Never took a liking to the lifestyle Dabbled just a little but I’d never say I’m that wild Never say never, since the beginning I was that child Ready and willing to get it in, focused, hoping to be a rap god Quite odd, few screws loose, on my iPod Mac Dre, UGK, 12th grade in the H Went hard every day at Carnegie Vanguard Letting niggas know exactly what my next plans are Few years later I’m in LA with Tom Cruz [note: Tom Cruz is the song's producer aka GLDN_EYE] 2012, the years prior I paid dues Fucked with Das Racist, to this day they still my dudes R.I.P. Yams, had me and Rocky on Pro Tools At Daniel Lynas studio, damn it, I was studious Learning each inch of the game, put every tool to work Do it like my duty, yeah, need more than a souvenir In this shit to get the glory, you can keep the free beer Learned a lot about myself but still got more to figure out Glad I took this route, I’m underground, come and dig it out Dig a bit deeper, find something you can smile about Life hard right now, I swear I’m finna work it out Now I’m back in California Lived a bit in Brooklyn, Houston, Mexico in that order Atwater Village, where I first resided in this city Still dear to me acted such an ass I need an Emmy Used to puff it, pass it to my niggas Now I take a break from the smoke to keep my mind in it Never liked The Strokes but I stroke it like you pet a kitty Thinking 'bout the only girl I ever see when I ain’t busy Back up like my nigga Juve said for the Nine-Nine ['99] Finna call this fuckin A&R for the 9th time I'ma need the splits to hit my BMI right on time If the side is soup, you know I gotta get the wonton If I die today, I'll die with pride on and offline Know enough to know when I fail, it ain’t the last time Older, I know how to prevail when it is crunch time Bolder, I know more of myself, ain't finna fuck around Learned a lot about myself but still got more to figure out Glad I took this route, I’m underground, come and dig it out Dig a bit deeper, find something you can smile about Life hard right now, I swear I’m finna work it out

born to go silly boy been with it since an infant been so bout it nobody could doubt it ooh i aint eating at in-n-out im en route to venue, full amount at the end of the night prefer cash im tryna finish first nigga, not last she fine, think i got whiplash my life a film, get Movie Pass to see how i flex, since day one knew i had get dirty for a home run i might talk dirty like poison feeling real colorful like Cezanne hey ma, im an old head, living a crazy life your mcm a cokehead, drinking miller light aint into hype, prefe longevity you and me is like nelly and kelly i’m like Nas at the end of Belly i realize it’s all fuckery half the shit you like aint for me i dont need it, dont want it, no way i aint coming if y’all dont pay ima let you know now, i dont play been doin this forever now im on another level yeah yeah 10,000 10,000 hours i did it with a few pals but i do it on my own now 10,000 10,000 hours started with a crew dreaming big all that we would do is get it in at each other house every week if i made the beat it was on repeat 3,000 hours in, dude made money, made a hit or two got a deal, did a tour, it was ill a hundred hours later, niggas quit till it was me and one fella thought it was gon be us forever made another album for the fans didn’t do as well as the last did now he out, im solo in this bitch put in 9,999 really did it all the damn time now im reaping all the benefits

we dont need beef lets get right to the issue i’ll listen when you speak maybe we’ll meet in the middle how can we compromise? we don’t need this division i swear i will listen it’s better when we kick it no we dont need no beef lets get to the issue i dont even eat meat maybe we’ll meet in the middle how can we compromise? we don’t need this division i swear i will listen it’s better when we kick it old friend lets try again can this last? well that depends lets take it slow i won’t fold glad you spoke about it i didn’t even know in the beginning didn’t know we’d bicker at all in one sentence i ended it, I’m sorry, i’m wrong lets figure it out i ain’t got no shame i’m right here now pick up if you’re hearing the call How can we reconcile it When we haven’t said a word? Sorry, yeah I said it first You ready? Can we make it work? We’re better together Lets find a way, maybe move it forward Couple times we cut it off Digging at each other’s flaws Running round my head is every word you said That cut deep Nothing that I said could ever hurt the way you hurt me Nah, that ain’t the way to look at it I’m sorry yet again Hardly is ever one sided when one has lost a friend Hardly do I ever lose sight of what is really real Trippin lately, feeling like my feelings verge on overkill You and I apart is like a coca-cola with no ice No condensation round the cup to remind what a summer’s like

