I got hands like Hanz

I got hands like Hanz

Comparing pros and cons

Beats bump from Raekwon

My verbiage like Voltron

It forms like a nuke bomb

And I bend the rhymes like bento boxes

Chasing foxes

Never obnoxious

Except for when rhymes so fire

They make ya nauseous

I'm on the Forbes list

Hands like Franz Liszt

My lines hotter

Than a Bond bitch

I'm old school like muskets

Lucky like Jim Plunkett

I like Tribe and their drum kits

Drunken by the sunrise

I analyse

Our purpose

The universe; and what it chooses

We let our rights be abused

By the Government's amusement

It's vomit inducing

Do we even talk about this shit?

I always rap to Raekwon's "Verbal Intercourse"

The first line I'm referring to my favorite composer, Hans Zimmer. He has made movie scores that haunt my soul. I probably listen to his music at least a few times a week.

When I write rhymes I usually put on a few of my favorite beats. I'm a huge DJ Premier fan, along with RZA, 9th Wonder, J Dilla, Cookin' Soul, etc. In this case, I specifically wrote this lyric to go along with Raekwon's "Verbal Intercourse." It's one of my favorite rap songs ever. So I had to give the shoutout there.

In the next section, I'm actually pretty happy about the wordplay. It's witty (at least to me) and catchy. I think it works. I reference yet another legendary musician, Frans Liszt, an incredible pianist. As I've mentioned in other posts, sometimes these ideas flow out of me (aka all the weird eclectic shit I've consumed over the years). Here I'm simply saying I'm not only into old school shit but I'm lucky too (like Jim Plunkett for being on some awesome Raiders teams). Tribe is referring to A Tribe Called Quest. I love their music, and I'm simply paying respects to legends.

Typically, I like talking a little shit before I get real with what I want to say. I guess my whole idea in writing is to have, of course, awesome delivery, execution, and creative unique rhymes. Nevertheless, I still want to make sure I blend in shit that makes you think. I want you to think about life, or at least the subject I'm referencing, after you've read or heard what I had to say. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, I wrote the last section years ago.

I remember when I first wrote this piece. I was banged up, I had been barhopping in Asbury with a few friends, getting into our typical shenanigans. Once I got home, I wrote for hours. Before I knew it, it was 7am. These were the things going on in my mind. Like what exactly is our purpose? What are we supposed to be learning? Does anything really matter?

I think Gary V might've posted it, but there was a meme that was basically a sad person saying "life is meaningless." And then another person, smiling, and thrilled, saying "life is meaningless." I'd like to think of myself as the latter individual, but let's be honest, life isn't always that way either. There's always ups and downs. It's hard not to think about why we have what we have, or why we don't have what others take for granted.

-JTC