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iLLCANDESCENT

by Versis

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1.
"Thesis" 01:30
Trying to build upon what I know I got naturally Frowned upon the title Rapper, now I claim it happily Cause Hip-Hop's a way of living Rap is the verb that's utilized to describe the way I choose to spill it The truth is always written Let your light shine bright, get lifted Back in elementary, they said I was gifted Crenshaw, 100 something, bed in the living room Made a little dough pushing hair with a broom at the barbershop I recall cold nights at the bustop Me & moms, late night, Inglewood to The O.C She was trying to get a degree studying oral hygiene Let your light shine bright, get lifted Real life's improve, not scripted Some scenes are always vivid, think back, rewind, relive it Reason for why we're living - a mission, maybe - is it? Who knows, reasons for dying - too many - no denying Let your life shine bright get lifted This next one's for the misfit that really wasn't with it When the "in - thing" suddenly shifted Don't feel like social strangers, losers, or lone rangers It's the gift & the curse that you had from the birth Don't change it Yo, it's a flood & i'ma stop it up Drain to the rain, send it here & I'ma sop it up Spitting weak flows on the floor & I'ma mop 'em up No telling, so compelling when on the microphone & I'm zoning Ey, yo - I might erupt
2.
Ill is loving life instead of loathing Spelling it out twice with acronyms and thus showing Your skills as an intellectual lucid lyricist Using my surroundings and experience to give you this L - O - X ish, yo I'm living off experience Wonder where Hip-Hop went? Search no more, you're hearing it West Coast Tribe vibe, any given time I'd stride Do my thing over big drums swinging I be traveling, never drop the ball - like a pilgrimage Wonder where you got the nerve to say you're not feeling it Now that's an oxymoron, ain't it? Well, ain't it? Some say they got the cure When it's the treatment for what's tainted - the game A rookie with the rhyme, scouts - remember my name A rookie with the rhyme, scouts - remember my name A rookie with the rhyme, scouts - remember my name Remember the name Yo, it's the I - double l, well - c - to - the - a - n - D - to - e - s - c - to - the - e - n - t It's illcandescent, homie - it's a blessing to be Illcandescent, shine fluorescent most definitely I - double l, well - c - to - the - a - n - D - to - e - s - c - to - the - e - n - t It's illcandescent, homie - it's a blessing to be Illcandescent, shine fluorescent What's illcandescent? Shining thru the stark and the darkness Emerging from obscurity, opposite of thoughtless Witty, shining thru the smog of the city Repping my town, L.A It's quite gritty That's why I'm thankful for the people I'm around They always hold me down, yet they never hold me down Here in Cali where they're set tripping like a blooper reel Shoot - to - kill for blood to spill Dudes is running rampant, still I rise above it, the underdog - I love it The worse be the adversity, but still you gotta love it The worse be the adversity, but still you gotta love it Got this little light of mine in my mind and I'ma shine it
3.
I'm trying to get it any way I want it on my journey Keep my nose and neck out of what that don't concern me Ducking, dodging, weaving Won't stop believing in the birth of the dreams And the thoughts I'm conceiving - by any means Blow these hot 16's like it's '07 Around the time I was confined by big brethren Don't get it twisted, I mean he held me down From beats to loose leaf sheets, look-it - listen now Mama, yeah I'm spitting, now Crazy how it panned out - considered to be a man now Unlike my father, hardly even bothered Coward - least provider of the meals I devoured Nah, I ain't mad at him - or feeling sad about him More apathetic, how pathetic - this is real life This music is medicine making me feel right I split my tablets from my tablet with the public To keep me from o.d Take a d - o - s - e, a little piece of m - e Perhaps these raps'll serve as maps on the journey Perhaps these raps'll serve as maps on the journey This life's a lemon, gotta squeeze for what it's worth Impregnated with dreams, I gotta induce the birth Gotta make it happen, days be time lapsing It's not in arms reach if it's ever worth grabbing, so Any way I want it, that's the way I need it At times I don't see it, but I don't stop believing Any way I want it, that's the way I need it At times I don't see it, but I don't stop believing The journey This is for you, you, you And all of you in the back, and in the middle and the front This life's a lemon, gotta squeeze for what it's worth Impregnated with dreams, I gotta induce the birth Gotta make it happen, days be time lapsing It's not in arms reach if it's ever worth grabbing, so Any way I want it, that's the way I need it At times I don't see it, but I don't stop believing Any way I want it, that's the way I need it At times I don't see it, but I don't stop believing The journey