Our Own Language https://www.talkhouse.com/introducing-charles/ My brother Charles is autistic and has been nonverbal for our whole lives. In the song “Charles,” I sing about how my brother will never “grow old.” He’ll never get married and start a family, he’ll never lose a job, and he’ll never stress about bills. He will never be fully independent, and in a sense, he’ll remain a child for the rest of his life. My brother’s never said a word to me. As a child, I told kids my brother was shy and spoke a language they didn’t understand. Charles has been autistic and nonverbal for our whole lives. Our communication is purely body language. When Charles was eight years old, his psychiatrist told us he could speak, but chose not to. He purposely masked his voice. She recalled asking him, “Do you know you’re Charles?” and swore he responded, “I know,” in a low tone, almost a whisper. His elementary school teacher once told us she walked into a seemingly empty classroom, heard someone speaking, and peeked in to see Charles sitting alone. When she revealed herself, the voice abruptly stopped. He understands when we speak, and responds with action when asked to do a task. There have been attempts to use devices to help him express himself—machines from school with pictures and phrases that speak what he’d want to say—but he’s rejected them all. I’ve longed for my brother to write something down or say anything at all to me. I’d give anything to know exactly what’s on his mind. Sometimes, I sat in his room and told him he could talk to me, and I’d never tell our parents what he said. I promised him this over and over, until he held my hand and nodded and I embraced him, reiterating the same promises in his ear, to no avail. His oral expression is limited to grunting when upset and humming when pleased. When he’s frustrated, he bites his clenched fist and whimpers over his knuckles until something pleasant diverts his attention, like a cartoon or a snack. He threw these tantrums more often with our parents than with me, but we had our share of bickering when his mischievous side kicked in. Our relationship has always been anchored by pranks. Charles used to love hiding toys and video games from me, laughing as I tore up the room, losing my wits trying to find my Metal Gear Solid 2 disc. When I did, I’d shoot him the evil eye and proceed to tickle the shit out of him. He’d laugh, I’d laugh, then we’d nag our parents for McDonald’s—I’d do so verbally, while he pointed to their logo on our coupon-covered refrigerator. I’ve always felt like an only child. We never shared a room for more than a month or two. We never attended the same school, although we’re just a year apart. Our parents treated us differently out of necessity, but there were times I resented the attention he’d receive. Our family outings were contingent on his behavior. If my parents feared an outburst couldn’t be contained in the environment, we’d avoid the place. It couldn’t be too quiet. It couldn’t be too crowded. Plans often ended before they began. I was envious of siblings on television. Growing up, I watched My Brother and Me, Smart Guy, and Malcolm in the Middle, and wished our lives were different. I desperately wanted the camaraderie they exuded. I wanted my brother and me to compete, fight, share, and laugh like the siblings in sitcoms. I wanted the feeling of “us versus them” when our parents reprimanded us. I wanted that partner in crime. I thought every family was like that, except for mine. His condition prevented us from ever leading typical lives. Charles kept my parents on their toes, prepared to alter their plans at a moment’s notice. Their stress was apparent, and it became easier to keep things to ourselves. I rarely saw classmates outside of school and hardly had friends come over. I only knew a couple kids my age within walking distance and one was a cousin. They’d come play Sega Genesis or basketball occasionally, but after fourth grade, that happened less and less. I spent most of my free time alone in my room with a small television and an array of Nintendo 64 games, usually including a rental or two from Blockbuster. That alone time intensified when my dad gifted me an old PC. Luckily, I was allowed to keep it in my room and spent almost every waking moment pirating music, browsing Japanese video games on NCSX, and creating Angelfire websites for imaginary bands I dreamed of starting one day. My father, a petroleum engineer, is quiet and a bit timid—he’s probably still shaken from his experiences in Nigeria’s Biafran War. He put privacy first in our household and was very protective of my brother, spending more time with him than with me. Looking back, I think my father’s concern for privacy stemmed from not wanting my atypical brother around typical people who’d potentially ridicule him. To this day, my father spends most of his time at home with my brother, working on his laptop while Charles plays suggested video after suggested video on YouTube. My father and I butted heads so often that I never thought I’d relate to him in any way. I had no aspirations to the tune of, “Like father, like son,” but his fondness for privacy absolutely rubbed off on me. In a sense, my brother and I were both nonverbal. Charles never spoke and I rarely spoke of him because I never imagined I’d meet anyone that could relate. I longed to understand autism, but kept it all to myself. Today I’m more comfortable discussing our upbringing and I’ve finally begun to befriend people with a similar home life. These new friends have autistic siblings, but none are nonverbal like Charles. Emboldened by our shared experiences, I’m now more vocal about my brother and what makes our relationship special, which is part of why I was able to write a song about him. “Charles” also explores a question I’ve thought about for years: “I got love for my bro, but will he ever know?” He would: On a recent visit to Houston, I sat side by side with my brother in his room as he browsed YouTube search results. It was my first trip home since moving to Los Angeles last Christmas. When I mentioned that I’d missed him, he slid his hand on top of mine, holding it firmly while staring at the screen. He understood. “Charles” is still my favorite thing I’ve ever written, because I love my brother, and because it took so long to know how to say it.

you like what i like i like what you like think i even like it when we in a fight no, i can't deny the feeling is right if you like it, i love it, i'm willing to try love you a lot love what we got since the beginning the feeling been tight no, i can't deny the feeling is right if you like it, i love it yeah, i'm willing to try had to shoot my shot like Time Crisis or Isis now i'm diving deep you niggas might think i'm a Pisces we just spent a weekend in Houston salute to Stephen shout out to his wife, you got a player for life when we are apart i think about you all night when we're close i know that we ain't gotta think twice i let go the baggage, like Badu i'm the Bag Lady old nigga born in the 80's i seen a lot, got me crazy you been through a lot too i'm thankful like Apu open like 7-11, yeah, you can come through had fun out in Tucson, met dad and met mom you met mom and dad too, they wanna see more of you but right now we ain't seeing eye to eye let's communicate maybe we'll find a compromise and if you feel like i feel let's listen to instinct and see what we can build you like what i like i like what you like think i even like it when we in a fight no, i can't deny the feeling is right if you like it, i love it, i'm willing to try love you a lot love what we got since the beginning the feeling been tight no, i can't deny the feeling is right if you like it, i love it yeah, i'm willing to try when we bicker i ain't bitter the best we can do is grow you help me, i help you figure out where we need to go you and i together is when i reveal my innermost insecurities and goals i'm here to be yours when i call, you're right there you ain't gotta wait, i'll be early or on time i ain't giving up, nah you ain't giving up, nah we here for a reason let's get what we came for you like what i like i like what you like think i even like it when we in a fight no, i can't deny the feeling is right if you like it, i love it, i'm willing to try love you a lot love what we got since the beginning the feeling been tight no, i can't deny the feeling is right if you like it, i love it yeah, i'm willing to try

one of the smartest and the hardest artists in this industry regardless good sport but i’m ornery like Arli$$ good boy, lil doggy need a harness giddy like diddy but i’m fair like it when she playing in my hair L.A. beware of the air ay whey, when pay day hits i’ma need the whole, not a fifth
i stay space age when i’m pimpin hey wait i need a few minutes but sir, the stage is waiting! get it! the crowd goin crazy, nigga! but i’m a lil faded can we get the opener to wait a minute tequila i can feel it in me need Tony, Grammy, and a Emmy or Oscar cause I’m actin up often eating black beans in Austin with the whites, day and night A&E need a doc on me from A to Z whole shebang, cradle to grave i do my thang, you dont do a thang i see you shook and smell the doo doo stains

got in and got up out it didn’t wanna stick around it got in and got every cent still spending dollars out it things goin way better than they did before win after win got me thinking i’m on a roll can’t slow down, no time soon i’ll keep stacking this little hill till it’s a mountain at night cried, lonely, poor, pitiful i but i try cause i got too much pride to hide tonight tho, we celebrating check came early, let’s get faded bullet, beam, gasoline four roses, who wanna drink? My Team up next, I ain't even gotta flex, Didn't right my wrongs, But I wrote my checks, It is what is, It ain't what it was, From Nothin' to Somethin'   I got it out the mud, I got it out the mud Thank God for my plug, Thank God for my plug my team up, hotter than valentina my wife stronger than xena we jamming on selena used to snack on peanuts now everything gourmet got a room at the four seasons for the weekend to play i work hard so i play hard on god, this no facade got racks in the PayPal just put it on the debit card i like where i stay now my neighbors aint too loud still drinking miller because the high life’s my life now tonight tho, we celebrating check came early, let’s get faded bullet, beam, gasoline four roses, who wanna drink? My Team up next, I ain't even gotta flex, Didn't right my wrongs, But I wrote my checks, It is what is, It ain't what it was, From Nothin' to Somethin'   I got it out the mud, I got it out the mud Thank God for my plug, Thank God for my plug,

don't do it, boy!

heard about the rumors i’ma run em out i aint worried bout word of the mouth i know the truth in one ear and out the other buddy, who are you? i know exactly who am i like hula hoop, its going round, going round i’ma run em out i aint worried bout word of the mouth i know the truth in one ear and out the other buddy, who are you? i know exactly who am i yeah, i heard about the rumors and i dont give a damn i’ma run em out Lost a friend to the bullshit Andy got up in her ear and told her to remove me Told her that I used her Treated her like trash Turned out that boy is a liar now she put him in the past How long can a lie last? Almost lost the whole friendship Luckily it’s mended I done seen a lot, dunno what I should begin with Back in the day I had rumors on the internet High school, 10th grade, two girls said I wasn’t shit Created a Xanga, shittin on my reputation Said I got repeatedly rejected, born to be a failure In the library they printed out every word Got passed around, whole school knew I was a nerd Little did they know I felt ugly since an early age This was just another setback, yeah I felt ashamed The principal read it, it was such an epidemic They banned the internet for a semester, had to run em out i aint worried bout word of the mouth i know the truth in one ear and out the other buddy, who are you? i know exactly who am i like hula hoop, its going round, going round i’ma run em out i aint worried bout word of the mouth i know the truth in one ear and out the other buddy, who are you? i know exactly who am i yeah, i heard about the rumors and i dont give a damn i’ma run em out I heard about yours too Didn’t know what to believe Can I ask you directly? I’d never ever think You’d do that Damn, it still hurt when I think about What were you thinking? What the fuck were you drinking? Never thought you’d take advantage Of another person’s body Goddamn, yeah it’s hard but I wanna be your friend Yeah I wanna be there for you And I know you going through it Wanna see you like a brother I can’t bring myself to do it Know you going through some pain but we’ll never be the same Can you feel where I’m coming from Hope you understand It’ll take time to heal But you gotta just admit it You can hide behind the rumors But I’m glad that she didn’t Yeah, she hit me She told me all about it You were with me I stood outside for an hour Took my ass home I see you as a coward Took advantage of a friend I can’t even be around you Had to run him out

i need my dream house i got my dream girl i got schemes up my sleeve for my dream world i got some meetings later that could change my whole world just throw me in the ring and i'ma swing for it life is but a dream it ain't hard as it seems, girl you're tighter than you think go and live your dream world hit the barbershop and they fucked my head up home for the holidays, needed a edge up wanna get away when i come here now love my city but i wonder what’s still there big heart, you ain’t gotta say it, it’s all yours no questions asked, take half or maybe more rare art, when I’m in it i’ma tear apart too smart, worked too hard to get swept up yup i know what i'm worth eager to rinse the ills since the start build things that really feel how a nigga really feel it ain't only for the dollar bill i feel priceless, sip tequila my niggas got guns like ISIS i don't like it from the great state of Texas, made my exit got a new home, moved on, what an adventure i need my dream house i got my dream girl i got schemes up my sleeve for my dream world i got some meetings later that could change my whole world just throw me in the ring and i'ma swing for it life is but a dream it ain't hard as it seems, girl you're tighter than you think go and live your dream world

