Talib Kweli - Friends & Family lyrics

You are now witnessing the demise of the music business I say demise of the music business cause people always gonna need music in they life You know what I'm saying I can't do music with people I'm uncomfortable with You know what I'm saying I can't be on stage with you pouring out my soul if i don't like you So with said shout out to Strong Arm Steady Shout out to Jean Grae Thats my Blacksmith family you dig I just heard a song that reminded me of times when you were finding me Rhyming in Greenwich Village circa 1993 Yeah those were the salad days my careers appetizing The main course a ca**erole a jambalaya Different influences that led me where the music is A student is only as good as his teachers tutelage Paying for college and not learning was straight foolishness So I stopped going to school but this Hard to tell my parents how to now try to get through to them Thought of no one daily and traveled to different places Freestyled with Clef and Forte in the Booga Basement With Rubiks and JuJu on Flatbush my hood amazing Platinum Island recording with Duro and Just Blaze And that was right next door to Rawkus what's up Jarret and Brian relax y'all I'm mad [?] Kendra Ross you got the soul of a Stax singer I love how you always bring it back sister You and Reesy making every record I got cla**ics with Hi-Tek and Mos Def that are so respected Shout out to Corey Smith shout out to Dave Chapelle I went on tour with The Roots they played so well Writing rhymes with Mike and Nine me and Pharoahe Monch were Soundbombing Me and Lonnie Lynn got a lot in Common Mystic Journyman introduced me to Top Ramen On the bus Kanye West would never stop rhyming Ain't no mountain high enough for him he never stopped climbing That's why when the homies win I never stop smiling See I'm smiling right now Nothing else matters more than friends and family No doubt thats how its gotta be This is my odyssey its just the god in me Yup they all a part of me Cause I would die for them and they would die for me Thats right and plus I love my fans Love when you throw your hands up its like you all my fam Like you considered kin Got me through thick and thin thank you for listening Nothing else matters more than friends and family It started with a blast now I'm a iconoclast Promise to be honest in my craft and make the promise last I do this for myself but the song for you Once I put it out for sale then it belong to you This for Amani Fela plus Diani Eshe Your daddy love his girl your mother never far away This is for Eque this for Kierra Paul We wanna ride like Ciara and we will never fall Headquarters and Guru is love forever ya'll Make it plain cause its too strong for a metaphor Simile your legacy will always be remembered for forever or Til the end of time whichever come first Big love to my mom and dad you could have done worst Jamal and I the way we are cause you put your sons first Many black parents lose they son to the gun burst Mommas drowning in they own tears til they lungs burst Voice cracking like Michael Stipe cause everyone hurts Nothing else matters more than friends and family No doubt thats how its gotta be This is my odyssey its just the god in me Yup they all a part of me Cause I would die for them and they would die for me Thats right and plus I love my fans Love when you throw your hands up its like you all my fam Like you considered kin Got me through thick and thin thank you for listening Nothing else matters more than friends and family My first record was with Mood back in '96 In fact it was pretty fresh Google that find that sh** It sound good I was showing you what timeless is You couldn't catch what I was saying without rewinding it Believe me every fan is special You hear me now but I got fans from Lyricist Lounge and "Manifesto" So much wack rap I know its hard to tell The difference but when I heat it up I make the garbage smell I'm resurrected but I'm no savior I know the game I can ball a little bit I'm an OK Player Double meaning cause the flow is layered We love to say it but its easier than it sound to ignore the haters To snap back like the jaws of gators [Fades out]