Back Again
Reflection Eternal feat. Res Lyrics
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Is the alpha and the omega
I spit it
Bare witness to the greatest and the latest
They try to hate us
Witness the evolution of spitting, it's wicked and it's decadent
Revolutions per minutes, every time the record spin
In Brooklyn, they say I run it, the 'Natti is checking in
No matter the terminology, blood splatter artistically
It's looking like a Jackson Pollock painting, it's a mystery
Really should be brothers united against the industry
The Africans diaspora scatter at shattered history
The game missing me, rap is so repetitive
Although I ain't your blood or your cous', it's all relative
I got a gang of rhymes
And Tones' beats is banging
We moving through the streets like we're slanging dimes
It's magical, how the track is so classical
The cats who got gassed up in their sweats like Plaxico
I'm back from my sabbatical
Voice of the future, black radical
Keeping all the damages collateral
Listening to instrumentals
Thinking about all the things I've been through
The music is just a peek into my life, it's a window
It's so high tech and it's also simple
Even if I'm knocked down, I don't stay down
Even if I get down, I don't lay down
Hotter than the tar on this empty playground
Hotter than the tar on this empty playground
Hey yo, I'm taking all bets and settling all debts
A giant leap for man begins with a small step
From a sword to a set
To my people on the picket line
Who's sicking of getting treated like them aliens in District 9
I juxtapose my business model with my spirit
What, I'm just supposed to keep you comfortable with the lyrics?
I know the flow's disturbing
I know for certain just because you know all about the artist
Don't mean you know the person
You don't know me
I run labels
These unstable rappers is so phony
I try to listen but they're boring as missionary position
So I'm shitting on these niggas like dysentery conditions
I'm sitting on the throne, you dreaming that it's empty soon
Nobody feeling you, you're screaming in an empty room (Holla!)
The tree that fall in the forest, nobody hearing you
Even though you fall the hardest
Don't get me started
Listening to instrumentals
Thinking about all the things I've been through
The music is just a peek into my life, it's a window
It's so high tech and it's also simple
Even if I'm knocked down, I don't stay down
Even if I get down, I don't lay down
Hotter than the tar on this empty playground
Hotter than the tar on this empty playground
Yo, I built up my defenses
When I'm left to my devices, time gets suspended
More than DMX's driver's license
My music's steady, not affected by the higher prices
People having sex in the streets like Dionysus
You know what my advice is?
Fuck my advice, live your life
Stop tripping like everything amount to crisis
I make the sacrifices
My history is black as ice is
I don't think that I can trust you if you're lacking vices
I never miss a beat, the liquor make me slurred
It takes my words, tries to twist them like a Swisher Sweet
With sticky herb
American History X, your teeth'll hit the curb
It's easy 'cause I'm ill with the wordplay
I still flip the bird, like Jeezy
Strip it down, now it's exposed
I suppose my flow is the emperor's new clothes
Although I'm always by myself, I never ride alone
The music is on then I'm right at home, zoning
The song Back Again by Reflection Eternal featuring Res talks about the evolution of music and how artists are not united against the industry. The lyrics represent a sense of pride for being a great artist, but at the same time, they are aware of the cynicism and criticism that they might face. The alpha and omega refers to the beginning and end, which means they are starting the rap evolution again. The first verse talks about the evolution of spitting and revolutions per minute, which refers to the speed at which the record spins. The cynics are the ones who criticize them artistically, and they compare themselves to a stick-up kid with weapons ready to fight back. They also say that African diaspora is scattered because of their shattered history.
In the second verse, the artist is reflecting on his life and how music is a peek into his life. He says that he does not stay down even if he falls and compares himself to tar on an empty playground, which means that he is on fire even in the emptiest of places. He takes all bets and settles all debts and wants his music to make an impact on society. He juxtaposes his business model with his spirit and says that he cannot keep people comfortable with lyrics. He is aware that people might not know the real him even though they know about the artist in him.
Overall, the song reflects the evolution of rap and how artists are aware of criticism but will not stop producing music that reflects their reality.
