Chained

If painting the chains around my neck gold set me free,
Then color me confused.
This whole time I've been trying to break loose.
And If I was wrong may we all get these chains that I thought was a noose
And I'll paint them all platinum for making things obtuse

But if I was right,
These issues need addressing.
Because in no way, shape, or form
Is this slavery a blessing

Way Back When (collaboration with Ali "M52" Bakhit)

I’m calm
But I’m overjoyed and I’m pissed off at the same time
So many changes and rearrangements
All out of my control, No referee
Some brothers were clear and now are fuzzier than Tex Avery
And I don’t which is the cause,
Is it the drugs, sex, alcohol, or the pressure of society?
Maybe it was the peer pressure
But peer pressure is only pressure if they shake the can
In many cases, shaking the can means they’ll have to shake the man
And in that case, please try to shake me, man
Because if that’s the case
Then their loved ones weren't at heart
And those are decisions that set you and your loved ones apart
And all I can do is watch out for me
And play the role I have in raising my family
And doing so showed me who’s closest and kept their eyes out for me
And who exactly is a sight for my sore eyes to see
But there’s still no hate and no fiery wraths
For my brothers who wound up choosing opposing paths
Because my brothers are still fam, especially when they need assistance
And I hope one day we can mend the distance
But watching it all happen feels like an atomic bomb
Yet, despite all this,
I’m calm

Yo watup man, hope all is well, where you been son
big city bright lights I was just tryna dim some
no Yum Cha I was layin' low
& when they ask to hang, can't get yourself to be sayin' no
cuz deep down you miss them, but ignorance is bliss
you can't stand them for SIT, you kinda wanna diss them
it's not that you don't want 'em around
it's more like they drifted away without making a sound
& I got too much pride to reach out to a hand
that won't grab mine when I reach, toss & turnin' before I sleep
I think about, how many times this has happened to me
that's why it's funny when they talk as if this is just rappin' to me
sometimes I wonder if I'ma changed man
I mean I know I am but maybe strayed too far off the game plan?
These were people I never intended to lose
But why pull back when they are intending to move?
I've pushed away & been pushed away
no matter how much I pull later it really ain't much to say
effortless conversation turns into awkward silence
internal hatred develops but not to the point of violence
you even miss the arguments cuz at least they cared back then
& then "back then" becomes "way back when" & that's the end
damn....all's well that ends well I guess
no regrets, hope you remember me, at least I'll have the memories