Illuminate
Ab - Soul Lyrics

Back when I first grabbed that pen
From the beginning of my rap career

I told myself I was gon' win
I was determined to succeed

And I ain't know when
I didn't know when success would come

But it was gon' end
But I knew it would happen eventually

Up happening, I want in
Sure enough, I made it and I'm in the game

So you can take your top five list
I don't care about your rankings

Dead or alive and put me after Em
I deserve to be near the top with Eminem

I'm a fucking genius
I have an incredible talent

Gripping my fucking penis, living this life
I'm living my life to the fullest and enjoying it

You can't tell me nothing
No one can tell me what to do or how to live

Still ain't really got no money fucking right
My motivation isn't about money but about my passion for rap

I'm all about that real, about that real
I'm only interested in reality, not the fake stuff

This ain't no motion picture
This is my life, not a movie

I tell you how that feel, how that feel
I let you know how things really are

Even when the odds against you
Even when things are difficult

They wanna see me wearing Polo drawers
People want me to dress a certain way

Put two chains on and that ain't wrong
Wearing chains is fine, but not for me

But that ain't me, I go too damn hard
I'm too dedicated to my craft to be worried about how I look

I don't need clothes or jewelry to stand out
My talent is enough to make me stand out

Black lip nigga with his hair wild
I'm proud of my identity and my appearance

Too damn proud
I have every right to be proud

Been killing this since Cam made Oh Boy
I've been a talented rapper for years

Oh boy, I'm the man now
I'm at the top of my game now

TDE, put the money in my hand ain't shit free
My record label supports me but I have to earn my success

This business is quick sand and I won't sink
The music industry is tough but I won't let it bring me down

Put the pistol in my hand and I won't think
I'm confident in my abilities even in tough situations

Rest in peace, you just made room for the next to be
I honor those who come before me and pave the way for my success

I never been afraid to say what I wanna say when I wanna say it, okay then
I speak my mind and I'm not afraid of anyone

Further more we do this for y'all
I make music for my fans

Rap is stressin' but it pays great
Being a rapper is difficult but it's worth the money

That is until you lose appeal
But when you lose popularity, it's not worth the effort

And your release date gets date raped
When your album release is delayed or postponed against your will

Stay safe, hold your head
Stay safe and stay positive

I got two fifth and a loaf of bread
I have little to my name but I'm making it work

Feed the people, food for thought
I use my music to educate and inspire others

Because we are equal, who'd have thought
We are all equal and deserve respect

They wanna share my light
People want to be a part of my fame

You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light
I'm happy to share my talent with others

Oh
A moment of reflection before continuing the song

I used to wanna rap like Jay-Z
Jay-Z was an early inspiration for me

Now I feel like I'm runnin' laps around Jay-Z
Now I feel I have surpassed him in some ways

Nas ain't seen nothing this nasty
Even Nas hasn't seen anything like my talent

B.I.G. & Pac got it coming when I pass too
I will be remembered among the greatest rappers of all time

You got the mic, I ain't the one you wanna pass to
When it's time to rap, you don't want to follow me

My niggas say my new shit past due
My friends think it's time for me to release new music

I paid dues, even got that shit tattooed
I paid my dues to get where I am today

HiiiPoWeR on another plateau
My style is unique and unmatched

I know you know we need a few plaques too
I want recognition for my talent

The brand new niggas with a attitude
I'm a talented and confident newcomer to the scene

Poppin' Compton or Timbuktu
My music is popular everywhere, not just in my hometown

I might even sell my new shit for ten bucks too
I don't care about making money, I just want people to hear my music

Too ill when I jot these words
My talent is evident in my lyrics

True ill when I shock the world
I'm going to change the game and surprise everyone

I know life's a bitch
Life is tough and difficult

When you know life's a bitch and that's not your girl
But you need to be prepared and ready for it

Cold shit, I'm hot though
My rap is powerful and provocative

Like Cold get, Ab-Soul
My name is Ab-Soul and my rap is cold

This is a shift in paradigm
My music is changing the way people see rap

I remember when I couldn't spare a dime
I come from humble beginnings

Now I step in with a pair of dimes
Now I'm successful and wealthy

On P's, y'all know me
I'm still the same person, just with more success

Flow like water, admiralty
My rap flows smoothly and effortlessly

The best author ever to breath, uh
My lyrics are unmatched in their creativity and quality

And as we proceed to follow these dreams
As we continue to pursue our passions

I ain't losing no sleep
I'm not worried

No, no at them no doors
I won't let anyone close the door on my dreams

And it's no "No" if it's no dough
If there's no money involved, I'm not interested

So high but I'm Soulo
I'm confident and proud of who I am

Two cups and I sip slow
I take my time and enjoy life's pleasures

Taking my time
I won't rush success

We don't just shine, we illuminate the whole show
I'm not just successful, I inspire others to succeed as well

Now let's go
Let's continue with the song

Time and time I drop line for line
I'm always writing and getting better

But only time will tell
Only time will reveal my true success

If I ever go Columbine
If I ever snap and become violent

And cop thirty nines and cock back and kill
If I ever go down that road, it will be a tragedy

See the truth is, they wanna know how close me, Dre and Snoop is
People are curious about my relationships with other famous rappers

Or how the shoe fits when they choose this to be 2Pac
People compare me to other legendary rappers like 2Pac

But truth I give two shits 'bout
But I don't care about those comparisons

Expectations or critics hating
I don't let critics or expectations bring me down

Shit, I just put moms on vacation
I'm successful enough to take care of my family

Bitch you never know my new location, it's across nations
I travel the world for my music and don't disclose my whereabouts

Court cases get thrown out
I won't let legal issues bring me down

So tell the motherfucking King dethrone now
No one can take my spot at the top

I am ruler, I am highness
I have achieved great success and influence

The Prince Zamunda
I am like a prince in my rap kingdom

I am the shit like what the prune does
I'm the best like the finest shit

Black on black tip like Kinta Kunta
I'm proud of my heritage as a black man

Black is back bitch I'm the the coupe-da
Black is popular again and I lead the way

Black on black crime resent the shooter
I'm against violence among black people

Black, black, black, I intend to mute you
I hope to silence racial discrimination and prejudice

Racks on racks, I don't rap on tracks
I'm rich and successful and don't need to worry about my finances or my talent

Without my A-game so please don't ask me about no pressure
I bring my best every time and have nothing to prove

Bitch see the grip on my fingertip I can hold this coast together
I have the power and influence to lead the rap scene and hold it together