Illuminate
Ab-Soul Lyrics

Back when I first grabbed that pen
When I first started writing, I set out to win.

I told myself that I was gonna win
My confidence was high and I was determined to succeed.

And I ain’t no win, but it was go in
I wasn't sure how I would achieve my goals, but I knew I had to go for it.

Dub happening I want in
I want to be part of the rap scene and make a name for myself.

So you can take your top 5 list
I don't care about being on anyone's list of the top rappers.

Dead or alive, and put me after m
But if you did make a list, put me after Eminem.

I’m a fucking genius, gripping my fucking penis
I have a lot of talent and I'm proud of it.

Living this life, you can’t tell me nothing
I know who I am and I won't let anyone else define me or limit me.

Still I really got no money, fucking right
I may not be rich yet, but I will be soon.

I’m all about that wealth, about that wealth
I'm focused on making money and being successful in my career.

This ain’t no motion picture
My life isn't some fake Hollywood story, this is real.

I’ll tell you how that feel, how that feel
I'll be honest with you and give you the real deal.

Even when the odds’ against you
Even when the world seems like it's working against you, you can still succeed.

They wanna see me wear polo draws, put 2 chains on
People try to tell me how to dress and act, but I won't let them control me.

And that ain’t wrong but that ain’t me
I don't want to be like anyone else, I want to be myself.

I go too damn hard on … and jury
I work hard and I'm dedicated to my craft.

To stand out, black … nigga with his hair wild
I want to be different and stand out from other rappers.

Too damn proud, but killing it since …
I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far and I've been successful for a long time.

Oh boy, oh boy, I’m the man now
I've made it to the top and I'm proud of what I've achieved.

Ttty … put the money in my hand, they should freak
People should be impressed with what I've accomplished.

It’s been this quick sand, I won’t sink
Despite the challenges I've faced, I've managed to stay afloat and not give up.

Put the pistol in my hand and I won’t think
I'm confident and unafraid even in dangerous situations.

Blow, blow, rest in peace, you just made room for the next to be
Death is a part of life and when someone dies, it creates opportunities for others to take their place.

I never been afraid to say what I wanna say, when I wanna say it
I speak my mind and I'm not afraid to be honest and direct.

Ok, then
I've made my point, let's move on.

Furthermore we do this for y’all
I make music for my fans, and I appreciate their support.

Rap stressing but it pays great
Rap can be a difficult profession, but it's also very lucrative.

That is until you loose a pill, On your release date, get …
Even when things are going well, unexpected problems can arise and ruin your plans.

Stay safe, hold your head, I got 2 15 and a loaf of bread
I urge my listeners to stay safe and positive, and I'm doing well financially.

Feed the people, food for thought
I want to inspire and educate my audience with my music.

Cause we are equal, who would’ve though?
I believe in equality and I'm surprised that not everyone shares this belief.

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light
People want to be associated with me and be part of my success.

You can have all my shine, I give you the light
I'm willing to share my success with others and help them achieve their own goals.

I used to wanna rap like jay z
I used to idolize Jay Z and emulate his style.

Now I feel like I’m run laps around jay z
Now I feel like I've surpassed Jay Z and am more successful than he is.

Now same scene… nasty…
Now the rap scene is more competitive and ruthless.

My niggas say my new shit past due
My friends think I'm overdue for releasing new music.

I pay dudes, even got that shit tattooed
I'm successful and wealthy enough to afford to pay for things like tattoos.

High power…
I have a lot of power and influence in the rap industry.

I know you know we need a few …too
I know that it's not just about me, and there are other talented rappers out there who deserve success too.

The brand new niggas with an attitude
There are new and talented rappers out there who are shaking up the rap scene.

Popping compton or…
Compton is where I'm from, and I'm proud of my roots.

I might even sell my shit for 10 bucks too
I'm confident enough in my talent that I could still make money even if I priced my music cheaply.

Too I’ll when I chop these words
My rhymes are sharp and powerful.

True I’ll when I shot the world
I'm making an impact on the world with my music.

I know life’s a bitch, when you know life’s a bitch and that’s not your girl
Life can be tough, but I don't let it defeat me or dictate who I am.

Cold shit, I’m hot though, like Colgate…
I'm cool and confident, even though my rhymes are sharp and edgy.

This is a shifting paradigm, I remember when I couldn’t spare a dime
The music industry is constantly changing, and I've come a long way since I was broke and struggling.

Now I step in with a pair of dames
Now I'm successful and confident, and I have women to match my status.

All peace, y’all know me, flow like water, admiral …
I'm a peaceful person and I have a smooth and natural flow when I rap.

...forever to breathe
My music and legacy will live on long after I'm gone.

And as we proceed, to follow these dreams, I ain’t loosing no sleep
I'm not going to let anything stop me from pursuing my dreams.

No, no, … it’s no no if it’s no dope
If something isn't good quality, it's not worth doing.

So high but I’m so low, 2 cups and I sip slow
I may act confident and high on success, but I'm still grounded and humble.

Taking my time, we don’t just shine, we illuminate the whole show
I'm not in a rush, and I believe that my talent and success will contribute to the success of the rap industry as a whole.

Time in time I drop line for line
I'm consistently writing new music and trying to improve my craft.

But only time will tell, if I ever go…
I don't know what the future holds, but I'll keep striving to be successful.

And cop 39 … see the truth is
I'm living a great life, but there is still harsh reality out there in the world.

They wanna know how close me Dre and Snoop is
People are curious about my relationships with other famous rappers like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

...expectations’ critics hating shit,
There are always people who are critical of my music and success, but I try not to let it get to me.

I just put moms on vacation bitch
I'm successful enough to treat my loved ones to nice things like vacations.

And you never know my new location, is across nations
I don't want people to know where I am all the time, because I travel around the world a lot.

... I am ruler, I am highness… I am the shit…
I'm at the top of the rap game and I'm confident in my abilities.

Black on black crime, present the shooter
I can be dangerous and deadly with my words when I'm rapping.

Racks on racks, I go rap on tracks…so please don’t ask me
I'm making a lot of money from my music, so I don't need to explain myself to anyone.

About no pressure, bitch with a grip on my finger tip
I don't feel pressure to continue being successful, because I'm confident in my abilities and grip on the rap industry.

I can hold this coast together
I have the power and influence to hold my neighborhood and the rap industry together.

You can have all my shine, I give you the light.
I'm willing to share my success and help others achieve their own goals.