Yeah, uh, Intro This is the return ROI Return on investment Return of introspect Either way, it's the return To what you love to do Shout out to Flipmode Shout out to you for listening Thanks for tuning in Just make sure you bump this shit out loud And enjoy it Let's go

They're asking where I've been? Oh, don't you know They're asking where I've been? Oh, don't you know They asked where I've been? Kind of deceiving I've worked on my knowledge running and reading Looking for meaning helping others Discover their passion and finding their freedom It's kind of intriguing Looking for meaning? I found it in meaning Relevant emotional intelligence Expressing yourself beyond the words we are given Huh... I guess they call it a feeling It's kind of hypnotic robotic platonic I be iconic Johnny Mnemonic Cybernetics kinetics install it Athletic Poetics God damn I'm a poet Edgar Allen driving down the Allen Moved to the city but living on an island Yeah I walk around with the heart of a lion Clash with the wolves and build an alliance Beautiful tyrants moving in silence Suitable violence proving the science Chemistry tests for my clients I'm in the no fly zone hanging with the fly kids Get the drums laced and then I can hear ya 808s and heartbreaks sounding familiar I need that kick snapping like Anderson Silva Space God in your face God now I see ya

Hold the fuck up I'm fighting my demons but I got the power To dive in the deep end and not get devoured A lion in sheepskin? I'm spotting you cowards You dying believe I'm not sending you flowers It's years in the making in my Eddie Bauer Stand tall not afraid of calamity towers Got church bells ringing like every hour You rain on my parade but with vanity showers I'm breaking these borders escaping you hoarders Just play me the beats and then press the recorder Got both hands up but I don't take orders Posted on the wall like playing you quarters Claiming you woke? You got sleeping disorders You beefing with me you'll be sleeping in waters It's half what you see and none what you hear So believe when I tell you I don't speak with reporters I put the mic down like Buster and reflected They wanted a return like money that's invested 16 to 30 bars that's to be expected A return on investment that has to be respected Put pressure on the kid but I never felt stressed Back on the wall where I did that chest press I don't do pillow talk I let your head rest Say I'm over confident you could say less Sat down like Thanos my job is done Till Chuk hit me up said let's go for a run Complex individual doubting myself But doubting yourself is just bad for your health I ran into Flipmode, he said let's do it So, I hopped in the booth like there's nothing to it Brothers and sisters friends, and I see some enemies But before we get into it I would like to clarify I would like to clarify some things that refer to me personally Concerning my own personal position

I've been writing the beats are sounding fucking dope I'm excited to get back in Yeah definitely man let's keep on banging it out That's what we're here for let's do it Last time Kendrick dropped I hid under a rock Like I could not go hop On a track what would I talk? Blame it all writer's block Forgot that an artist Is the hardest on themself Facing the mirror Talking back negative thoughts Now I'm inspired seeds have been planted Not taking for granted these precious plots I was tired lazy and stranded It's crazy we landed these spacious lots Slave to the property playing monopoly Paying the taxes taking my shots On the computers facing the future Looking back connecting the dots Fearsome and anxious hitting the canvas Style's Supreme like Diana Ross Bring in the boys ready or not We making the noise like banging on pots Charged like a Tesla who would've thought I'd be bringing the energy back to the block 300 songs in case you forgot Look at my catalogue I did a lot What is culture? How does it alter? Things I think about as I get older Am I a vulture? How will I falter? Am I strong like the Rock of Gibraltar? I'm an adventurer don't need to lecture ya Think like an emperor move like a soldier I stay climbing don't stop grinding Keep on shining don't need your exposure Tell White lies Breaking Bad habits Start moving rocks like my name is Walter Unforgiving this life that we living A new beginning looking for closure Fill up and empty the head on my shoulders Pulling apart as we're getting closer I'm tying the knot we met at the altar I tell her the truth just to consult her Last time Kendrick dropped I hid under a rock Like I could not go hop On a track what would I talk? Blame it all writer's block Forgot that an artist Is the hardest on themself Facing the mirror Talking back negative thoughts Last time J Cole dropped I hid under a rock Like I could not go hop On a track what would I talk? Blame it all writer's block Forgot that an artist Is the hardest on themself Facing the mirror Talking back negative thoughts OG of the game I can spit a mean verse Coach em on the raps you can call me Nick Nurse Messing with witches you can say I've been cursed Knock me off position but I'm landing feet first Ain't no competition when you see me on a mission All my shots I swish em when you're taking shots you miss em Ain't no competition when you see me on a mission All my shots I swish em when you're taking shots you miss em

