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Take 37
03:43
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(Intro)
If you could believe it
Some days, I hate the sound of my own voice
Like why would anybody wanna listen to ME for five minutes
Let alone 60
It’s not raspy, not rugged (Take 1, take 2, here's another one)
It’s not overly distinctive (Take 3, take 4, and another one)
But among all these voices (Take 5, take 6, take 37?)
How do I stand out?
(Verse)
Questioning the script that I've written down, pissed how I spit it out
When I'm in the booth, biggest critic isn't Christgau
Buying macchiatos for my doubts, having sit downs
Asking, "Why my love headed south and y'all stick around?"
Did Chris Wallace ever go through this nonsense?
Feeling like his voice isn't BIG enough to convince
Audience that he is content with his content
And confident that very few will object his project
My insecurities are sticking out, convex
Please let me put it in perspective, context
'93, cherry red boombox
Back when the dude rocked K-Swiss and tube socks
Listening to 2Pac, Ice Cube, Black Moon, Redman
Hanging onto every single syllable they said, man
Critical injections, pinnacle inflections
Affected effectiveness of lyrical direction
Entrance, little ol' me swore
I was doing something when I dared to press record
My first rhyme about my ex who would cheat more
Let my homies hear it, "That was cool," didn't seek more
Nah, I ain't expect to hear "the boy's fire"
I was two years removed from the boys' choir
Singing Troop to those girls in the classroom
Took me a sabbatical, the culture didn't have room
Another ten years before the booth
But in the meantime, put my voice to good use
As I pulled from my inner Mel Lindsey
Touch of Mel Blanc had the school in a frenzy
Speeches to lead? Yeah, I penned now
Voice of the youth, I was less Lil' Mama, more Les Brown
Plus the poetry would add another fresh sound
But it was that Mario Paint on my Super NES down
In my basement, my flow was kinda basic
Biggie laid the blueprints, all I did was trace it
Parodies, Black Al Yankovic of high school
“You did this on a video game?" "Yeah, I'm a fool”
Was a while before they heard “here's another one”
Had to get some better words and ton of drums
On the stage, I was better a cappella
Instead of trying to recreate the Wu or Roc-A-Fella
It was boom, tap, as the room clapped
At the first sign of life that the dude rapped
They were moved back, didn't know that he could harness
His way with words usually reserved for the Congress
Ha, monstrous, but largely, I paused it
Probably being comfortable with making beats caused it
But yeah buddy, first time in the booth
Just an intro, but them first lines were the truth
And I heard myself, grown up, compressed
Flow was ji hot, I might need a cold compress
So I wrote complex rhymes to keep my arm stretched
From my competition, but it's still not a contest
Star of the gang, but to masses, I did not appeal
Now it's less Webster’s, more '93 Bonnevilles
I rode smooth on the Pro Tools, folks who
Barely knew my middle name ain't believe that I'm the same dope dude
My own wife even gotta ask twice
And I ask myself, "Am I that WACK or that NICE?"
Breaking down bars: "Man, I could've worded THAT different
What in Sam Hill was THAT blur I ad-libbed in?
And THAT syllable was s'posed to be pronounced more
Where was the energy that should've made it bounce more?
I mean, it's okay, could've made it count more"
Then I hear the crowds shout more and doubt is outdoors
Exhale, that's the breath I had to make
Breathe Gladiator, we ain't doing 37 takes
(Outro)
I just need to get over myself, fam
My voice is my voice
Take 1, take 2, here's another one
Take 3, take 4, and another one
Take 5, take 6, take 37? Chill!
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2. |
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(Intro)
Roomie: Ayo, Joe, wake up, son!
A.J.: Arrrghhh...I'm up!
Roomie: C'mon, you ‘bout to miss your own graduation!
A.J.: I'm up, bro!
Roomie: C'mon son!
A.J.: I'm up!
Roomie: Yo, this your last day on campus...heh, you ready to leave?
A.J.: Ugh, not really...but all things must come to an end, right?
Roomie: Right!