Line by Line Meaning
What we have here
Let me introduce you to something great
Is the alpha and the omega
This is the beginning, this is the end, this is everything
I spit it
I'm delivering some real rap
Bare witness to the greatest and the latest
Watch how I evolve my music and top my previous work
They try to hate us
People always try to bring down successful artists
Witness the evolution of spitting, it's wicked and it's decadent
Rap has evolved to become sophisticated, complex and controversial over time
Revolutions per minutes, every time the record spin
My rhymes are fast and impactful
Retribution for cynics, like a stick-up kid with weapons
I'm seeking revenge on critics as if I'm robbing them
In Brooklyn, they say I run it, the 'Natti is checking in
I'm respected in multiple cities for my rap skills
No matter the terminology, blood splatter artistically
I express myself through violent language in a creative way
It's looking like a Jackson Pollock painting, it's a mystery
My rap is complex and hard to decipher like an abstract art piece
Really should be brothers united against the industry
Artists should work together instead of competing against each other in the music industry
The Africans diaspora scatter at shattered history
Black history has been destroyed and scattered all over the world
The game missing me, rap is so repetitive
The music industry is lacking my unique sound, and other rappers sound similar
Although I ain't your blood or your cous', it's all relative
Even if we're not related, we're still connected through our shared experiences and struggles
I got a gang of rhymes
I have a lot of rap lyrics in my arsenal
And Tones' beats is banging
The music is amazing
We moving through the streets like we're slanging dimes
We're hustling and making moves on the streets like drug dealers
It's magical, how the track is so classical
The music is mesmerizing and has a classical feel
The cats who got gassed up in their sweats like Plaxico
Some people are too full of themselves, like Plaxico Burress before he went to jail for gun possession
I'm back from my sabbatical
I'm back from my break and ready to make more music
Voice of the future, black radical
I represent the youth and the fight for change in the black community
Keeping all the damages collateral
I'm not letting any negative feedback or criticisms affect me
Listening to instrumentals
I'm focusing on the beats without lyrics
Thinking about all the things I've been through
Reflecting on my past experiences
The music is just a peek into my life, it's a window
My music is a glimpse into my personal life
It's so high tech and it's also simple
My rap is sophisticated yet easy to understand
Even if I'm knocked down, I don't stay down
I keep fighting even when I'm facing setbacks
Even if I get down, I don't lay down
Even when I'm feeling low, I don't give up
Hotter than the tar on this empty playground
My rhymes are so fire that they'll melt the playground tar
Hey yo, I'm taking all bets and settling all debts
I'm putting my all into my music and making sure everything is resolved
A giant leap for man begins with a small step
Great things come from small beginnings
From a sword to a set
From violence to making music
To my people on the picket line
I'm showing support for those fighting for what they believe in
Who's sicking of getting treated like them aliens in District 9
People are tired of being treated like outsiders or aliens just because they're different
I juxtapose my business model with my spirit
I balance my business and artistic sides
What, I'm just supposed to keep you comfortable with the lyrics?
I'm not afraid to make music that challenges and provokes
I know the flow's disturbing
I know some people are uncomfortable with my style of rap
I know for certain just because you know all about the artist
Just because you know about my art doesn't mean you know me
Don't mean you know the person
There's more to me than just my music
You don't know me
Just because you listen to my music doesn't mean you know who I am
I run labels
I'm successful in the music business as an artist and producer
These unstable rappers is so phony
Other rappers are fake and unreliable
I try to listen but they're boring as missionary position
I try to give other rappers a chance but they don't excite me
So I'm shitting on these niggas like dysentery conditions
I'm criticizing and insulting other rappers in a creative way
I'm sitting on the throne, you dreaming that it's empty soon
I'm the king of the rap game and not planning to give up my throne anytime soon
Nobody feeling you, you're screaming in an empty room (Holla!)
No one's paying attention to your music, it's like you're yelling in an empty room
The tree that fall in the forest, nobody hearing you
If your art is amazing but no one hears it, is it really amazing?
Even though you fall the hardest
Even when I'm at my lowest point, I keep going
Don't get me started
I have so much to say on this topic, I don't even know where to begin
Yo, I built up my defenses
I'm protecting myself from negativity and criticism
When I'm left to my devices, time gets suspended
When I'm making music, I lose track of time and get lost in the creative process
More than DMX's driver's license
I get really lost, just like DMX did when he lost his driver's license
My music's steady, not affected by the higher prices
My music stays true and doesn't change based on market trends or industry pressure
People having sex in the streets like Dionysus
People are engaging in wild and reckless behavior like the Greek God Dionysus
You know what my advice is?
Here's my advice...
Fuck my advice, live your life
Actually, don't listen to my advice, do what makes you happy
Stop tripping like everything amount to crisis
Stop stressing out over every little thing, life isn't always a crisis
I make the sacrifices
I'm willing to make sacrifices for my music career
My history is black as ice is
My past and experiences as a black man are harsh and cold
I don't think that I can trust you if you're lacking vices
I don't trust people who don't have any flaws or bad habits
I never miss a beat, the liquor make me slurred
Even when I'm drinking, I'm still on top of my game
It takes my words, tries to twist them like a Swisher Sweet
Alcohol sometimes makes me say things I don't mean or can be interpreted differently
With sticky herb
With marijuana
American History X, your teeth'll hit the curb
I'll physically harm anyone who tries to mess with me
It's easy 'cause I'm ill with the wordplay
It's easy for me to come up with clever rhymes and wordplay
I still flip the bird, like Jeezy
I'm still rebellious and don't conform to societal norms
Strip it down, now it's exposed
Take away the flashy stuff, and you'll see the real me
I suppose my flow is the emperor's new clothes
My rap style is unique and may not make sense to everyone
Although I'm always by myself, I never ride alone
Even when I'm alone, I feel connected to music and my fans
The music is on then I'm right at home, zoning
When I'm making music or listening to it, I feel at peace and in my element
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SHARESE BALLARD, TALIB KWELI, TONY COTTRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind