♪ MUSIC ♪ >>FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY, WELCOME TO MELROSE IN THE MIX, OUR SERIES OF LIVE RECORDING SESSIONS IN THE AUDIO STUDIO HERE AT THE MELROSE CENTER.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M JIM MYERS.

TODAY'S SESSION FEATURES E-TURN WITH SWAMBURGER.

E-TURN HAS BEEN A PROLIFIC FIXTURE IN THE ORLANDO HIP HOP SCENE FOR YEARS AND HAS TOURED THE COUNTRY AND EUROPE IN SUPPORT OF HER MOST RECENT AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ALBUM, YOUNG WORLD.

AND FOR TWO DECADES AS A SOLO PERFORMER, FREQUENT COLLABORATOR WITH SOME OF HIP HOP'S BIGGEST NAMES, AND AS A MEMBER OF SOLILLAQUISTS OF SOUND, SWAMBURGER'S IMPACT ON THE ORLANDO MUSIC COMMUNITY AND BEYOND HAS BEEN IMMENSE.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO E-TURN AND SWAM BEFORE THE SESSION ABOUT THEIR LONGTIME COLLABORATION, THEIR UNIQUE SONGWRITING PROCESS, THE ECLECTIC INFLUENCES THAT INSPIRE THEM, THEIR UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND MORE.

>>YEAH!

LET'S GO, SWAM!

LET'S GO!

YEAH!

COME ON!

STUCK IN BETWEEN THE COMMA, NO COMMON KAMIKAZE.

FEELING THE FORCE ALL IN MY BODY TRYING TO STOP ME FROM WHAT'S PROBABLY, OR DEFINITELY MY PURPOSE AND FURTHER EXCURSION.

I'M FIGHTING ON THE STAGE AND SOMEBODY'S CLOSING THE CURTAIN.

IS IT FOR CERTAIN, I'M WHAT THE GIFT OF THE CURSE IS?

I'M LIVING MULTIPLE VERSES, NOT TRYING TO BE LESS ASSERTIVE.

IS IT A PROBLEM THE GIRL IS PERSIAN?

WON'T BE CONVERTED, ENDURANCE.. CAN'T CURB IT, THE STATIC, I KNOW YOU HEARD IT.

COME ON, YEAH!

I KNOW YOU HEARD IT.

COME ON, YEAH!

COME ON!

YEAH!

THEY FIGHT TO MANIFEST THE MALICE OF MY INNER DEMONS.

FIGHT TO GET A GRIP AND FIND THE SOURCE OF WHERE THE FIEND IS.

THEY'RE PUSHING TO PREY ON SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE NEVER EATEN.

THEY DON'T SEE WE'VE BEEN GROWING, I'M HERE SOUL SEARCHING WITH HEATHENS.

MY CHAKRAS' BEAMING, TOO NICE WITH IT AT MY MEANEST.

I'M GRIPPING THE RIGHT DEMEANOR, SO SICK OF THE LIGHT JUST LEAVING.

DIPPIN' MY FEET IN, BEEF WITH THE MONSTER YOU'RE FEEDING.

TOO MANY CASHIN' THE GREED IN, HALF-STEPPIN, THEY KEEP MY SCREAMING.

SO DONE GRABBIN' ON TO THEM BUNK BEATS.

IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY BUT I SEE I'M ONTO SOMETHING.

STILL UPHILL BUT I AIN'T GIVING UP.

SEEING THESE CONSUMERS ARE LOOSE AND ALL TOO TRUSTING.

AFTER YOU AWAKEN, MY UPHEAVAL'S A MUST-SEE.

STEPPED INTO MANY SESSIONS SPEAKING, SEEING I MUST LEAD.

ENERGY VAMPIRES TRY BUT THEY CAN'T TOUCH ME.

AND THESE MUMBLERS' ABOUT AS STUPID AS TRUMP BE.

COME ON, YEAH!

COME ON YEAH!

ABOUT AS STUPID AS TRUMP BE.

YEAH!

I SAID THESE MUMBLERS' ABOUT AS STUPID AS TRUMP BE.

WORD!

YEAH!

YEAH!

COME ON!

COME ON!

ABOUT AS STUPID AS TRUMP BE.

