Call me G*Natural, when I'm on the mic, it's the place to be, cause everytime I Grab the mic, I gotta keep it 97 plus 3, so lemme get this Off my chest, a topic important that I gotsta mention, cause everytime I Grab the mic and rock it, it's the thing that grabs your attention, here's some clues Michael Jackson did this, in the title of a hit song, and not to Do this to a dead horse, but the Whispers said and it just goes on The Bangles told me they all had it, the Grizzlies made him their 2nd draft pick The word is a synonym for rhythm in a track, but it's getting away, we gotta bring it back I don't mind the fusion of hip-hop with R&B But way too many producers are doing this and I think it's a tragedy, you wouldn't make no Automobile with an audible wheel and then forget the driver's seat, so how you gonna Make a rap and then create a track with no discernable beat? C'mon now! Is it really that hard? I know how, to make a drum track move with a low growl Toss in a few jokes kinda lowbrow, without murdering the beat, Nicole Brown Oh wow, maybe that line just caught you by surprise, but that's what it's Like to be jonesing for a good beat, but the song is like "DENIED" Why you cut the beat out? I thought this was supposed to be a hip-hop joint Please don't cut the beat out, listening to a banging beat, that's half the point If you cut the beat out, I can feel the void from my ears into my brain And I won't say another rhyme, until you bring the beat back in again BRING THE BEAT BACK, BRING THE BEAT BACK BRING THE BEAT BACK HOMIE, BRING THE BEAT BACK BRING THE BEAT BACK, BRING THE BEAT BACK BRING THE BEAT BACK PLAYA, BRING THE BEAT BACK When I was a young man, 40s were a strong drink that'll get you lifted Now that I'm in my 40s, the new rap's got me feelin' antagonistic Don't get me wrong, I know it's artistic, but when you take the beat out, I miss it It's like, what are you, sadistic? I hope my mind will change, but I'm not optimistic So all you hip-hop producers, don't do me like that And if you take out the beat, then put it right back You've got control keep it going, otherwise the flow you're deploying will Not sound dope, but mostly annoying It's like you're in bed and you get a meddlesome knock at the door, or like you're At the zoo, the lion says to you, "I'm not gonna roar," because a Brotha like me is always gonna be hip-hop to the core, and so a Rap without a beat is cool but it's not hip-hop anymore, so please Go back to the track and just edit... Edit... Edit ... Otherwise you're showing me that you just don't get it... get it... get it... I bet it's Unintentional, but an accident, to put rap on a track that's lacking it You call that hip-hop, it's inaccurate, there is a matter of the beat you gotta factor in, and ride It like a tractor in the back green... Jump on it like trampoline, or bite In like a nectarine in a fruit salad, get a taste of a new palate Cause it's valid that the beat's stacked like a pallet jack, or a horse that'll gallop back To the man in a famous scene, was I born with it, or is it Maybelline? So if you're able lean to the side, throw ya hands up, and make a scene Cause when I spit fire on the track, I burn the mic, the clip, and the cabling, I'm Cold hearted, all my rap dreams have dearly departed, so all that I ask is Please keep the beat on the track, and all that mumble rap? DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED Why you cut the beat out? I thought this was supposed to be a hip-hop joint Please don't cut the beat out, listening to a banging beat, that's half the point If you cut the beat out, I can feel the void from my ears into my brain And I won't say another rhyme, until you bring the beat back in again BRING THE BEAT BACK, BRING THE BEAT BACK BRING THE BEAT BACK HOMIE, BRING THE BEAT BACK BRING THE BEAT BACK, BRING THE BEAT BACK BRING THE BEAT BACK PLAYA, BRING THE BEAT BACK

For the wounds that I've inflicted, for the wounds that I've received I offer you my bitterness, I offer you my grief For the trust that I have broken, for the lies that I have told Forgive me God for giving, my heart away for gold I'm a merchant in your temple, selling sinners doves You turn over my tables with your foolishness oh God I am a sly sidewinder, a brood of vipers in your hand You're an Appalachian preacher who I cannot withstand I'm running to your altar, I'm weeping on your floor I feel your love inside my heart, I wanna feel it more You said be wise and gentle like the serpent and the dove Only heeding half of your own advice is your foolishness oh God For the snow upon the mountain, melting down into the sea I will sit with you in silence and listen to you sing I will ask you all my questions, I will waste all of your time You don't give the poet answers so the poet gives you rhyme What kind of mad man are you, taking on the worst of odds I'm chalking up my fortunes to your foolishness of God

