Self Taught
Brother Ali Lyrics

I'm home
I am comfortable and at peace with myself and my surroundings.

Uh, yeah
An expression of agreement or affirmation.

They always ask me, ' Ali, what you so angry for man? Why you always so upset? '
People often question why I appear angry or upset, but in reality, there is a fine line between anger and hunger, and I navigate that line by expressing passion and intensity in my music.

I tell 'em ' Shit, there's a thin line between anger and hunger my man And I ride a unicycle down the middle, you might catch me touchin feet down on both sides '
I explain to them that I exist in the space between anger and hunger, constantly balancing both emotions. I ride a metaphorical unicycle, teetering between the two sides without completely falling into either.

Ever since day number one, it's just me and where I'm coming from Rites of Passage and Shadows on the Sun
From the beginning of my career, I have stayed true to myself and my roots, as evident in my albums 'Rites of Passage' and 'Shadows on the Sun.'

My people, I stand before you, As a man with more true shit Than what he knows to do with
I proudly present myself to my audience as someone who possesses an abundance of genuine and meaningful content, even more than I can fully comprehend or express.

I give it all to you, long as you can promise me this When its time, you will ball up a fist (Like this)
I dedicate all my artistic creations to you, on the condition that you will stand up for and fight for what you believe in when the time comes.

Me and Anthony, we fill all the gaps And are proud of what we make, regardless what happens
Anthony and I work together to fill any gaps or deficiencies in our music and we take pride in the art we create, no matter the outcomes or challenges we face.

Fuck rappin, I sing off key One thing you should never do is dis Ali
I don't conform to traditional rap norms, and I am not afraid to showcase my imperfections. However, one thing you must never do is disrespect or underestimate me.

Cause, motherfucker, there ain't nothin rougher Then tryin to climb from the ruggedness swept under
Because nothing is more challenging than trying to rise above and overcome the deeply rooted struggles and hardships that have been hidden or ignored for a long time.

I can run through every one of your blunders Mistake number one is that your crew don't love ya
I can point out and criticize every mistake and failure you've made. The first mistake you made is having a crew that does not genuinely support or care about you.

Ill take a bullet for the ?Core? or the Sayers When me and my dogs out tourin the nation
I am willing to sacrifice and protect the people I consider my core supporters or my fellow artists from Rhymesayers Entertainment when we are traveling and performing across the country.

I spit with an intensity you have to witness Look close, my blood on the back of the tickets
My performances are filled with a passionate and powerful intensity that you must experience firsthand. Look closely, and you'll see traces of my blood on the back of the concert tickets, symbolizing the dedication and sacrifice I put into my craft.

Its that religious, its what I teach my son How to read the Qur'an and how a party is won
My dedication and commitment to my art is like a religious fervor, and I pass that down to my son. I teach him about our faith by teaching him how to read the Qur'an, but I also teach him how to succeed and celebrate in life, represented metaphorically by teaching him how to win at a party.

When line meets mine, we bend ya girls spine Figure-eight status, she got back for days
When my lyrics intersect with the listener's mind, they have a profound influence and impact. Metaphorically, it bends their attraction towards me, represented by bending the girl's spine. Her curvaceous figure exemplifies her substantial physical attributes.

The same old magic will not crack the maze The lights changed since we anted up, pot has been raised
Using the same tired approach will not solve the complex problems we face. The circumstances have changed, and we have made significant contributions and investments, raising the stakes of the game.

And I'm fucking with the hand I was delt Life twenty-five years to experience what Lazurus felt
I am dealing with the cards I have been given in life, even if they are not favorable. I have been given the gift of life for twenty-five years to go through experiences and challenges, similar to how Lazarus felt after being revived from death in the Bible.

If you drop three crumbs, Ill eat one Feed one to the family, rest I get invested in my freedom
If you provide me with limited resources, I will only take my fair share and ensure my family is also taken care of. The remainder, I will invest in securing my personal freedom and pursuing my passions.

I battle through ?a part? in this shit With a wrist, full of broken tooth picks, tryin to ?call? by the ?nitch?
I struggle and fight my way through the challenges and obstacles in this industry. I metaphorically grasp at straws, represented by holding a wrist full of broken toothpicks, trying to make progress in an unconventional way.

You can either choose the heart or the fist, but you will connect with me If your path ever intersect with me
You have the choice to approach things with compassion or aggression, but either way, you will relate to and resonate with my music and message if our paths ever cross.

The fire in the eye could never be held back, (its the same) Pressure that made the liberty bell crack, (its the same) Pressure that made my brother E sell crack, (in the name) Qu'ran, holy, Rest in Peace
The passionate drive and determination within me are unstoppable. It is the same force that caused the Liberty Bell to crack under pressure, and it is also the same pressure that led my brother to sell drugs as a means of survival. I invoke the name of the Qu'ran and honor its sacredness, paying respects to those who have passed away.

My back is bein watched by, the only one on high We stride in the party, hoods up, crossed eyes Broke as what, but don't give a fuck Cause I feel I got the world by the nuts, Uhh!
I am under the vigilant protection of a higher power, the only one who closely observes and guides me. We confidently enter any event or gathering, with our hoods up and focused gaze, projecting an image of strength. Despite being financially challenged, I don't care because I feel like I have complete control and power over the world.

Homeboy understand, I ain't mad at you there's just very few things in life I know how to do And this is one of them right here
My friend, please understand that my intensity and passion should not be perceived as anger towards you. There are only a few things in life that I excel at, and creating music is one of them.

And whatever comes up comes out We don't put our hands on ourmouths, I stand for what I'm about
I express myself openly and honestly, without holding back. I don't silence or censor my beliefs or opinions, and I proudly stand for what I believe in.

Unknown but I'm still a soldier Can't let em go home till I win 'em over
Despite being relatively unknown, I continue to fight and persevere like a soldier. I won't give up until I win over the audience and leave a lasting impression.

My youth was training, its very clear Every year, new city, new rules to play with (true shit) New kid in school, didn't rule nothing To this day I rap like I'm trying to prove something
During my youth, I underwent a rigorous training process that has prepared me for my career. Every year brings new challenges and environments as I navigate through different cities. When I was the 'new kid' in school, I didn't hold any authority, but to this day, I rap as if I still have something to prove.

Little bit aggressive, when I spit a sentence Till you get the message You couldn't pay me to quit professin'
I have a slightly aggressive approach when delivering my lyrics and messages. I won't stop or be deterred until you fully understand and grasp the meaning behind my words. No amount of money can persuade me to abandon my profession.

Rock sixty-one sold out shows, came home, and caught a bus to the sixty-second
I successfully performed sixty-one shows that were completely sold out, but as soon as I returned home, I immediately embarked on another journey and caught a bus to the sixty-second show.

Shirt sweated full of work ethic Been in love with the shit since I first met it
My shirt is soaked with sweat, symbolizing my strong work ethic and dedication. I have been deeply in love with this music since the very first moment I encountered it.

Rhymesayers is the first to come, last to leave Ain't no tricks up our sleeve, this is what we believe
Rhymesayers Entertainment is always at the forefront, leading the way in the music industry. We are the last to leave because we are fully committed and dedicated. We rely solely on our genuine talent and hard work, without any deceitful tactics. This is our core belief.