Eventually taken in by his uncle, Fashawn spent his teenage years calling First & Shields Ave in Fresno, California his home. Here is where he would find skating, the distractions of the streets, and the pursuance of his music career to be more rewarding than school. Yet, he had a constant thirst for knowledge that extended beyond the streets, so he became an avid reader with an affinity towards non-fiction and motivational books.
In 2006, Fashawn released his first mixtape, “Grizzly City”. Catching the attention of fellow Fresno emcee, Planet Asia, Fashawn was invited to go on the road with him. Knowing this was a chance of a lifetime; the then 17-year-old emcee dropped out of school to follow his dreams and has never looked back.
Since then he’s had the honor of working with two of the Mid-West’s premier DJs, Mick Boogie and Terry Urban on the Orisue clothing sponsored “One Shot One Kill” mixtape, and with Hip-Hop internet heavyweights OnSmash.com and NahRight.com on his “Higher Learning” mixtape. Both efforts garnered him nationwide recognition.
Fashawn has also been fortunate enough to work in the studio with DJ Muggs, DJ Khalil, Evidence, The Alchemist, Aloe Blacc, U-N-I, and Planet Asia, as well as on the stage with The Roots.
Recognized as a leader in Central California's hip hop scene, steering a vibrant pack of young artists with his innovative style and originality in his music, Fashawn is more than ready to take on the world with his debut album Boy Meets World. Produced entirely by Los Angeles native Exile, “’Boy Meets World’ is just a story about a kid growing up,” explains Fashawn. “It’s my story, it’s very honest, it’s very in depth. So whatever you thought you knew about me, listen to this and you’ll really get a good look at who I am. It’s going to be classic.” FRY ONE
Boy Meets World
Fashawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I started off just a boy trying to find himself
On an earth that I hardly knew
Life just wasn't what it seemed on the TV screen
I can't lie though, my eyes were glued
I grew up in the US
Off welfare checks
No stability, we'd always move
Our favorite day of the month: the first
That's when we'd go shop
We'd go spend
Spent most my time with my so-called friends
Hanging out in the streets watching the world go by
So stuck in the moment I forgot I was even alive
I didn't know about death until my grandma passed
To tell the truth it never crossed my mind
She told me pray before I go outside
And trust no man cause you'd be surprised
When the boy meets world
[Hook]:
Now you've came so far
Look at where you've been
It's time to see the world
Now you've came so far
Look at where you've been
It's time to see the world
[Verse Two]:
By '96 it was me and my sis
Big bro left was like he ain't exist
Dad was never around
I ain't even trip, cause I had a step father
When Randy ain't bother
Was in the late eighties when him and my mama split
Soon as I was born he winds up in the pen
I wind up with a pen, a paper and a dream
Before I realized this is where my life begins
Started writing poems when I hit the group home
First time I remember ever feeling alone
Whole lot to handle for a nine year old
In my mind fantasized about flying to Rome
Leaving everything behind even at a tender age
Uncle always thought I was going through a phase
Until I hit the studio
Until I hit the stage
Just scribbling my life on the page
When the boy meets world
[Hook]:
Now you've came so far
Look at where you've been
It's time to see the world
Now you've came so far
Look at where you've been
It's time to see the world
[Verse Three]:
Started rhyming in junior high school
Out of love
All I needed was some fly shoes
Hung with the thugs
Wouldn't think cause of my IQ
I sold drugs just to bubble and buy food
And blow bud
High school was different
A lot more attention
Every day played hooky
I was hardly in attendance
Always in some mischief
Until I got religious
Selling bean pies, spent time with the minister
And that lasted about a year
Before you know it I was back maneuvering with my peers
Met Hec Saprano at the age of sixteen
Was just a lil nigga with big dreams
It was '06 when I first hit the scene
Rocking shows without my team
When people always said I was a star
Can't believe that I made it this far
Now the boy meets the world
[Hook]:
Now you've came so far
Look at where you've been
It's time to see the world
Now you've came so far
Look at where you've been
It's time to see the world
-----
[Verse One]:
Swear I can't figure why
My brothers sell 'caine
To survive in these times, I don't know who to blame
Could blame the media, like
They're the reason I might
Just start a revolution
Know the devil recruitin'
They got us overseas
Killin' people that bleed
The same color as your brother but we too blind to see
We're very much the same
Despite what you believe
Know we can make a change
But it's the same old song
Song, song, song, song, song, song, song, song, song
Said it's the same old song
[Hook]:
Now if we took a little time
Swallowed all our pride
We could fix the situation
But it's the same old song
The same old song
Now if we took a little time
Took a look inside
We could stop killing each other
But it's the same old song
The same old song
[Verse Two]:
I sit back in a daze
Swear the world's insane
Get so high I could fly but I'd rather escape
Find my oasis in the most exotic of places
Wish I had the solution to these problems we facing
They got us overseas
Killing people that bleed
The same color as your brother but we too blind to see
We're very much the same
Despite what you believe
Know we can make a change
But it's the same old song
Song, song, song, song, song, song, song, song, song
Said it's the same old song
[Hook]:
Now if we took a little time
Swallowed all our pride
We could fix the situation
But it's the same old song
The same old song
Now if we took a little time
Took a look inside
We could stop killing each other
But it's the same old song
The same old song
[Outro] [Fashawn talking]:
They say a change is gonna come. They say look for a better tomorrow. I think I found mine. See, everything you go through in life. All the bullshit, the drama, the turmoil. It all, just makes you who you are. So I thank God for my life. The ups and down. And I wanna thank you. You and yours. For tunin' in to Boy Meets World. Shout out to Exile. The whole DS.
