13 - Pound Cake [DREAMS]/Nikki Giovanni Music

"[1] You don’t even know it, but you sleep, nigga And when I say it, you assume it’s ‘cause I’m deep. It’s a --easy way to keep the peace, nigga Unless you restin’ in it. Sleep with a dog, wake with the fleas Take what you need. No. Take what you’re given, and live with it Learn to love it. Never try to rise above it. Just fester and learn to covet it Niggas never get enough of it And then be sick of me discussing it. Fuck it. I understand it, man Living is proof But when I see it, then what the fuck is a nigga to do Especially when you thinking that what you living is truth? I mean, you claim to be a man—ten toes on the ground A poser, a clown—man, do you know how you sound? You take the tools of an oppressor, then dress ‘em a little better Express ‘em over a record, a metaphorical lesson Twenty-five lighters on the dresser, yessir Then you can prob’ly brighten up your lectures, jester But you’d rather step and fetch it—and profess your ignorance And you can look in the mirror tomorrow and live with it Cash Rules Everything Around Me—CREAM Cause Dope Ruined Everything Around My DREAM Preme got knowledge Truth got knowledge Ed quit his job and went back to college [2] C-Style got knowledge and a plan Jay still locked up, and I’m trying to manage a manifestation Of an indivisible nation With diminishing patience Because I’m sick of us waitin So the quicker we make it The quicker we can progress But niggas don’t wanna make, just wanna be living the best Just want to count the most money, and hope we see that he got it So when he talks about haters, then we’re the easiest topic Because his styles are the latest, and he can easily cop em So all the ladies, they love him, they want to be in his pockets That’s if you’re lettin’ him tell it—see, he’s a prophet for profit And he’s a popular target for all the niggas that’s starvin’ So when it comes to cake, cake, cake Niggas only see what they can take, take, take Instead of living with the hate, hate, hate Maybe you should try to be awake, wake, wake [3] They treat me like I’m not a rapper I’m actually a poet. I know it’s a contradiction—I take it that they don’t know it’s So similar. If I’m giving them words, and they on the beat, when I speak And they speak back, then we rappin’ but they’re so geeked that I’m not I don’t want to bearing no bad news. I choose to just nod Like I approve, but I don’t. My God… An arbitrary distinction is what I call it I pardon the ignorance, but I’m bothered if you can live with it Hardly the one to knock if you get it. Wanna define me? I’m fine with it. Reading Nikki, ‘cause me and Miss Giovanni Be speaking the same language. I’m aiming to educate Don’t mistake it for being passive—I’ll pass on the head crackin But edifying’s an action I’m actively ascertaining Evaluating, arranging, defining, and then explaining That learning about solutions is better than just complaining The target at which I’m aiming is somewhere between your brain And your heart And I’m an artist. Not artificial a bit. Dog-eat-dog world I’m starving up in this bitch. But rich If you consider I’m living chasing a dream If they living chasing the CREAM I’ll heat it up and be steam. I’m rising Above—just like the Phoenix—the flame’ll warm ya— Got a different mindstate, I’m cool like Arizona[’]s at night That might be a little out of your league If you listen to rudimentary raps, then it’s not your speed And I’m lapping you. Take a seat and just act like you get it, B…."