Produced by Allrounda. Recorded by Lonnie Szoke at Audio District Recording Studios.
holy hip hop
christian rap
friendship
dedication
catholicism
reconciliation
Story behind the song
This is a dedication I wrote - intended for New Life LP - to a long-time friend and former group member. After I was saved, my believer's baptism and turn from Catholicism resulted in two years of silence between us.
Thankfully, God has brought us reconciliation before I could complete his dedication, but he wanted to hear it anyway after I told him about it. I decided to finally get it finished in time for his birthday as a surprise gift.
Lyrics
I don't know how else to start this, I wish we never parted
But what matters more than that is that I had my heart fixed
Not just torn parts stitched, but again a newborn
Like transformed garbage, old me's not worth to mourn
He was smitten and died, now my life's hidden with Christ
Now my vision is right, blind 'til He got rid of my pride
Now in Him, I'm resting, in eternal treasures investing
Now I'm daily pressing on, but assured of where I'm destined
My rebellious decadence chose not to see evidence
'Til I said the skeptic's prayer, He answered my request, evinced
Manifested His presence in my crib and I was left convinced
And the God I attempted to destroy I've been defending since
At times, I kick back, press play and reminisce
Without my best friend, my life's empty like a famine is
Feelin' abandonment, missin' our companionship
Didn't expect me finding God would be the thing ending it
YOU KNEW THE OLD ME, KNEW THE SOUL BENIGHTED IN
ME, YOU KNEW THE SIDE THAT'S GRIM, THAT ALMOST DIED IN SIN
WHO KNEW I'D DELIGHT IN HIM WHO MAKES BRIGHT WHAT'S DIM
WHO KNEW I'D INVITE HIM IN, TO HIM HOLD TIGHT AND CLING
WE WOULD LYRICALLY FIGHT ON BEATS, NOW I'M FIGHTIN' SIN
NOW HE'S THE CLOSEST ONE I AM CONFIDIN' IN
SO EVEN THOUGH I PRAY THAT WE STILL MIGHT BE FRIENDS
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT WITH ME, JUST BE RIGHT WITH HIM
I was so glad to be part of the group we had, 2D
But now it saddens me whenever I look back and see
That twice you clashed with me, wanted to turn your back to me
In rhymes attacking me like that's the way it had to be
But I ain't mad, you see, because I'm largely to blame
I never had to beef, but I was haughty the same
We both wanted to conquer, to see who could be harsher
Why'd we bother to foster feelings that just grew darker
And grow farther as partners? All just for senseless slaughter
My Confirmation sponsor, you saw a somber monster
A mocker, a scoffer, with his anti-God words
Spewing whatever would stop your faith, at least make sure it got hurt
Now the tension feels more awkward than when we, at odds, were
Now adopted to live proper, life offered to the Father
Now I honor the Doctor who gave life to these bones
Isn't this what you wanted for me; for the Light to be known?
YOU KNEW THE OLD ME, KNEW THE SOUL BENIGHTED IN
ME, YOU KNEW THE SIDE THAT'S GRIM, THAT ALMOST DIED IN SIN
WHO KNEW I'D DELIGHT IN HIM WHO MAKES BRIGHT WHAT'S DIM
WHO KNEW I'D INVITE HIM IN, TO HIM HOLD TIGHT AND CLING
WE WOULD LYRICALLY FIGHT ON BEATS, NOW I'M FIGHTIN' SIN
NOW HE'S THE CLOSEST ONE I AM CONFIDIN' IN
AND EVEN THOUGH I HOPE A RENEWED FRIENDSHIP MIGHT BEGIN
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT WITH ME, JUST BE RIGHT WITH HIM
Your faith I vilified, each other we victimized
Don't know why we agreed twice that we will collide
With vicious material, now I see this IS real
Ethereal, I wrestled with God like Israel
My Vitriol was volatile, my words were an arsenal
Thought questions about the meaning of life were all insolvable
To have my heart changed, I thought it'd be impossible
To come out of a dark place, now I'm a living miracle
Was inimical to Kritikal, now that's what our frienship's state is
Like the Valley of Dry Bones, I pray God resuscitates it
Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm just a brother concerned
In His Father's house, I hope you got a spot He reserved
You saw me play with fire and I almost got burned
But I got right with God and now in the Lord, I stand firm
But this isn't about me, it's more serious
It's about you and God and how near He is
YOU KNEW THE OLD ME, KNEW THE SOUL BENIGHTED IN
ME, YOU KNEW THE SIDE THAT'S GRIM, THAT ALMOST DIED IN SIN
WHO KNEW I'D DELIGHT IN HIM WHO MAKES BRIGHT WHAT'S DIM
WHO KNEW I'D INVITE HIM IN, TO HIM HOLD TIGHT AND CLING
WE WOULD LYRICALLY FIGHT ON BEATS, NOW I'M FIGHTIN' SIN
NOW HE'S THE CLOSEST ONE I AM CONFIDIN' IN
SO EVEN THOUGH I PRAY THAT WE STILL MIGHT BE FRIENDS
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT WITH ME, JUST BE RIGHT WITH HIM
Though we became opponents, with the coldest of