The lyrics of "Boy Meets World" by Fashawn paint a vivid picture of the rapper’s life, from his childhood to his early years as a struggling artist. The first verse sets the tone by touching on the struggles his family had to endure. Fashawn mentions moving frequently and solely relying on welfare checks. He recalls the happiness of his family during the first of the month when they would shop and buy things they couldn't afford regularly.
The second verse deals with his adolescent years. After his mother and father split, he found solace by writing poems to alleviate his loneliness. He would later get heavily involved in the drug trade to make ends meet. But eventually, he found music to be his calling. The third verse touches on the problems that have divided people, including the media's influence, war on terror, the fake persona of celebrities, and racial tension.
To sum it up, Fashawn's "Boy Meets World" is an autobiographical account of triumphs and troubles that many young men, particularly black youths, experience in America. It highlights social and political issues while acknowledging the personal scars inflicted during discriminatory events.
Line by Line Meaning
I started off just a boy trying to find himself
As a child, Fashawn was struggling to figure out his identity
On an earth that I hardly knew
He felt disconnected from the world around him
Life just wasn't what it seemed on the TV screen
Fashawn realized that real life was much different than the idealized version he had seen on TV
I can't lie though, my eyes were glued
Despite the discrepancies between TV and real life, Fashawn was still captivated by what he saw on screen
Off welfare checks
Fashawn's family relied on government assistance to get by
No stability, we'd always move
Because of their financial situation, Fashawn's family was often forced to move from place to place
Either in with my aunt cause my mama ain't work
At times, Fashawn and his family had to live with relatives because his mother was unable to find work
Our favorite day of the month: the first
The day they received their welfare check was a happy one for Fashawn and his family
That's when we'd go shop
They would use the money on that day to go shopping for necessities and sometimes luxuries
We'd go spend
They would use up all of the money on that day and have to stretch it until next month's check
Spent most my time with my so-called friends
Fashawn's friends were not necessarily true friends, but he spent a lot of time with them anyway
Hanging out in the streets watching the world go by
Fashawn and his friends spent time outside, observing what was going on around them
So stuck in the moment I forgot I was even alive
Fashawn was so caught up in his current situation that he did not take the time to reflect on his life
I didn't know about death until my grandma passed
Fashawn was not familiar with the concept of death until his grandmother died
To tell the truth it never crossed my mind
Prior to his grandmother's death, Fashawn had not given much thought to mortality
She told me pray before I go outside
Fashawn's grandmother encouraged him to pray for protection before leaving the house
And trust no man cause you'd be surprised
His grandmother warned him not to trust anyone, as people can be deceitful
Now you've came so far
After going through so much in life, Fashawn is reflecting on his progress
Look at where you've been
He is acknowledging his past struggles and achievements
It's time to see the world
Fashawn is ready to take on new experiences and challenges
Big bro left was like he ain't exist
Fashawn's older brother left the family and was no longer a part of their lives
Dad was never around
Fashawn's father was absent throughout his childhood
I ain't even trip, cause I had a step father
Fashawn did not mind his father's absence because he had a stepfather who was present in his life
In my mind fantasized about flying to Rome
As a child, Fashawn dreamed of traveling to Rome to escape his difficult reality
Leaving everything behind even at a tender age
Fashawn thought about leaving everything behind, even as a young child
Until I hit the studio
Fashawn's life began to turn around when he discovered his talent for music
Rocking shows without my team
Fashawn started performing by himself and making a name for himself in the music industry
Now you've came so far
After his struggles as a child, Fashawn is reflecting on how far he has come in his music career
Swear I can't figure why
Fashawn is struggling to understand the reasons behind the struggles that many face
My brothers sell 'caine
Fashawn is aware of the drug-related issues in his community
To survive in these times, I don't know who to blame
He cannot determine who is responsible for the societal issues plaguing his community
Could blame the media, like
Fashawn considers the influence that media may have on the perpetuation of these issues
They're the reason I might
He is suggesting that media may be responsible for some people's actions
Just start a revolution
Some individuals may be inspired to start a movement to address these injustices
Get so high I could fly but I'd rather escape
Fashawn uses drugs as a means to temporarily escape the problems and struggles he sees around him
Wish I had the solution to these problems we facing
Although he wants to make a difference, Fashawn does not have a clear solution to the societal issues he sees
See, everything you go through in life
Fashawn believes that everything he has been through has led him to where he is today
All the bullshit, the drama, the turmoil
He has experienced many difficult situations in his life, but they have shaped him into who he is today
So I thank God for my life
Despite the struggles he has faced, Fashawn is grateful for his life and his experiences
The ups and down
Fashawn acknowledges that he has experienced both good and bad times in his life
And I wanna thank you
Fashawn expresses gratitude to his listeners
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Raini Garcia
Where have the days gone? 09 was nearly a decade ago. I miss this music, those days, everything. Even though they are far from my greatest moments, I still have some incredible memories. I long for the simplicity sometimes.
HighlyBaked
time flies my brother <3
T K
Forever ago
Gabe Belen
One of my favorite songs ever. True artists can make timeless 12 minute songs.
Kevin Negron
An incredibly special song from someone coming from a special place.
Franklin Clinton
+Kevin Negron was this guy a fan of the tv show Boy Meet world
West Villian
Love this song it speaks to me!
Manfred Dawg
this track wont ever get old for me
HighlyBaked
Such an underrated album <3
VURCHOO
songs like this will last a long time, because the feeling wont just die