Loving the Struggle

Track 17 - Volume II
Production: Digs Deep


Welcome back to volume two of my Monthly Quarterly my peoples! I took a short break to promote And The Traveler who just released their debut album (which you can cop here: www.AndTheTraveler.com). Gion Ra and I took the rough copy and started making tracks from it, a few of which I've posted already. There will be a full mixtape to come.

Anyways, this track is the title track of volume two, titled "Loving the Struggle". The beat made me realize that even though I've told a bunch of stories so far, I never told my story. Shout outs to Digs Deep who graciously let me use this very dope beat, and also a shout out to White Plains; Battle Hill in particular. This is not only dedicated to where I grew up, but also to the people I grew up with. Ya'll know who you are.

Lyrics

It starts off back in the day, we were poor as hell but I never saw it that way.

I was pretty lucky, had a strong boriqua mom who was plucky, and always made sure we were okay.

Busting her ass from 9-5, and then again from 5-10 almost every single day.

It’s funny cause to me that was normal. It’s what had to be done, if you wanted to get paid. Or if you wanted to get haze, cause you wanted to get away: a reprieve from the stress because your rope is almost frayed.

I learned that hard work is just work, just cause it’s hard doesn't mean you’ve got to put on display.

And because of that, I was unaware of the struggle. Mom tried hard, but couldn’t keep me in the bubble.

I had to grow up, but now the struggle is all I see. Though in it I see beauty and I’m loving it, but that’s me.

They ask, “what about the struggle? I love it, but that’s me.

Can’t forget growing up in White Plains, NY, up a on a hill by the name of battle.

Chilling on the corner, always bullshitting with the homies that I’ve known since I could hold a rattle.

As we got older, we got acquainted with the law; getting pulled over almost every weekend, for a multitude of reasons according to them. Which I’m sure had nothing to do with the color of our skin.

But that’s how it is being young, broke, and brown. Not complaining, I’m just explaining how I came to have all the beliefs that I hold, and why I question everything that I’m told.

I really don’t give a fuck, but I already told ya’ll that; it’s on volume one. It’s the fifth track.

And that’s the key, the way that I see, the how and why I be like I be, I disregard grammar when it suits me.

'Cause that’s me.