4.
Without a doubt, we all got one No fairytales, real life could be cumbersome If you choose to run That's why I'm unloading Microphone detonator, over the beats I'm exploding Yo, give the drummer some Tho I've been marching to the beat of my own from Circa '91 Was dealt some crazy cards, poppa was a rolling stone And a shooting star Kinda sounds like a meteor, right? shook up my whole globe Inspired me to go write And shed a little light on some things that in hindsight Might kill me softly or make me strong in it's own right I call it paradox, you call it - [life] Yo I'm trying to get the glory So if you just listen You might could understand You might just understand this is my - [story] And I'ma tell it how I wanna Story of my life, three things for certain Death, uncertainty, contradiction? certainly Story of my life, swear she could've been my wife Wouldn't even think twice, fickleness her only vice Oh how I wish I was an octopus with a firm grasp When in the way of harm, I'd detach my arms fast And escape, get away, but I can't cause I'm weak And I'm meek, and I'm vexed cause I can't Move-on to the next just yet I'm trying to get the glory So if you just listen You might could understand You might just understand this is my - [story] And I'ma tell it how I wanna Story of my life: dysfunctional relationships Keyword is "functional" - life is what you make of it Story of my life: I try to be the bigger man Motion for truce and get left with a hanging hand Yo life's a trip - with a one-way ticket Full of pain and pleasure Nonsense daily, empathy for Hellen Keller And yet life's a treasure Dig the dirt up off your chest, brush off the rest Ain't nothing better, you better [dig it]
5.
"Dig This!" 03:24
Now pump your fist real quick if you [dig this] From L.A. to VA, you know they [dig this] It's C-A, all day - gotta [dig this] So grab a shovel, 'bout to bubble - gotta [dig this] A bulldozer to your shovel, I could dig this It's like the rubble runneth over - gotta dig this Captivate the whole crowd with the quickness Hitting you right now with the business Yup, you're digging this The flow's slit-wrist-emo-tion-al It's just the Golden Era steelo with a little twist Nappy headed, Afrocentric 90s born kid A lyrical Basquiat, my every line is innovative Silence [is] my canvas, acrylic is the lyric I'm painting pictures - vivid - verbatim how I live it Life portraits, yeah I'm all for it Whether Plane Jane or insane metaphorics Subtlety is key, sonny - never straight forward Don't get it twisted, never phony with the phonics Might quite simply be right over your head Just like a bonnet, baby Yup, because the truth is underlying Spitting rivers - rhymin' em An onion to these sucker MC's I'll have them crying them - yo That's on the 23rd letter with the veteran flow Bronze Era, hella clever with the lyrics to go New decade - Glade - fresh with a spin Vets hella vexed cause I shine like them When they was in their prime It's crazy - no fugazy, I ain't even reach mine I'm never hesitant to spit the rhetoric that's relevant Minus the Bora Bora - oh the ora's so heaven sent On the mic - yeah, you're nice - but I'm benevolent Remind you of a veteran - I say that in a reverent tone I freak the microphone - bone and I bone - out A sick beat, blank sheet and I zone out Yeah that's the formula - and I'm just warming up Nu-damu - could never say I never warned you, bruh
6.
Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again It's strange I'm still willing Yo - I'm spitting in the wind Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again I think I might be illin' Think I'm spitting in the wind The 'ship was headed for Bermuda, never to return I thought I'd do like Usher Raymond and just Let It Burn Come to find that I ain't much a pyro' I'd strike a match, take a deep breath Quickly, I'd blow - it - out Yeah, I was illin' no doubt But peep the words to the song 'bout how it didn't pan-out 'bout how it didn't pan-out Her resilience amazes me, I knew the deal from the get Yet I must admit, it still phases me We was on the up-and-up, I'd like to think we had something The poetry, profound convos - the sweet nothings Aesthetically, she appealed