YEAH!

I CAN'T TAKE NO... FROM Y'ALL.

NOT TAKING NO... FROM YOU.

I SAID I'M NOT TAKING NO.. FROM Y'ALL.

NOT TAKING NO... FROM YOU.

>>I SAW HER DO HER THING, AND I WAS LIKE "OKAY".

SHE GOT SOME GOALS.

SHE GOT SPIRIT.

SHE GOT EVERYTHING.

SO, I THINK FROM THERE, I OFFERED TO MAKE SOME BEATS AND ACTUALLY TRY TO HELP FIND A SOUND.

SO, AS SOON AS WE FOUND A SOUND, I THINK THE BEAT THAT I ACTUALLY USED WAS ALIAS.

YEAH.

>>WHAT WAS THE BEAT?

>>REST IN PEACE.

>>REST IN PEACE, ALIAS.

DANG, WHAT WAS THE BEAT?

>>I FORGET FROM WHAT ALBUM AND I FORGET THE BEAT'S NAME.

BUT, IT WAS AN ALIAS BEAT.

HE'S FROM ANACON.

AND YEAH.

SHE KILLED THAT BEAT.

I MEAN, SHE BODIED IT.

SHE'S A BEAST.

>>I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT NEVER LIKED TO COPY THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

I ALWAYS LIKED TO COME WITH SOMETHING NEW.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT... YEAH!

HERE WE GO!

YEAH!

SWAMBURGER ON THE BEAT, THOUGH.

YEAH.

SWAM ON THE BEAT, THOUGH.

ORLANDO, WHAT UP?

YEAH.

ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEARD.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND MAKING SURE I'M BEING ABOUT IT.

ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEARD.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND MAKING SURE I'M BEING ABOUT IT.

FEEL INTRINSICALLY GUIDED TO A PATH OF INNOVATION.

I GET STUCK, AND THEY KEEP CALLING IT THE MATRIX.

SEVER THE HEAD OF THE PATIENT.

PLAY ALL ON YOUR FEARS, "“CHEERS, HERE'S TO HOW FAR WE CAN TAKE IT!

"” YEARS WASTED TRYING TO FOLLOW WHAT THEY BUILT.

LOCK AND LOAD, ZOMBIE-MODE, PAY BILLS AND WASTE SKILL.

THE FAKE THRILL GET THE FAKERS TO FAKE WILL.

GET THE MOVERS TO TAKE PILLS AND THE SHAKERS TO STAY STILL.

THE DAY FILLS WITH THESE WE CAN'T STAND.

SEDATE OUR MINDS, LIMIT OUR SPANS WITH OUR HANDS.

ADMIRE BANDS WISHING WE WERE THEM.

THE BANDWAGON GOT YOU VIBIN' WITH A TASTE SO BLAND.

FARTHEST FROM WHERE THE HEART IS.

SO HARDENED BY WHERE THE ART IS.

DISHEARTENED BY OUR HARVEST, DARTING BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED.

TOO MUCH DEARLY DEPARTED, AND THEY WONDER WHY I'M GUARDED.

ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEARD.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND MAKING SURE I'M BEING ABOUT IT.

ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEARD.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND MAKING SURE I'M BEING ABOUT IT.

DELIVER THE FATE OF MY WILL.

WILL NEVER GIVE UP BUT MY AMBITION IS TAKING A SPILL.

WON'T FATHOM A 9 TO 5, SEEKING GUIDANCE FROM THE THRILL.

MEDICATED, I SEE '‘EM TRYING TO GET ME TO CHILL.

I SEE THE POWER THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL.

I SEE TEMPTATIONS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO FILL.

AND ALL THE MOMENTS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO STEAL.

AND ALL THE NOTIONS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO INSTILL.

PLANTING VISIONS IN MY WATER LIKE I DON'T KNOW THE DEAL.

INEVITABLY, FEAR EVOLVES INTO SOMETHING GENETIC.

THE SIMPLE SILENCE WE'VE ALLOWED OURSELVES IS SIMPLY PATHETIC.

I WANT OUR FUTURE TO FATHOM A FULLY DIFFERENT AESTHETIC.

AVOID FEELING THE PAIN FROM ALL THE THINGS WE'VE EMBEDDED.