I feel the river Rushing in me Like a mighty chariot And I cannot keep it From bursting over The muddy banks of my heart Oh love supreme did not withhold But gave all His heart and soul Oh what joy when blind eyes see You bled, You died, You rose for me I see a kingdom Rising in me Of a resurrected King And I cannot keep it From overwhelming This narrow world of unbelief Oh love supreme did not withhold But gave all His heart and soul Oh what joy when blind eyes see You bled, You died, You rose for me I know my weakness Has come to nothing Under a bloody avalanche And I hear my Savior Cry out, 'It is finished' There's not a thorn that stands a chance Oh love supreme did not withhold But gave all His heart and soul Oh what joy when blind eyes see You bled, You died, You rose for me Oh love supreme did not withhold But gave all His heart and soul Oh what joy when blind eyes see You bled, You died, You rose for me You bled, You died, You rose for me

Well I feel a warm wind blowin' Meltin' all the sadness off of my soul. And I smell the sweet cherry blossoms Pourin' all their gladness into my soul. In winter, I believe you. In springtime, I see you. It's so good to be with you, My hope has come! Lord You make all things new! Your love is my breakthrough. Now I sing hallelujah! My hope has come. Now I walk through the valley of the shadow, And I have been tested like silver and gold. Lord your faith has taught me to cherish. That this light affliction is not my home. In winter, I believe you. In springtime, I see you. It's so good to be with you, My hope has come! Lord You make all things new! Your love is my breakthrough. Now I sing hallelujah! My hope has come. Now I'm not gonna give in to this mortal frustration. And I'm not gonna give death any standing ovation. I will lift my soul, God, with no hesitation Cause between you and me there is no separation. In winter, I believe you. In springtime, I see you. It's so good to be with you, My hope has come! Lord You make all things new! Your love is my breakthrough. Now I sing hallelujah! My hope has come. In winter, I believe you. In springtime, I see you. It's so good to be with you, My hope has come! Lord You make all things new! Your love is my breakthrough. Now I sing hallelujah! (End)

Well I'm not known for my spiritual ways I'm known by the sweat of my brow My back is strong I was born to contend With the land by the blade of a plow Cursed is the land from beginning to end Blessed is the man who'll not yield For God takes pleasure in those who pursue Him in the midst of their field Through blood and marrow Dust and rain I hear heaven calling my name Of sorrow, I am not afraid I was not born to labor in vain I have the rhythm of John Henry's hammer Pulsing like fire through my veins I'll never regret any days of my labor This freedom that some think are chains So I'll sink my hands down into the soil Plant seeds for bread and for wine And I'll sing a song for my wife and my children When I come home every night Through blood and marrow Dust and rain I hear heaven calling my name Of sorrow, I am not afraid I was not born to labor in vain Despite my attempts To avoid this affliction I've failed to resist this earthly thorn It turns like a screw into all my revelation Twisting my sinew and bone So I'll drag my leg slowly behind me Through fields that will always be stained It's true that I've lost ones I love In the meantime, I will not labor in vain Through blood and marrow Dust and rain I hear heaven calling my name Of sorrow, I am not afraid I was not born to labor in vain I hear heaven calling my name Of sorrow, I am not afraid I was not born to labor in vain

Here is my harvest of heartbreak Here is my threshing of tears I'd give you my dream but I lost it Down in the locust years Still praise is the song that I'm singing Even though sorrow's my tune My love is only a whisper now But nothing is wasted with you Here is my secret miscarriage Here is my public divorce Nobody taught me to let go So I learned how to beat a dead horse Now all of my altars are empty Except for this lone hallelu The heat of your fire's just a memory But nothing is wasted with you Hungry as a mother who cannot find her child We keep missing each other I'm in the liquor aisle Prostrated in your glory I am bowed low under this Either nothing is wasted or everything is Here in the Holy of holies Here by the blood of the lamb Words I have said all my life and believe But still I do not understand But I want to live in your presence However inopportune The heat of your fire's just a memory But nothing is wasted with you My love is only a whisper now But nothing is wasted with you

I took on the world when I was young and strong Start to lose heart when it takes too long And without your heart, what can you do? From how I had the feeling, nothing's where it belongs Masters have slaves, and slaves have songs And so I say, "What else can I do?" In the middle of the night, walking in my sleep Trying to untie, something that I need Never felt closer, but still just out of reach It's hard to be brave when your brain's on fire If heaven and earth have conspired To make you pay, more than you owe There's a blizzard in my belly, a fever in my soul Can you tell me is Jehovah, friend or foe? Well there's some things, we just have to know In the middle of the night, walking in my sleep Trying to untie, something that I need Never felt closer, but always out of reach Still I hold a promise like hope holds a dream But I've lost so many battles I forget what it means I would let it go but it won't let go of me Between the pestle and the mortar, the bitterness is crushed And every sweet illusion is turning into dust I don't understand but I'm learning to believe Can you shake your fist at heaven, or blame your God above If he allows the weakness to prove the strength of love I would let him go but he won't let go of me