Respect the Hustle

HOO
ZUKO
WOOOOO
Ay yo I feel somethin' in the air right now I swear
Somethin's comin' haha
Or you know what?
Maybe, maybe it arrived already
Matter of fact, maybe it's been here
Check me out
Yo
Luz Chavez knows what it takes to live in the dirt
Growin' your own food, livestock, study the land, repeatin' the work
Conrado Viray knows what it takes to visit the world
Traveled the Philippines, flippin' antiques, he was schemin' the herd
He stopped by her town and they both had similar quirks
Got married and that was the beginning that turned
They whole lives around because six children were birth, liftin' the curse
Comfortable livin' in villages seemed like the end of the search
But they didn't stop there
There was somethin' in the air
Tellin' them to uproot and take their families elsewhere
So they did the unthinkable bet it all on immigration
Conrado's sister brought them through family reunification
Hoped for the best for all they children in these far lands
Next level lifestyle compared to the past farmlands
Don't you dare judge them or speak ill of they names
Those were my father's parents grandparents both alive still workin' to this day
Tell me somethin'
They did it for the fam
Before they had computers
Carabaos, tricycles, and boats were how they maneuver
Both didn't want to join the military they already troopers
Takin' a leap of faith uncertain about the future
Eventually their actions trickled down to the very generations
That they was raisin' after much speculation
Bravery, love, stubbornness in the cycle
Traveled overseas over thousands of miles
The eldest of their children flew back to the Philippines
With plans to marry the woman he loved since he was in his teens
Carlota Nicdao was the youngest filled everybody with laughter
Elmer Viray worked seasonal seafood canneries back in Alaska
They had a son in '94
Got petitioned came here in '95
Both worked 9-5's while they parents took care of they newborn child
Her family lived in NorCal but LA where they reside
They were the OTP in everybody's eyes
Unbreakable, inseparable, unshakable, impeccable
And even though he fucked up they still carried the marriage through
But they didn't stop there
There was somethin' in the air
Tellin' them to put their kids through college and raise them with care
So they did the unthinkable and sacrificed both of they dreams
Just so three of they kids could live here with ease
Hoped for the best knowing karma will come back around for them
Their siblings also had kids, V-Squad was found from them
And don't you dare judge them or speak ill of they names
Because those are both of my parents, still workin' to this day
Tell me somethin'
They did it for our fam
They couldn't afford computers
Family minivans and 2 seaters how they maneuver
Livin' check to check them two weeks couldn't come any sooner
Takin' a leap of faith uncertain about the future
Eventually they actions trickled down to the very generations
That they was raisin' after much speculation
Still bravery, love, stubbornness in the cycle
Intergenerational KAPWA, hope, and pain written on both they smiles
Their son was a loner, bullied in elementary
Middle school, everybody but himself he pretend to be
Around his cousins and siblings he ain't have that same energy
He had to stay strong and play the role of how the eldest be
High school he couldn't look himself in the mirror
Got his heart broken no nurse could fix it with any type of procedure
Attended college, his parents said why the fuck not?
Graduated, hooked him up with a full time job
But he couldn't stop there
He knew that something in the air
Were all of his predecessors telling him to become more aware
Because at any given time if he gets too comfortable
Life is goin' catch him slippin' eat him up like a lunchable
He can choose to follow rules and retire in many places
Or contribute to the paradigm shift of an entire generation
Go ahead and dare to judge and speak ill of his name
Cuz he don't give a fuck, MC Zuko workin' to this day
Workin' to this day and here we are now
Here we are now
Now let me ask you
Where you at now?
What's your story?
I do it for the fam
Our phones are now computers
Dad got me a Toyota Cam I ain't gotta take the Uber
Makin' the most and takin' advantage of what's comin' to us
In my youth but I'm constantly lookin' to the future
Gotta formulate a clever way in how to maneuver
Because waste movements only goin' end up turnin' into manure
Still got bravery, love, stubbornness mixed in the cycle
Uncertain about the future respect the hustle that's the title
YEAH
HOO