GET KNOCKED DOWN AND UP... WAY TOO HECTIC.

THEY PUT A BLOCK IN THE MAZE AND THEN THEY TELL US TO GET IT.

DRAIN OUR ENERGY UNTIL WE'RE HAPPY TO DEAD IT.

SEE '‘EM DYING OFF, ALL THE ONES WHO'VE ALREADY SAID IT.

OUR PASSION IS LOST AND WE'RE DISTRACTED BY THOUGHT.

"“HOW WILL I PAY MY CAR NOTE AND STILL HAVE MONEY TO SHOP?"

NEVER SATIATED, NEVER KNOW WHEN TO STOP.

QUICK TO BELIEVE IT'S US BUT NO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

ILL AT WAR WITH THE ONLY WEAPON THAT I KNOW, SO WHEN I SPEAK, I GUESS I GOTTA LEARN WHEN TO SAY "“NO.

"” FALLING INTO A LOW, BUT I'M STILL WILLING TO GROW.

SICK OF THESE GREEDY...

STEADY STEALING THE SHOW.

LET'S GO.

ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEARD.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND MAKING SURE I'M BEING ABOUT IT.

ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEARD.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND MAKING SURE I'M BEING ABOUT IT.

SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND BEING ABOUT IT.

I'M SPEAKING THE TRUTH AND BEING ABOUT IT.

>>ONE TIME.

HOLD IT FOR THE CAM THOUGH.

WHEN I WAS BEING INTRODUCED TO THE MELROSE CENTER AND THE WHOLE VIBE OF WHAT WAS GOING TO BE GOING ON HERE, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I HAD EVER WANTED THIS CITY TO HAVE.

BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT AS...

IT'S THE HUB.

YOU ALWAYS WANT A HUB INSIDE OF THAT CULTURAL MELTING POT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, WITHIN YOUR CITY.

IT'S PERFECTLY PLACED WITHIN THE LIBRARY.

AND TECHNOLOGY WISE, CREATIVELY SPEAKING, EXPRESSIVELY SPEAKING.

IT HANDLES SO MUCH FOR KIDS AND ADULTS.

IT BRINGS PEOPLE ALL CLASSES AND AGES.

>>YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

>>EXACTLY.

SO, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A VOICE.

AND IT'S A CONTINUOUS VOICE.

IT DOESN'T STOP.

>>I THINK IT OPENS OUR CITY UP MORE TO OUR CULTURE, THE CULTURE OF HIP HOP.

>>OF COURSE.

>>BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SEEN AT THE SHOWS THAT I'VE PLAYED HERE THAT I DON'T THINK, OTHERWISE, EITHER ARE OR WERE HIP HOP FANS OR JUST DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE UNDERGROUND SCENE LIKE THAT.

SO, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE MELROSE CENTER.

IS THAT IT'S BROUGHT ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE OUR CULTURE AND OUR STYLE OF MUSIC AND OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, THAT'S BEEN REALLY DOPE.

>>E ROCKS HERE LIKE A THOUSAND TIMES.

>>AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL SITUATION THAT'S ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF.

AND IT'S COOL THAT IT'S IN A LIBRARY BECAUSE A LIBRARY IS KIND OF A LOST THING A LITTLE BIT NOWADAYS.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT LIBRARIES THAT MUCH ANYMORE.

SO, YEAH.

TO BRING THE MUSIC BACK AND TO BRING THE HIP HOP BACK, BRINGING IT IN OUR CITY, DOWNTOWN, INSIDE A PLACE WHERE BOOKS ARE AND KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM, THAT'S JUST A REALLY COOL THING FOR ME.

>>YEAH.

KEEP ON ADDING TO THE STORIES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>BACK TO THE BIRTH, BACK TO BACKING YOUR WORTH.

BACK TO BACK ON THIS VERSE, I LET THE MANIC IN FIRST.

CRAFT YOUR RIFTS '‘CAUSE REAL RUN OUT WITH THE THIRST I CATCH '‘EM SLIPPIN' THEN I HIT '‘EM WHERE IT HURTS.

SQUASH BELIEF THAT YOU CAN'T RAP IN A SKIRT.

