Ali Shaheed Muhammad - August 11th lyrics

[Intro: Ethan Harrington] August 11th, August 11th.. August 11th... [Verse 1: Ethan Harrington] August 11th, I was born to be a legend I said I was sent from heaven, I've known that since I was seven Practicing Eminem and them That was back in elementary 7th grade, writing pages of raps because it was meant to be Oh, I didn't know it back then though Cause I had a weak flow, but boy did my sk**s grow And now all my friends know, because they heard my song But I still rap on the down-low, haven't even told my mom What you want? Writing in secret, aiming for the crown If they don't know your dreams, then they can't shoot 'em down Look around at your team, is it full of jealous clowns? Would they want to take it from you if you were king of the mound? Yo, what's that sound? Is it cheering from the crowd? Man I've been having dreams that the people play me loud At only seventeen I wanna play where I ain't allowed "This an eighteen-and-older club, where's your ID? Take it out." No doubt, I dream in lucid My consciousness is stupid It told me that I was dreaming when it's my future I'm seeing They've given me different reasons on why I should quit this evening Like all their words are well-meaning Excuse me, is your name Ethan? No I didn't think so, and even if it was You wouldn't really know Ethan Harrington or what he does You wouldn't really know how he feel's rapping: He's in a buzz You wouldn't really know who he will be, or who he was because Indeed I've changed, as well as many other things But one thing that I guarantee is I will never change my name On some Obie Trice or Kendrick I ain't coming for the fame The difference between me and you is I am coming from the game I was raised on it Like great eggs or steak on my plate, don't it Seem like I was made for this? Here, let us debate on it Matter of fact, I take that back, it ain't up for discussion Most the time when I rap I attack But I owe nothing to y'all To any of you sitting flapping your jaws You make the rules? Well I am breaking your laws, and flipping your drawers Can't you see this audience is in awe? I'll lose today, but in the future I ain't taking a loss No, not at all I'm doing this for my family I'm doing this for the ones that hated me gradually In hopes that one day they can say that they didn't actually I'm doing this for the ones that we've lost, they ain't casualties Everything happens for a reason, so this stuff on my mind? It was meant to be written down, it was a matter of time So if you feel like losing yours, come here and take some of mine What's the point of being bright if you're alone when you shine? I'm doing this for Rob Davey He offered me a job and said it was well that they'd pay me He knew about my rapping and said it was really good And whether I would stick with it, he said quote: "Bro you should" He only heard Drop and said: "You k**ed that, like it's straight fire" Check the Facebook messages if you think I'm a liar If I knew, I would've said something, a town-crier But now I feel him watching me from somewhere up in Zion Is the mic on? Are any of you hearing me? Yeah, maybe you can hear, but are you really listening? Are you really in here? Because that's not where you should be You should be drifting through your mind guided by the lyrics of E On August 11th a baby was sent from heaven To make only the realest Hip-Hop, and be a legend Change this stuff from having the biggest wristwatch, and I should mention All you rappers that have been thinking you're hot? Well here's a lesson In your history Back in the 20th century Ethan was born on the 25th anniversary Back when DJ Kool Herc, held a party for his sister with the Break He put out a blueprint to all you Misters with a mic Exactly 25 years before my life had begun So it turns out I'm the one Just a lesson for all you rappers that never knew That Hip-Hop had begun on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue And if you didn't know, I wrote that very long ago, but I guessed I'd put it on here I wrote it for a different song, but I see it belongs here What defines my name as I sit and listen to Nasir Reaching out for fame while I secretly pray that Nas hears I'm deep-rooted in rap I'm like a weeping willow tree What you didn't see was she was weeping into her pillow be- Cause you thought that being heartless could portray you as a G Until you wound up meeting God and were denied divinity I'm doing this for Ali Shaheed Muhammad Another August 11th baby in this Hip-Hop climate He made this instrumental Dropped the ladder and I climbed it Either listen or go mental Choose the latter or rewind it I'm finding Most people would rather lose their souls Doing something that they hate every day, then to oppose What their parents would say Or foolish friends, gossiping foes Just know if you stay focused then they can't step on your toes And if you got a dream that you want nobody to know Perfect it while in secret and in time, then you'll expose And you can trust me boy, if you practice then it will show And maybe you'll end up on stage rapping at talent shows And maybe you'll get paid for what you've done, writing notes And wake up to raking in paper, making gold as results Of seeds that you sowed At four in the morning Parents were snoring You wished that you were recording Cause normal life is just boring So I get up and kid the door in I give it all back It's thanks to you all, cause you're the ones that led me to rap I'm talking way back When I used to play with Wiffle bats I'm thankful for that So I'ma put us all on the map It's Ethan Harrington [Outro: Ethan Harrington] Melrose, Ma**achusetts August 11th August 11th August 11th