Wicked Ways

you can change your ways
you can change your ways
elevate to date

i dropped albums in the 90s, the foundation for all of this
i figured if i had it, then, why shouldn't i offer it
i learned the politics of the business and stretched my limits
expanded my horizons and diversified my interests
personalized my verses instead of usin gimmicks
so i could look my children in the eye when i was finished
it's a simple plan, from this ordinary simple man
raise a revolution, and forget about the fickle fan
we built these walls on a shoestring budget
held our breath and decided to release it to the public
many loved it and moved in, strengthenin these two men
pretty soon, we had the funds to put a roof in
the blueprint, well that's somethin that wed argued for
sent a and rs and labels back to the drawing board
regulations and rules, fine print we wasn't fallin for
you were there all along and it makes me love you all the more

tried my best to raise you right, but youv'e gone wicked ways
the decisions you make the roads you take and the games you play
are leading you astray
tried my best to raise you right, but you've gone wicked ways
there aint a minute a day i don't think how ya feelin today
i'll say all i gotta say then imma give it away
tried my best to raise you right, but youve gone wicked ways

i feel like i know you, raised you and clothed you
with raw material i systematically broke you
down to the essence of your inner child
and if you ask me for an inch than i'm the type to give a mile
in this style of street magic, it's down to a truth
bathed you in the fountain of youth, in a sound that you knew
i gave you words that dug so much deeper than music
you ran with it, or told yourself that it was stupid
either way, you fool with dust beats and couldn't front
life captured on cd as days turned to months
go the way you want but stop actin like you dont know
speed racin till you see po-po then go slow
at the show taught god wouldn't even walk blind
just be honest with me next time
this aint just rhyme, it slips into your skin
so if you're listenin to this, then i consider you my friend

tried my best to raise you right, but youv'e gone wicked ways
the decisions you make the roads you take and the games you play
are leading you astray
tried my best to raise you right, but you've gone wicked ways
there aint a minute a day i don't think how ya feelin today
i'll say all i gotta say then imma give it away
tried my best to raise you right, but youve gone wicked ways

i think about it too much, sometimes life is screwed up
people run with cliques and clans, like the ku klux
a few touch greatness but to most it's a grind
another race to run, another slope to climb
and the wicked way is downhill and easier to navigate
travel at a faster rate with parlor tricks to fascinate
everybody seems to be movin through so easily
you look in the mirror and start thinkin yo what's keepin me
you never thought to double check with the atlas
and what really matters is where the end of the path is
the method in my radness is deep rooted in passion
my love for god is action and my response is massive
fact of the matter is days and nights clashin
raise the light burnin my faith into practice
no flash in the pan, no sprint, this is a marathon
my shoulders is strong, and i'm beggin yall to tag along

tried my best to raise you right, but you've gone wicked ways
the decisions you make the roads you take and the games you play
are leading you astray
tried my best to raise you right, but you've gone wicked ways
there aint a minute a day i dont think how ya feelin today
i'll say all i gotta say then imma give it away
tried my best to raise you right, but you've gone wicked ways
if you try your best, you can change your ways
i've seen what you think, rap is trashy
do you see what you could've been
a song is garbage if it's all about cash
you can change your ways
tried my best to raise you right, but you've gone wicked ways
a song is garbage if it's all about cash
do you see what you could've been, or what you've become