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Description
I always wanted to try writing a hip-hop song, like "Gangsta's Paradise,'" so it was like stumbling on a gem when I came upon Holistik's rap "I Stopped Losing A Long Time Ago" which has an awesome rhythm, a well-written and well-performed rap with a great message. Curiously, he also released all his songs into the public domain several months ago and has not been spotted at Macjams since then.
As I wanted to expand and diversify my style, I took this chance to sample and incorporate parts of his rap into my melodic lyrics and complete a rap/hip hop song, which to me is a new, experimental genre. I wanted to build a song that sends out a message of hope and change for anyone who has lost or gone astray. This song is not autobiographical for me, but as I was writing this song I recalled Scott Carmichael's response to my comment to his recent song: that goodness and perfection is not a state but rather a journey that we all hope to attain but we all fall short of (or something along that line).
The original title (I Stopped Losing A Long Time Ago) was very much in line with the essence of this song, that inside each one of us is a good man, a great winner that is wanting to assert itself.
Musically, one thing I learned from this collaboration is that it so damn difficult to rap! I sang back-up vocals on some of the rap parts and I had to do at least ten takes for one verse to keep up with the pace and timing! Ha-ha! But since this song breaks new ground for me, it is one of my proudest and most satisfying works.
Thanks, Holistik, for your wonderful rap!
As I wanted to expand and diversify my style, I took this chance to sample and incorporate parts of his rap into my melodic lyrics and complete a rap/hip hop song, which to me is a new, experimental genre. I wanted to build a song that sends out a message of hope and change for anyone who has lost or gone astray. This song is not autobiographical for me, but as I was writing this song I recalled Scott Carmichael's response to my comment to his recent song: that goodness and perfection is not a state but rather a journey that we all hope to attain but we all fall short of (or something along that line).
The original title (I Stopped Losing A Long Time Ago) was very much in line with the essence of this song, that inside each one of us is a good man, a great winner that is wanting to assert itself.
Musically, one thing I learned from this collaboration is that it so damn difficult to rap! I sang back-up vocals on some of the rap parts and I had to do at least ten takes for one verse to keep up with the pace and timing! Ha-ha! But since this song breaks new ground for me, it is one of my proudest and most satisfying works.
Thanks, Holistik, for your wonderful rap!
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Lyrics
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON
(I Stopped Losing A Long time Ago)
co-written and performed by Leon & Holistik
[Intro]
Well God bless 'cause the truths in your soul
Young or old, we're all made of gold
[Rap 1]
I stopped losin' a long time ago
Take a break from your rap and listen to my flow
I'm not on my own, I'm backed by mad skill
Pick a battle wit' us and you're grabbin' a bad deal
[1]
People have told me I'm losing my way and wasting my life,
going down the wrong path
I have fought the world, wrestled my demons,
lost some battles, all wrapped in my wrath
I feel a need to change, turn around,
bring down the stops 'cause it's time to go
Cause in my mind I have the will to win,
began to think I stopped losing a long time ago.
[Chorus 1]
My mind's in motion, it's finally open
The mic's explodin', yet I can hold it
The birth of magic, my words surpassed it
At first my hand slipped but I learned to grasp it
[2]
Take on the challenge of life, go up and down,
learn from the lessons of history
Pick up the pieces of a shattered past
and move forward, time to clinch victory
Look in the mirror, do I see my face,
a beaten warrior or a hungry stranger
Time to lose all the weight of despair,
take the prize of life... it's now or never
[3]
I know, I've got a way to go...
But you'll always be there for me... yeah
I feel a need to change, turn around,
bring down the stops 'cause it's time to go
Cause in my mind I have the will to win,
began to think I stopped losing a long time ago
[Rap 1]
I stopped losin' a long time ago
Take a break from your rap and listen to my flow
I'm not on my own, I'm backed by mad skill
Pick a battle wit' us and you're grabbin' a bad deal
[Rap 2]
Often the crews that I cross get crossed
'Cause they lost, and they said that they would win
but they did not
I recall in the past when I was battlin' Nasty
And Ghost, they both showed that they could blow past me
But I remembered how the foundation of
my faith was based on hate, and then one day...
(Repeat verse 1)
[Bridge]
My mind's in motion, it's finally open
At first my hand slipped but I learned to grasp it
(Repeat Rap 1/Chorus 1 and Rap 2)
[Outro]
Well God bless 'cause the truths in your soul
Young or old, we're all made of gold
(I Stopped Losing A Long time Ago)
co-written and performed by Leon & Holistik
[Intro]
Well God bless 'cause the truths in your soul
Young or old, we're all made of gold
[Rap 1]
I stopped losin' a long time ago
Take a break from your rap and listen to my flow
I'm not on my own, I'm backed by mad skill
Pick a battle wit' us and you're grabbin' a bad deal
[1]
People have told me I'm losing my way and wasting my life,
going down the wrong path
I have fought the world, wrestled my demons,
lost some battles, all wrapped in my wrath
I feel a need to change, turn around,
bring down the stops 'cause it's time to go
Cause in my mind I have the will to win,
began to think I stopped losing a long time ago.
[Chorus 1]
My mind's in motion, it's finally open
The mic's explodin', yet I can hold it
The birth of magic, my words surpassed it
At first my hand slipped but I learned to grasp it
[2]
Take on the challenge of life, go up and down,
learn from the lessons of history
Pick up the pieces of a shattered past
and move forward, time to clinch victory
Look in the mirror, do I see my face,
a beaten warrior or a hungry stranger
Time to lose all the weight of despair,
take the prize of life... it's now or never
[3]
I know, I've got a way to go...
But you'll always be there for me... yeah
I feel a need to change, turn around,
bring down the stops 'cause it's time to go
Cause in my mind I have the will to win,
began to think I stopped losing a long time ago
[Rap 1]
I stopped losin' a long time ago
Take a break from your rap and listen to my flow
I'm not on my own, I'm backed by mad skill
Pick a battle wit' us and you're grabbin' a bad deal
[Rap 2]
Often the crews that I cross get crossed
'Cause they lost, and they said that they would win
but they did not
I recall in the past when I was battlin' Nasty
And Ghost, they both showed that they could blow past me
But I remembered how the foundation of
my faith was based on hate, and then one day...
(Repeat verse 1)
[Bridge]
My mind's in motion, it's finally open
At first my hand slipped but I learned to grasp it
(Repeat Rap 1/Chorus 1 and Rap 2)
[Outro]
Well God bless 'cause the truths in your soul
Young or old, we're all made of gold
dajama
This is very nice. The rap is excellent, and the words and music you created work very well. Your vocal performance is outstanding. Terrific tone and range in your voice. Dynamic, stirring stuff. Kind of seemed to lack a bit of bottom end in my speakers (but keep in mind - they're crappy speakers!). Very cool.