to me A courtly love, we only linked intellectually It was too good to be true Love sick, long term reminiscent of the flu But - she went thru phases like a real estate listing Only speaking the truth - don't be offended if you're listening [love] The facade grew faded and true colors appeared Connection fell jaded, 'bout as quick as it adhered Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again It's strange I'm still willing Yo - I'm spitting in the wind Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again It's strange I'm still willing Find A Way by the Tribe - story of my life Sent scrambled signals something sickening Yo I feel you, Phife Except she wasn't playing games Not even scrimmaging Spoke my mind one day And from then we had always went Back-n-forth like palindromes and pendulums Feelings fluctuated they had no hope of being Stopped, but umm They say your 1st love is likely not to be your last In that, I find truth - in fact I found out first hand Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again It's crazy how it changed, she was just a lady friend Looked around and found it was love I was in The very place I thought that I could've never been It sounds foolish, and I say this with a grin For a second time, I wouldn't mind spitting in the wind Wouldn't mind spitting in the wind Again Love, love is a place I'm hesitant to go again It's strange I'm still willing Yo - I'm spitting in the wind Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again I think I might be illin' Think I'm spitting in the wind Love is a place I'm hesitant to go again It's strange I'm still willing Yo - I'm spitting in the wind
7.
8.
"Slow Down" 03:08
At first I tried waiting to do the deed [damn] At least I made it 'til 18, [then...] I guess my libido kinda took over [and...] It got a little crazy, started making moves Guess you could say I'm something like that Clarence Carter guy It wasn't feeling right, ain't like them other dudes The types to dine-n-dash Rather settle my food, I know it sounds silly But that's just how I'm feeling Coming from yours truly, able and surely willing Keep it on the down low, vague and discreet See, I'm not the type of kid to have my bus'[iness] in the street No bragging, boasting ale toasting with my boys and all Cause gossip grapes grow, and then from the vines they fall [aww] here we go with the "he said, she said" She started catching feelings, guess I was misread Cause in my head, bold letters on a sign read: Slow, slow down You need to pump your brakes Slow, slow down Before you make a big mistake Slow, slow down Think you need to double-take Slow, slow down Hey hey, lady This is me when I'm thinking with my other head Hitting the sheets still, but this time it's full of lead Instead of open legs, it's open minds You show me yours, I'll show you mine I'm talking mind sex, conversation climax Most don't comprehend that you really gotta have that Syntax, meaningful, fruitful, beautiful A steady foundation with plenty of room to grow It's hella relevant, in the development Of a relationship, gotta consider it Cause otherwise your love is lust in disguise Getting stuck with hard luck, wondering: why? And though I'm preaching my second hand teachings... Seeing ladies pacing by that I wouldn't mind beseeching It's some ladies pacing by that I wouldn't mind beseeching It's some ladies pacing by that I wouldn't mind beseeching Like - [h]'ey Slow, slow down You need to pump your brakes Slow, slow down You made me do a double-take Slow, slow down And then you made me wanna say Slow, slow down Hey hey, lady
9.
These raindrops keep falling on my head I could let 'em soak me but I tilt my head instead And take a sip - embrace it As if it were my life's reins Refuse to live a lifestyle of many that's mundane Nine-to-five, lack of drive - with my hands tied No money for vacation - just enough to get by Scratching and surviving, trying to afloat Among the flood of MCs in hightide on my coast A lot of goons and buffoons haunting the scene like ghosts With braggadocio flows, no-name lames got it backwards Like Emanon - more than you know Making it rain up in the club Nothing to grow, nothing to show Ironic how thinking green's polluting things It feels like a lucid dream - how I crept on the scene Not really being seen, but heard My rhetoric, my words - so bittersweet - The Verve
10.
