Intro You are now about to enter the mind of a soldier. A soldier who has made it through hell and back just to share a chapter of his story. With all its pain and all its glory. America/ America look at me I fought for you/ for us to be free/ Oh red white and blue/ your so beau-tiful I prey everyday for your soul Even with your dirty tricks up your sleeve I stand by you/ till I bleed / I stepped on those yellow foot prints took that creed/ did that deed Thousands of others / who bleed like me Thousands of others / who fought like me Thousands of others/ just like me So please please / why cant you see America/ America / home of the brave Jan 6th now roe vs wade Lets not forget what happen to the slaves Veterans coming home from war finding themselves diggin their own graves Old Politicians stuck in the old ways Its up to us to change it to new waves Who i am/ just a nobody bussin verbal artillery America/ America / sweet land of liberty They say we chemically imbalanced/ In mental captivity / pumped with toxicity Im no marine rapper rapping about trends I rap about my life and what I defend A soldier who goes hard/ so let that sink in America/ America / follow the leader Casualties of war/ directed to the non reader/ In this journey of the journal/ im the journalist speaking direct/ without discrete/ hittin harder then a navy fleet/ dont sweat the technique I got a question/ serious as burn pits/ who can keep the crowd hype/ spits/ grippin the microphone with iron fists/ changin history with every pen lift/ changin history from every conflict/ twists from thee lyrical wordsmith/ another product formed into a song mix/ chemically imbalanced/ through the 4 elements/ Stay true to your story/ never a story of make believe/ but a story of truth and worth/ that you can pass down to your seeds

Hook Is this what they want verse 1 Oh Heavenly Father/ why you make me a killer oh Heavenly Father why you give me a voice/ why you let me survive the war/ heavy is the head that wears the crown/ placed in position to change the sound/ Warfighter Music/ A place where I can share my mental aguishness / a place we’re I can showcase my inner wounds/ through my verbal stainless/ semi automatic flow/ a Pioneer and didn’t even have to sell my soul/ the soldiers lost voice/ from day one/ I am the one/ son of sun/ son of a gun/ coming at you live and direct/ with the strength of 55 tons/ Sabo / the round of the tank / bussin through your speakers/ 120 Millie meter/ aiming at your ear drums/ lyrical phenom / combat veteran/ the undisputed champion/ verse 2 This is that turmoil turned to strange music That blueprint for you to use it That never quit/ never give up/ I’m here to do it / I’m here to prove it I’ve been fighting all my life been doubted all my life/ been made it through the gutter/ Been made it through the struggle/ This for the outcast/ the unwanted Molded out the rubble / forever hunted No need for accolades/ no need for recognition/ as long as one life is saved/ my life is made/ I've been doing this/ been doing that/ been a leader in my community/ and that’s a fact/ This is for those who feel alone/ who been neglected/ forgotten/ who been rejected / passed up on certain selections / as a collective our whispers shall overcome/ without any regression You can’t imagine the things I’ve been through and the things I’ve survived/ but with that struggle there is beauty/ I’m still here still alive remember the name / SABO

Hook I’m down on both knees From the 1st to the 15th They got me Stuck overseas Surviving these overdraft fees based on a true story/ True story that happen to me Family affected by these Damm Overdraft fees I got no bread , I got no paper, can’t afford a fade, yet alone a tapper Didn’t know it was problem tell I release I couldn’t afford the seasoning in the romen Overdraft fees got me stressin My stomach touching/ I can feel the aggression/ Is this a blessing in disguise I don't see the lessons/ written in the skies Joined the military thinking it will make a better man out of me It sure did but now stuck with fighting these overdraft fees / livin paycheck to paycheck / times are hard/ hustling for cash/ scrambling for change just for gas/ a soldier of this United States Army/ yet I find myself borrowing friends money Reality sinkin/ with these Coupon clippings Who can relate/ bills being late/ heart pours out on these piano keys/ damm these overdraft fees Contrary of belief/ there are many of us who joined the military seeking a better living but most of us are kids with a young family and for the first time away from their parents. No guidance on how to manage money so we find ourselves living fighting overdraft fees barley surviving till the next check on the 1st and the 15th.

Let’s set up the timeline to better understand the crossed lines (Anxiety, trauma, depression, isolation) I battle mines Verse 1 It was 2002 going on 03/ I was still a youngin runnin the streets My son was born while I was only a teen A knucklehead/ barley gettin bread/ back against the wall/ so I had to crawl Here's a story/ how became the soldiers lost voice/ US Army was the choice/ months of training went by/ a year later I was kissing my family goodbye/ hardened with confidence/ money couldn’t buy/ on a flight to Iraq for war/ hoping Not to die/ battle after battle / Mission after mission Had to see my brothers die beyond recognition no magician / Became an expert hiding emotions/ survived several explosions/ now home/ I didn’t recognize myself/ neither did my son/ to be sincere Verse 2 Verse 2 cuts deeper than ever/ my wife says she’s pregnant/ it’s a girl/ all while I’m folding under mental pressures / I ask for an abortion / I’m so lucky she kept her/ don’t know what I was thinking/ my time ticking/ mind spinning / knowing I’m going back to Iraq for a sequel/ my aim is lethal/ bodies drop/ on both sides / you can see the trauma in my eyes/ no lie My faith is fractured/ my spirit broken/ battling inner omens/ boom / another explosion/ now I’m home/ damm near homeless / can’t find a job/ unable to provide/ so I hustle on the side/ losing myself/ identity gone/ I’m so withdrawn / I wanna quit / in need of help/ but I can’t admit questioning why I’m here/ went from a soldier to now a veteran/ to be sincere Bridge: Mental health is something that can not go untreated/ please seek the help needed/ if I can make it / you can make it/ please believe it / but for now

