Inner Ninja
Classified Lyrics

I read the rules before I broke 'em
I took the time to understand the rules before I decided to break them.

I broke the chains before they choked me out (uh)
I freed myself from the constraints that were limiting me before they became too much to bear.

Now I pay close attention (yeah)
I am now aware and attentive to the things that matter in order to achieve success.

Really learn the code (uh uh)
I have taken the time to thoroughly learn the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.

I learned to read the map before I hit the road (bounce bounce)
I made sure to have a clear understanding of what's ahead before embarking on my journey.

Hey yo, I know you never heard this before (yeah)
I have knowledge that is new and unorthodox.

But I'd rather lose a fight than miss the war (uh)
I would prefer to push myself to the brink of defeat and still try to win, rather than not try at all.

And I ain't wishing competition or fishing for it (ah)
I am not seeking a competition or looking for one, I am simply surviving in an environment that demands it.

I'm just living in the system, conditions are poor (yeah)
I am trying to succeed within the confines of a system that is not set up for all people to thrive, creating a difficult environment.

I've been lost in the rhythm and misinformed (uh)
I have been distracted by the groove and misguided by a lack of knowledge at times.

Too many late nights hitting the liquor store (yeah)
I have made poor decisions and indulged in distractions that hindered my growth and opportunity.

Too many bad decisions, half-assed attempts
I have made decisions that benefitted myself poorly and not fully committed.

No sweat, no fear, no blood, no tears
I have overcome obstacles without faltering and have done so without going through pain, shedding blood or tears.

I go hard and I ain't making up no excuse
I am striving to put forth my best effort to succeed without justification for my actions.

I'm overdue, I don't do what I'm supposed to do
I recognize that I could have done more and made better decisions in the past but hopefully learned from them.

'Cause you can think about it man, we're supposed to lose
It can be argued that failure and adversity is expected and that we don't have a fighting chance.

It ain't all picture perfect, ocean views
Life isn't easy and we don't get a picturesque life as seen in more privileged areas.

No, I was a first class rookie
I was a beginner and inexperienced but was still able to thrive.

Taking out bullies in my all black hoodie
I was confident in myself to stand up to those oppressing me.

Man of mystery, you know the history
I've had a mysterious presence and a long history of experiences, both positive and negative, that shaped me into who I am now.

Get it or forget it, 'cause poof, I'm outta here
Either understand my message and appreciate it or forget it and move on because it's not for everyone.

Nobody's gonna see me coming
I am going to surprise those who are not expecting me to succeed.

Nobody's gonna hear a sound
I am going to make a breakthrough without much fanfare or notice.

No matter how hard they trying
Regardless of the effort put forth by others to stop me, it will not succeed.

No stopping me since I've found
I have discovered something that drives me forward and won't let me hold back.

My inner ninja
The source of my inner strength and resilience.

Hey yo, I've been high and I've been real low (yeah)
I have had times of great success and greatness as well as times of immense hardship and difficulty.

I've been beaten and broken but I healed though (uh)
I have been defeated and suffered discouragement but was able to work through it and heal.

So many ups and downs, roughed up and clowned
My life has had many ups and downs and there have been times where I have been abused and put down.

We all got problems, but we deal though
Everyone will face problems at some point, but we must persevere through them.

I'm trying to do better now, find my inner peace
I am trying to be a better person and find a sense of calm in my life.

Learn my art form, and find my inner chi
I am trying to improve myself in whatever field I'm working on by seeking knowledge and finding my inner balance.

When my back's on the wall, I don't freeze up
In difficult situations, I don't become overwhelmed and shut down.

Nah, I find my inner strength then I re-up
Instead, I find my inner source of strength and then re-engage in the struggle.

Here we go, I know I've never been the smartest or wisest
I realize that I may not always have the greatest intelligence or knowledge.

But I realize what it takes
Despite this, I have come to understand what it takes to succeed.

Never dwell in the dark 'cause the sun always rises
I don't let myself get stuck in a negative situation because I know that things will always eventually improve.

But gotta make it to the next day
It's important to focus on surviving each day to eventually achieve future success.

It's a feeling that you get in your lungs when you run
There is a certain sensation that comes from pushing oneself to the physical limit, such as running.

But you're running outta air and your breath won't come
Despite this feeling, you don't give up and keep pushing forward.

And you (uh) wheezing, gotta keep it moving
Even when you're struggling, you have to continue moving forward.

Find that extra (uh) and push your way through it
In order to overcome adversity, you must find extra strength and push through the difficulty.

I've had bad habits but I dropped 'em, I dropped 'em (drop it)
I have had negative behaviors in the past but was able to kick them and move on.

I've had opponents but I knocked them out
I have had adversaries who I've been able to overcome and defeat.

I climbed the highest mountains (c'mon)
I have tackled difficult challenges and obstacles.

I swum the coldest seas (woo)
I have endured the toughest challenges and journeyed into uncharted territory.

There ain't a thing I've faced that's been too much for me
I have been able to overcome every challenge and obstacle in my way.