i'm finna do it i'm finna do it (nike) vodka soda I ain't placing an order I don't order bring in what I'm gon pour up this girl's so hot I'm feeding her porridge fuck marry kill don't care 'bout the order I'm ballin all night now she calling me Rodman I'm Rowdy Roddy and I'm bombing like Sadam R.I.P. if you got hit by ar-15s this world's a sick thing this lifestyle’s addicting i'm finna do it i'm finna do it (nike) do what I wanna do every day of the week my ex is dead to me we don't speak as a teen i always in trouble mom, I love you but I don't do what I'm supposed to when we kiss I think I'm finally pure I'm dying inside can you please be the cure? the girl's so hot, she don't need a fur I want her with me every night of my tour i'm finna do it i'm finna do it (nike)

She said she never met a nigga like me what? I ain't never met no one like you either no i'm never ever nothing like J. Cole but i wanna see you with no features i want you and me no features no Cameo unless "Candy" on the speakers i mean it so much i'll repeat no i'm not J. Cole but i want you with no features we could go around the globe skrrt skrrt vroom vroom bitch hop up on my broom, witch drop top playing rock n roll Ramones and The Misfits Germs, Sly Stone, Prince Hey miss Sorry for the days that you cried I was lost, didn't know what to say at the time young sage in his prime tryna wade through the water it's a labyrinth, a maze so i'm taking my time and she dumb fine wonder if she think about me sometime wonder if she figured a nigga need her to come down H-Town, I was born and raised Reside in LA now Yell it out, got my pheromones energetic now now you know exactly how i feel and i'm ready and i'm willing to really start building if 2Pac shot two cops and got a deal then we can do whatever hey meet me at 11 babe She said she never met a nigga like me what? I ain't never met no one like you either no i'm never ever nothing like J. Cole but i wanna see you with no features i want you and me no features no Cameo unless "Candy" on the speakers i mean it so much i'll repeat no i'm not J. Cole but i want you with no features

don't wanna do it now ain't fooling around been waiting wassup now? you’re slowing me down once again wait up? no i won't wait up been here all day and i ain't got time left i'm out see ya later i aint got all day now i aint bout to stay round get out my way gotta have my space you lead me on too long didn’t think its wrong you said you’re on the way but you’re just in my way M.I.A. on any day that ends in -y oh, i, know why you ain’t bout it, move around it ya say schedule crowded i really doubt it hope you get the message do i gotta shout it really its a pity you so shitty dont even realize it dont even try to fight dont even try to hide it blimey, crikey, goddamn it put me on a-nother planet get me outta here y’all niggas can have it here need another beer just to manage need another brain just to think need another heart just to feel cause you broke most things in me you told lies, i know i accepted it, my fault wish i knew better back then before i thought of you as a friend

i'm living my best life oh what a feeling don't fuck with fakes only with real ones this young lady with me she looks like a million live long enough, you become the villain so do what you want just do what you want just do what you want i live it up, literally feeling myself giving my best and i’m checking my health didn’t believe i could see me this pleased now i know what i want and it wants me back in the day they called me lil daddy little man, now i’m OG in the city when in the streets, they blowing me kisses r.i.p. Phife but i dont wear a fitted feel like Obama, they shaking my hand i run it like Diddy in Making The Band get rich or die tryin like 50 and Lloyd i like the money but i need much more end of the tour, back in the crib, plotting on what i need next we on the porch, she looking gorgeous, life cant get sweeter than this in my air forces, lookin like B2K taking pics at 106 fuck it, we drinking a 5th Lucas Gorham on the beat and the mix Heaven/Hevln knows that i am loving this life i’m loving it even when i’m getting pissed love it so much i’ll do it till the end seeing the world with a few of my friends [maal a goomba] i cash another check that's the best life gucci head to toe, that's the best life been around the globe on my best life smokin on the dro, its the best light gucci head to toe, that's the best life woke up with respect, that's the best, right? diamonds on her neck that's the best light mmmh, that's the best life i'm living my best life oh what a feeling don't fuck with fakes only with real ones this young lady with me she looks like a million live long enough, you become the villain so do what you want just do what you want just do what you want