[00:00.00]Listen to me good
[00:10.93]The artist is the most important person
[00:17.80]You are the feature
[00:23.93]People listen to you, they don't listen to their preachers
[00:27.24]Exaggerated tales of hustin' we quick to pass judgment and fail our brothers
[00:31.31]Instead of talkin' bout Lauren Hill talk about Lauren skill, truth be told there may never be a girl as ill
[00:36.78]Don't gossip bout Dame Dash, give props to Dame hand
[00:39.53]For the rise of Jay and for signing Kanye, man
[00:41.92]Niggas is crazy that's why we ain't got shit
[00:44.56]Rappers hate each other not the labels that got rich
[00:47.16]Don't care about culture they only want profit
[00:49.58]If your album sells slow bet you get dropped quick
[00:52.44]Q-Tip warned us the industries toxic
[00:54.94]For reference check out B.D.P - "Sex and Violence"
[00:57.42]When Styles made "I Get High" it was playin' all day
[00:59.88]When Styles made "I'm Black" it didn't get enough play
[01:02.40]I guess they got a problem with anything positive
[01:05.32]Doesn't make sense if it doesn't bring dollars in
[01:12.06]Those that managed us
[01:13.72]Those that were our agents
[01:15.12]Those that were our accountants
[01:17.57]Those that were the records executives
[01:20.02]Those that were the owners of the record label
[01:24.14]You never got true accounting for nothing that you did
[01:29.51]What’s the difference between a label and pimpin'
[01:32.18]You sell yourself, they tell you how to spend it
[01:34.54]Ho ass niggas slow down, listen
[01:37.26]Just prey your minds with no ambition
[01:39.70]They keep you fly — images, promotion
[01:42.33]They keep you high, so a nigga isnt’ focused
[01:44.87]You livin’ in a moment, feeling yourself
[01:47.39]They livin' in plus homes, what’s really success?
[01:49.88]And what’s swag?
[01:51.20]I don’t care how you dress or what you drive
[01:53.98]I want rhymes that really impress
[01:55.18]You say it’s all about money, do you even invest?
[01:57.66]Any time in your rhymes, let me guess
[02:00.20]You’re so nice you don’t write, it just comes to you
[02:02.95]‘Cause you the shit — nah, you just dodo
[02:05.72]I lyrically abuse any rapper who choose to step to me
[02:09.30]I will bring it right to you!
[02:14.35]Who do you think you are?
[02:16.97]To them you are nothing but a piece of meat
[02:20.64]And you are only as valuable as your last hit song
[02:25.77]And when you make no more hit songs
[02:28.68]Nobody cares for you no more
[02:32.20]Men lie, women lie
[02:33.16]Numbers can be altered
[02:34.37]To look high, shareholders hate taking losses
[02:36.77]This is business, they don’t care about your lyrics
[02:39.56]The better you sell, the better future for their children
[02:41.98]Controversy sells so they support conflict
[02:44.54]Makes more progress means more profit
[02:47.34]And artists get killed they say they so sorry
[02:49.78]Meanwhile they tell you the date of his next project
[02:52.46]What a life, death made it more profit
[02:55.06]Record companies get paid for your drama
[02:57.72]And “Beef” DVD is on BET
[02:59.74]So every artist who was on it was beefin’ for free
[03:02.67]While the royalties are going to QD3
[03:05.20]He Quincy Jones though, what he know about beef?
[03:07.84]No disrespect intended, I know he got peace
[03:10.48]But it’s deep how the rich get paid off our grief
[03:16.93]And every one of our great artists they die — with nothing
[03:23.72]And the record company executives were rich, sending their kids to college
[03:37.86]You’re not stupid — you are brilliant
[03:40.85]But the question is: can you put your brilliance in a song?
[03:46.75]Can you put the conditions of the world in a song and inspire young people all over the world?