THE ART OF LIFE & DEATH (iLLuminate oblivion) [deep end.]
[Verse 1]
You’ll forever be the American Nightmare
I’m America’s wet dream, the cold sore on the lip of this country or so it seems
You’re better off as one of the people the King used to dream about
For that C.R.E.A.M., I’m a fiend and that’s the reason that I’m scheming now
From day one, my momma hated you
Constantly blaming you for my decisions, like you were helping me make them
Truthfully, I should be thanking you
Ayy, I’ve been this way since B.C., I’m not the same as you
You avoid all the danger, and plan on trying to save the youth
But that’s my gripe with this
I think you’re losing sight of the path that you put me on in order for me to do right again
Though I know you’re nice with it, I don’t feel you can help me
Boy, I’m the reason the cycle spins, on and on like a dryer turning
You and Marina act as if you look for higher learning
Meanwhile as you can see now, a fire’s burning
But only money’s on my mind, and I ain’t gotta earn it
She thinks I’m making mistakes, but I need your opinion
She told me the real reason she ain’t like you to begin with
You remind her of me before my dad came back
She said she wished the old Matt came back, as if I changed
But please, I just grew up and if money ain’t motive what is?
Remember Byron, you won’t bring change without it, for real
That’s what it’s all about
And ain’t nobody hiring, so I’ve gotta hustle to get my mom another house
The way she’s speaking of you now, I ain’t feeling it though
I mean, she started ten minutes ago, asking why you’re never around
And how lucky your parents are that you found yourself in a world full of followers
Man, I kind of felt slighted, I won’t lie to you
That’s why I’m coming to you now; I have a lot to prove to both of you
Cause I’m feeling like a failure, and I’d die before I fail her
Put the microphone down for a second, dawg help us
[Verse 2]
The underdog from the underground is bound to even odds
Pull them pistols and pay the piper, or bow your knee to God
Realistically, with your P-O-V, you won’t make it out alive
Just know the cycle only continues if you don’t bother trying
Now, how real is that?
Really, how real am I to help you with your problems, knowing my parents would kill me if they ever knew about them
Knowing somebody could kill me over something you done got in
But who am I to deny you of some guidance?
Just know I’m Byron, a human that knows he’s probably making a mistake
But I don’t ever want to go another day, thinking maybe I could save you from this fate
There’s a million other things running through my mind
Hard to spill my feelings when they race
As we cross this street, I hope the only thing you carry with you is hope
I pray you chose to toss that heat, because the last thing you need is for the cops to flash badges
With you running for your life, though you’re on the right track
It’s paranoia that’s instilled in you, they don’t understand it, never will
A split second decision could get you killed
So, when her purse got snatched, you pursued him, why?
What made you do it even though you never knew them?
I noticed a shift in your character, as you hand her purse back with pride
My stomach drops, and I signal it’s time to go
You reply, “I’ll catch up with you.”
Less than twenty seconds later, shots echo through the air like a tornado as your karma’s catching up with you
So many questions as the sirens get louder
Keep the pressure on your chest, Matt
I know you’re aren’t ready to go, dawg, I get that
But I have to, cause for me, this is more than a minor setback
Tears shed because you’ll never get to apologize
Left the house without a hug from the person you idolize
But you’ll never be more sorry than me
Your last convo with her, just an argument over me, I’m sorry