F.I.L.O.
Nujabes feat. Shing02 Lyrics

Lord if they only knew them nights it took
If only people knew the long nights and hard work it took

Burnt candles by the dozen to ignite the soul fire
I burned many candles to find inspiration and motivation

Sheer energy to release to melt the heart
I put all my energy and emotion into my music to make it heartwarming

Mind starved voice craved onto wax (and still get taxed)
I poured my voice and thoughts onto records, and despite the taxes, I still kept going

Relax, unrest unless undressed to the core
You won't find peace unless you reveal your true self, flaws and all

Ever so slowly, wash away old skin like springs of sulfur
Gradually let go of your past self, like how sulfur slowly washes away skin

So far, so good what's life got to offer?
I've come this far, but what else does life have in store for me?

Youth stare curiously analyze the facts
Young people observe and analyze everything with curiosity

Who's there to encourage give a pat on their back
Who's there to support and encourage them?

How come society wanna grow and ignore
Why does society only focus on growth and ignore small dreams?

Small dreams, big team now every work is a chore
Small dreams are part of a bigger team, but now every task feels like a chore

I adore each step, hop skip a cadence
I appreciate every step of the journey, with its ups and downs

Travel distant in the age of decadence
Journey far in a time of excess and indulgence

Do this in reverence to the older veterans
Respect the veterans who paved the way before me

Stripes on their chest plus a chip on their shoulder
They have achieved success, but still carry a chip on their shoulder

Street soldiers cut without severance,
People who work hard on the streets are often left without any support

But keep hustling anyways for the L or the F of it
Despite the challenges, they keep hustling for the sake of winning or losing

Effervescent light guide the way,
A bright and positive light navigates the journey

Fear no evil, once lost now found
Don't be afraid of the unknown, because now you have found your way

Thirstin' first drop just wet my appetite
The first taste of success only made me want more

But couldn't satisfy my craving for beats
But I could never get enough of making music

Wrapped tight like a Christmas gift
My music was crafted with care, wrapped up perfectly

'Tis night is an eve for a generation to uplift
This is the night where a new generation can rise up

Live life like a testimony
Live your life like a testament to your beliefs

Simple rhymes in difficult times help a friend
Even simple words and rhymes can help a friend in hard times

Through a lonely tunnel at the end, Every maze is a funnel into a wine bottle
Even when alone, every difficult situation can lead to a rewarding outcome

And corked inside a message so mind boggling, a puzzle
And the message within is so complicated, like a puzzle

Amazed at the grace having reached a goal
I am amazed at the success I have achieved

Knock twice on the gate heaven preach a soul
But always remember to be humble and grateful for your blessings

True knowledge of self shine brighter than all
Knowing who you are is more important than anything

For one part getting polished you better the whole
When you improve one part of yourself, you improve your entire being

24-karat gold, each day is a jewel
Each day is precious and valuable, like pure gold

Case closed when the end credits roll
When it's all said and done, your legacy will speak for itself

Self-representative and elected, yes I
I stand for myself, and I am confident in my choices

Give and get give back to the constituents
I give back to those who supported me, and they give back to me in return

Sit you in a chair and break down the affairs
Let's sit down and discuss the issues at hand

There's nuthin fashionable
Being fashionable doesn't matter

About arriving late in the game and acting OG
There's nothing cool or impressive about showing up late and acting like a bigshot

Cuz you can't pay dues with credit or cash
Success and respect must be earned, not bought

Quicktime soft players streaming all the Flash
Those who take shortcuts and don't put in the hard work don't last long

So I'm sticking copper pins into media outlets
I'm making my mark in the industry, even if it's small

Then I hop up in the black van and then I'm out
I'm always moving forward and onto the next thing

Let's get wit the program, drop the Dow Jonesing down
Let's focus on what really matters, and don't worry about material wealth

We keep underground dowsing
We keep searching for hidden treasures, even if it means staying underground

Microphones iron casting, everlasting sound
My music is strong and everlasting, like iron

Blasting, no doubt first in last out
I'm still putting in the work, and I won't stop until the end

F.I.L.O, I'd rather do nuthin else
First in last out is my motto, and I wouldn't rather do anything else

If I follow my heart to the last pulse
As long as I am true to myself until the end

Like the last man down in the towering inferno of Babylon
Just like the last person to come out of a difficult situation

First In Last Out
I will continue to work hard until the very end