Pardon The Noise
Shyheim Lyrics

Pardon the noise, I'm just a black ghetto boy
I apologize for causing any disturbance, I come from a tough, impoverished background.

Went through the rain and pain...
I have experienced hardship and suffering throughout my life.

Me and the older gods -- would build for hours
I would spend hours conversing with older, more experienced individuals.

Tradin' stories, about this fucked up life for ours
We would share stories about the difficult lives we've led.

There was space between our ages, but through pain we related
Although there was an age gap, we were able to connect through shared experiences of pain and struggle.

And they helped me understand, clear picturers they painted
They provided me with insights that helped me understand my situation better.

I'mma fall back, with a blank stare and listen, it's true
I will remain silent and attentively listen to what others have to say; this is a valuable trait to have.

You can meet your best friend or enemy in prison
Prison is a place where you can make lasting relationships or lifelong enemies.

Zero two eight, three eight seven three was my den
I was incarcerated in cell 028-3873.

I brushed my hair like Chicago, trynna get my waves to spin
I styled my hair a certain way to mimic the fashion trends of Chicago.

Read more books than I ever did, from the Art of War and Seduction
I read extensively, from a wide range of subjects including famous works such as The Art of War and Seduction.

To different shit on black heritage
I read extensively about black history and culture.

I wrote mad people, who never responded
I wrote to many people, but received no response.

I was hurt, and disappointed, 'cause I felt that we bonded
I was disappointed because I thought we had established a connection, but received no response.

But you know, out of sight, out of mind, home boy, you know the saying
As they say, when people are out of sight, they are out of mind.

Shit was all about me, and even I couldn't change it
In the end, I realized that some things are beyond my control.

C.O.'s was hillbilly bastards, devil racist crackers
The correctional officers were racist and terrible people.

When I see tattoo's of a noose and a hangin' black kid
Seeing tattoos of a noose and a lynched black child is a disturbing reminder of the history of violence against black people.

One said "Franklin, when you go home, come back with a friend"
One of the correctional officers made an intimidating statement to me, telling me to come back with someone else next time.

The Willie Lynch letter, the slavery blueprint
The Willie Lynch letter is a notorious document that outlines the systematic oppression and control of black slaves.

It's still in effect, that's why at night when I sleep I sweat
The legacy of slavery still affects the lives of black people today, often causing anxiety and fear.

Went through the rain and pain, losin' sunshine and joy
Once again, I emphasize the hardships and struggles that I have faced in my life.

Motivation, dedication, impatience would change my situation
My determination and eagerness for change helped me overcome the obstacles in my life.

I'm about facin', walkin' the other day, towards better days
I am always striving for self-improvement, and taking small steps in the right direction.

A double L A H, I be what them letters say
A reference to the Supreme Alphabet, an important part of the nation of Gods and Earths religion.

Show and prove that through my ways and actions
I strive to demonstrate my values through my deeds and actions.

Used to be a mental slave, Til Supreme Mathematics, broke the chains
I was once trapped in a cycle of negative thinking and behavior, but the teachings of the Supreme Mathematics helped me break free.

Now I'm free, no longer confined, I'm doing time
Even though I am incarcerated, I feel a sense of freedom because of my newfound values and beliefs.

But yeah, guess what, I'm makin' it, worth for me
Despite my circumstances, I am working hard and striving for success.

Educational informations, the key to success
Education is crucial for achieving success.

To reproduce is the only reason, I have sex
I am focused on my goals and do not engage in sexual activity frivolously.

Wifey's a queen, I put the crown on her dome
I view my partner as royalty, and believe in supporting and uplifting her.

My first priority's gettin' home, I put my deepest thoughts
My greatest desire is to be released from prison; this occupies my deepest thoughts.

To show my appreciation to the art, player
I have a deep respect and appreciation for artistic expression.

But the stocks is up, 99, point 9 percent, for the haters
I am succeeding despite the negativity and obstacles in my life.

My boy homey told me, "Shy stay sucker free
My friend advised me to remain level-headed and avoid getting caught up in trivial drama.

Peace Dad, what up, it's aight in this jail, how is it in that jail?
In this letter to my father, I inquire about his well-being in his own incarceration.

Talk Mathematics 'cause you know these crackers readin' our mail
I speak in code to avoid the correctional officers from reading our letters.

Remember we bumped heads in Transit, back in July
I recall a time when my father and I encountered each other while being transported in prison.

Those shackles, couldn't touch, but we hug with our eyes
Even though we were physically restrained, we expressed our love and emotion through our eyes.

I realized, Dad, we had the same sneakers on, with the same size
During our encounter, I noticed that my father and I were wearing the same sneakers and shared the same shoe size.

Same green, same shirt, man that shit hurt
This discovery made me feel sad and nostalgic for our shared past.

Mommy used to tell me that you was a dead beat
My mother used to speak negatively of my father, accusing him of being a deadbeat.

'cause you chose the wrong people in the midtown street
She believed that my father had made bad choices and surrounded himself with poor influences.

Jocelyn, hustlin', three card molly
I assume my mother was referring to people in my father's life named Jocelyn and the illegal gambling game called three card molly.

All you ever wanted to give me was Atari
My father was not able to provide me with material possessions as a child, but still tried to give me what he could afford.

Now we up north, eatin' rice, Jack mac and calamaris, daddy, I'm sorry
Now that we are both incarcerated up north, we eat simple meals, but I apologize for believing negative things about my father in the past.

Pardon the noise, but nobody's perfect
Once again, I acknowledge that we all make mistakes and have flaws.

Been to hell and back, man, like 3 or 4 times
My life has been incredibly tough and I have endured a lot of pain.

Hip hop's my life, so when y'all miss jewels in this shit, man
I am deeply invested in the hip hop culture, and it bothers me when others do not fully appreciate its value.

I take it personal... so don't be surprised man
I take my work in hip hop seriously, so do not be surprised if I defend it aggressively.

If I start snatchin' y'all drugs, snatchin' y'all mics at the shows
If I feel that others are not respecting hip hop culture, I may react negatively by taking drastic measures.

'cause I take it as you're mimickin' my life, like y'all mockin' this shit, man
I feel that my life story is being trivialized and mocked when others do not fully appreciate hip hop culture.

Man, let's get money, let's stay g'd up, man, let's go, to the top, man
Let us focus on making money and achieving success, and stay true to our values.

Bottom Up, straight like that, but that's my shit, you heard?
This is a reference to a hip hop phrase meaning to work hard and earn success, and is a core belief that I hold dear.