E. Jones - Friends & Family lyrics

[Intro: Talib Kweli] 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 that said, shout out to Strong Arm Steady Shout out to Jean Grae That's my Blacksmith family, you dig? [Verse 1] I just heard a song that reminded me of times when you was finding me Rhyming in Greenwich Village circa 1993 Yeah, those was the salad days, my career's appetizer The main course a ca**erole, a jambalaya Of different influences that led me where the music is A student is only as good as his teachers' tutelage Paying for college, not learning was straight foolishness So I stopped going to school but this was Hard to tell my parents -- sat them down, tried to get through to them Started flowing daily and traveled to different places Freestyled with Clef and Forte in the Booga Basement With Rubix 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 Blackshaw? And Matt Fingaz; 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 Smyth, shout out to Dave Chapelle I went on tour with The Roots, they played so well Writing rhymes with Myka 9 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 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 [Hook] Nothing else matters more than friends and family No doubt, that's how its 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 listening Nothing else matters more than friends and family [Verse 2] 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 Diyani 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 HeadCquarterz and Guru is love forever y'all Make it plain cause its 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 Many black parents lose they sons to the gun burst Mommas drowning in they own tears til they lungs burst Voice cracking like Michael Stipe cause everyone hurts [Hook] [Verse 3] 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