Nothing New
Ab-Soul Lyrics

Hello, good morning
Starting off the song with a simple greeting

This is mourning, just a feeling I reckon
The morning setting is making the artist feel a bit sad

I cut on the beat and if I feel it I wreck it
The artist is skilled at rapping and will give his best effort when the beat is right

I heard I got fans and friends playing my records
The artist is aware that people enjoy his music and appreciate their support

I'll visit as soon as I can, you can bet it
The artist would like to visit the fans that support him when he gets the chance

Don't forget that dash in my name when you print it
The artist wants his name spelled correctly to avoid feeling underappreciated like Jay Z's apprentice

It'll make me feel bleak like Jay's apprentice
If his name isn't spelled correctly, the artist will feel unimportant like Jay Z's apprentice

Niggas looking real meek soon as we step in it
People seem to act intimidated when the artist shows up

I'm a God MC not a polytheist
The artist considers himself a top tier rapper (God MC) but does not associate with or believe in multiple gods (polytheist)

And why is your reaction always so obvious
The artist is curious why people's reactions to him are so predictable

Let a reverend run in my adidas
The artist is not afraid of religious authority figures or their ideologies

You'll see that despite all these dislikes I am like Jesus
Even when others dislike him, the artist feels it is similar to how Jesus was disliked

Don't follow 10 commandments
The artist doesn't follow the traditional ten commandments of the Bible

But I don't seem to break too many of them either
Despite not following the commandments, the artist does not seem to do anything that goes against them

Try to understand me
The artist wants listeners to understand him and his perspective

Obama said 'yes we can'
Referencing Barack Obama's famous campaign slogan

But that can't be
The artist has doubts that they really can accomplish all they set out to do

Cause we was raising money for his campaign
The artist is pointing out how much money people spent during Obama's campaign

T-shirt, plates, and mugs
The artist is referencing merchandise that was sold to support Obama's campaign

But won't do the same in our own community?
The artist is questioning why people will spend money to support politicians but not their own community

What the fuck...
The artist is expressing their disbelief and frustration with the situation

And it ain't nothing new
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the message

All I do is eat, sleep, and shit
The artist is stating that they live a basic life like most people

Reflect on my life
The artist spends time thinking about their life and experiences

Find the perfect words to rhyme it with
The artist is always looking for creative ways to express themselves through their music

Ain't concerned with what ain't been confirmed
The artist does not worry about things that haven't been proven to be true

And I got the right, think I've reached the point of no return
The artist feels they have reached a turning point in their life or career where they can't go back

How's it going, good afternoon
A friendly greeting in the afternoon

I'm doing swell I hope I can say the same for you
The artist hopes the listener is doing well also

It's funny though, I could have just told a lie
The artist is pointing out how easy it is to lie in conversation

And made it true to take the mood
The artist could have lied to make the conversation more positive

You think I am what I ain't
People have misconceptions or false ideas about the artist

Like a saint or fake
People may think the artist is either a perfect saint or a phony fake person

We could go toe to toe, your choice it's no debate
The artist is willing to argue with someone to prove their point

Soul brother number 2
Refers to the artist being the second member of the rap group Black Hippy

And every single one of my dreams is coming true
The artist is achieving success and fulfilling their dreams

I try to smoke weed to give me the fix I need
The artist may use marijuana to relax or relieve stress

But it always ends up with me running out of tree
The artist usually runs out of marijuana before they feel fully satisfied or relaxed

In sheer disbelief
The artist can't believe that they keep running out of weed

Tell me how I can get high as the sky and keep my ear to the streets
The artist wants to balance getting high with staying tuned in to what's happening in the world

At the same time, no diamonds in my watch
The artist doesn't have expensive jewelry like diamonds or a fancy watch

Can I still shine, will anybody watch
The artist is questioning if they will still be respected or admired without material possessions

If I could hold you attention for at least a minute
The artist wants to capture the listener's attention with their music

You'll gain so much wisdom you'll need to see a dentist
The artist's music contains valuable messages or truths that may be hard to hear

Grow up in my society see why I'm a menace
The artist is pointing out that someone who grew up with similar experiences to them would understand why they may be seen as a problem by society

And obviously ominous to your opinions
The artist knows that their views and opinions may not be well received by everyone

Call myself the King of Carson like I hold dominion
The artist refers to Carson, California as their hometown and likens themself to a powerful ruler

Hoping nobody notices that I had no permission
The artist may feel guilty for achieving success without seeking approval or permission from others

I don't mean to disrespect when I express
The artist does not intend to offend or disrespect others when they share their opinions or experiences

My vision was meant to connect not to reject
The artist thinks their music and message should bring people together rather than push them apart

Soul!
The artist is emphasizing their name to close out the song

No idea's original
The artist is acknowledging that all ideas can stem from something else

It's nothing new under the sun
Further emphasizing that all ideas or concepts have some form of origin

It's never what you do
Success is not based on what you do but how you do it

But how it's done
The artist believes that effort and approach matter more than the action itself

If you base your happiness around material, women, and large paper
If someone's happiness is solely based on money, relationships, and material possessions

That means your inferior not major
The artist believes that relying on these things ultimately diminishes rather than elevates a person's importance or status