I do this for me, ain't worried 'bout records to be sold Or records to be broke - truth being told I'd rather gather cosigns like petitions from people I don't know I'm one word - two syllables - get to know 'em Versis with an I - S, not a U - S, or an E - S, so better take note Studied the game forever - graduating - I'm applying it All for higher learning yearning burning, no denying it One word - one syllable - l - i - f - e Set the tone for the project, please believe me Illcandescent, shine fluorescent most definitely Shine your light and might discover who you're destined to be Treat it as rhetorical for those that's questioning me But no hard feelings, yo - I'ma let it go I'm so butter - on a roll, serotonin in my soul And when I feel the need, yo - I let myself go I be traveling - never drop the ball - not at all Aim, take a shot and chase it down with one more No alcoholic notion - yo, dreaming is my potion Don't get it twisted, bro - cause sleeping's never my devotion I'm coasting here on the left side of the map It's 'bout time for more Rap that's trying to bridge the gap Between the Golden and the era of the new Born in '91, could never say you never knew Steady pulling stunts, don't front You know I gotcha open How many MCs who got the props got 'em proper? It's few on the roster - this is me hoping To add my my name to the list, blow 'em out the ocean water I flow in vain/[vein] fresh like the new blood ought to 12, 34 - here we, here we, here we go Dreaming and scheming - 90-something-type-flow Doper than whatever that it is that you smoke That bud - whatever you wanna call it I'm on some Domino trying to get a slice of that pie My lyrics be the leverage to sever - no lie Took my time, dropped my 1st joint in '09 After years of steady studying and jotting down lines No half steppin' to the rhythm of the drum Power moves - I'm talking fee-fo-fi-fum Better run - African - high strung - and I'm young Nappy-headed, almost dreaded - wait a sec'[ond] - I'm not done I flow in vain/[vein] fresh like the new blood ought to Nu-damu on the scene looking lean Force to be reckoned with - new rhyme regime Bump what you heard - focus in on what I mean The fire burns higher - this is just the kerosine The fire burns higher - this is just the kerosine The fire burns higher - this is just the kerosine Thinking I'ma get doused? - think not - in your dreams
11.
"The Need" 04:16
It's alright to dream just wake-up before Crude, rude reality comes along and has you swimming up stream Everybody bent on "get the dollar, get the cream" Profit first, conviction last Guess that's how the globe spin Currency reigns supreme, I'm in a whirlwind These thoughts wrapping up my mind like a turban Now why is everybody (w)rapping like it's Christmas? And getting signed in no time Tell me, what is this? I'ma turn it all back to the essence With a little bit of wit, class & effervescence Taking you aback with the musical essence Dropping knowledge you acknowledge Now here's the lesson, check it: The microphone, I wreck it The sucker clones, I school 'em Like microphones, I check 'em They're gone like no one knew 'em Claiming to rep the real Yo, cut that bull-spiel Messing it up for dudes that do it like it's nothing to it Yup, and when I feel the need I let myself go Open up my mouth & let the words flow Yup, and when I feel the beat I let myself go Open up my mind and let the words flow Average MC is a commodity to me That I occasionally would eat just like a creature from the sea With every single sentence make you wanna cop a plea Now who should be the judge? the p - e - o - p - l - e The jury, unanimous votes - you get the rope From a grim reaper sleeper keeper - wait, with no cloak A stand-up guy telling the truth and no jokes Don't be fooled by the punchlines I'll hem you up like one-time Plaintiff and defendant of this Hip-Hop when I rhyme A bronze medal boy with a golden era vibe Like I-N-I, De La - of course the Village and the Tribe You shooting for a buzz - heavy influence what I strive for Got grammar galore and so I scribe some more You hungry for the money 'til it becomes a chore And then you start to question what you're doing it for Instead of trying to deal, still you choose to ignore That bit a conscience fighting against the nonsense I got the package, you got the items You lack in content, you got a problem Assess and then address it Now here's the lesson - check it: The microphone, I wreck it The sucker clones, I school 'em Like microphones, I check 'em They're gone like no one knew 'em Claiming to rep the real Yo, cut that bull-spiel I rep the league of dudes that do it like it's nothing to it Yup, and when I feel the need I let myself go Open up my mouth and let the words flow
12.