So you wanna be an emcee? Ok I see you hustling with no days off Hoping that it pays off Doing all the dirty work Hope you get the stains off Trying to get a raise bruh Man you're getting laid off Started rapping told em Hey! Don't you quit your day job Go get your sound up hustle on the side Till you get thumbs up like hustling for a ride Jotting down your plans to take over the reins you Practice every day to show 'em what you can do Even if it pains you that's when you grow most Sometimes you take a shot hit the goal post so close Back to drawing boards rocking old clothes Looking for advice? Well, first and foremost Be wary of the show boats sending you the wrong notes Let 'em call you slow poke don't you know most of this stuff Is just patience and experience You can't have one without the other that's delirious Listening to haters now? Don't take yourself too serious Go and hold yourself accountable no questions period All you can control is your maniacal focus Swarm em like a locust go out and show this I see you hustling with no days off Hoping that it pays off Doing all the dirty work Hope you get the stains off Trying to get a raise bruh Man you're getting laid off Started rapping told em Hey! Don't you quit your day job I was crowned the champion of goldmic dot com Thousands of emcees the hell is going on No stage fright late nights I was writing rhymes Putting 'em behind bars like fighting crimes Stiff competition had me second guessing I took it as an opportunity to learn a lesson A blessing that I had the Will like I am Legend They didn't want it like I did I guess I was destined You can win battles but can you make a hit? I dropped 'The Sacrifice' radio played that shit Rhythm of the Talent Search I won the competition They gave me twenty thousand off of one submission I got studio time and invested the cheque In two thousand six I recorded Reflect My first studio album don't you ever forget iQ is the clique we got your respect Now I was performing ignoring the skeptics Comparing me to other rappers? They just didn't get it One two one two microphone check it I was in my own class like a special ed kid Dropped Live and Direct volume mixtapes They still gave me that look resting bitch face In which case I got my performances Killed every set sent no condolences Breath control like Wim Hof ripping it at concerts Needed motivation I built Homegrown Monsters Partnering with bredrens had to make a statement We left your favorite rappers all tied up in the basement I was in amazement surrounded by the talent Every track I hopped on I rose to the challenge Took many years just to get to this verse I kill it at my live shows the way I rehearse If you want the real shit I'm quenching your thirst Progress over perfection never the reverse I see you hustling with no days off Hoping that it pays off Doing all the dirty work Hope you get the stains off Trying to get a raise bruh Man you're getting laid off Started rapping told em Hey! Don't you quit your day job I see you hustling with no days off Hoping that it pays off Doing all the dirty work Hope you get the stains off

Caught up in the moment It's just you and me in the place to be She wanted to party hard forgetting her struggles Couple shots start it off drank from the bottle Party felt like a Mardi Gras bunch of her girlfriends Some guys stood like bodyguards looking for trouble But the world disappeared like nobody else was there Or at least they didn't care with their hands up in the air Whole bunch of hooligans started a scuffle She told them to knock it off got back to the huddle Sweat was dropping off she was doing the shuffle Dancing in her bra she continued to guzzle She said felt weightless and wanted to embrace this I see she's getting wasted I called her the escapist She asked for a toke so I pass around the smoke She gathered her girlfriends around to make a toast This is for those who like to live in the present So save me your time machines and fuck all your gadgets Let's put it all behind us Nothing to remind us Run from reality Get lost in a fantasy Now she's all next to me high off the energy I felt her ecstasy I guess this is chemistry Feeling is divine our souls intertwined Lost in the moment like this love is blind Floating in the clouds neither saying nothing Bass of the track had the whole place bumping Both felt elated music had us faded Moonshot this moment was retrograded Skip the chitter chatter only feelings matter She leaned on me whenever she was feeling scattered I began to worry this would soon be over What happens when both of us are fully sober? We go our separate ways back to society Dealing with the ills of depression and anxiety Least for this moment we both felt weightless Nameless shapeless call us the escapist Let's put it all behind us Nothing to remind us Run from reality Get lost in a fantasy You know that feeling when time slows down Head in the clouds both feet on the ground This euphoria perpetuated by the sound Instead of growing up it's the other way around Infatuated by another no association Music fades out we still feel the vibration Feels like crowd surfing this is what I covet We don't need to rush it you can just trust it I love it Call us the escapist Call us the escapist Call us the escapist Call us the escapist

