[Intro] You were on the top of a short list I wrote the list around your placement on the list You were on the list, most importantly [Hook] I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good [Verse 1] It's about if you can work a simple hustle Turning rap insights into economic muscle Ride the bourgeouis gristle like a surfboard Nocando's my n***a 'til we dirt poor So we do the math and we always carry clipboards Do the math and we always carry clipboards Do the math and we always carry clipboards Do the math and we always carry clipboards I'm trying to strip myself, myself And be a mirror for someone else I'm trying to strip myself, myself And be a mirror for someone else I'm trying to strip myself, myself And be a mirror for someone else I'm trying to strip myself, myself [Hook] I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good I don't even really have to rap My n***a it's about if you can talk good [Verse 2] He raps like there's no sense to be made He raps like the eldest sap of the Everglade His raps move heat like thermostats adjusting centigrades He raps with the grace of an old man shining his grandson's shoes He raps like a master painter who's only choosing to use the blues He reportedly raps in a dark apartment quarterly Wholeheartedly clutching the recorder to catch the nuzzled portions of organs He'd been choking on When he raps, everyone everywhere is always electrified And no one would really mind if they were next to die He only raps for a good reason, and getting rich isn't one of those He scribbles raps furiously from a little bungalow (I've been there) [Bridge] I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) I feel inclined to rhyme, I'm so inclined (Matters of process become matters of place) [Verse 3] Parse good from the nonsense Never let the form dictate what's the content It's never art for art's sake Despite whatever the corpse of a Marxist thinks Thinking, dwelling, building, sinking, swelling, filling, shrinking Selling movements, jinxed routine is useless Glimpses of misgivings for the stupid I guess I'm stupid Following a rule is just too hard for me, it's hardly me