Authentic Tribute
Culture VI Lyrics
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Authentic I'm livin' proof no lies I give you truth
It's an addiction alcohol abuse
I used to drink till' I would lose composure
Fifteen I handled a Jack Daniels with no cola
Now I'm twenty plus with an ulcer
Rehab didn't keep me clean didn't like who I was when I was sober
Fuck your AA meetings surgery is next If my ulcer starts bleedin'
I should be concerned about my health
But I'm still drinkin' I need help
Sometimes I don't be thinkin' depression gets to me
But it never fails O E was my dependency
No matter how much it burned I was able
To drink anybody under the table I've turned
Into the man my father is I've learned
How to handle my liquor straight no mixture
Don't be concerned I know what I'm doin'
Is it safe with all this alcohol my body's consumin'
A cold beer out the fridge there's nothin' more soothin'
No regrets this is the life I'm choosin'
[Yendi]
My pen, my rhymes, and my book
I'm now shook
We all see the truth
Painted out with the plagues
And now I'm stuck with the truth
[Brolik]
You might not know pain I don't show A hard shell
Not even Chapelle could make me laugh
Too sad I just found out Moms was sick
Anemic look at her weight she got thin
But she's beautiful look at her face my mother
I don't say it as much as I should but I love her
I pray every time I wake before I sleep
Me and Pops don't get along we just started to speak
Look at your son so weak you raised me to be tougher
But it's painful everyday watching your Mom suffer
I'll try but I don't know how long I can be strong
Doctor what's wrong when will she recover
I stood by her side at the hopsital bed
Grandma was there pages from the Bible she read
She said a prayer and applied blessin' oil on my head
Before I left gave Moms a kiss on her forehead then I fled
[Yendi]
My pen, my rhymes, and my book
I'm now shook
We all see the truth
Painted out with the plagues
And now I'm stuck with the truth
My pen, my rhymes, and my book
I'm now shook
We all see the truth
Painted out with the plagues
And now I'm stuck with the truth
[Brolik]
Nobody can understand I've tried to explain
But nobody understood my pain I've came
to my senses no more alcohol binges
Mom is still fightin' her sickness
I got a brother doin' twenty for a body he didn't kill
No evidence not enough money to appeal
And five points sittin' in a maximum jail
His so called friends don't visit don't send any mail
I lost my little cousin on his older brothers birthday
Dunk driver gettin' chased by the police
Ran through the red light I wish that was me on that bike
He was fifteen never had a chance to see life
That night changed the lives of our fam it brought us closer
And you still have three sons aunt Rosa Me Corey and Kevin
Eddie was an angel he had to return to heaven
All we do now is cry and reminisce
I wish that I could see him one more time
The funeral was his it should've been mine
[Yendi]
My pen, my rhymes, and my book
I'm now shook
We all see the truth
Painted out with the plagues
And now I'm stuck with the truth
My pen, my rhymes, and my book
I'm now shook
We all see the truth
Painted out with the plagues
And now I'm stuck with the truth
The song "Authentic Tribute" by Culture VI is a reflection on the pain and struggles of life, experienced by the two rappers, Brolik and Yendi. The lyrics convey Brolik's addiction to alcohol, his battle with depression, and his mother's sickness. He expresses his love and concern for his mother but is troubled by the conflict with his father. Yendi talks about being stuck with the truth of life's plagues and how her pen and rhymes help her cope with the pain. The song also touches on the loss of loved ones, including Brolik's little cousin and his brother who is imprisoned.
Brolik's verses are deeply personal and introspective, as he opens up about his addiction and the impact it has had on his health. He talks about being conflicted between his addiction and concern for his wellbeing. He also expresses his pain and grief over his mother's sickness and the conflict with his father. He struggles to be strong for his mother, but it's a difficult feat as he watches her suffer.
Yendi's verses speak to the power of writing as a way to deal with pain and trauma. Her pen and rhymes are a solace and a way to process the truth about life and its plagues. She accepts that she is "stuck with the truth" and uses her writing to convey her feelings of being overwhelmed and helpless in the face of these struggles.
Overall, the song is a powerful tribute to the truth of life's pain and the different ways people cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Authentic I'm livin' proof no lies I give you truth
I am genuine and honest, always telling the truth
It's an addiction alcohol abuse
Alcoholism is a serious addiction
I used to drink till' I would lose composure
I used to drink heavily until I couldn't control myself
Fifteen I handled a Jack Daniels with no cola
At the age of fifteen, I could handle drinking Jack Daniels straight
Rehab didn't keep me clean didn't like who I was when I was sober
Rehabilitation did not help me stay off alcohol because I did not like being sober
Sometimes I don't be thinkin' depression gets to me
Depression affects me sometimes without me realizing it
No matter how much it burned I was able To drink anybody under the table I've turned
Regardless of how much it hurt, I was able to out-drink anyone
Into the man my father is I've learned How to handle my liquor straight no mixture
I have become like my father and can handle drinking straight alcohol without mixers
Is it safe with all this alcohol my body's consumin'
I am concerned if it is safe to consume this much alcohol
You might not know pain I don't show A hard shell
You may not know that I am hurting because I seem tough on the outside
Look at your son so weak you raised me to be tougher
My father is disappointed that I am not as tough as he raised me to be
But it's painful everyday watching your Mom suffer
It is hard to watch my mother suffer every day
I'll try but I don't know how long I can be strong
I will do my best, but I'm not sure how much longer I can keep being strong
I got a brother doin' twenty for a body he didn't kill
My brother is serving 20 years for a murder he did not commit
And five points sittin' in a maximum jail
He is serving his sentence in a maximum security prison
His so called friends don't visit don't send any mail
His supposed friends do not visit him or send him letters
I lost my little cousin on his older brothers birthday
My young cousin died on his brother's birthday
All we do now is cry and reminisce
All we can do now is cry and remember him
The funeral was his it should've been mine
I feel like I should have died instead of my cousin
My pen, my rhymes, and my book I'm now shook
Writing is my outlet, but now I am shaken up
We all see the truth painted out with the plagues And now I'm stuck with the truth
The truth of my life and the pain that comes with it is inescapable
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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