[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