[Psalm One] They told me I'm few and far between like oasis to the wilderness I'm still a mess but I climb it like a duplex Oooh yes! Baby I'm gritty and I'm Fabolous I'm pretty stupid, dumb enough to ask a fella "Can-I-Bus?" I ran, I rushed, I played it like a cello string Barely get hellos in the morning but we wrestling AM to the PM I'm preparing for the execution Stop bein s**ist cause you weak as hell (I'm gonna do this fo' sho') I got the tent up in my hood with the chicken and the tater salad Listen and you'll make it past this Christian name, not quite a Christian rapper Wait until I'm finished, make yo' silly comments after Grown woman, not quite a girl rapper You only bustin open a book, learn the chapters Rapid fire comes the path to ghetto life And that's word to LP, I sleep when you fertilized I'm a, street talker, ghetto chemist You ain't a starter; I ain't finished Look at me boy, in my eyeballs You ain't pullin sh**! This is my stall I'm a beauty, I'm a beast I'm as stingy as I wanna be, I'ma fest You're a fish in a school of whales And baby school won't be the only thing you fail, you fail [Chorus: Psalm One] I'm a, street talker, ghetto chemist You ain't a starter; I ain't finished boy You only bustin open a book, learn the chapters [2X] [Canibus] There once was a boy, his name was Jack He changed it to Rip so that he could rap There were those who observed to memorize what they heard They enjoyed the rhymes and the sounds of the words Such glorious poetry interwoven into code Rip had written something that would never grow old On the night of the Ripper's Eve Little boys and girls would sit with crossed knees and begin to read about lights in the sky, little green men with big eyes Their short size is only a disguise Sipping hot cocoa slow in the middle of the snow If you can spit a flow, then off to Ripperland we go Any +Quantum of Solace+ is brolics, Germaine Bond is modest I wrote my first doctorate in confinement Between the choices I have made and choices made for me Reminds me of a story I should tell you in the morning I moistened my fingers and turned the page I must say, you're very sophisticated for your age I'm amazed you never have to be told to behave You raise your hand to speak and respond to your name I remember... the day I had changed The way I was struck by lightening in the rain Maybe some other time I'll tell you what I became I can tell you that I've waned in the pain of my shame It is written in books and carved into skin It is etched into every metaphor from within [echoes] [Chorus - repeat 2X]