KILL IT, STILL GET QUESTIONED, SEEMS I'M LIVING A CURSE.

MONOTONY GOT ME FEELING NOT FROM EARTH.

HOLD UP, I GOT SOME RAPS IN MY PURSE.

ON THIS SENSELESS PATH TO SATIATE THE EGO.

FORCE FAKENESS TO FRUITION, NO TACT WITHIN THE KEYNOTE.

ACTION LACKS CLASS, THERE'S HAVOC IN THE VETO.

CRIME WARS IN THE VALLEY, HALF-ASS WITHIN THEIR CREDO.

VARIATIONS OF THE SAME SHALLOW SOVEREIGN.

STARVING FOR ATTENTION, TYRANNY MEETS MODERN.

CARVING FOR DEPTH BUT THEY CAN'T BE BOTHERED.

HARPING ON A BET, BEEN LEFT, UPSET WITH NO HONOR.

TAP INTO THE ROOT OF WHY YOU CRY WHEN YOU SING.

AS YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND ALL THESE LIES IN BETWEEN.

LIE FOR A FOLLOW, FAKE THE FUNK TO BE SEEN.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S A THING.

HERE WE GO, SWAM.

HERE WE GO.

WHAT WE TRYING TO LET THEM KNOW?

SOUL.

POETRY.

HUNGER.

RESPECT.

TECHNIQUE.

CONTROL.

FOCUS.

DEPTH.

CONNECTION.

KNOWLEDGE.

POWER.

PASSION.

STANDARDS.

PRESENCE.

DOPENESS.

ACTION.

>>COME ON.

>>FEELING WEAK AND TAKE SHADE WITH THE VILLAIN.

OFFER UP YOUR SOUL TO COP A PIECE OF THE PILLAGE.

KILL THE CULTURE, TURN YOUR CHEEK AND MAKE A KILLIN'.

CAUGHT UP IN THE ROBOTICS, NO PRESENCE IN YOUR POSTURE.

UNDERTHINKING IS TOXIC, THE LIKES ARE HYPNOTIC.

SO YOU CAN KEEP SIPPIN' ON THAT BOTTLE.

ACTING LIKE YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTION.

CONDITIONED RIGHT BACK INTO A CHEAP SHOT AT FAME.

STAGNATE GROWTH AND LOOK AROUND FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME.

WITNESS YOUR ROOTS DYING, BECOME ONE WITH THE PAIN.

ART AND POLITICS BECOME ONE IN THE SAME.

THESE FILL-IN-THE-BLANK RAPPERS, AKA ACTORS.

GETTING CREDIT NOT SHOWING THEIR WORK, NO SCOPE OF WHAT COMES AFTER.

TOO MANY JACKS-OF-ALL-TRADES AND NO MASTERS.

WHAT WAS ONCE ORGANIC IS COMPLETELY BACKWARDS.

SOUL.

POETRY.

HUNGER.

RESPECT.

TECHNIQUE.

CONTROL.

FOCUS.

DEPTH.

CONNECTION.

KNOWLEDGE.

POWER.

PASSION.

STANDARDS.

PRESENCE.

DOPENESS.

ACTION.

>>COME ON.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>SHOUTS TO DJ HURLEY ON THE CUTS.

>>WORD UP.

>>SHOUTS TO SWAMBURGER ON THE BEAT.

>>WORD UP.

>>SHOUTS TO THE MELROSE CENTER.

>>WORD UP.

>>OZONE IN THE BUILDING.

>>TYPICAL SONGWRITING PROCESS.

THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.

SOMETIMES, I HAVE TO CREATE THE MOOD.

MAYBE I'LL PUT ON A BEAT THAT SHE'S GONNA BE WORKING ON.

MAYBE I'LL LIGHT A CANDLE.

MAYBE I WILL HAVE PIECES OF PAPER, LOOSE LEAF PAPER SO SHE CAN REWRITE LYRICS IF SHE WANTS.

AND THEN MAYBE I'LL HAVE SOME TEA AND SOME WATER, MAYBE.

>>SOME VEGAN FOOD.

>>RIGHT, SOME VEGAN FOOD.

>>THROW SOME BOONDOCKS ON IN THE BACKGROUND.

