Passion
Blackalicious feat. Rakaa & Babu Lyrics


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An open microphone can be dangerous
Let's tune in on two of the greatest MC's out there

(Chorus)
[Rakaa, Gift of Gab]
Passion
The will to win, the spark within
Passion
The strength within the hearts of men
Passion
The drive to press, to strive for best, to rise
You've just arrived the quest is driven through
Passion
To play through pain and love the game
Passion
To break the chain and blaze the flame
Passion
The fight for rights to love your life, to rise
You've just arrived the quest is driven through
Passion

[Rakaa]
Propaganda, positive propositions
Politician, musician and a triple optician
Still part of my missions to slaughter the opposition
Critics that don't get it, I tell 'em to stop bitchin'
I do without blacks, I've done it without cash
Strictly for the love of the art - that's passion
Flashin', rappin' or jammin' or soundblastin'
When Quannum meets Expansion, this is what happens

[Gift of Gab]
Runnin' through the jungle with a flare gun
Arrow-arms, zoning out my mind
Like I was hooked on hero-ine
Take the fire, turn it up and blaze whole forest down
Pullin from within' the inner insane warrior
California to the District of Columbia
Hella high octane, lookin' through a lazy eye
All ablaze, fire, flames, lightin' up the sky
Runnin' through the burnin' sun, yellin'
Ride, nigga ride, nigga ride..

(Chorus)

[Rakaa]
Desire, the fire that inspires
I don't state facts, I state buildings, like empires
Passion
The journey, the learnin', the time-turnin'
The searchin', the mind yearnin' to wake and find morning
Passion
The ladies they love the long-lasting
Asking for action, braced for satisfaction


[Gift of Gab]
Passion
The black-skinned African jazz-men of the half in Aspen
Relaxed, gettin' my back rubbed

[Rakaa]
I'm still here, I've seen cats get killed here
I've seen cats make a mil but millionaires still fear
You can buy airplanes but you can't buy cheers
Blackalicious, Dilated, vibratin' your ears

[Gift of Gab]
Sent vibrations for years, I've been waiting for years
I've been patient for years, we ain't playin' this year
We hold stake in this here, it ain't safe for this year
We in the zone watch next level, takin' it there, this is

(Chorus)

Babu!
Let's listen to this recipe for-
Chief Xcel-
The most astonishing-
Soul-
New seeds of wisdom, craft, and skill
(Check it out, y'all)
Listen now, to this classic moment from-
DJ's, around the world, DJ's around the world

[Gift of Gab]
Had a rough week, it got beat by passion
Saddled up, tweaked off a beat, started mashin'
Matador Rica, the heat from the heater
In her world, dwellin', hear the world
Yellin' for a leader

[Rakaa]
I don't bother with the dealers, I take it to the lab
It's Rakaa chillin' with Babs, Xcel, Gift of Gab
I grab mics and fans gravitate, I can't waste it
My whole life, I wanted it so bad, I could taste it





(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The song "Passion" by Blackalicious feat. Rakaa & Babu is a powerful commentary on the concept of passion and its role in driving success in life. The opening lines of the song warn that an open microphone can be dangerous, setting the stage for the powerful combination of Rakaa and Gift of Gab to showcase the passion that fuels their craft. The chorus speaks to the various forms and aspects of passion, including the will to win, the strength within, and the drive to strive for the best.


Rakaa's verse touches on the idea of overcoming obstacles and critics in pursuit of one's passions. He notes that he has done it without the support of the black community and without money, relying solely on his love for the art form. Gift of Gab's verse takes on a more free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness style, referencing blazing through the jungle and being hooked on a hero's journey. Together, they emphasize the importance of passion as a key driving force in their lives.


The final section of the song features Babu on the turntables, providing a sonic backdrop for the lyrics to ride. It's a fitting conclusion to a song that celebrates the power of passion, both to inspire and to create.


