FIRST VERSE:
I realized I’ve been livin out of harmony
Vision clear now I’m ownin my artistry
So consider this my acceptance speech
No award just episodes of ecstasy
I wanna thank *EO* for the mentorship
Always give to me straight no censorship
It’s what I need even when I don’t wanna hear it
What it mean to me? Words’ll never come near it
She ride or die for whatever the task
And Rhetorical like the brother I never had
It all started with Tracksploitation
Throwdown was my orientation
The cypher, where I met some real friends
Like, Mike Lovely, Anna & Neil Glenn
Learnin to freestyle growth was painful
But for those jams I’ll be forever grateful

HOOK:
I’ll forever be grateful
So blessed I could never be hateful

So this song is about ya
You know I never coulda did it without ya

SECOND VERSE:
I wanna thank Shadow Lounge for the open mic
First time on stage the love changed my life
I was hungry it gave me nourishment
Ezra gave me endless encouragement
On the list every week, no truancy
cuz it genuinely felt like a community
The belief in myself ya’ll made it strong
I finally found a place where I belong
So I wanna thank ya’ll for supportin me
Saved me from succumbin to dark sorcery
Challenged to develop my style
Thank Armstead Brown and Stretch for Rhyme Cal
Now every day I’m doin Rhyme Calisthenics
Opened up my mind like hallucinogenics
The Lounge gone but I’m never deflated
Cuz it wasn’t the space it was the people that made it

HOOK:
I’ll forever be grateful
So blessed I could never be hateful

So this song is about ya
You know I never coulda did it without ya

THIRD VERSE:
When I wasn’t runnin on the right course
Hip hop connected me to my life force
So I thank Kool Herc for this craft I choose
And all the artists before me who paved avenues
Help me survive any calamity
Shout out to my Get Down Gang family
For makin me a part of the crew
Was like a dream come true now I’m makin my debut
I wanna thank all my Track Meet athletes
who reunite to make the cypher complete
Every person who helped me produce it
And all the fans takin time to listen to the music
All these people never cease to amaze me
You all part of the village that raised me
Too many to name, but I remain faithful
For this community, I’m forever grateful

HOOK:
I’ll forever be grateful
So blessed I could never be hateful

So this song is about ya
I never coulda did it without ya

I never coulda did it without ya
You know I never coulda did it without ya
I never coulda did it without ya
No way I ever coulda did it without ya