This is a track that I had been wanting to write since the inception of the very first Crazy 8’s mixtape. Don’t ask me why….I just always wanted to flip the “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)” instrumental and take it back to it’s original sample from Whodini‘s “Friends” and their original subject of discussion. I had Nas‘ version of the beat sitting around for 2 years, then I finally wrote and recorded it. I wanted it to be simple, just like the beat – because let’s be honest, it’s not a crazy mindblowing instrumental or anything. It’s just a casual 80’s hip-hop break with an unassuming thump. What was most important to me was getting my thoughts across about how I felt about friendship in general. I had just experienced some fallbacks and fallouts with some homies involved in music as well as an unecessary confrontation with a jealous boyfriend of a former female associate of mine who I was catching feelings for. This was all pre-Facebook Malik, so I had lost contact with alot of folks and regained contact with more than I’ve ever had at once, all via the Myspace era. It was a great atmosphere for this kind of track to come out. So on the deluxe version of The Crazy 8’s, I gave you
“Friends” (here I’ll share verses 1 and 2)
VERSE 1
“Fuck friends, relationships and everything with it, (A nod to Nas’ opening line on his version of this song)
I think different…
Dj Q45 (as in the dude who hosted Rap City when I appeared on it and told me to take his information down only to never respond when I reached out) witnessed…
How the boy made history (I was the first unsigned rapper ever to get a whole interview and booth time on BET’s fabled and now defunct hip-hop video show)
-simply a born winner at winning things,
but even Q45 switched it!
-an,
Fronted on me like he really in that position,
really, he should feel priveleged that his name gettin’ mentioned!
And that goes for any journalist, with any conviction,
who missed it when I was hitting them to get ’em to listen!
And I know that sound bitter but I did it,
cause I knew if I started off dissin’ – it would get your attention.
Now for today’s lesson – it’s the business of friendship;
this can be the beginning of a beautiful ending.
Cause some friendships is kept, cause what it took…
To maintain it, but the strain that it can start up to put,
is just as bad as if you let it fall apart – need a push!
I learned from experience and Dale Carnegie (the esteemed author of the infamous How To Win Friends And Influence People) books about…
Friends!!”
VERSE 2
“It’s hard for me to say I Love friends,
cause I done fucked friends,
and made enemies out of shorty’s husbands! (I’m using this term loosely and literally)
And I would like to tell you that it never happens often, (key words being “I would like to”)
I just lost a friend because her boyfriend was hawking!
Stalking…
Checking messages, sending threats – but since,
I’m a threat to him – he should’ve took that as a lesson in…
Women,
cause if you don’t attend to them and treat ’em like a gem then,
they gon’ get it from the next nigga who’s willing and…
I do admit I overstepped a bit,
talking all that sex an’ shit,
but it all began with being friends and then…
Again…
It goes to show that men and women wasn’t ever meant to just be platonic and that’s the end of it.
So to my friend – Ms. – to the death I miss you,
guess we’ll meet again when that nigga’s your ex,
best of wishes…
My best friend in high school was a girl,
guess your friends are reflections of how you view the world
– We was lames!
Ain’t even know how to scoop a bird
– we became,
grown men, pimpin’ – grew some nerve!
-rearranged,
metamorph us out into the world
– people change…
That’s why I’m conscious how I use the word; (most important line of the whole track)
Friends!!”
Hope you learned something…
To listen to or download this track, click the mixtape cover below
16's Candles 