He was awarded the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year for "Never Look Away" and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards of 2007. KJ-52 also has four Dove awards to add to his 'collection.'
KJ-52's song "You're Gonna Make it" was played at the end of Cold Case Season 5 Episode 8 "It Takes a village." He rapped in the Newsboys version of Jesus Freak alongside, and had a part in TobyMac's remix of One World.
He has been rapping since 1993 (age 18), and his current label is BEC.
The Hardway
KJ-52 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some people gotta learn the hard way
I guess I'm the kinda guy who has to find out for myself
I had to learn the hardway Father
I'm on my knees and I'm crying for Your help
VERSE 1 (KJ-52):
The warning signs like falres in the night
of the fire I knows to burn I never learn
as the world turns on its axis I'm like Saul
on the road to Damascus I'm like broken fragments
of broken glasses can't see the facts is
from the fiction God's voice now speaking
but i never listened got me wishing I never
took the hard way 'cause every day is a hard day
turn my heart away God be feeling like
He's far away Jesus take the scars away
'cause life be mad hard today
trying hard not to sway
selfish way finally catching up to me
but if I fall you's catching me
I know You's catching me
CHORUS
VERSE TWO:
Been high and low but the stories told
my eyes can show that I walked the hard ways road
when it's my time to go I'll stand toe to toe
to one who grips my soul whose never letting go
life's so cold but so many times
I shed so many tears from so many eyes spoke so many
lies
I was the maker of my own demise
my own face I couldn't recognize woke up one day
and realized my compromised lifestyle
since the birth canal to a juvenile yo this kid was wild
sometimes it hurts to smile but Jesus made it worth my
while
keeping it versatilelike I was writing in Spanish backwards
in a cursive style so meanwhile to the mean time
I leave the blind to lead the blind
so with every step I climb
leave the past way far behind out of sight and out of mind
In "The Hardway" by KJ-52, the artist addresses his tendency to disobey the warnings and choose his own path rather than listening to God. In the chorus, he acknowledges his mistake and admits that he is in need of God's help. He states that he has to learn the hard way because he is the kind of person who has to find out for himself. In verse one, KJ-52 compares himself to Saul on the road to Damascus because he is blind to the truth, instead choosing to follow the fiction. He is consumed by his greed and selfishness, neglecting his own well-being and disregarding God's voice until it is too late. He prays for Jesus to take away his scars, as life has been hard and he has been trying not to sway.
In verse two, KJ-52 reflects on his past mistakes and recognizes that he has lived the hard way. He has shed many tears and told many lies, making his own downfall. However, he also acknowledges that he has a grip on his soul, one that will never let go. He knows that life is cold and hard, but through Jesus, he has found a reason to smile. He is determined to leave his past behind and climb to greater heights, leaving the blind to lead the blind.
Overall, "The Hardway" is a song that speaks to the struggle of obeying God's will and choosing the right path in life. KJ-52 uses his personal experiences to showcase the struggles he's faced and presents a message of hope through his faith.
Line by Line Meaning
The warning signs like flares in the night
I ignore the warning signs that tell me I'm headed for trouble.
I proceed with my greed indeed but now in spite
Even though I know better, I continue to act selfishly.
Of the fire I know to burn I never learn
I repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
As the world turns on its axis I'm like Saul on the road to Damascus
I am blind to the truth and need to be struck by a revelation like Saul on the road to Damascus.
I'm like broken fragments of broken glasses can't see the facts is from the fiction
I am so broken that I can't distinguish between what is real and what is not.
God's voice now speaking but I never listened, got me wishing I never took the hard way
Even though God is trying to guide me, I don't listen and now I regret the choices I've made.
'cause every day is a hard day, turn my heart away God be feeling like He's far away
Life is always difficult for me and I feel like God is distant from me because of the choices I've made.
Jesus take the scars away 'cause life be mad hard today
I am asking Jesus for help because life is currently overwhelming for me.
Trying hard not to sway selfish way finally catching up to me
I am trying not to be selfish anymore, but the consequences of my past choices are coming back to haunt me.
But if I fall you's catching me, I know You's catching me
Even though I'm still struggling, I know that God will always be there to catch me if I fall.
Been high and low but the stories told my eyes can show that I walked the hard ways road
My life has had its ups and downs, but my experiences have shown that I have always chosen the difficult path.
When it's my time to go I'll stand toe to toe to one who grips my soul whose never letting go
When I die, I will face God, who has always been holding onto my soul, never letting me go.
Life's so cold but so many times I shed so many tears from so many eyes spoke so many lies
Life can be very difficult, and I've caused pain for others by lying to them.
I was the maker of my own demise my own face I couldn't recognize
I am responsible for the negative consequences of my choices, and my actions have led me to a place where I don't even recognize myself anymore.
Woke up one day and realized my compromised lifestyle since the birth canal to a juvenile yo this kid was wild
At some point, I realized that my choices have led me down a destructive path since I was a child.
Sometimes it hurts to smile but Jesus made it worth my while keeping it versatile like I was writing in Spanish backwards in a cursive style
Even though I've had a lot of pain in my life, Jesus has made it all worth it, and I am trying to be versatile in the way I approach life.
So meanwhile to the meantime I leave the blind to lead the blind so with every step I climb leave the past way far behind out of sight and out of mind
I am trying to move forward in my life, leaving my past behind, but I recognize that I still have a lot to learn and grow from.
CHORUS
Repeats the main theme of the song: life is hard and some people have to learn the hard way.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind