For You

[Intro: Mantra]
Yo so this is a song that I wrote for our good friend Hani Ghaleb Jaber
Who was taken from us in 2003
He was an amazing boy and an amazing friend and we miss him every day
Every day

Now it was Hani who encouraged me to start rhyming in the first place back in the day so
If it hadn't been for him my life would've been completely different
We love you bro

[Verse 1: Mantra]
You went from a face in the crowd
To all this craziness now
Regardless you're still making us proud
What this ain't about is y'all standing down from a brawl
You were small but you were always standing tall
Its one of the many I admired you for
The height of your gall
Left to center thinking either ride or you fall
And you were right with it all
Stood directly in the eye of the storm
Spitting rhymes in the face of the lord
Like acid
A blank page presented an open door
Represented exactly what you were doing this for
New facet of fascination a wholeheartedly explore
Much more than beats and the verse it was the whole cause
Any mic in sight was there for the rippin'
Incredible insight written on texture was flippin'
Your response to the heads that were dissin'
Ill rip your motherfucking rib cage out and make shreds of the ribbons
Any audience was destined to listen
The one that was destined to be one the best in the business
Subscribed to the school and never no rest for the wicked
So you ran along
And barely slept while they kept to their linen
Facing degradation kept your position
We kept it kicking till the morning was upon us
Keeping it real honest
And sometimes I feel I ain't gotta a lot of that in me
It's times like this I wish you were still here with me

[Hook: Mark Pearl & Mantra]
If it hadn't been for you
Reaching out for me then
I would not be here
Its times like this I wish you were still here with me
If it hadn't been for you
I would not be me so
This is all for you

[Verse 2: Mantra]
I was working in the lab when it happened
Revelation relay of a phone call happened
Face slap collision with stone wall happened
The cynic in me refused to believe it had happened
It was a lead though
To follow in tow by the HAM
(??? name in the headlines and it sounds like your man)
Shivered twice at the prospect
Calm down son this is precaution
That preposterous option will be laid to rest
One step that was clear to be taken next
Confirmation
Acquisition of information
(Yeah I just heard too)
And that was all that it took
Ill never forget the way that his voice quivered and shook
The minute it took
For me to fully understand
The shock was horrible
Not having you around seemed impossible
An awful concept was living life like that
Not before nor since have I ever cried like that
Images of your body beneath the sheet still disturbs my sleep
Knowing the pain you went through on that cold street
The grief of a family
First born child second heartbreaking tragedy
Recipe for insanity
A travesty
Cold blooded and callous
Unbelievable people capable of such physical malice
But the scars left by your death
Are nothing next to the years of legacy I'm a devote to ya memory

[Hook]

[Verse 3: Mantra]
So as life without you
Continues
Its still you
Getting me through
And yes it is true
I'm less confused
And so much seems trivial
I question my spiritual
All thanks to one individual
It was your power
Your voice
Your passion for life
That drives me
Provides me
With my passion for life
There's no overstating the impact you've had on my life
That's why I'm thankful

So as life without you
Continues
Its still you
Getting me through
And yes it is true
I'm less confused
And so much seems trivial
I question my spiritual
All thanks to one individual
It was your power
Your voice
Your passion for life
That drives me
Provides me
With my passion for life
There's no overstating the impact you've had on my life
That's why I'm thankful
That's why I'm thankful kid