Macklemore - Welcome to the Culture lyrics

In life, seven going symphony I orchestrate my music willingly Like emus? making history Mentally we're manipulated by the music industry It's conference, chivalry, creativity, lyrically, Step up and take a stand But if you over-stand linguistically Then represent For it is evident that The dead president is taking our culture out of its element And my testament is to get it back Take propaganda and insert facts Starting a positive revolution within the rap, clash And that's vain called Jewelry ice and money and women don't mean a thang. It's a shame what we listen to “In actuality it's hurting who?” Me and you Originating a negative that America looks up to And we think it's cool, but in reality it's whack And the media a**ociates hip hop with commercialized rap I'm taking it back to the positivity, provocative productivity Rebelling against this industry Drop if it's hot, drop it if it's pop Doesn't pop and lock? Then it really ain't hip hop So don't cop it But this is the only way that we are going to stop it If they don't make a profit Then there won't be a market Do the math Listen to the music that comes from the soul Most quote/unquote MC's are in it strictly for the bankroll And have no mind control Behold, when the trend ends, they get back Silly b**hin for the check, what the fu*k did you expect? Welcome to the culture If you don't know it's called hip hop If you knew, sorry for the review, but it looks like a lot forgot We bomb cities, pop and lock Spinning our records as we rock To the beats on the streets kicked over a beatbox Intellectual evolution Consciousness distribution Substitution soul speaking sound service is my solution Strictly b-boy, No decoy hot boy stuck in irrelevance Hip hop prolonging the art Bringing it back to the elements Let's get back to the basics Step one, knowledge of self If you don't know yourself You won't be content with evil wealth Many seek to find a peaceful state of mind Assuming that finances verbalize?, but you walk the line? Ignorance is bliss Surprise So if you are stuck on manatary? monetary mersany? You will never learn that the best things in life rest eternally I don't put music out of my purpose And my service To my mental, well folk Without it the other steps are worthless Shining, shimmering light, despite Counterclockwise movements So I listen to my intuition and let my eternal ways, and release my inking in fluent congruent fashion Pardon the provocative exceeding ear drum boundaries, I'm lasting So the fakes get crossed out because we don't need ya I'm second cheese wannabe MC's end up taste testing for Velveeta Y'all some b**h-made Paper-weight, deteriorate On the couch ejaculate I got to regulate Innovate, operate, and never do sh*t All you talkers make me sick Thinking that smoking weed on your couch is gonna get you a record exec. on yo DICK, and Get you a deal? Look in the mirror and honestly tell yourself that you are Keeping it real But you lying Listen to your heart and hopefully you will learn That your actions Speak louder than your words CHORUS X2 The drum of the heart was the start The civilization to embark So our art's origin is the drum Our cerebrum Is our brain Our body is the temple And you treating that right, yo that's essential To yo mental And I, wanna preach But I figure MC's have the power And if they have the talent they can reach Ya audience Without displaying co*kiness Hopefully you gain insight to real but demo bumping' progress Of the occupants Because this is rhythm If it comes from the soul Your sk**s shall unfold And the truth shall be told Bankrolls and hoes Show cultural neglect Let's prolong this art And show our culture respect