Smoke & Mirrors
No Malice Lyrics

When I was a child
During my childhood years

I thought as a child
I had the thought process of a kid

I talked like a child
I spoke like a kid

I even reasoned like a child
I used childlike logic

But when I became a man
As I grew up

I put away childish things
I left behind immature thoughts and actions

It’s like the blind leading the blind
People who are clueless giving advice to other clueless ones

They caught up in the shine
People are captivated by material possessions

The tokens of success is not clearly defined
There is no clear definition of what success looks like

The watermelons gone and all that’s left is rhyme
The benefits are all gone, all that's left is meaningless rap lyrics

And yet you keep beating, beating
You keep working hard

But in the back of your mind there’s somewhat you rewind
You are constantly second-guessing yourself

Ever wonder why they continue to let you dine
Why are you allowed to succeed?

Place a glass ceiling, continue to let you climb
There is an invisible barrier to limit your success

Place drugs in the hood and pretending to let you grind
Drugs are present in lower income communities and the target individuals are easily controllable

That little job they pretending to let you find
There is no significant job opportunities available

Boxed in, they continue to let you mime
You are stuck and they hold the key to your release

A little deal they continue to let you sign
They offer small deals to keep you complacent

It’s been more and spil wine
It's been too long

I gotta speak to my kind
I must talk to people like myself

Call me 8:45 cause both hands on the 9
I am ready to take action

It’s from the heart and it’s so sincere in every rhyme
I am expressing genuine thoughts and feelings through music

I could let the wheel go, the Lord steers every time
I trust something greater than myself to guide me

Shit, if no child left behind
Expressing anger for a flawed educational policy

Black faces on the first 48 look like mine
Feeling a connection to individuals on the TV show 'The First 48'

Yeah, cause when that nigga in a bind
When someone is in trouble

The ones in position from my view look like Shyne
Those in charge don't relate to people like me

Damn, and we the culprit in the crimes
We are responsible for many of our own problems

In the pulpit, niggas lying, they just pokin’ at the lion
Religious leaders are spreading lies and provoking trouble

‘Til my soul start flying and then frying, I’ma be defiant
Until I die, I will resist and fight against what I feel is wrong

It’s written on the wall like a Mayan
The writing is on the wall

You know, the truth is a funny thing
Truth is complex and unpredictable

I mean, it’s a double-edged sword
Truth has advantages and disadvantages

It separate bone from the marrow
It divides things in clear and distinct ways

Spirit from the flesh
It separates the spiritual from the physical

And if it’s a lie, then say it’s a lie
Be honest, even if it hurts

But if it’s the truth
If something is truly honest

And that saw hits you
And that truth hurts

All you better do is say ouch
Just admit that it hurts

It’s of a biblical proportion, what you are witnessing?
What you are seeing is significant

Spiritual abortion, slaughter of innocents
People are killing their own souls, and destroying innocent people

Guilty as charged, destruction of a lineage
Feeling guilty for destroying a legacy

I pray father God, you allow me to repent of it
Requesting forgiveness and a chance to make things right

And any crime scene that bear Malice’s fingerprint
Taking responsibility for any criminal activities associated with the artist's name

I pitched those keys like a tent, without thinkin’
I sold drugs without considering the consequences

Even served our own mamas, without blinkin’
Sold drugs to our own mothers

Walking dead, clueless, no inkling
Living in a state of ignorance and lack of understanding

Within a twinkling, seeing what I was made of
In a short amount of time, realizing one's true self

While y’all speculate Clipse break up
Despite rumors of the group's breakup

Well think it not strange if I’m Abel to his Cain
We should not be surprised if there is tension between brothers

Hell, even Esau had a Jacob, I ain’t trippin’
Even in biblical times, there were sibling rivalries

And what’s with all this swag I ain’t feelin’
I don't understand the obsession with 'swag'

Gotta get that money, huh, nah, I’m chillin’
I don't feel the need to chase money anymore

And I ain’t sellin’ my soul for no million
I won't compromise my values for money

Cause that daddy rap daddy they crack the black ceiling
Rap music is controlled by white executives

Why such blasphemy and anger toward a God which none have seen
Why do people dishonor God when nobody has physically seen Him?

Hmm, leads me to believe
It makes me wonder

That there’s a wee bit more to this Jesus thing
There might be some truth to Christianity

And they use his name to sell them pies
His name is being used in vain for profit

Cause it take a lot of truth just to sell that lie
It's hard to convince others to believe a lie

Yes, even now I repent
Even now, I am sorry for my past actions

Of the circus acts, same clowns, different tint
I am tired of seeing the same thing from different people

I mean, if we gonna kill the kids
If we are going to harm the youth

Then let’s kill the kids
Let's not sugarcoat it

Pop that molly, right?
Let's promote drug use, right?

I mean, load them choppas, right?
Let's promote gun violence, right?

Homeboy, the line’s been drawn
It's time to take a stand

And if you find it evil to serve the Lord
If you believe serving God is wrong

Then choose this day
Then make a decision today

Whom you will serve
Who you will dedicate your life to