let a competitor catch you,
Stay ahead of whatever is Tryna pass you
Though it's not a race, sometimes that's how you gotta operate
Surgeon, precise and so determined
Walk on hot coals ignore the burning
Pain is mental, prides forever though,
Many will try, but most will never know
All the pressure of what's required
Just one robot with Such desire
Stare into the eyes of the Goliath
And tell him you will triumph
Cause you are mighty
Like the rush of a river
cause I got a message, that must be delivered
and here it is, we are mighty
71 thousand behind me
that were tired of snakes and liars
misdirecting us to they desires
Mighty Morph, Mighty Mouse Mighty Bomb Jack
Mighty small, I invite em all to combat
Mighty..
CHORUS
through the ups and the downs we are MIGHTY
through the smiles through the frowns we are MIGHTY
come around we astound with the sounds, cause ya
Can’t keep a good kid down we are MIGHTY
through the fire the turmoil and trouble
I have climbed to the highest of heights, came through the rubble
and i didn’t have the slightest idea of who to run to
situation is dire, when you liven on the bubble
and i love you but i must - prosper, for prosperity, and my propers
monsters are not scaring me -
cause I’m mighty, a lion in the jungle
feel the fire and the rumble in my tummy
you never taking this from me
cause I’m hungry jack, pancake the landscape
like running backs, gimme the ball and I’m never coming back
shake em off, hit the scene like a wrecking ball
any problem at all, Im at your beck and call
heavens fall when I shake it up
so unbelievably ill, I couldn't make it up
so remember the name,
It's Mega Ran and Comcept
the bomb threat, is real and I'm just
Mighty
(chorus repeat)
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They say you can't go forward without going back. So to move to the future, Mega Ran had to go back to the beginning to say thank you, then to say goodbye. Ran's 2015 full length album channels the soul of "The Call," the nostalgia of "Forever Famicom" and blasts into the future with new age production and concepts, while exploring the concept of finding one's true self through deep soul searching and experimentation.
Mega Ran calls this "the album of my life." Hip Hop, pop, electronica and funk/soul meet at the crossroads of introspective, hilarious and heartwarming songs featuring outstanding artists such as Kool Keith, Open Mike Eagle, MURS, Joell Ortiz and more.
Also featured on the album is "Mighty," an empowering track that serves as the ending credits theme on the highly anticipated game "Mighty No. 9."