Oldest of three men, and my face like a cave, while my
brothers found their fields, I would graze by the shade,
...Memorizing Pharris mixes taped by the day,
still was mainlining rage like a cage-fighting phase.
Raised by the grain...came of age and resented it,
Neighbors winced at our house like, “Psh. That’s where the Levins live?”
So hardcore rappin sounded tender as a sedative, and when
I was called “sensitive,” I heard a mess of expletives.
Paid attention like student loans, until my investments switched,
Headed to the city, backpack zipped with instrumental discs.
Friends had shown respect that never flinched, and ever since,
their acceptance always mattered more than their protection did.
A neutron from the suburbs, but never outta my element,
cuz I knew who I was and didn’t assume some extra shit.
Parents neither understood, nor questioned why we dressin this
city with our names and admiring each other’s penmanship.
HOOK:
Sometimes the family that you got ain’t what it seems,
Sometimes family gotta pull you from the reeds.
Sometimes you’re a leaf on the family tree, and sometimes
you’re the weeds, growing toward the family that you need.
My mom told her students that I rapped, and
I know she wishes she could say that I acted, but
lemme quit cuz under the lid on that can of worms there’s a labyrinth,
comedic and tragic...maybe I’m just bein dramatic.
Damaged the inanimate, chewin nails to the keratin--the
mountain of boulders Mom and Dad were scalin over to parentin.
Lucky they trusted me, never thought this was facade, tried
their best to navigate what was underneath a couple songs,
Scuba masks in tow, swimming past shattered bones,
sunk in their seats unearthin all the raps and poems.
Tried their hardest, couldn’t solder fallen scaffolds in my skull.
Adrift, and prayed I wouldn’t take a dagger to the hull.
Throwin metaphors between my feelings and my language,
I was needy and complacent back when dreaming wasn’t dangerous.
Traded blackbooks, sixteens, CDs, what you sayin?
Our sneakers leaving stanzas and graffiti in the pavement.
my favourite backwoodz release for 2021 that flew under my radar for far too long. my real favourite track is probably Bardo, but that's not on this this release. a wonderfully pensive collection of tracks, i'm excited for whatever comes next in Prem's future. Jonathan Pickelbelly
