one mans pain is another mans treasure, and one mans treasure is another mans pain, ones mans pain helped his agony remain, anothers man pain helped look for a better change, one mans dream is another mans nightmare, and one mans nightmare is another mans dream, one mans dream was to raise his self esteem, another mans dream was to shout to the world & scream, one mans truth was another mans lies, and one mans lies are another mans truths, one mans truths were to remain true to his roots, another mans truths were to follow the evil foot, one mans tears are another mans joy, and one mans joy are another mans tears, one mans tears appeared because of his worst fears, another mans tears appeared because of how he cared, one mans questions are another mans answers, and one mans answers are another mans question, one mans question was how to slow dow the aggression, another mans question was how to learn from lifes lessons, one mans strength is another mans weakness, and one mans weakness is another mans strength, one mans strength was that he was this worlds saint, another mans strength was that he would not change, one mans similarity was another mans difference, and one mans difference was another mans similarity, one mans similarity was his moment of clarity, another mans similarity was his condition of prosperity, one mans land was another mans ocean, and one mans ocean was another mans land, one mans land was an island were he was head in command, another mans land was a hotel built among the sand, one mans success was another mans failure, and one mans failure was another mans success, one mans success was that he could fully express, another mans success was the genius that he possessed, one mans war was another mans battle, and one mans battle was another mans war, one mans war was his ignorance to always want more, anothers mans war was that he was tired of being poor, one mans fight was anothers mans loss, and one mans loss was another mans fight, one mans fight was that he wanted everything to be alright, another mans fight was that he was looking for gods light, one mans song was another mans poem, and ones mans poem was another mans song, one mans song was about trying to find were he belonged, another mans song was about trying to put away the wrong,

see there was a time when I was done with rap, I was talking to a wall and the words were bouncing back, look into my eyes and see my pain, light the fire and throw in all my silver chains, my dreams are just black space behind my eyes, i cant sleep at night, look into the mirror and ask why, why cant they except me and just give me a chance, but because of my skin color, they dont even give me a glance, people ask me to rap, then when I start they ignore me, so I just stop because I'm tired of being judged for free, like at least listen to my words before you close your ears, but the judgment takes over so my words they cant hear, all I want is for someone to belive in me, belive in my dream, tell me that I will make it cuz Im walking away from the scene, close the pad, throw away the pen, close my music myspace page, throw away the key cuz I'm locked up in this cage, music was always my survivor through everything I'd been through, but I dont know how much longer to the game I can stay true, how is it that all these wack cats gotta major record deals, but someone real like me cant even tell the world how I feel, when I was younger my pad & pen was my best friend, once I started writing, the words they would never end, but now I dont even feel like writing down these thots anymore, liquify all my notebooks and to the gutter, jst let it pour, I'm looking out the window, wondering where my path will go, It would my dream to stand on that stage and give a show, but then I think the tickets they would probably not sell, no audience to talk to, this world is my hell, my people always came first but not when it came to me, I had there backs but when I was down they just let me be, no hand reached out to pull be back up so I stood, but as soon as I stood, I could feel the angels cry, then I looked at my pad, blood spelt out the word "lie", but regardless of what happens, ima belive in myself, cuz Im doin this for me, not the money, not the wealth, but if I ever make a cent, I'm sending it in a box to tz, cuz without the support of my hometown, there would be no MT, I mean there would be me but I would be known as "matt", so i guess m glad that I had an outlet to this game called "rap", but at the same time understand that I am not black, i never claimed to be but they look at me nd say Im trying to be that, no, im not, do u see me wearing an XXL shirt or some fake chains, nah m different but you know what you mite as well call me insane, but I just wanted to let you know how m feeling inside, I was tired of keeping it in so my pain i didn't want to hide, understand that Im thankful for everyone whos supporter my cause, those who have stood by me and respected my flaws, and to those who judge me and dont gimme a chance, heres my middle finger, take a good look, in fact take a 2nd glance,