>>BOONDOCKS DEFINITELY IS GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND.

A FAN.

AND THEN FROM THERE, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

AND I'LL PLAY THE BEAT.

I MIGHT EVEN PLAY THE SAMPLE THAT I GOT IT FROM OR SAMPLES, NUMEROUS THAT I GOT THEM FROM.

AND SHE'LL USUALLY HAVE SOMETHING ALREADY WRITTEN BECAUSE EITHER SHE'S TRYING TO FIND A HOME FOR SOMETHING THAT SHE'S ALREADY WRITTEN OR SHE HAS AN IDEA OF SOMETHING AND IS TRYING TO GO THROUGH THAT.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>I WANT TO TALK.

I WANT TO TALK MY HEART OUT.

I WANT TO TALK BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW DOES IT FEEL AS A FEMALE.

AS A HUMAN, AS A BEING.

EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IS AFFECTING ALL OF US.

WE'RE ONE ORGANISM.

ALL OF US INTERRELATED.

WE ARE LIVING THE SAME FATE ON THIS PLANET.

DON'T BE AFRAID OF FEELING THE PAIN.

>>SOUL SOURCE, SWIPED RIGHT TO THE WAYSIDE.

SO USED TO THE FAKE VIBES.

NEVER GET A CHANCE TO CONNECT TO THE MAINLINE.

STAY TIED TO THE SURFACE, MAKE GRIPE BUT IT'S WORTHLESS.

UNDERMINE WHAT YOUR CURSE IS.

SOME EMOTIONLESS SCENES, CUT, SHOWS OVER, PULL THE CURTAINS.

GET JACKED WITH YOUR PURCHASE, GIVE BACK WHEN THE PURGE HITS.

QUICK JABS HOLD A PURPOSE.

LET IT SPEAK, FEELING WEAK, FOREVER FORAGING FOR FERVENCY.

COULDN'T FATHOM A NEW EARTH COULD BE.

HOLDING ON TO THE OLD TRICKS, NEVER LEARN NEW, CAN'T TAKE IT.

SNAP, MURDER, FLEE.

RUN AWAY FROM THE MESS WE INHERITED.

MISINTERPRET HOW TO LIVE AND THEY SCARE US IN.

SWAY FROM THE ROOTS, TRY TO GROW AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, STILL ASHAMED OF YOUR HERITAGE.

SHIFT INNOCENCE, BLAME LOVE, DENYING THE BURDEN WE BEAR WITHIN.

RISK OUR LIVES EVERY DAY ON THE WAY TO SLAVE IN HOPES OF A FAIR SPIN.

WE'RE FEEDING THE MACHINE..GREED, FEAR, HOARDING THE FIENDS.

BLEED, SPEAR RIPPING THE SEAMS, SEEMS FAIR.

NOT WHAT IT SEEMS, WE'RE THERE..

SPORTING DISTORTED REWARDS, CHASING MORE THAN WE NEED.

SORDID DISTORTION IN GLUTENOUS PORTIONS, THEY'RE ITCHING AND PUSHING TO FEED.

THEY CRINGE AT THE CULTURE, BINGE ON IT LIKE VULTURES.

TURN SLAVES INTO SOLDIERS, THE CLIMATE IS COLDER.

WE'RE FINALLY FOLDING, WHAT STANCE ARE YOU HOLDING?

WHAT TRUTH ARE YOU MOLDING?

TUNE IN TO REALITY.

LET IT PAINT THE PICTURE THAT WE'RE SAD TO SEE.

FEEL THE WRATH OF THE REPERCUSSIONS, GIVING IN TO EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE BATTLING.

NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, SO FIRE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, SO FIRE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE FAKE... NO TIME FOR THE HATRED.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, SO FIRE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE HATE.

NO TIME FOR THE FAKE... NO TIME FOR THE HATE.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

UNDIVIDED, RE-DIVIDED, WE'RE DIVIDED.

WE'RE PROVIDING AN ALLIANCE TO THE RIVAL WHEN INSIDE WE KNOW, WE SHOULD RIOT.

SEE DEFIANCE AND DEFY IT.

NO MORE SILENCE, SILENCE DOWN TO A SCIENCE AND ROUND WE GO.

INTERMITTENT TIES TO OUR PAST LIVES.

