Artist: Talib Kweli Album: Gutter Rainbows Song: Friends & Family Typed by: OHHLA Webmaster DJ Flash [Intro] You are now witnessin, the demise of the music business I say demise of the music business cause people always gon' need music in they life y'knahmsayin? I can't do music with people, I'm uncomfortable with, y'knahmsayin? I can't be on stage wit'chu pourin out my soul.. if I don't like you So with that said, shoutout to Strong Arm Steady Shout out to Jean Grae That's my Blacksmith family, you dig? [Talib Kweli] I just heard a song that reminded me of times when you was findin me rhymin in Greenwich Village circa 1993 Yeah those were the salad days, my career's appetizer The main course a casserole or a jambalaya of different influences that led me where the music is A student is, only as good as his teachers tutelage Payin for college not learnin was straight foolishness ... So I stopped goin to school but this was hard to tell my parents sat 'em down tried to get through to them Thought of no one daily and travelled to different places Freestyled with 'Clef and Forte in the Booga Basement with Rubiks and JuJu on Flatbush my hood amazin Platinum Island recordin with Duro and Just Blaze And that was right next door to Rawkus whassup, Jared and Brian Relax y'all, my man Fingaz Kendra Ross you got the soul of a Stax singer I love how you always bring it back sister You and Reesy makin every record I got classics 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+ Mystik Journeymen introduced me to Top Ramen On the bus Kanye West would never stop rhymin Ain't no mountain high enough for him, he never stopped climbin That's why when the homies win I never stop smilin See I'm smilin right now, hey [Chorus] (Nothin else matters more than friends and family) No doubt, that's how it's gotta be This is my odyssey, it's just the God in me (Friends and family) Yup, they all a part of me Cause I would die for them, and they would die for me (Friends and family) That's right, and plus I love my fans Love when you throw your hands up it's like you all my fam (Friends and family) Like you considered kin Got me through thick and thin, thank you for listenin [Talib Kweli] (Nothin else matters more than friends and family) It started with a blast, now I'm a iconoclast Promised to be honest in my craft to 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 mommy never far away This is for Eque, this for Kierra Paul We on ride like Ciara and we will never fall Headquarters and Guru is love forever y'all I make it plain cause it's too strong for a metaphor or 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 worse Jamal and I, the way we are cause you put your sons first So many black parents lose they sons to the gunburst Mommas drownin in they own tears 'til they lungs burst Voice crackin like Michael Stipe cause everyone hurts [Chorus] [Talib Kweli] (Nothin else matters more than friends and family) My first record was with Mood back in ninety-six In fact it was pretty fresh, Google that, find that shit It sound good, I was showin you what timeless is You couldn't catch what I was sayin without rewindin it ... Believe me every fan is special You hear me now, but I got fans from "Lyricist Lounge" and "Manifesto" So much whack rap I know it's 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 +Okayplayer+ Double meaning cause the flow is layered We love to say it but it's easier than it sound to ignore the haters To snap back like the jaws of gators on amazin production, you can feel it and we killin it... {*fades out*}