Artist Pays the Price
8Ball Lyrics

The artist pays the price so you won't have to pay
Artists make sacrifices so that their audience does not have to make those same sacrifices

If only we would listen to what they have to say
The public should pay attention to the messages that artists are trying to convey

We all go through changes to get to where we're going
Growth and change are necessary for personal and artistic development

We have to learn a life of sacrifice (yeah, yeah, yeah) To keep on growin'
In order to continue developing as an artist, one must be willing to make sacrifices

Think about the players in the past who died in sacrifice
Consider those who died in order to advance the art form

Some died in wars for a country that oppressed them
Some artists sacrificed their lives for a country that discriminated against them

Some died preachin' prayin' for God to bless them
Some artists died in the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment

I am one of the blessed, born to bring the world poetry
The artist sees their art as a gift to the world

Hip-hop, musically' expressing what's inside of me
Hip-hop is the artist's chosen medium for expressing themselves

Some find me entertaining. Some find me marketable.
Different people have different opinions on the artist's music

A potential Black millionaire so that makes me target-able.
The artist's success makes them a target for those who would exploit them

Low-life's and fork-tongued devils get easy access.
Unscrupulous people take advantage of the artist's vulnerability

Soggy niggas sign contracts and make deals,
Artists sometimes make poor decisions out of desperation

Rappin' bout who they killed, Talking bout they keeping it real.
Some artists promote negative messages and try to portray themselves as authentic

Hardcore homicidal, kingpins of the century
Artists who portray themselves as violent and powerful are not true to the art form

Need to quit rappin' and leave this shit to the real M-C's.
Artists who do not respect the art form should not be considered true MCs

But ain't no chance Opposing forces got the upper hand.
The artist is struggling against powerful forces in the industry

See, I don't know everything But my opinion I will voice
Although the artist doesn't know everything, they still feel the need to speak their mind

As long as I can choose I'll choose the right or the wrong choice.
The artist has the freedom to make choices, even if they are not always the best ones

Addicted to Hip-hop beats And hoes that can't stay out the streets.
The artist is drawn to the culture surrounding hip-hop, including the negative aspects

Got me hustling twenty-four-seven, Three-sixty-five
The artist is always working to create and promote their music

Coast to coast Mic-checkin' Keeping the party alive
The artist is dedicated to performing and keeping the energy up for their audience

Engrave my name in the minds of those Who bob to this
The artist strives to make a lasting impression on their fans

Slang and rob to this Jack and rob to this
The artist recognizes that their music can be a negative influence on some listeners

Herbs and meditation made a pill when I put it down But individual perception will change each phrase around
The artist's message may be misinterpreted by listeners with different experiences

Different towns Ain't none of this shit like Orange Mound
Every community has its own unique culture and relationship to hip-hop

Players unified, digging on my mellow sound
The artist is appreciated by fellow artists who share their vision of hip-hop

Exec's Get big ole fat checks For makin' deals
Industry executives profit from the work of artists

While soldiers like me in the fields Down there getting killed
Artists are doing the hard work of creating and performing, while others profit from their labor

When this is all over If I could do it again, I do it twice
If given the chance, the artist would still choose to pursue their art

The industry Full of broke niggas tryin' to make a comeback
The industry is full of artists who are struggling to regain their fame

Rappin' bout that bullshit Over them weak-ass tracks
Some artists are not true to the art form and create low-quality music

Judging me When around the globe, ain't nothing the same
The artist is judged unfairly by people who do not understand the global influence of hip-hop

Think how the world would be if none of this hit had ever changed
The artist believes that hip-hop has had a significant positive impact on the world

Ain't like it used to be when hip-hop belonged to you and me
The artist is nostalgic for the early days of hip-hop, before it became commercialized

Shit got sugar coated' modified for tv
Hip-hop has been sanitized and changed to appeal to a wider audience

Niggas like me, don't give a fuck about commercial air time
The artist values creative integrity more than commercial success

Forced underground, ain't nothing commercial bout my rhymes
The artist is not concerned with making music that appeals to the mainstream

Rather be broke or slinging dope than hold my tongue back
The artist values their artistic expression over financial security

Niggas who put on acts get they ass beat up and jacked
Authenticity is valued in hip-hop culture

I'm not a killer' just a poet tryin to survive, nigga
The artist is not violent, but is focused on creating art as a means of survival

Given the choice to ride or die, I chose to ride, nigga
The artist has chosen to pursue their art, despite the difficulties and risks involved

Be a artist, not a slave for the industry
Artists should prioritize their creative vision over the demands of the commercial industry