Elevation
C.N.M.vs the Slag Brothers Lyrics

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[Repeat: x4]
I gotta free my mind

I gotta free my mind, free my mind
Yeah, I gotta free my mind, free my mind
I gotta free my mind, free my mind
Yeah? I gotta free my mind, free my mind

From sand docks to auction blocks to R&B
From hip-hop, how many rappers flip-flop to get props?
Signed the dotted line but didn't read through the costs
(When your album sits on the desk) "That's when ya lost!"
Followed your label's notion no promotion now you're audi
And that's the type of moves that make an artist act rowdy
Emcees fallin victim to financial, seduction
Then watchin creative weight extracted, like liposuction
Your A and R like see'n'are got many styles to suit ya
But if it's false to me I've never been an ass smoocher
Since I don't brainwash minds, with talkin nines and
How I shoot ya, it seems no multi million dollar contract's
In my future, I could swallow the bait and get gassed
Like petroleum, but contracts break like Rock Steady
On linoleum, no wackin in my format, no Grammy awards
Rap over break loops and samples, no R&B chords
On a mission from God, to make the conscious souls nod
When I'm rhyming, I take tracks of coal and then
Compress em to a diamond, I'm in the mind state
To escalate, when all rappers participate
It's fate for rap to elevate

[Repeat: x2]
I gotta free my mind (yo as a matter of fact)
I gotta free my mind (we're not goin out like that)
I gotta free my mind (we got the power to stay)
"Other rappers, they went slip slidin away"

You're goin, downtown to leave your mark on the biz
You reminisce, you and your A&R was first friends
You got talent and you ain't afraid to splurge hip-hop
Better thrills than Jordan alley-oops the pill but still
Got verbals like murder, so call on Perry Mason
Twenty-five to life, is what I'm facing, for this fate's in
The element of fine print I've read it and overseen
By judgmental pompous ass phonetics, the critic
I'm still the rapper for the rhymes that he expresses
Or manifests, no frontin, I wrote the shit while blunted
Take control, don't be a fuckin fish on a pole
Label's will leave you murdered in a river with no soul
It's true, for what you say is what you do with the flow
For labels MC's come and they go, but B.U.M.S.
We leave our mark for hip-hop's devastation
In our strive to stay alive for my record's elevation

I gotta free my mind, free my mind
Yeah, I gotta free my mind, free my mind

I gotta free my mind, free my mind
Yeah? I gotta free my mind, free my mind

Overall Meaning

The song "Elevation" by C.N.M. vs the Slag Brothers is about the struggles faced by artists in the music industry, particularly in the rap and hip-hop genres. The lyrics reference the pressure to conform to label expectations, the potential for financial exploitation, and the importance of maintaining artistic integrity. The repeated line "I gotta free my mind" emphasizes the need for artists to break free from limiting constraints and pursue their own creative vision.

The first verse of the song critiques the music industry's tendency to prioritize commercial success over artistic expression. The reference to "sand docks to auction blocks" suggests that artists may feel like they are being sold into slavery by their record labels. The line "eminem was right, slim shady is not a guise" suggests that even successful artists like Eminem have struggled with authenticity in the face of label pressure.

The second verse emphasizes the need for artists to take control of their own destiny and not be easily swayed by label promises. The line "got verbals like murder, so call on Perry Mason" suggests that the artist is confident in their ability to defend themselves against any legal challenges. The repeated emphasis on "elevation" throughout the song reinforces the idea that true success and fulfillment come from rising above external pressures and pursuing one's own artistic vision.

Line by Line Meaning

I gotta free my mind
I need to clear my thoughts and focus on my goals.

From sand docks to auction blocks to R&B
I've experienced different stages in life, from poverty to success in music.

Signed the dotted line but didn't read through the costs
I signed a record deal without fully understanding its terms and consequences.

(When your album sits on the desk) "That's when ya lost!"
If your album is not being promoted, it's not going to sell and your career is going to suffer.

Emcees fallin victim to financial, seduction
Artists can be easily lured by the promise of money and fame.

Your A and R like see'n'are got many styles to suit ya
The artist and repertoire (A&R) team can suggest different music styles to fit an artist's image.

Since I don't brainwash minds, with talkin nines and How I shoot ya
I don't glorify violence or guns in my lyrics, unlike some other rappers.

It seems no multi million dollar contract's In my future
I don't expect to get rich from my music, but I won't compromise my values for money.

No wackin in my format, no Grammy awards Rap over break loops and samples, no R&B chords
I stick to my own style of music, which is not necessarily mainstream or commercial.

On a mission from God, to make the conscious souls nod
I want to inspire and uplift people with my music.

When I'm rhyming, I take tracks of coal and then Compress em to a diamond
I turn raw and rough material into something precious and valuable.

It's fate for rap to elevate
Rap music has the potential to evolve and become more meaningful over time.

"Other rappers, they went slip slidin away"
Other rappers may have compromised their artistic integrity for short-term success.

You got talent and you ain't afraid to splurge hip-hop Better thrills than Jordan alley-oops the pill but still Got verbals like murder
I have real talent and passion for hip-hop, and I excel in it.

Twenty-five to life, is what I'm facing, for this fate's in The element of fine print
I am aware of the risks and challenges that come with being in the music industry, and I am willing to face them.

Take control, don't be a fuckin fish on a pole
I need to assert my artistic vision and not let anyone else control or manipulate me.

Label's will leave you murdered in a river with no soul
Record labels can ruin an artist's career if they don't comply with their demands.

B.U.M.S. We leave our mark for hip-hop's devastation
Our music has a lasting impact on the hip-hop genre.

In our strive to stay alive for my record's elevation
We are constantly trying to improve ourselves and our music to achieve greater success.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF, EVOL ALEXANDER, D'ANGELO SMITH, SEBASTIAN RODRIGUEZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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