Rocking the boat put the baby to sleep The water is cold metaphorically deep You're tipping your toes I'm dunking my feet Singing along like a drunk in the street Food for thought it's an all you can eat I left the raps like Lowry when he played for the Heat With this wordplay I don't gotta be discreet I keep it short to the point like Fred Van Fleet Even when I'm down and things look bleak My perspective on life is the window seat Me waiving a white flag embracing defeat Is like a paraplegic stomping his feet Sharing your two cents but talk is cheap You're claiming a lot but I need a receipt If at times it feels like it's all bitter sweet Just hit the restart like control alt delete Choose your fighter. Reptile Respect me human. You challenge me? Slap on a loop I got this beat on repeat Me without music would be incomplete You're losing the battle you need a retreat Like Halloween I got your trick on a treat Your girl in the club and she grinds like a freak You only grind when you're grinding your teeth I'm counting the rappers oops I mean sheep Either way I be falling asleep I don't jump to conclusions I just take a leap Leave my mark on the wall like taking a leak Grab life by the balls and move like a thief I'm boxing you in and keeping it brief I might crack a smile but ain't nothing sweet My style is unique and yours obsolete I run tracks like an athlete running meets We're not in the same league we can't compete You dare approach me? Hey you Mr. Boombastic Your punches are a reach like Mr. Fantastic A bit of a stretch call you Mr. Elastic Now you're extinct call you Mr. Jurassic I might crack a smile but there's nothing sarcastic Your flow is polluted it must be the plastic You coming or going it's anticlimactic Dyslexic breath mint you need a new Tactic Flip back to the days your girl did gymnastics Now she rides in reverse I call it a back flip Feathers in my cap I call it a hat trick Beneath the surface we attract like a magnet You move in the basement I live in the attic The difference in our stories is drastic The dopeness I'm serving is flooring the addicts I gave her the hardwood and tore up the carpet Industry standard it's all automatic Watch where you're going like studying traffic Wanted to cross me I am not catholic Not even close cross the Atlantic Tectonic plates they be causing the static Heat from above the volcano is active Contradicting yourself is a bad habit Like oxymorons this a new classic I feel like a Prodigy causing the havoc Mob rolls deep while you start to panic I am not human I'm intergalactic End of this verse is fatal and tragic I am a beast like the croc in Lake Placid Spitting and burning you like Reptile with acid Reptile wins. Flawless victory

Express yourself is just all you can do Angels and demons I guess it is true They are both here and a part of you That part of you is just reaching out to Express yourself is just all you can do Angels and demons I guess it is true They are both here and a part of you That part of you is just reaching out to

There's only one person that really gave me the heebeegeebees That really shook me. The only one that I was really scared of Out in the bluffs brought home in cuffs Learn to be tough or you would get snuffed Speaking in code 'til I had enough My pops the only one I was scared of Out in the bluffs brought home in cuffs Learn to be tough or you would get snuffed Speaking in code 'til I had enough My pops the only one I was scared of Blond hair blue eyes thought I was Stan Out on the balcony chilling with Dan One paid the price the other was innocent Twenty one floors up acting belligerent Sharing these stories part of my truth High in the building a troubling youth Thought we were cool skipping the school Until we got caught I was acting a fool Young and reckless I got a record Could've been bad police had to check it Back of the wagon pants would be sagging Thought I was trapping I was just bragging Walked down the hall I stopped the acting In a few minutes I knew what would happen Knock on the door I couldn't speak Immigrant dad worked ninety hours a week Opened the door stone cold reaction Sharing what happened dissatisfaction Told to get in he gave me a look Went to my room I picked up a book Must've been R.L Stine I was straight shook Didn't say a word that's all that it took I was set straight and not by the Jakes It was my pops that let me off of the hook Out in the bluffs brought home in cuffs Learn to be tough or you would get snuffed Speaking in code 'til I had enough My pops the only one I was scared of Out in the bluffs brought home in cuffs Learn to be tough or you would get snuffed Speaking in code 'til I had enough My pops the only one I was scared of For what was it worth it could've been worse What if I put someone in a hearse? We were young stupid shenanigans Do dumb shit froze like a manikin I knew my dad he wasn't having it If he stayed quite you started panicking Lesson learned not using violence True OGs they move in silence Licks licks licks boy' pon your back side Licks licks licks boy' pon your back side When you gon' learn you ain't bout that life? Thankful my dad let it slide