SLACKING OUR MOVEMENTS, STACKING OUR TWO CENTS.

NO PUSH, WAIT FOR A HANDOUT, GET STUCK, WONDER WHY.

WHY, EYES FEED LIES, STABBING AT OUR HEARTS LIKE A THOUSAND KNIVES.

OVERSTAND BUT NEVER ACT, JUST A GLANCE INTO OUR TRUE MIND, LAPSING TIME.

LEFT BRAIN, RIGHT BRAIN DIALOGUE ARGUMENTATIVE.

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, CRASH IS IMMINENT.

WHERE'S THE MEDICINE I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR?

NO MORE OF THE NO MORE, NO MORE PACING, PEACE THE TOP FLOOR, LEAVE THE SMALL TALK AT THE DOOR.

WAR, CONQUEST, FAMINE, AND DEATH, WHAT'S LEFT IN THIS FRAME?

INFLAMED FROM CUTTING CORNERS, TRAPPING TRICKS IN THE BRAIN.

MAINTAINING ILLUSIONS ABOUT WHO'S INFLICTING THE PAIN.

UNDERMINING DELUSIONS, MOVE ON WITH SICKNESS INGRAINED.

ANCESTRAL OPPRESSION COURSING THROUGH OUR VEINS.

THERE'S MORE TO US THAN STATUS, REMAINED CONDITIONED AND TAME.

LABELS ON EVERYTHING, TAGGING WHAT DEPTH'S IN A NAME.

INTENTION IS QUEEN, AS STRONG AS PEACE IN A GANG.

NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, SO FIRE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, SO FIRE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE FAKE... NO TIME FOR THE HATE.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, SO FIRE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, SO FAKE WE CAN, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE, NO TIME FOR THE FAKE... NO TIME FOR THE HATRED.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

NO TIME FOR THE MAKESHIFT.

YOUNG WORLD IS THE LAST ALBUM THAT WE PUT OUT.

WE PUT IT OUT ON FAKE FOUR, BASED IN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, CESCHI RUNS THAT LABEL AND STARTED IT WITH HIS BROTHER, DAVEED RAMOS.

AND CESCHI'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS.

SO, IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO BE INVOLVED WITH FAKE FOUR.

2018, LIKE I SAID WHEN IT DROPPED.

SO, NEED TO GET SOME NEW MUSIC OUT FOR SURE.

PLANNING RIGHT NOW TO PROBABLY DO MORE OF A SITUATION WHERE INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING FOR THE FULL ALBUM TO COME OUT, LIKE DROP IN A SINGLE EVERY MONTH OR EVERY SIX WEEKS AND JUST CONTINUALLY HAVING CONTENT COME OUT AND DO SOME VIDEOS AND STUFF UNTIL WE HAVE LIKE AN ALBUM'S WORTH AND THEN MAKE IT A WHOLE PRODUCTION AT THAT POINT.

♪ MUSIC ♪ I PAINTED A PICTURE THAT YOU COULD PERCEIVE.

I TRIED TO LEARN YOU WHILE FORGETTING '‘BOUT ME AND NOW IT'S SO HARD TO GET BACK ON MY FEET.

BUT IMPOSSIBLE'S SOMETHING I CANNOT CONCEIVE.

TRYING TO REMEMBER TO BREATHE, TRYING TO REMEMBER TO BREATHE.

POPS IN THE HOSPITAL LOOKING TO PEACE.

AND I'M JUST OBSERVING, REFLECTING ON DEEP.

THOUGHTS THAT I'VE PONDERED, ON LIFE AND ONWARD.

OVER THERE YONDER, SEE WHERE I'M ON IT.

POSING TO BE WHO I NEED BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN BE WHO YOU NEED, SO MOVE ON AND BE HONEST, SO MOVE ON AND BE HONEST.

LOOKING SO FAR BEYOND THIS.

LOOKING SO FAR BEYOND WHAT'S DISPLAYED ON THE SURFACE AND PROMISED.

SO CLOSE TO DEATH THAT I'M NUMB TO THE PETTY.

SO BUSY THAT I GET SO CLOSE TO FORGETTING.

THE WOUNDS ARE STILL OPEN AND VIRUS IS SPREADING.