Both: But last night though–
(Verse 1 – A.J. Throwback)
Dixie cups stained with that Jungle Juice residue
Party went harder than what any of us ever knew
Records–yup, records–still slowly making revolu
Shuns what we done, yeah, I'm pretty sure the Heavens do
Papers, hush your face, getting carpal tunnel at the thought
We too busy laughing at these girls tryna grab their shorts
Broads streak the quad, loosened bras, but they chickened out
Knew the mental pictures would be sticking, picked a different route
They had the foresight of knowing life was bigger than
Silly bragging rights of "yeah, I flashed my tits and ran"
Or "I survived cliff diving landing back first
Thank the Lord I walk erect, but when I sneeze and laugh, it hurts"
There was a life we were avoiding full of shackles
Way too busy with these biddies in our laps tryna straddle
While they grinding like, high-fiving like, "Best. Week. Ever."
Short sighted in rebellion like, "Grow up? Me?? Never."
(Chorus – D. Bell)
How I miss (how I miss)
All the time we spent together
(Gether) Together
How I wish
We could live this life forever
Live this life forever
Forever, ever, but I gotta move on
(Verse 2 – A.J. Throwback)
I came in slim, a lil more disciplined
But all them Thursday night chicken cutlets made the differences
‘Stead of lifting bars, I'm getting spotted five shots
Went from "just say no" to "hell yeah, why not"
Seventeen, morning person by default because of rules
But they never should've told me, "Choose your own time for school"
Went from six o'clock to averages of noon
All nighters doing things that'll probably threaten graduating soon like
Broads dorm hopping, curfews didn't exist
I ain't know whether they liked me or the good food in my fridge
Or weeknights at the bar, whether legal or underage
Books for tests that needed reading, ain't even a hundredth page
And church within the wild, just an afterthought
Kept the Word about as close as Advils and sunshades I hadn't bought
Despite a life inside a shot glass
Knew that God had His hand on me, still, dawg, I should have not passed
(Chorus – D. Bell)
How I miss (how I miss)
All the time we spent together
(Gether) Together
How I wish
We could live this life forever
Live this life forever
Forever, ever, but I gotta move on
(Verse 3)
I figured out why my degree was just a Bachelor of Arts
Still single in the mind before your marriage of the smarts
Haven't mastered every part of life, freedom turns to bondage
But beyond your special bonds, you seem to wander in despondence
To be a night owl, it has purpose
But only as a servant of the law or if you swerve 'em 'cause of raw
When you're flirting with them broads getting five hours of rest
You raise the likelihood of being knocked out your desk
Now you're stressed and overeating, your weakness exposed
So your weekends turn to seeking the sweet sins of old
Hennessy, weed and freakin’ when we hit the road
Man, as fast as we were speeding, we should be in a hole
Bobby Hurley flow, 24, kinda early though
To have the right presence of mind to sacrifice our worldly robes
But bi-weekly visits to the doctor wasn't popping
And neither was skipping student loans and garnishing's the option
Hold up...can't be messing with my money, can't fold up
A senior five years too long, it's time to show up
Put on my cap and gown, stroll up, get my diploma
In diplomacy, handle my business and be the owner
Of more than just Coronas and old, broken Toyotas
Or debts from old posing and spending dough on them rollers
What didn't help, twice a year, I'd be back at school
Like I never left, you already know I'd act a fool
But when the women turn to girls nearly six years your junior
“Wait...when I walked the stage, she was watching Nick Jr.?"
You toss your lil Dixie cup, fix you up quickly
'Cause disgust before the liks will have you spittin' up quickly
So get me, it's cool to just remember 21
But I don't even shop the store to feel Forever 21
One and done, though I often reminisce on that week
Always missing my crew, but never missing that me
(Chorus – D. Bell)
How I miss (how I miss)
All the time we spent together
(Gether) Together
How I wish
We could live this life forever
Live this life forever
Forever, ever, but I gotta move on
(Outro)
Can't stay young (forever, forever)
Try to stay young (forever, forever)
But you can't stay young
You know that you gotta move on (forever, forever)
Gotta move on (forever, forever)
Just move on
Yeah
It’s time to get outta here, man
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A.J. Throwback Silver Spring, Maryland
D.C.-born artist A.J. Throwback has produced for The Healacist, Ransom Rellic, Klutch Da Rapper, BRIXX, DH MVJOR, Lady Cee, Debo Wayne, Mic Mountain, Anaymous Touch & Night Train 357. He has released two mixtapes, two beat tapes, two EPs, and was creator, DJ & co-host w/ Ramsey Brown of 'BARS'. In 2024, he released two R&B instrumental singles, "Something New" & "Fluent in My Language". ... more
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