Line by Line Meaning

Passion
Intense emotion that drives a person to succeed


The will to win, the spark within
The drive to succeed and the underlying motivation in oneself


The strength within the hearts of men
The courage and determination found within individuals


The drive to press, to strive for best, to rise
The urge to push oneself to excel and achieve greater success


You've just arrived the quest is driven through
The challenge to succeed has just begun and the fervor to achieve greatness remains strong


To play through pain and love the game
The ability to endure hardship and persist through tough times while still enjoying the journey


To break the chain and blaze the flame
The determination to break free from constraints and ignite a passion that cannot be extinguished


The fight for rights to love your life, to rise
The struggle to gain the freedom to pursue one's passions and reach greater heights of success


Propaganda, positive propositions
The spreading of affirmative messages and ideas


Politician, musician and a triple optician
Individuals who have the ability to see things from multiple perspectives and have influence over others


Still part of my missions to slaughter the opposition
The goal to outdo those who stand in the way of reaching one's objectives


Critics that don't get it, I tell 'em to stop bitchin'
People who lack an understanding of one's work and criticize it unfairly are dismissed


I do without blacks, I've done it without cash
Success is not dependent on race or financial status


Strictly for the love of the art - that's passion
Success is solely driven by the love of the craft


Runnin' through the jungle with a flare gun
Taking risks and facing danger head on


Arrow-arms, zoning out my mind
Mentally blocking out distractions to maintain focus


Like I was hooked on hero-ine
The thrill and addiction of achieving success and reaching new heights


Take the fire, turn it up and blaze whole forest down
Using one's passion to ignite and inspire others to achieve greatness


Desire, the fire that inspires
The strong emotion that motivates people to achieve what they desire


I don't state facts, I state buildings, like empires
Success is measured by the tangible accomplishments one builds, like great empires


The journey, the learnin', the time-turnin'
The process of growth, learning, and reflection that contributes to achieving success


The searchin', the mind yearnin' to wake and find morning
The constant search for new knowledge and ideas that lead to greater success


The ladies they love the long-lasting
Women are attracted to individuals who are passionate and committed to achieving their goals


Asking for action, braced for satisfaction
Putting in the effort and expecting results that bring gratification


The black-skinned African jazz-men of the half in Aspen
Talented African American jazz musicians performing in a prestigious setting


Relaxed, gettin' my back rubbed
Enjoying the fruits of one's labor and taking a moment to relax and unwind


I'm still here, I've seen cats get killed here
Surviving tough circumstances and watching others fall by the wayside


I've seen cats make a mil but millionaires still fear
Money does not guarantee success or happiness


You can buy airplanes but you can't buy cheers
Achievements that are celebrated and applauded cannot be bought with money


Sent vibrations for years, I've been waiting for years
Consistently putting forth effort and patiently waiting for success to come


We hold stake in this here, it ain't safe for this year
Being invested in the work being done and understanding the risks that come with pursuing success


We in the zone watch next level, takin' it there, this is
Being fully immersed in the work and pushing oneself to reach new heights of success


Let's listen to this recipe for-
Directing attention to the formula for achieving success


The most astonishing-
The most impressive and ground-breaking


New seeds of wisdom, craft, and skill
Fresh ideas and expertise that lead to greater success


DJ's, around the world, DJ's around the world
Spreading the message of passion and success to people all around the globe


Had a rough week, it got beat by passion
Overcoming difficulties and hardships through the power of passion and perseverance


Saddled up, tweaked off a beat, started mashin'
Using one's passion for music to create a potent and inspired piece


Matador Rica, the heat from the heater
A torrid and intense performance


In her world, dwellin', hear the world
Being fully immersed in the art and music, while also perceiving the world around oneself


Yellin' for a leader
A cry for a passionate and inspiring individual to lead and motivate others


I grab mics and fans gravitate, I can't waste it
Seizing opportunities to perform and utilizing one's ability to inspire and draw a crowd




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICK PARKER, JOHN TODD HOFFMAN, MICHAEL LOCKWOOD, MICHAEL MURPHY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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