EMBEDDING THE DEADING OF LETTING IT SWELL.

SHEDDING SOME LIGHT ON ALL OF MY FEARS.

ALL OF THESE YEARS, I'VE SHIFTED MY GEARS.

DRIFTED INTO A STATE OF MIND THAT MADE ME FORGET TO TAKE IN ALL THE GIFTS FROM MY PEERS.

REFLECTED ON ALL I'VE CREATED, ON ALL THAT I MADE WITH MY MAKINGS, RELATED TO GREATNESS BUT SHAKING IT OFF.

BUT THEY LAUGH AND THEY SCOFF.

CANNOT GRASP WHEN IT CALLS FOR SOMETHING NEW AND EVOLVED.

AND I'M NOT NORMAL.

TAKE ME AWAY BUT DON'T TAKE ME FROM MYSELF.

FORGIVE HIM FOR HE KNOW NOT.

REALISTIC NEVER SHOWED UP.

WAITING FOR THEM TO GROW UP.

CONTEMPLATING THE BLOW UP.

SO I MEDITATE, PERPETUATE IDEALISTIC WAYS.

BATTLE BECOMING A SLAVE.

DETACH FROM WHAT SEEMS LIKE A PHASE.

TOO MANY NAMES ENGRAVED ON MY SOUL, ON EVERY PAGE.

YOU DISDAIN AND TELL ME TO SWAY.

IF YOU'RE NOT WITH ME, MOVE OUT THE WAY.

I CANNOT BE TAMED.

I WILL NOT BE SHAMED.

I WILL NOT BE BLAMED.

YOU ARE NOT IN FRAME.

COLORFUL THOUGHTS DESERVE COLORFUL PROPS.

NOT ONE TO KNOCK BUT I'M SICK OF HAVING TO STOP.

I KNOW JUST WHAT I GOT, I'VE LOVED HARD AND A LOT.

I'VE BEEN SCARRED, I'VE BEEN SHOT DOWN BY THE PEOPLE I FOUGHT FOR.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S NOT FOR.

IT'S FOR PEACE, NOT CONTROL.

IF I'M WEAK, I MIGHT FOLD.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH POWER YOU HOLD.

TAKE ME AWAY BUT DON'T TAKE ME FROM MYSELF (REPEATED) FOR ME, IT IS BEING A WOMAN IN HIP HOP IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY.

FOR ME, IT IS EMPOWERING WOMEN IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN, THE YOUTH.

AND IT'S KIND OF BEEN LIKE MY WHOLE JOURNEY WITH MY MUSIC.

IT'S LIKE I'VE HEARD IT A LOT AND WE STILL HEAR IT IS LIKE, "WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE EMCEE?"

THAT'S COOL, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT HAS HINDERED US IN A WAY OF WHERE OUR STANDARD IS AS FAR AS WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM A WOMAN RAPPER, FROM A WOMAN IN HIP HOP.

AND I'VE TRIED TO NOT LET THAT HINDER ME FROM BEING ABLE TO BE COMPARED TO THE GREATEST MEN IN RAP.

SO FOR ME, WITH MY MUSIC AND WITH ME CREATING A STANDARD LIKE THAT FOR MYSELF, I HOPE THAT IT LIKE EMPOWERS WOMEN AND IT JUST, IN GENERAL, RAISES A STANDARD FOR WOMEN IN HIP HOP TO WHERE IT'S NOT JUST LIKE "SHE'S GOOD FOR A GIRL."

NO, SHE'S JUST DOPE.

THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.

SO FOR ME, THAT'S BEEN HUGE.

AND THROUGH ALL THAT, JUST BEING ABLE TO EMPOWER PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD WITH YOUR MUSIC.

BE RELATABLE TOO.

I SAID I'VE STRUGGLED WITH A LOT OF TRAUMA AND DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

SO, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO RELATE IN THAT WAY AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE THING FOR ME WITH MY MUSIC.

AND THEN JUST ALSO TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS.

>>THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF MELROSE IN THE MIX FEATURING E-TURN WITH SWAMBURGER.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON WITH ANOTHER LIVE RECORDING SESSION HERE IN THE MELROSE CENTER AT THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY.