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[feat. Evan Roman] |
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The other day, me and XP opened for Souls Mischief |
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I'm like "Yo, let's get on some angry MC showmanship and hit 'em" |
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Rocked all the cocky songs and not too many soulful lyrics |
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Even a couple dissin' women callin' 'em groupies, hoes, and bitches |
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Got off stage, and I'm like "Yo, I know that we killed it" |
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Ran into a familiar face, a female who comes in and supports us |
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I said "Peace! " She said "Wait! Let me talk to you for a minute |
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I know it's none of my business, but I wasn't impressed by your performance." |
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I said "Word? Shit, I love feedback and criticism" |
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She said "I miss the passionate spirit, your political vision |
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Quite honestly I wasn't offended by those references to women |
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But you're only continuing society's conditioning" |
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It hit the heart of me |
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I told her that this was part of me |
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I stand up for human rights, and treat others how I would wanna be treated |
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But every song can't be seepin' with freedom |
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'Cause the other side of me is sexist then people will feel that I'm preachin' |
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"Everything's peace and love? " uhh, that's somewhat misleading |
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Because this world is ****ed-up and I'm a pro-duct to what I'm seeing |
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Not to justify, but just to touch on my being |
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I learn from these verses and my purpose gets surfaced with demons |
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Now I am sexist, I'm prejudice, I put that in my music |
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She said she heard that perspective, but before she turned around |
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She said "We have a flame, your fire's ignited with sound |
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Are you building the empire up, or using your fire to burn it down? " |
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[Chorus: x2] |
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Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite, |
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And through these songs you can witness it. |
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The differences, I admit this shit, because I'm just like you; |
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Walking a fine line between saying and living it. |
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[Overvoice:] |
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Light it up to burn it down, light it up to burn it down |
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Light it up to burn it down, down, down |
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Light it up to burn it down, light it up to burn it down |
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Light it up to burn it... down, down, down, down, down, down, down |
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Now one thing that I've always struggled on |
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Is how to incorporate drugs and alcohol into my music |
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Outside of sober songs |
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'Cause on that perspective, that's all over my records |
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But the other side isn't represented unless it sessions with XP |
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How can I admit that I love to smoke weed |
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Knowing the kids are listening and many of 'em look up to me? |
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Not to say that I'm a role model |
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But I know that words are power |
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And if I condone bottles and chronic, I am sending out the |
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Message "It's okay, " hey I believe that it is. Chronic can be medicine |
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But it's all about your relationship with it |
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See I'm either off in the wagon riding and everyday with the spliff |
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Constantly looking for a balance but habit turns to addiction |
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And hip-hop music & weed: they're inseparable |
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So MCs that don't smoke or drink, talking about it to me seems questionable |
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It proves how much people just want to be accepted |
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And not seem straight-edge to their audience, so keeping it real is neglected |
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'Cause when I'm smoking, I wouldn't wanna bump a song like this |
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Put on some Devin, break out the Swishers and a bong and some licks |
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See that's a part of me too |
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And I know that I would make more money if I wasn't as true |
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To all the stuggles of the blunted consumption I'm going through |
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Make music for the party, and the people support you |
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I burn Brother Ali and buy 50, what does that say to you? |
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Bring it back around |
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Am I building the empire up or using my fire to burn it down? |
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[Chorus x2] |
