[Intro]
"I ain't got to be what nobody else want me to be, and I ain't afraid to be what I wanna be!"
I want to thank you all for coming out tonight. Now before I leave for the evening, I got one last gem to drop on you. This one right here is dedicated to anyone and everyone who still thinks that Hip-Hop is dead
[Hook](2x)
On the real, all you Hip-Hoppers know the deal
I put my songs together for the people to feel
That true heartfelt music is what I'm giving you
Hip-Hop is alive, and I am the living proof
[Verse One]
As I sit back and reflect on everything that I've been through
I'm amazed that through it all, I was able to continue
I surpassed the roadblocks, evaded the speed bumps
Now my music acts as a helping hand when you need one
We all have seen hardships that hurt our progression
So we get on our knees and speak to God, seeking direction
But some of us have it harder than others
And if our spirit breaks, its even harder to use our faith as a cover
Like the child whose father wasn't there cause he left running scared
Since the birth was unprepared, so now the kid doesn't care
About anything, drowning his sorrows in vodka
The hatred consumed him, he won't allow himself to prosper
Then there's the family scrambling to make ends meet
Wishing they were living somewhere that was rent free
Everybody working overtime, but the money comes in small doses
And in the end, they still end up homeless
It's just so troubling to see so many people struggling
You wanna end their suffering, help them out of the rut they're in
But you can't, cause you're in the very same position
It's cliche to say, but this is what the game is missing
I know the average consumer would rather hear a party jam
But I'm trying to awaken the potential within the heart of man
If you're looking for hope, you can find it in this song
Cause the darkest hour comes just before the dawn
[Hook 2x]
[Verse Two]
Some fans are so close-minded that it's absurd
They can't define good music so they rely on buzzwords
Like 'Mainstream', 'underground', 'commercial', and 'backpack'
We can't get to the next level until you move past that
One time, I played my music for a friend of mine
When I asked him what he thought, he shrugged and said "It's fine
But you'll never make an impact on Billboard or Soundscan
If all you ever do is cater to the underground fans
Unless you switch it up, you'll just diminish your wealth"
But he got it backwards, I'd never limit myself
To one group of people, I make my music for the world to hear
To show the children how to persevere
And even though success is subjective
We're in a world where trading your soul for riches is widely accepted
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for monetary profit
But I won't let these corporations change what Hip-Hop is
Record sales reflect your popularity, not your skills
So despite what I sell, I will always top the bill
My catalog goes beyond those recyclable radio songs
That stay in rotation for a few days then they're gone
But I'm in no position to judge
I'm too grateful for the things I've done to grudge, so I simply rock for the love
I'm here to end the division, so I refuse to take sides
No matter what they label me, I'll love Hip-Hop till I die!
[Hook 2x]
[Verse Three]
What's in a name? If I introduced myself as Robert Napier
Would y'all love me the same or would there be nothing to gain?
Is Headcase just a moniker or is it more than that?
For anyone who's confused, let us explore the facts
On the mic I'm passionate, cause at heart, I'm a human rights activist
But most cats just don't get the grasp of it
They might have misjudged me on accident
But they been thinking I'm just another crazy white boy on that psychopathic shit
No disrespect, but you need to understand
I'm not Cage, I'm not Necro, I'm not R.A. the Rugged Man
I'd never bite another artist to boost my own name
But they still group me in with the others and then they proclaim
That I'm fraudulent, even though I've never projected
A false persona just so a paycheck could be collected
I'm all about respect, kid, I'm down for the cause
Come with the sound of the Gods to get a round of applause
My race was a detriment, but that novelty has worn off
So if you're still hesitant to rock with me, it's your loss
True heads will still listen; I'm the real article
What you see is what you get, I'm Hip-Hop's Del Griffith
And I'll stay that way till the day I'm pushing up daises
So all the garbage people like to talk doesn't phase me
Let 'em think what they want, to quote Thelonious Monk
"Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy" (echoes)
Yeah... bring it back!
[Hook 2x]
[Outro]
This is MC Headcase signing off. On behalf of myself and everybody who worked with me on this record, I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for listening. God bless, and good night
