Shad - New School Leaders lyrics

I'm staring at the world's blankest page
White with all the angst and rage
I can't convey
Just feeling so distraught and depressed
As I imagine these lines filled
With all the sick rhyme skill
I thought I possessed
It's a pressure to produce
It's my process it's slow
I got no mic presence and no progress to show
Its this project it's so ambitious
It makes me wish that I could just
Sit and talk to a professional musician
Cause maybe he could tell me
If I got the talent
I just wanna shoot the gift
All I wanna do is spit so bad and it's sad
Cause all I wanna do is
Quit when the pressure hit's
Harbouring the prospect of failin' y'all
I get left with this sick deep feelin'


Most definite, I should sleep this off
Man you can't be this soft

Yo where'd you come from?

Listen son take those bedsheets
From off your body
No time for rest, don't just resign to stress
I'm the real MC that you wanted to find
And test your rhymes
And get all the thoughts
In your mind addressed
So sit up a second let
Me answer your questions

Young bro
Open your eyes you're gonna make great music
Just open your soul and cats
Will relate to it if you open your heart at
Least you'll escape through it

Yeah I'm scared that I will but still
No one will take to it
I guess that's why I'm stuck
Before this opening line
Cause when my demo drops it's
Gotta be blowin' some minds
To make some dough with these rhymes
I must be showin' them I'm

What, deaf? Cause only the deaf need
To go and get signed
Just to express themselves
You can get your wealth in other ways
I ain't tryin to scam millions
Or get your love and praise
Cause god gave man brilliance
Yeah but why plan buildin' if
The most I'll ever do
Is rhyme for my grandchildren

Respect! You love to get but you hate to earn
This time can be a blessing
If you wait your turn
And simply stay concerned with making sure
You state what you feel
When you're lacin' your reels and
Always elevatin' your skills
See I've learned this thing determines what
It takes to get ill
And real patience doesn't mean you sit
And wait for a deal
Build with local cats, do the open mic thing

There ain't none!

Then make some
You wanna be an all time great son?
Cool, do your thing, but just recognize this
Success won't make you happy
At best it make you rich
At worst it make you
Paranoid bitter and afraid
And either way there's no use
For cash in the grave
Problems and platinum plaques
So don't let your raps detract from
The bigger things in life
Cause that's a trap, for real!

Yo, tell me exactly how you got your props?
One day I started working hard
And just forgot to stop
If you don't stay on your rhymes
You'll probably rock the spot
Around the time pigs fly like
Some cops with hops

But Man I'll never match

That's true, who in the world can?
Most of these cats can't even flow
Like Pearl Jam man I'm just playin'
But, you gotta have confidence

Well what about humility?

Well I'm not sayin' be pompous kid
Just recognize your ability
Cause a real MC knows if he's competent
You feelin me?

Well are you feelin' me
Do I got what it takes?

Well do you got a vision, a purpose, a mic
And some breaks?
I know you got the passion cause
I can see it in your face
And that's already more than half
Of these cats making tapes

I'm trying to be making paid though
School ain't my thing
All I think about is rappin'
And makin' this happen and

Man I been there
Matter of fact I'm still here
Let me get some cats on the mic
To explain this to you real clear
Fellows who can speak with authority

While real MC's and DJ's are a minority

A dope MC is a dope MC
With or without a record deal, all can see

See no need for boozy
Crowds clappin' their hands

I never let a statue tell me how nice I am

Stay far from timid only make moves
When your hearts in it

It ain't hard to tell

I part mimics market it for target
And charts with smart gimmicks
From the fresh soul for
Sharp witted and artistic