Written after I'd gotten second place in 2006's Whatzup Battle of the Bands, Creasy was an opportunity for me to take stock. I was humbled by having gone so far and wanted to capture that sense of disbelief. Shortly after the Battle of the Bands, I used my advertising credit to run a thank you print ad, a section of which is above. It only seemed fitting to flip Cause I said So's "this is for the people I began with who gave up" to "this is for the people who believed in me more than I." I still can't believe how Keter was able to take both vocal samples and twist them around at the end. The song's name is in reference to Denzel Washington's character in Man on Fire.
lyrics
Still heating up after all of these years
success and i'm calling it weird, bald with a beard
scalding the ears of those cool enough to show the support
Indiana rep…betrothed to the Fort
soaked to the orbs with sweat after enough live show
wanted to burn it down…didn't need to be a pyro
eyes closed, the set done...crowd chanting my name
never thought i'd make it, man it's insane
a phantom aflame, mechanical brain is clicking fast
Kicking raps and it's humbling being this at last
isn't that what i dreamt about down in the basement
locked in the bathroom for hours, practicing, pacing
now it's back to the basics, a dope beat and some words
Seems just as I calm down, there's no ceasing the urge
releasing the merged murder fervor, leaping to surge
indeed it's absurd, in league with the beat, it’s superb
I can’t deny it, no matter how I try kid
on stage riots, otherwise quiet
fans repeating a verse, man I bleed for the thirst
not needing to curse, these words impeach legions, observe
unfeasible first and now conquered in the aftermath
content with life, like i don't even have to rap
but half of that is disbelief, I'm still around ripping beats
simply combined with Keter on a sickened symphony
the Tortoise Hustle moves forth and it's into me
complicated words mash part DaVinci industry
my limbs are weak, but still my heart demands more
so i'm typing down bloodwork, leaving hands sore
i don't need to plan war, but sometimes it's fun to
build myself another wall i know i'm going to run through
a one two...that's my catalyst, no fragile additives
just me, formerly invisible new statuses
Feeling strange when the folks call me by my rap name
so I say I'm Stephen and I'm glad that they came
I can’t deny it, no matter how I try kid
on stage riots, otherwise quiet
this is for the people who believed in me more than I
and that there's a long list, so form a line
you were there when everything was said and done
and if the criticism's due, I know you will let it come
I can trust the truth and do my damndest to improve
a man in the booth, examining the muse...San is in the groove
I don't waste energy to either love or hate a critic
I work words to beats in the hopes you will say you dig it
and if not, so be, the journey doesn't cease
long as the pen moves and my soul is still loving beats
give my head some room to breathe that's recovery
rap tracks, rebuttals, beef, stashed facts the rubble bleeds
upstairs our firetrap apartment, planning new tracks
as the faucet leaks, the missing link grew back
A fan for the ages, hoping to be earning dap
Been at this since '98, there’s no turning back
I can’t deny it, no matter how I try kid
on stage riots, otherwise quiet
Started following Juga-Naut upon hearing him break down life and rap relating to Kool G Rap on Crate808 and I've been a fan since. Wordplay, skill, the dope backdrops, what's not to love? Sankofa
