Industry Diary

[Res:]

Is it time to walk away

I felt the hurt i felt the shame

Now i know its up to me

To play the game or let it be

I go back and forth

Tryin to decide

What im gon make of me

Do i turn my back on the industry

And live a life of normalcy?

Like a normal girl

Make a normal world

Work at the gallery on wall street

Then in the summertime hit the jersey shore

Like i never been to ??? beach

Spend my ends on cheap souviners like salt water taffy

Then hit the ???, sip a drink and play the nickle machines

Wake up every mornin

Gotta get my child ready for school

Gotta wash him up, i gotta make his food

I gotta feed the dog, i gotta wash him too

Drive to my nine to five

Gotta punch the clock for eight hours

Knowin that im only makin seven fifteen, a fuckin hour

I must be crazy, they probably think im lazy

My old manager askin me

What have i done lately huh?

I been workin out, yea, keepin my body lookin tight

I done changed my look up

Took the braids out

Im rockin a fro that i really like

And i live in LA, party all the time

At forty-deuce im gettin drunk and high

Start a new group called fleetwood black

I swore you knew about that

I play guitar, i play the drums

I been writin songs till im numb

And im drivin my shitty car

To hang out with stars, like Lil Jon

Pharrell's on deck and he's writin me all types of songs

And Dr. Dre's a fan, but so what?

I've been workin so hard and so long

Everybody that hears my voice

They tell me they fall in love

And everybody swears they know how

My label fucked up

But are they wrong? [wrong]

Or are they right? [right]

When will i get it right? [get it right]

Are they wrong? [wrong]

Or are they right? [right]

When will i get it right? [get it right]

Are they wrong? [wrong]

Or are they right? [right]

When will i get it right? [get it right]

Are they wrong? [wrong]

Or are they right? [right]

When will i get it right? [get it right]

[Talib Kweli:]

This life of an artist

Is the life i was promised

Workin twice as hard as the next man regardless

Of the job

Its a labor of love i started

This mic is my heart

I live the life of a target

They build you up just to tear you down

Cor-porate clows fear your sound

They know it's the truth

And expose they lies

When you close your eyes

You wish you were a star

People wanna judge you when they sittin from afar

Backseat driver sittin in the car

Know what i would do if i was you but you not me

You could never do what i do nigga got me?

Flow off beat and they callin it sloppy

Flow on beat and they callin it poppy

Truth, im the truth, cats spell in the booth

My career is the proof they be callin it cocky

From the bottom headin straight to the top

While you wait for a flop so you can take my spot

This life is so addictive

Get your prescription to fit your description

At the party while you drink it all in

Wake up in the mornin on the brink of fallin

Warfare runnin in place

When you runnin for the cake you be runnin from faith

And its funny how money so dangerous they keep it in a safe

Showboat niggas like to keep it in your face

Go out they way to impress these city hoes

Cheaper than the sensual seduction video

Really though

I know my worth

Been headin towards this moment since the day of my birth

These are thoughts that i write in my diary

Smoke to get by keep my eyes fiery

Yea, the life of an artist

Workin twice as hard as the next man regardless

Of the job its a labor of love i started

This mic is my heart i live the life of a target

They build you up just to tear you down

Cor-porate clows fear your sound

They know it's the truth

And expose they lies

When you close your eyes

You wish you were a star

[Instrumental till end]