Experience - DJ Criminal, Illogic

Yeah, what up, y’all?

I know a lot of people that rap that are artists in general and as artists,

we sacrifice a lot for our love of art, ya know, especially when we have

families

Our families sacrifice a lot for us to, ya know, be your entertainment and be

your escape but sometimes we’re our own escape as well but a lot of times you

don’t get to peek behind the curtain and see all of the things that your

favorite artist had to go through so I just wanna give you a little peek of,

ya know, some of that from some experiences of my own and of others that I

know but this is just a little something for you

Check it out

He got five records out that you can purchase in the stores

Three more in the works ‘cause his mind’s a machine

But sometimes he feels like ‘what's it all for?'

even though he feeds off of

hearing the crowd scream but can barely pay his rent and barely keep his lights

on

And his vehicle, it’s on its very last leg

And the hole from borrowing from friends and family

Mount Everest ain’t got nothing on his mountain of debt

He’s gone hungry at times with multiple mouths to feed

A son, a daughter, a wife, and a child on the way

Doing everything he can to get everything they need

He’ll be out on tour the day of his son’s birthday in San Fran on his oldest

third born

But it’s his job so what’s there to do?

He’s an absentee father, part-time husband, half-ass provider ‘cause he gets

paid to perform for you

We only write from experience

Our lives are open books

So come on in and get a closer look

It ain’t all roses and smiley faces, sometimes it burns

But you gotta continue to teach to continue to learn

It’s all from experience, our lives are open books

So come on in and get a closer look

It ain’t all roses and smiley faces, sometimes it burns

But you gotta continue to teach to continue to learn

Now everything that glitters ain’t gold

Everything hollow can’t float

He’s sinking on the stage

He doesn’t blame the fans for his love of the art

He just wishes he had all the pieces for the game he plays

His wife is stressed ‘cause she works full-time, tryna support him while he

lives out his dreams

If he was her, probably wouldn’t take it too much longer

So he wouldn’t be surprised if soon she decides to leave

Tries for work between gigs but it doesn’t pan out

He calls and he calls but they never seem to need him

So with bad money management, his wife’s biweekly check and a little bit of

royalties he’s receiving

A show here and there, the occasional tour dates

He can barely keep their heads above water

Losing the fight, his sight is woozy from the plight of being your favorite

emcee, his wife’s husband and kids' father

We only write from experience

Our lives are open books

So come on in and get a closer look

It ain’t all roses and smiley faces, sometimes it burns

But you gotta continue to teach to continue to learn

It’s all from experience, our lives are open books

So come on in and get a closer look

It ain’t all roses and smiley faces, sometimes it burns

But you gotta continue to teach to continue to learn