The other day, me 'n' XP opened for Souls Mischief
I'm like Yo, let's get on some angry MC showmanship and hit
'em
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 product to what
I'm seeing
Not to justify, but just to touch on my being
I learn from theses and my purpose gets surfaced with demons
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?
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
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
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, yeah 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 and 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 Dev and 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?
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
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 it
And living it
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
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