Akin Yai - Self Exam lyrics

[Intro: Akin] Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. “Self Exam.” Check it out, y'all. Life story like this. Check it [Verse 1: Akin] I was born at the end of the disco era when The b-boy was the life of the party Then in [?] Benin Republic, West Africa I started out ‘til eight years old—then we bought it out Looking for a job abroad, daddy found one He was intellectual and mamma was too A match made in heaven or the curse of voodoo? Well, we got situated in the Sunshine State ‘Cause I was adapting to change and tryna a**imilate Thoughts ran through my head. Kids couldn't relate (Why?) ‘Cause I got [aches?] on my fingers and my dinner was late Yo, I had no toys, was forced to be creative I wrote scripts with sticks, pretending they were people Made a movie called War. Went and made a sequel My parents were traditional—they loved discipline My sisters were good, but I was bad at listening [Hook: Akin] Knock, knock. Who's there? Is it my childhood unraveling? Nah, it's my adolescence babbling I guess I better let him in Hello d**, family, God, depression, and music [Verse 2: Akin] Coming of age in the mid-90s. That was me Poetic juvenile into hip hop—an emcee Perfecting my craft of when days were darker than [Shaft's?] Black, leather jacket. I sat and weathered the wrath With some paper and a pen, my thoughts my medicine like “I'mma be [?], so f** Excedrin” Yo, mom and dad arguing. That sh** is old A battle of words—the nerds may win [?] Guess that love was lost and war found a home ‘cause Mom had the couch and dad slept alone Not naïve to the fact—I was well aware That the bond that was love was no longer there That sh** ran with the wind and [?] turned to sand and They got divorced and I was caught between A tug of war. The legal system at the door like “Did your daddy beat you and who do you love more? [Hook: Akin] So, knock, knock. Who's there? Is it my adolescence unraveling? Nah, it's my manhood babbling I guess I better let him in Hello past, present, future, life, and understanding [Verse 3: Akin] Accepting manhood is a challenge I'm willing to face Take your time. Said, “Mom, I'm willing to pace Myself ‘cause I gotta be twice the man that my father was [?]” I gotta make it whether slaying crack from 9-to-5 Releasing stress over beats just to stay alive It's all a hustle—nowadays, I just maintain And let the good times roll, then embrace change I'm kind of glad that I made it up thus far See, knowledge of self is bigger than a rock star Now, understand the wisdom here And let Speck drop the beat—sh** is crystal-clear We let ‘em know that [Hook: Akin] (x2) Knock, knock. Who's there? With those, my thoughts unraveling—yeah, that was Akin babbling I guess y'all better let him in Hello world, family, music, life, and understanding