Step It Up

[Intro: Classified] (Talking:) Nowadays, everybody's always asking me "Yo Class, what can I do to make it in this music game, man?" [Hook: Classified] (Step 1) Get your flow, come out of your shell (Step 2) Learn the game and study it well (Step 3) Go for self, not anyone else (Step 4) If you wanna be heard, you gotta yell! If you wanna make it in the music business I wrote a couple steps that you all could follow Gather all around, sit down and listen And when it's time to go in, kid go all out [Verse 1: Classified] A lot of people be hitting me up Trying to get into the game and mixing it up Like, I got a name and I'm living it up Don't think I'm living it up but I guess I'm getting my cut (Step 1) Always stay faithful And try to bring something new to the table The game's tough and the world can be hateful Prepare yourself cause that hate might break you Look, a label won't make you Just starting off? Don't worry about sending in your demo Shit nowadays ain't nobody mail demos anyway Gotta learn, value every penny saved (Step 2), make your music timeless Cause that'll live on after you gone in silence Never run out of gas like driving a Hybrid You in for the long haul, so mind your mileage Now to make a record takes real talent But after that's when you face a real challenge That's when you see who's got the heart and the valence And honestly, it's hard to find the right balance You follow me? Good, now the record is done And the pressure is on and the lessons to come Now we separate one from the rest of the bunch The test has begun (the test has begun) [Hook] If you wanna make it in the music business (yeah) I wrote a couple steps that you all could follow (ha) Gather all around, sit down and listen (uh) And when it's time to go in (yeah), kid go all out [Verse 2: Classified] Alright team, let's huddle in it We gotta build our own buzz, the hustle begins I know you write rhymes but can you draw crowds? That's the key to success, so don't get locked out You gotta draw hype, everything is fair play Hit the blog sites, the streets and the airplay Avoid the negativity, any haters and low lifes And oh right, get your live show tight (Step 3), always step up your performance Nothing more important than doing shows and touring Hit the open mics, hit your local promoters Who are putting on shows and need a couple local openers Be the engineer and the manager And the record label and the janitor Be a pro in this whole pro-cess The promoter, the producer and you may progress (Step 4), and when the real work's done You know what they say "if you build it, they will come" The labels come calling but the tables have spun Now you got the under hand, you can take what you want You think selling records, is gonna make you income? What I make in sales, I make in three shows and then some Remember this, anyone can sell your music But they can't sell your live show unless you're gonna do it You can take this for whatever it's worth, my word But there's no guarantees it's gonna work for sure [Secondary Hook: Classified] (Step 1) Don't believe all the shit they say (Step 2) The industry is a shady place (Step 3) And everybody is out for self (Step 4) So if you wanna be heard (you gotta yell!) [Hook] [Outro: Sample] It's a game, at times unrealistic But a game all the same Somebody wins and somebody loses It all depends on whoever chooses To take it most seriously...