Loving you is like open-chest The blows connect when you reject the clear and evident Love is a battlefield, at times I wish I had a shield Would've raised my hand only to swear that you were heaven sent Had me bent I told myself I wouldn't do this again But the weather seemed right, had my heart feeling light And there was no sign of wind coming in in sight until i felt a slight draft for me to cope on my behalf "Spittin In the Wind" - more than some paragraphs About the riff raff of a love interest that was of the past That was my first song you were my first love but before long i met my 2nd one, call her my first wind gimme a second love soon it''ll make sense you helped helped me find a more mature and less perplexed one it's like no matter how polite i could never please you a vacay in paradise couldn't apease you we both got a lot of growing up to do so i'll leave it up do the next fool life after you even though we're though my mind keeps on playing back the memories of you best believe it made me crazy only few could ever phase me coulda been my lady this is life after you i'll be lying if i say i do it on my own too long a list to names, too many reasons for the poems could be adversity, could be the simple fact that i'm in good company whatever it may be it resonates in me beyond the 3rd degree so now yo know it's deep i gotta that my peeps so if the shoe fits lace 'em up as all the favors and support steady tally up yo, i never take it lightly and the day i start to is highly unlikely so may god strike me if i ever stray from my roots you're near and dear i couldn't state it any clearer this is life after you can't be standin' around doin' nothin' you gotta get it in gear and move somethin' & do somethin' & be about it if you take a break gotta keep the motor runnin' can't be standin' around doin' nothin' you gotta get it in gear and move somethin' & do somethin' & be about it y'gotta get up get out & get get up get out & get somethin'
13.
"Travelin'" 06:01
14.
(chorus) the bare necessities, a pen & pad in front of me, see, that's the basic recipe of what I need, so I could keep it comin', hot & steamin' out the oven;gotta love it know you're hungry, now it's time to eat. you gotta love it(8Xs) VERSE 1: growin' up I never had much, but didn't use it as an excuse-noose to hang myself up, impervious, didn't let it do me damage, flipped the script from protagonist, writing's how I manage, never did I ever have to shoot or pass the rock, like the system, these bars are all I really got for ya, brotha, either get knocked or get locked, when I come through the spot, I'm lettin' off via lyrics, non-constructive critics, zip y'lip, not tryin' to hear it, some use Head & Shoulders, some stay flakes, others say they love you when you knowin' that they're fake, careful who you're shunning, some got their heads on straight, though it's kinda hard to know who's friend or foe, let your network grow, but who am I?, cause all I know is that... (chorus) VERSE 2: A'yo I'm 18 now, & I lack the know how on how this all gon' turn out, wish I could take the scenic route, a wanderlust, a yearning burnin' to see what the world's about, aside from preconceived thoughts or what the nightly news reported, gotta see it for myself, media mind-state contorted, always been the one to take the roads less traveled, wing-it as I sing-it, sit back watch my live unravel, keep my fingers crossed, not for luck, but 'cause I rep the West, divin' into life's sea of stray bullets, no vest, my art's official & I know the artificial gon' test, but it ain't gon' phase me if nobody praise me, Hip Hop hair in my mouth got me spittin' crazy, but who am I?, just some boy that's on the mic sayin' the game's been kinda flooded by too many that don't love it, tellin' the fans don't feed-in, 'cause a glutton don't need it! (chorus)

about

01. "Thesis" prod. by T. Hemingway

02. "iLLCANDESCENT" prod. by T. Hemingway:

soundcloud.com/thmwy

03. "The Journey" (4U) prod. by Dibia$e: soundcloud.com/mr-dibiase

04. "Life Story" (Story of My Life) prod. by Exile: soundcloud.com/dirty-science

05. "Dig This!" prod. by T. Hemingway

06. "Spittin' In the Wind" prod. by fLako: soundcloud.com/natureboytunes

07. "Love is Love" prod. by T. Hemingway

08. "Slow Down" prod. by T. Hemingway

09. "Rain Rain Rain" prod. by T. Hemingway

10. "In Your Dreams" prod. by T. Hemingway

11. "The Need" prod. by BMB: soundcloud.com/bmbspacekid

12. "Life After You" prod. by T. Hemingway

13. "Travelin'" prod. by T. Hemingway

14. "Gotta Love It" prod. by Listed: soundcloud.com/listed

Art by DeChazier www.dechazier.com

credits

released August 9, 2010

Mastered by Dave Cooley for Elysian Masters www.elysianmasters.com

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