Friends & Family (Explicit)

You are now witnessing the demise

Of the music business

I say demise of the music business

Cause people always gonna need music in they life

You know what I'm saying

I can't do music with people I'm uncomfortable with

You know what I'm saying

I can't be on stage with you pouring

Out my soul if i don't like you

So with said shout out to Strong Arm Steady

Shout out to Jean Grae

Thats my Blacksmith family you dig

I just heard a song that reminded me

Of times when you were finding me

Rhyming in Greenwich Village circa 1993

Yeah those were the salad days my careers appetizing

The main course a casserole a jambalaya

Different influences that led

Me where the music is

A student is only as good as

His teachers tutelage

Paying for college and not learning

Was straight foolishness

So I stopped going to school but this

Hard to tell my parents how to now try

To get through to them

Thought of no one daily and traveled

To different places

Freestyled with Clef and Forte

In the Booga Basement

With Rubiks and JuJu on Flatbush

My hood amazing

Platinum Island recording with Duro

And Just Blaze

And that was right next door to Rawkus

What's up Jarret and Brian relax y'all

I'm mad Kendra Ross you got the soul

Of a Stax singer

I love how you always bring it back sister

You and Reesy making every record

I got classics with Hi-Tek and Mos Def

That are so respected

Shout out to Corey Smith shout out

To Dave Chapelle

I went on tour with The Roots they

Played so well

Writing rhymes with Mike and Nine me

And Pharoahe Monch were Soundbombing

Me and Lonnie Lynn got a lot in Common

Mystic Journyman introduced me to Top Ramen

On the bus Kanye West would never stop rhyming

Ain't no mountain high enough for him

He never stopped climbing

That's why when the homies win I never stop smiling

See I'm smiling right now

Nothing else matters more than

Friends and family

No doubt thats how its gotta be

This is my odyssey its just the god in me

Yup they all a part of me

Cause I would die for them

And they would die for me

Thats right and plus I love my fans

Love when you throw your hands up its

Like you all my fam

Like you considered kin

Got me through thick and thin

Thank you for listening

Nothing else matters more

Than friends and family

It started with a blast now

I'm a iconoclast

Promise to be honest in my craft

And make the promise last

I do this for myself but the song for you

Once I put it out for sale then it belong to you

This for Amani Fela plus Diani Eshe

Your daddy love his girl your mother never far away

This is for Eque this for Kierra Paul

We wanna ride like Ciara and we will never fall

Headquarters and Guru is love forever ya'll

Make it plain cause its too strong for a metaphor

Simile your legacy will always

Be remembered for forever or

Til the end of time whichever come first

Big love to my mom and dad you

Could have done worst

Jamal and I the way we are cause

You put your sons first

Many black parents lose they son

To the gun burst

Mommas drowning in they own tears

Til they lungs burst

Voice cracking like Michael Stipe

Cause everyone hurts

Nothing else matters more than

Friends and family

No doubt thats how its gotta be

This is my odyssey its just the god in me

Yup they all a part of me

Cause I would die for them and

They would die for me

Thats right and plus I love my fans

Love when you throw your hands up its

Like you all my fam

Like you considered kin

Got me through thick and thin

Thank you for listening

Nothing else matters more than

Friends and family

My first record was with Mood back in '96

In fact it was pretty fresh Google

That find that shit

It sound good I was showing you

What timeless is

You couldn't catch what I was saying

Without rewinding it

Believe me every fan is special

You hear me now but I got fans from

Lyricist Lounge and "Manifesto"

So much wack rap I know its hard to tell

The difference but when I heat it up

I make the garbage smell

I'm resurrected but I'm no savior

I know the game I can ball a little

Bit I'm an OK Player

Double meaning cause the flow is layered

We love to say it but its easier than it

Sound to ignore the haters

To snap back like the jaws of gators