Hook When you feel like the end is near When your body is consumed by fear When you’ve lost those close and dear How do you dig deep to persevere Verse Here’s a story from the other side/ realize/ another perspective / for yo eyes/ how we were utilized / compromised / in order to survive/ imagine a foreign nation/ invading hindering your ability to stay alive/ tanks and missiles/ kicking yo door down with boots and pistols/ yellin for you to get down get down/ while you steaming up chi in the kitchen next to the kids playroom/ we at war/ so your rights are out the window/ collations who some considered tyrants/ a generation of now traumatized chitlins / bombs from the liberators/ rebel raiders/ in turn / chemically imbalanced deliberators / so who hand was really on the detonator

A chance to tell my story / before the so called glory/ Never been a stranger this What some consider forbidden For me it’s a constant itch/ an itch to story tell Well it was back in 07 / where the lesson Began/ out the service/ no more army/ just me with lack of family/ Mind lost/ ego broken/ spirt shaken / begging for tokens/ Filled with anger / spat on strangers Felt misunderstood / couldn’t even relate to my hood / as I share who I was is not who I am/ so let’s be clear As I take a moment to mourn Rip to the person I was before Celebrating the new me Celebrating the new born No more feeling entitled a chapter that’s untitled Being written/ without being grief stricken A time of hating me/ a time of lost identity A time of suicidal fantasies Who I was is past tense/ Had to rebuild my mental self defense To commence / a better version of self/ a better version of me/ a better version who you now see/ This goes out to those who were told they would fail for those with a troubled past / time to shatter the hour glass/ Light up to new beginnings

Dedicated to my fallen brother Sgt. Jonathan B. Shields April 4th 1979 - Nov 12th 2004 Died Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom in the battle of Falluja. Was good battle/ it’s been a minute since I wrote one of these/ with this album something told me to write/ a Geno part 3/ you cross my mind all the time/ I stare and wonder / what could we have done if we’d had more time/ album was done but I had to write another rhyme/ to represent you / I remember our convos after mission/ Face dusty still stankin/ lips chapped/ we just sat and laughed Yo you remember How we would argue on who was the best rapper / hours would go by and we would eventually end up listening to oldies/ r&b was yo favorite/ Marvin Gaye/ Stevie wonder/ you put me on game/ to those gems/ whistling to those hymns But yea Now a days things seem worst around the world/ but I just focus on what’s in my world/ family / community/ and love / Your son is so grown now / decided to go into public service just like you/ help the defenseless / I know you proud/ your daughters all beautiful with their own kids Your wife/ well that’s another story/ from what I see she’s happy and remarried/ we haven’t spoke in a while/ Had to hit her with the curve/ she let her political views get the best of her/ even attacked my mental health online which I thought was kind of ironic and unkind/ it’s all good no love lost/ time will continue to pass all of us/ I appreciate your visits in a form of a crow slash raven Especially on the days that I’m down/ you ensure me everything is ok / no need for explanations/ last Memorial Day was extra special/ we talked in front on my youngest/ who now understands our connection/ Sgt. Jonathan B. Shields / aka Geno a dedication Years later/ the answer never came Only understanding / from my mental remains Even tatted your name on my arm As a reminder of your sacrifice Love you brother where ever you might be Continue to watch over us / protect us on the things we cannot see As I continue to walk in this current life. I will forever ensure your name is never forgotten. Sgt. Jonathan B. Shields

It was time to get some things off my chest Grab the pen pad release the stress Not a day goes by/ that I don’t miss you Remember how I use to drive you crazy Staying out late/ hyper kid / off the walls I really thought I was spider man/ amazing X-men with the secret weapon/ you nourished With love/ always caring/ like a water/ reflecting our light/ Through you I learn to fight for a better life / with your passing/ I learn to live with purpose/ time is short in this dimension/ in my dreams/ I seek/ we speak/ I see you smiling from the heavens/ Hook Dedicated to my queens Dedicated to the Ones who do right by me did me right/ truly did me right Dedicated to my queens Dedicated to the ones who had my back/ always had my back My letter/ slash conversational piece/ slash apologetically release through these writings/ wake up grateful to have you by me/ knowing what we’ve been through as a couple slash marriage/ went from happy to I couldn’t stand you to now couldn’t picture my life without you So here we are/ sharing energy/ articulating preferences/ finishing each others sentences/ surviving trails through our separation/ many said we wouldn’t make it/ I had to go astray and order to find my way had to fix me in order to build us / Truly blessed for every single day To the one whose not a Queen yet In my eyes you will always be my princess You are beautiful, intelligent, and caring Kind hearted / at times always doing the mostice/ listen/ never let the world take away your inner solstice/ though I may not communicate it well / just know I love you and can’t wait to see what you offer this crazy world/ Yea/ a future Queen/ ruling with all supreme

Hook How do you tell ‘em you gotta stop How do you tell ‘em I gotta let go How do yo tell ‘em I’m done with the props How do yo tell ‘em I’m done with the flow I did what did / I said what said / picked up the pen / with my blood & sweat I gave it my all / I gave y’all my all when is enough / that is the question When it’s your passion/ what is the message Who do influence/ what is the lesson Went from a crook/ who became an open book/ who embraced the army look/ so what do you do/ so what would you do/ with this gift from god/ would ignore the signs when the universe provides you sod/ so that you can grow/ continue to roll with the punches/ in hopes that one line touches / the masses / glasses not needed to see what’s being written/ just listen to the pain that comes within my domain / a king and his reign / with thunder and rain/ forms greater remains So we at it again/ plottin to win/ plottin an end To humble beginnings/ facetious / I’m not/ life by a Glock/ when will it stop / I do this with love / love to inspire / in dire need but it’s almost time to hang it up/ time to leave