The Recipe

Down in Carolina, used to sing for free

I said I can't hit a high note, but I'm high as a beach boy

Takes a little time to write the recipe

But them boys are making funky shit in C-Ali

[Verse 1: Mike (and Doseone)

I pull from Atlanta, indigible planets

I steal from the English and rob from the Spanish

I take what I can and then I take advantage

I come from the land so know I pull the hammer

Learned a lesson from reading, believe what I'm seeing

Grow stronger from getting knocked down and the beatings

The soul from Leon, I ain't leading you on

And my anger's from Fiddler, I live through this song

I skim from The Beatles in streets full of needles

The immigrants, criminals, downtrodden peoples

The bass is my canvas, the beat is my easel

Guess I ponder habit, but I find no equal

I'm inspired by people who did it like me

Malcolm Gladwell is the knowledge I seek

Won't give up, not for nothing, this weed from my cousin

My thirst for adventure I credit to Huck Finn

Down in Carolina, used to sing for free

I said I can't hit a high note, but I'm high as a beach boy

Takes a little time to write the recipe

But them boys are making funky shit in C-Ali

Down in Carolina, used to sing for free

I said I can't hit a high note, but I'm high as a beach boy

Takes a little time to write the recipe

But them boys are making funky shit in C-Ali

[Verse 2: Mike (and Doseone)

I take words from the wise and I put 'em to use

And the guidance has helped me while searching for truth

All these people will hate, but we never lose faith

I'm deaf to their words while awaiting my fate

We busted our ass out to Cali and back

So the road is my teacher, exam is the track

But my ego's in check, I will never retract

All the shit that I've said 'cause it showed me the path

Got my cred from the city that raised me and praised me

Bars from the back of the bus, ain't it crazy?

Style from punk rock, humble from tow trucks

Picking me up in the night when the van busts

I'm funky as fuck when I'm down on my luck

I'm from Cleve, I'm from Bent, I'm from Kent, I'm from Buff

See, I've been down so long, so there's no place but up

I got places to be, so I'll end this abrupt