Yeah, yeah, yeah I'm good with my people that is why I am not afraid Relationships matter they last longer than accolades So when you flash a gold chain I am just not amazed You're firing a pistol I'm launching a hand grenade Blowing the spot up ladies get chopped up I respect the hustle from the way I was brought up You, you, you see I flew in an immigrant Aware of my surroundings so I am not ignorant The drink is like the beans I am not spilling it Never acting militant but still killing shit You're living in a movie starring yours truly Plus I got your friends skinny dipping in jacuzzis Acting unruly getting High like Coolie Tie dye shirts now we think it's all groovy Fuck what you heard you can try to sue me I heard your last album at best it was a doozie Hanging with the pros stop acting like a newbie You can bring your friend along I think her name was Suzie Cutie with a bootie sunglasses from Gucci Rides with the windows down listening to Uzi Ponytail sweatpants likes to order sushi Playing hard to get? Well could've fooled me Next on the playlist Biggie Smalls' Juicy But before you go I need you to bounce that

Love is the power that cuts through the noise Drowning in flowers give love to the boys They seek your attention caught in decoys They got the momentum unplug and enjoy Rejoice in the power that you hold in the spot Like taking a shower it's the freedom of thought Unconsciousness in bias whether you like it or not The consciousness flows in case you forgot Create a scene they call it drama, eyes of the oppressed Tensions hotter than a sauna, why can't it be I'm blessed? Inherited historic trauma, born into the stress Building up my karma, finally I rest Brothers and sisters let's move past the judgment Comfortable blisters we like harassment Caught up in twisters stuck in the apartments Blood from the pictures they stain the carpets Catapult our way to freedom crash into a wall Do you really need them when passion is involved? You can move the needle there are problems to be solved Do it for the people don't follow protocols Create a scene they call it drama, eyes of the oppressed Tensions hotter than a sauna, why can't it be I'm blessed? Inherited historic trauma, born into the stress Building up my karma, finally I rest Dance between man and machine who's in the lead? Look away like tango drag em by their feet Lemon drops on mangoes life is bitter sweet Even if you fail you don't got to be discreet Rise up to the challenge every morning I am blessed Stress from the unbalance need to clean up all this mess Hands are filled with callous just look at how I press Let's explore your talents body language at its best Create a scene they call it drama, eyes of the oppressed Tensions hotter than a sauna, why can't it be I'm blessed? Inherited historic trauma, born into the stress Building up my karma, finally I rest

You won't catch me dialing 911 That's a joke where I'm from Can't trust that man with a gun So I stay on the run It's either hands up or handcuffs Stand up or man up Outnumbered Get ran up Ayo governments are shutting down Waves of information got me drowning now Raise the bar ain't no coming down Thunder claps heard the sound Warning shots earned a pound Warriors gather round Step and shatter ground Police shoot the innocent Watch the laws they implement They call it social commentary I just do this voluntary Honored by the honorary Son of Sam Son of Mary Find that to be Arbitrary Poisoned by the thoughts they carry Hope you feel the message like keyboard on a Blackberry During these times I can't help but write this Raise up your voice and stand up for justice Have you ever looked into the eyes of a coward? A scared human being that's ready to devour His mind is controlled by the man in the tower Lift the veil of evil and watch em all scour I try to empathize heed the words of the wise But we've been brainwashed by the wolves in disguise Economy supplies whatever's in demand So it's no surprise to understand their plan To spread fear cops here to serve and protect The rights that we get as citizens working for cheques But it ain't hard to tell that the system has failed Something's gotta change for people to prevail We get lost in roles acting all delirious Just another social psychology experience You give the man power watch em turn into a coward Hide behind a uniform acting all sour Won't catch me at the funeral I'm at the after hours Sending Molotov cocktails instead of flowers Try to burn the symbol what it represents Only to get bailed out and even pay their rent I hope by now you see what I'm alluding to White collar crimes tell me who's looting who? Stealing from all of us and that's including you So when the time comes who you turning to? Protestors turned out in droves. Many for the first time Many for the first time to call for change in a system they say discriminates against Black Americans