"The Love Theory" explores the idea of how your examples of love as a child can shape the way you see love and relationships and how you can either continue the cycle or create a new narrative.
lyrics
(Intro)
The good guy
Such a lofty title
It comes equipped with one of the heaviest crowns to have ever been made
You build a rep, people believe it
The hype continues, but
Takes years to build a rep
Only minutes to ruin it
(Verse 1 - A.J. Throwback)
Momma Joe was all set to pack us up inside the Delta, make a mad dash
I'm guessing that's the irony of Glad bags
All the arguments became a bad fad
Tryna be a big boy while ducking bombs over Baghdad
Fast forward past that, separation, last ditch
Talking through the screen door, escalated mad quick
Witnessing your parents scuffle, day you hoped would never come
Daddy came in with desperation, but he left in cuffs
Subconsciously, the fights determined Joe's position
I avoided confrontation like Jehovah's Witness
Should be in Jhoon Rhee: bothered, so defensive
Swear my mantle's filled with Emmys, was a dope pretender
When '07 felt like history repeated worse
I said, "It's either we disperse or order me a hearse"
But my experience is prone to rear its ugly head
Speak but be misunderstood or seek the comfort of nothing said
(Chorus - KimA Michelle)
Life is what you make it
Your faith should not be shaken
So hard you try
Open your eyes
Push through the tears, face your fears
It will be alright
(Verse 2 - A.J. Throwback)
When the folks who's s'posed to love you don't choose you, loyalty can be a touchy topic
All they know is go, but still ain't sharing much in common
Last poet found the corner where I quickly curled
His bad habits robbed the budget meant for Disney World
Free spirit, trying to change me, where they often lost me
So a sporadic dad's in no position trying to boss me
Keen to my energy, so never hinder me
Or quickly make yourself my enemy, even akin to me
What I do? Carry all that stinking thinking into love
Disappointed one or two occasions, chicks is getting snubbed
Is she worth it? Am I tripping? What does fam and friendly say
If they trashed, justified it: "Eh, she's wack anyway
Tryna grammar check my rhymes, pick which jeans to wear
Regulate who I can dance with when she ain't even there"
End result of my rebellion: slew of curse words
Worsened every fear I could've reversed from my first verse
(Chorus - KimA Michelle)
Life is what you make it
Your faith should not be shaken
So hard you try
Open your eyes
Push through the tears, face your fears
It will be alright
(Verse 3 - A.J. Throwback)
Grew accustomed to the
Extravaganzas, boy shorts, private dancers
Making vixens outta chicks who often shied from cameras
After 12, before 6, trysts with lighted candles
Liv Pope ain't need to fix it, this my type of scandal
Blame the vids full of skin and bright thongs
Class act who wanted Damita to come and play with my frog
Quite a long line of brainwashing, trained to chase the same option
Game to rarely make a dame dash, dreamed of chain rocking
But when the diamonds were forever, lofty aims were toxic
Whenever sex became the object, tried to change the topic
In analyzing and uncovering my feelings
Started wondering was I tainted from my slummin' in the village
You taste too many apples, hard to get hungry
How I got a torso? Too many took a rib from me
Am I simply baited 'cause it's from a different lure
Middle name Lawrence, could it be I've been an F-boy, insecure
And faux pas of Mitch and Jackie never factored in my patterning
Weaved my own dreams with cheaper thread and lesser craftsmanship
Heart of gold was really glass, Blondie sledge hammered it
Trying to paint a perfect love, but don't know where the canvas is
Bearer of my name deserves a cheery me
'Stead of being leery, often teary over the weary me
Thought I had an air-tight love theory
'Til God tested it and proved I ain't as smart as I appear to be
(Chorus - KimA Michelle)
Life is what you make it
Your faith should not be shaken
So hard you try
Open your eyes
Push through the tears, face your fears
It will be alright
credits
from The Late Bloomer,
released March 31, 2022
Lyrics by Joseph Lawrence Goings (BAMMpire Publishing [ASCAP]) & Kimberly Michelle Aldridge. Music by Keith Delts.
Produced by Gladiator.
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Gladiator.
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
Let The Dirt Say Amen (aka Tim Hicks from The Cornel West Theory) is EASILY one of my favorite hip hop artists from D.C. and this is evidence--not to mention it should be in the AOTY convo for 2021. A.J. Throwback
Another one of the most talented lyricists from D.C., the amount of thought, purpose and artistry Prowess the Testament puts behind this album is unmatched. She's simply rapping on another level. A.J. Throwback
The combo of Nathaniel Star on vocals and Vintage (on 90 percent of the production) is FLAWLESS. Simply put, this is my favorite R&B/soul album from any artist in the last decade. A.J. Throwback
A wild and dizzying LP themed around the power of the number 23, “Ikosa Trio” leaps from vaporware to hip-hop to all stops in between. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2023
