Then & Now from Cali Quake by Shames Worthy

(hook)
That was then and this is now.
Yesterday is gone no time to clown.
Change in the season happens for a reason.
Fed up but keeping our heads up.
Live for today. (2x)

(vrs)
Now I know you might not know who we are.
Flow on this mic and go by TR'z.
Paid my dues in the streets of So. Cal.
Quick to rip thru a page like a 12 gauge. BLOUW
Jump on stage to rep for my crew.
Don't step. We see thru
the ones who aint true and falsify culture doctrine.
If you gonna be talkin', the beat gotta be knockin'.
Cuz everybody's watchin' including ME.
Big Shame takin' aim and forever will be
on the grind big time.
I aint blind. I'm tryin' to see
what its like up in the "promise land."
But I promise man. I'm an honest man.
So whatever you see me get, no need to trip.
You can rest assured that I EARNED it.
Had to learn quick so I did.
Barely recall being a kid hindsight.
Whatever. I'm like...

(hook 2x)

(vrs)
I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go.
A lot of them do run run.
All of 'em won't grow up.
So watch ya back and keep an eye on
the ones who set traps and the ones who do wrong.
I won't make bets that I can't pay back.
but I don't take threats so you better not say that.
See we coming to take back our portion.
Caution. I get "Lost in Thought" like Els & Mach.
And I aint quitting 'til I'm on top. Watch!
Fool please. You be tripping playing hopscotch.
I drop heavenly skills from Bevery Hills to Watts.
I'll never be thrilled by run of the mill roadkill.
Its not for me.
Raphi watches the hypocrisy. Hip-Hop monopoly.
Used to rock to block for FREE for 3 or 4 maybe more,
outdoors in the cold. Truth be told. I know...

(hook 2x)

(vrs)
I've done shows in the rain with no mic for GRUB.
"Underground" when being down was throwing up W
in the club when "Pistol Grip Pump" would thump
because you knew who it was,
not just because it bumped.
Yeah before the Lakers came up and broke the slump.
Never used to pop collars.
Thugs would pop the trunk up at house parties.
"Death Row!...Bad Boy!"
Even before that "Reminiscing over T.R.O.Y."
You know post "Hammer", pre "Master P."
Before the blasphemy.
They used to laugh at me, a middle-class MC.
No big faced bills. Just "Skillz."
Before BIG & Pac got killed.
Rodney King was beaten by cops. a
And we all watched up on news in shock.
Saw dude's head get booted.
Verdict came back "Not Guilty" and we looted,
inside OUR zip codes tho. So it made no sense.
But life had no consequence.
Making ANYthing fun like it was all pretend.
The "Backstreets" were the "Jodeci's" & "Boyz II Men."
Guess that was then and this now.
Yesterday is gone no time to clown.
Change in the season happens for a reason.
Fed up but I KEEP my head up until they take me away.

• Hip-Hop
• Hip-Hop/Rap
• Indie
• Lyricism
• Rap
• West Coast
• Los Angeles