RealL

When I first met you I was intrigued
I was in Gangster’s Paradise
Then I’d see you were down with a lot of guys
But not in a bad way
It was an art-making pathway
You were lovable
So I had to get to know you were discoverable
I saw how you switched it up and that you were smart
Grew like a kid up then I’d take part
We became great friends
You met some of my friends, but mostly I met yours
And they were nice as sure as sure can be
In fact I took after them
Together we all listened to Nas and Eminem, Pac and Biggie then Xzibit
The wildest men, if you can call them men as they were back then
We listened to Common
So much in common
Lupe Fiasco was awesome
It was said around that time to be dead
Though I promised to you that you would always be a part of who I am until I’m dead
I didn’t know back then that it was love but it was
So we got much deeper
Not many people had what we had
We met many people, they touched us deeply
And also we touched them deeply
We picked up cds of Wayne and TI
Thrift stores we hit those to get more
We became fiends in the best way possible
We made music and pressed play non-stoppable if you will
When we hit a rough patch, you stuck around
Truth be told, you were too in the muck all along, but we stayed together
‘cause it was something much greater at play than either of us could have anticipated
In it for the long haul
We committed to make it happen
I said some cruel things, but it didn’t get to you
And your mood swings I took cool whenever you had on your mood ring
I saw deep down you were human and soothing
I started changing myself for the better
We stayed strong and stayed close
I focused on the love inside of you, not the little flaws, that’s trivial
We were inseparable
Then we had more people come into our lives
SkyBlew and O’hene Savant
Lady Paradox and Hopie was raw
Reconnected with Illogic and K-Rino the god
Kristoff Krane
Killah Priest was still doing his thing
As it turned out I happened to check out Replicator and the group Futurology
But now there’s Miles Better and Atlas Works, respectively
We would surge with the Insurgent
Xidus Pain was still bringing the pain in a wise way
How could I not say something ‘bout Alex X? Was a lot like me
Johnny Cypher, such a raw emcee and honest as can be
Mindbender, Expand The Mind
Encouragement Kid, Tom from Australia
Frankie D, Pet Nico
Hard as ever, smart and clever
And on the hall of fame is Savan DePaul’s name probably
So lovely
So through thick and thin we’re still the best of friends
Holding hands ‘cause we’re soulmates
Damn, it feels so great
Compared to this there is nothing so nice
‘cause hip-hop, you’re the love of my life