Lost & Found - Will Smith

Original — a first form from which varities arise

An authentic work of art as opposed to an imitation, or reproduction

Why should I try to sound like y’all sound?

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Man it’s like a circus with a bunch of clowns

With a bunch of cliques I’ll probably rap circles around

I spit heat rock, and I ain’t talkin rollin

Soon as the beat knock I’m crown controllin

When I hear y’all that’s an awful sound

I don’t ride beats, I take 'em off the ground

Land 'em somewhere, show 'em the town

Even on foreign ground let 'em know I’m around

I don’t follow e’rybody when it’s time to rap

At one time e’rybody thought the world was flat

Sounds like you?

That was my intention

I paid dues, now dudes pay attention

I live for it, even though the flicks is hittin

Crib’s sick, you can see the booth from the kitchen

Speak on it, cause I saw it happen

This is hip-hop, dawg I ain’t just rappin

Y’all lookin at a real MC man

You couldn’t check a mic from me

Why should I try to sound like y’all sound?

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Why should I try to flow, the way y’all flow

Or do a show like y’all show, nah that ain’t where my head at now

Y’all in the hip-hop lost and found

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Man it’s like a circus with a bunch of clowns

With a bunch of cliques I’ll probably rap circles around

Let’s talk about rhyme capability

Let’s talk about hip-hop versatility

Let’s talk about takin the game beyond

How the hell we gon' have a battle of wits?

Trick you unarmed

Let’s talk about love for the game

I mean real love, back before there was fame

I’m real with it, I ain’t claimin to reign

But when y’all talk about rap, y’all gon' start sayin my name

F’real though, I ain’t playin

Plenty of y’all love a brother, just scared to say it

Yo, first ever rap Grammy

Let’s talk about the only reason yo' ass went to Miami — yup!

Truck with rims — check;

throwback jersey — check

Champagne bottles — check;

lots of models — DAMN!

That’s the list for 90% of y’all videos and songs

Am I WRONG?!

Why should I try to sound like y’all sound?

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Why should I try to flow, the way y’all flow

Or do a show like y’all show, nah that ain’t where my head at now

Y’all in the hip-hop lost and found

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Man it’s like a circus with a bunch of clowns

With a bunch of cliques I’ll probably rap circles around

Lost — when you a slave to the biz

With no care for the cost of what you sayin to kids

Found is when your lyrics are a test of time

And your mind hear that your spirit is blessed divine

Lost is when you rhyme 'til your throat gets sore

But you don’t even believe what you say no more

Found is when you bleed heart into the mic

And the pain you sustain it could change a life

Lost is when you hide behind the freedom of speech

Well sure you’re free to do it, but what it mean to do it

Did you mean to do it?

Did you need to do it?

Did you take time to think about the seed you ruined?

(HUH?)

Found is Esco, Dead Prez and them

Found is Lauryn Hill

Found is Rakim

Found can be you if you felt the message

And ask yourself this question

Why should I try to sound like y’all sound?

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Why should I try to flow, the way y’all flow

Or do a show like y’all show, nah that ain’t where my head at now

Y’all in the hip-hop lost and found

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Man it’s like a circus with a bunch of clowns

With a bunch of cliques I’ll probably rap circles around

Why should I try to sound like y’all sound?

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Why should I try to flow, the way y’all flow

Or do a show like y’all show, nah that ain’t where my head at now

Y’all in the hip-hop lost and found

That’s what’s wrong with the rap game right now

Man it’s like a circus with a bunch of clowns

With a bunch of cliques I’ll probably rap circles around