The Intersection

I bring to thee the fluency
Jazz language influenced me
The downbeat I'm never late to that
I'm present for the groove, no truancy
Phrases for the phases
Of life, illustrating for all the faces
Some will vanish, some will stay
Either way, the notes can fill the spaces
The interplay, call and response
Night and day, they can't take away
The repartee, repertoire
In Case You Haven't Heard like Woody Shaw
It's art to move your soul
With the rhythm, blues, to make it whole
What is hip will make you hop
Whatever you be will make you bop
Like Tyner, I'm the real McCoy
Cutting on the keys since I was a boy
Beats to rhyme to, I found the calling
Funk and fusion, both installing
On the hard drive, got the hard drive
Swinging on the changes like a par five
In my archive, guidance and teaching
Pearls of wisdom, all far reaching
Knowledge beyond college, keep me solid
But definitely still a proud graduate
Blessed to have the tools passed along to make it on the scene
I never would've imagined it
The efforts more than adequate
The fire truly passionate
Remain humble, grateful for the chance
Praise God, that's why you see the folded hands

I wouldn't have one without the other
Jazz and hip-hop, connected brothers
Improvisation, all innovation
Interpretation, no discrimination
Syncopating melodies
Through harmony so velvety
Freestyle, I'll take the mic
Then take a solo, rocking the bifocals
Like Bill Evans while channeling Slum Village
So hip-hop heads and jazz junkies can feel this
In the open jam and in the cypher
I'm right at home in both, I'm a for-lifer
Approached each of these worlds with class
Studied and honored all of the greats
Absorbed the words my mentors gave
I wouldn't wanna have it any other way