Here it is a groove slightly transformed As it's prone to be when I perform While I'm penning this, the horns force me to reminisce to my innocence Copping a squat at my genesis Altered beast been off the leash, since the homie said rise from your grave I knew lives would be changed My guys were dismayed when I said I wouldn't rhyme for the change But when they saw what I had displayed They were shocked like Virgil Hawkins, and the actions I prefer to talking Would be the lights that could cure the darkened While ensuring the sword is sharpened Rapping in a leaky closet of my third floor apartment Giving it the college try, I was sliding by Ignored by every outlet I dreamed I'd be acknowledged by Greeting my class with tired eyes I just let the motivation guide my path like fireflies I kept hearing this isn't marketable Marking on the whiteboard trying to be remarkable We are just specks of dust atomic particles In a world where cops and media live to target you People call me a breath of fresh air Not realizing it took it all for me to get here Misplaced friends and motivations when I was still a kid Lost everything but the will to live So here he is Back in the struggle back in the mix for them chips like ruffles Mom said stay out a trouble and you just might bubble So I Pull her out the rubble Then put her a shuttle Here's a trade secret, being black means you gotta be better than perfect Just to receive the same treatment I'd slay demons for this like tanjiro Till it's done theoretically everything's impossible Grand rising Naw' Grand writing From grand minds Earth's Mightiest Heroes Emerge from tiny dinero The illustrious Gameboy Advance Accompanied me on the back of each Bus Gen. 3 then The Hoenn region A product of advanced writing courses In school The sound of water While I tilt my sword up to the moon A Vagabond With a couple of masters Along the way My lack of communication I disappear without shame Determination with that what? Knowledge of self A Black Star It's hard to shine If you created yourself Always the light Seeking the rise To tell our stories Stay the course Ori would shine through the Blind Forest Ice water course through his veins Todoroki Not the most famous But more equipped for the job than Your favorite Is it about Getting your flowers in a timely Manner? Or planting your own? Truly standing alone Amen This where the waves end And low tides Might Sing you a lullaby Or Capture your reflection and shine it up To the Heavens Stuck a dreamer Or legend? A beacon of severance From other peoples perspectives Accepting your imperfections and Forging them into weapons See not a loss But a lesson Clocking in almost had me locked in Until I found the path with Zero foot steps And found ME again So many times we wanted to quit Lost ourselves Kept our art on the shelves The art of betting on self But if me in the beginning Could see the me of this instant He'd be inspired The story of limits defied Through each trial by fire... Limits defied through every trial by Fire A cup of coffee While I sit in a house That art provided Gives relief in the slightest But still knowledge of the highest Life moves faster the longer you live it, so at a moment's Notice... might have to build your own table but lack components Knowing is half the battle, the other is acting on it Mistakes were mine to make once I made'em I had to own it No lease... more's caught than taught say the least Your character will spell it all out so save the speech Sunday dinners we hit Grandma house, she'd make a feast While reminding us be ready for war but pray for peace Making beats and writing rhymes help me brighten my future Lit my soul on fire like when you fight with Akuma We're creators that were forced to be products or be consumers Black folks who laugh at our own pain. Our sense of humor Is dark, but our smiles are known to light up our way Soul's worn but still manage to step out on faith Build a castle in the sky like Mizaki, watch me Laid back, having million-dollar dreams like Dibiase