One Time
Rapsody Feat. Tab One Charlie Smarts & Phonte Lyrics

Yo, the spirit in the sky scream homicide
The universe is signaling something violent is about to happen.

But it was time to ride on some niggas funny talking
It's time to confront people who are not speaking truthfully.

If too much money talking
If someone is bragging too much about their wealth.

We make em economize
We make them use their money wisely.

Real rap, no tale spinning, such is the life of a
The music is not fanciful, it tells the straight truth of things.

Kam-I-Ka-Ze pilot
The musician compares themselves to a reckless aircraft pilot.

We wilin' out of control until we all make the funny papers like Comic-Con
They're going wild and out of control and will end up in the news just like a comic book convention.

Feared in all streets so, if you ever see me out in y'all streets
They're intimidating and feared by everyone, so if you see them in your neighborhood, look for a different place to be.

Find another one to occupy
Look for a different street to be on.

I never hope for the best
The musician doesn't expect things to work out well.

I wish a nigga would
The musician wants someone to challenge them, to give them an excuse to fight.

Turn around and walk away
The musician wants someone to back down from a confrontation.

I wish a nigga could
The musician wants someone to prove their worth and attempt a confrontation.

Listen to my instincts and say fuck the rest
The musician trusts their intuition and doesn't care about other people's opinions.

But once you've had the best better ain't as good
The musician knows that after experiencing the best, everything else is inferior.

Weak heartedness cannot be involved
Being fearful is not acceptable.

Stick to the script, nigga, fuck your improv
Stick to the plan and don't try to improvise.

Like the samurai
Comparing their way of life to that of ancient samurais.

The street's Hammurabi Code
The rules of the streets are uncompromising and unforgiving.

Play your part, shut the fuck up, and do as I was told
Everyone has a role to play, be quiet, and follow instructions.

I was always late for the bus
The musician was always running behind.

Just once can I be on time
They want to experience being on time for once.

Then I start to think what's the rush
The musician wonders why being on time is so important.

Who wants to be on time
Being on time doesn't seem all that desirable.

Feeling unlucky and if I ever got lucky it was one time
The musician doesn't feel like they have good luck, and when they do it's only once in a while.

In this crazy world
The world is unpredictable and chaotic.

Not a thing I fear besides fear itself
The musician isn't afraid of anything except fear itself.

This is clearly a lesson learned for someone else
They've learned a lesson and are passing it on to someone else.

Reach for the crown of thorns upon the shelf
They want to reach for their own problems and deal with them head-on.

Cross around my neck
The musician is wearing a cross necklace as a symbol of faith.

I've been taught by stealth
They've learned lessons in a sneaky, secretive way.

Capture this moment in time, it's a smash and grab
Seize the moment while you can, take advantage of it quickly.

And where my party people y'all finna have a blast
The musician wants everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves.

You say goodbye, I say hello first and last
They're greeting people on both ends of a situation, both hello and goodbye.

Hello hello, Now all of y'all elevate your glass
Toast to the occasion and join in celebration.

To an example of what time will do to you
Time will change things in ways you can't imagine.

When those nameless things just keep on eluding you
Things you can't name or explain keep slipping away from you.

When shit is new to you and lies is true to you
When something is new to you, you might be more willing to believe false information.

Words of suspects-usual, coming though to you
People who are up to no good are trying to convince you of something.

Man, I guess if I was ever lucky it was one time
The musician feels like they've only been lucky once.

Then I went missing looking for the sublime
They've been chasing something almost unattainable.

A nigga stayed low, left the ladder unclimbed
They've been trying to stay out of trouble and avoid seeking higher positions.

Time after time, verse blank, the line un-rhymed
The musician has been having trouble coming up with lyrics.

You ever wonder what's the big fuss
They're questioning why people care so much about something.

For everyone be on time
Why being on time is so important to people.

What's the big deal, why do they feel
Why is there so much pressure to be on time.

The need to have us marching on line
The musician feels like people are being forced to follow a certain path.

Feeling unlucky and if I'd ever got lucky it was one time
They don't feel lucky often, and when they do it's rare.

In this crazy world
The world is unpredictable and chaotic.

I wonder when you die do you hear harps and bagpipes
The musician is wondering what happens when you die, are there angels and a celebration, or something more bleak?

If you born on the other side of the crack pipe
Someone who is born into a life of drugs and crime.

Niggas learn math just to understand the crack price
People are becoming experts in math just to understand the value of drugs on the street.

Then drive in head first like the jack knife
People are driving recklessly and putting themselves in danger.

Cause out here, yo you niggas can't belly flop
People are facing dangerous situations and can't afford to make mistakes.

If you wanna make the noise inside your belly stop
If you want to silence the hunger and pain inside yourself.

One time means being on the front line
Being on the front lines means putting yourself in danger.

Being on the front line means ducking one time
Being in a dangerous situation and avoiding trouble when possible.

The pendulum swinging my way, couldn't be more blind
Things are working out for the musician, but they didn't see it coming.

Niggas talk to the cops? Not even one time
People are avoiding talking to the police and staying silent.

Cause we all going down just like the sub prime
People are destined to fail if they don't change their ways.

Or a cheap ass half gallon of Ballantine
Like a cheap bottle of mediocre whisky.

But hopping over gates to escape is sublime
Finding a way to escape and avoid trouble is satisfying.

Then through the alley way and down to the sub line
Making a getaway on foot through the city's alleys and into the subway system.

Tales from the streets
Stories of life in the city's rougher areas.

A life of high crime
Living a life of crime and danger.

To make it to the bottom
To emerge at the end of a difficult journey.

Such a high climb
The journey was difficult and strenuous.