sitting here just thinking bout the day, as I dream I just let my mind stray, thinking bout the future that is near, as I wake from my daze, it all seems clear, I see a world that is full of smiles, I see a world that is developing its style, I can only imagine of a better place, One where the disgraced becomes erased, one where a truth is greater than a lie, a place where the innocent can finally hide, The wars will be hidden among a peaceful grave, they can finally hide their defeat in that cave, the children will keep running on that road, let the centuries pass, let the story be told, talk about how it used to be, how we've changed, talk bout how past leaders became deranged, think bout how much human race has advanced, think bout how we as people have enhanced, keep a black and white TV to watch the past, turn on a color TV and take in the contrast, As I see a kid standing on top of the hill, among the ruins, history lays still, a flag is raised, pages from the bible drift away, a cross falls as people of all races pray, one nation stands as we all hold hands, across the globe our brothers & sisters stand, the fog is gone and the air smells sweeter, the smog is disapearing to a dreamer, its now the time for the children to dream, a bright future awaits among this regime, heavens gates are now open to all, the angels are waiting for us to now fall, as create a better world for you and me, we create a society for us to speak free, no more tears for us to drown in, no more fears for us to be afraid of within, its time to make this world a better place, a better life for each and every single race, these colors, we are all pigments of the same pen, human race deserves a better chance as men,

Nitembee katifa bonde la kifo, Niangalie, Nimeze hewa ya mwisho, Nione ubaya inanikimbize karibuni, Kama maisha yangu ya zamani inanifuatalia, Nitembee mpaka siku za mbele sitaki kushindwa, Nishike maisha yangu ambayo imepigwa vibaya, Nielekee hatua kwa hatua pamoja na ushujaa wangu, Nijaribu kubadalisha maisha ili itakuwa wimbo pole, Kivuli changu kinatoka kama ubaya inaonekana, Kama kinajaribu kujificha nyuma ya uoga mkubwa, Wee, tazama njia zote za maisha yangu ya kisasa, Nipige risasi kwenye ubaya uno dirishani, Lakini naendelea kutembea, siwezi kwende pole, Siwezi kutoroka maumivu yote ulimwengu, Kuzuia maisha ni silaha kupigana na ubaya, Maisha yako inawzekana kuharibu ubaya yako, Changamka, tusimame juu ya malalamiko yote, Tutembee mpaka siku za mbele, tupishane siku za zamani, Msihitaji maumivu, uendelee utembee tu, Usihitaji maumivu kuendelea muda mrefu, Nishike nafasizangu zotezilizopita, sahau mapigo yote, Nizuie uendeshaji wangu wa shughuli zangu za mbele, Kama nianguke, nisimame, natembee kama kawaida, Kama inainyesha mvua nijiani, natembee kama kawaida, Nisimame wakati wote, naendelee nitembee, Angalia kwenye macho yangu - sishindwe, sishindew, Usitathmini maisha yako na kima cha mwisho, Usiache sasa, usiharibu maisha imetokezwa,

its bout 2 in the mourning but m still awake, cant go to sleep because my head it aches, so i turn my computer on, get a beat ready, one that it isnt too fast, gotta keep it steady, get my pad ready make sure the pen working, as the rhyme grows on me the lyrics are lurking, what should i write bout? what should i say?, should i talk bout life or introduce my word play, as i spit the words ive written, people pass by, but they taken offense to hear it from a white guy, my environment creates the words on my pad, a backdrop to talk bout the life that ive had, I dream when im awake and sleep when I dream, welcome to poets society, let me paint the scene, I use the words to paint a picture of the world, but they say my visions are incorrect & absurd, can you feel the hunger as I talk my mind, In hip hop today, that hungers been left behind, I dont even have to write to be better than these fools, even when im freestyling, this game I rule, the beats are the same & the lyrical content is gone, I'm an unsigned artist who has it better in the long run, design my own clothes, you cant touch my style, this is a foot race but ive already ran the mile, the beats not finished yet, i got plenty more to say, im the brightest color in the box, they jst shades of gray, all my enemies agree that I really cant be beat, victory is in my blood, I cant even spell the word "defeat", I'm as real as they come, what you know bout me, doubt my color but you cant doubt me as an emcee, as soon as the words come out, those smiles appear, and when I'm done rapping, they stand up and cheer, when I was young other boys would be outside playing, but Id be listening to music and listen to the words portraying, it became my outlet to let my mind speak free, and now finally i have created my own mixtape CD, "understanding of a man" they ask y i chose that title, because i feel to my life, its one that stands vital, theres an evolution through the CD like a timeline, as to say theres a growth from song to song through time, it shows my development to understand who I am, like this is the final test and ive finally passed the exam,