Indy 102 - John Robinson

Nas steps to perfection

Give thanks for the blessings

and cell phone calls and email questions

Soul vision shaman, work message board section

People all over the world

list of places I’ve been, different culture’s I’ve learned about

Stages ripped up, all the jams turned em out

Gotta admit I been tempted by women at times

It’s like being the king of the hill, surrounded by dimes

But that’s the least of my trials and tribulations (what)

Handle situations like I gotta make it happen

Dedicated to making this music, never faking

That’s why they choose it from the shelves of your local record stores

Just a pause for the cause and the purpose

Whoever thought we’d see rap at such a big surplus

These labels like to shirk us, at least those us that don’t know the biz

So lyrically I’m showing kids how to g off in this world they independents

Gotta get your website first, that’s recommended (okay)

The next jewel is determined by your street buzz

Back this track from this that way back spoke about peach fuzz (word)

That’s a whole nother repertoire, back to the matter at hand

Let me see, uh, oh yeah, now you need a good publicist

A manager, a lawyer, a whole team you could run this with

Don’t start a label without a strong business plan

Be sure to work together, don’t try to be the man

And

If yall really wanna if y’all really wanna blow on tour roll wit a band

Go from open mike to wicked to rocking stadiums

Few formula’s for success (what?)

Dealing with this industry is a great deal of stress

Like labels and distributer’s being late with the checks (ugh)

And that could cause a whole big mess, a whole big mess

A real big mess, a great big mess, finesse

Just got the airport for a two-hour bag check

Missed the first flight now you’re late for soundcheck

Got a on, you ain’t even touch ground yet?

Not to mention the ground’s wet from the occasional turbulence

Avoiding tragedies and emergencies

Give thanks for another safe landing

Another day, another hectic schedule to cram in

Very important: make sure you got a good rider (what's the rider?)

It’s the document that tells the promoter what to provide for ya'

Never hit the road without plenty merchandise

Especially them titties that think you’re not really worth the price

Shout the name of your camp, like it’s an anthem

Be sure to plug the label when everyone put they hands up (up)

For t-shirts, CDs, LPs, posters, sneakers, and DVDs

Y’all notice these

Just a few pointers for the independent missions (word)

By the time I do part two I might start charging y’all tuition

Something more to rock to, but listen

Especially if got this biz within you’re future visions

It could be helpful, I used to remind y’all

I made this one for all my heads that’s on the grind hard

Peace to and my man DJ Ratchet

And the tastemakers giving love, spinning the plastic

Thanks to Doomsday room service inspector

No malaise, the illest of DJs up in ya sector

I can’t forget Biz, Three, and Giant Snap

And Mac Media, he’s out the plaza like the Bloom effect

And of course, I give Doom respect

Brotha you killing it right now, from all angles, straight up dooming it

Now remember y’all, this is just an outline

The outcome of it all is developed within your own mind

So over the weekend, I recommend studying

Next week we’ll break into groups and you can discuss things with your other

friends

I know it’s a lot to discuss in one session

I think that’s a wrap y’all unless there’s any questions

[A man by the name of John Robinson…

He was fun to date

Charming

Charming, Intelligent, Challenging

Meet a successful businesswoman with many dark secrets

John Robinson asked her to sign a contract, something common in the community

It was very simple, so I signed the contract

There was also something mysterious that drew her to John Robinson

He set her contract aside

He told her to get a passport because they knew they were going to be traveling

Her family had no idea about the secret things Robinson had offered her

Did you think it was strange, Mary Jane?

Yes

And there was something else very strange…