Song: Before You
Artist: Rationale aka James Crawford feat. Moe
Album: Life As An M.C.
Year: 2005

(Chorus --Moe)
I just want/ 
To keep it real with you
No matter what I do/
I feels like you're trying to make me choose/
Between this love/ 
I have for you is sure/
If it's not genuine/
I know that it was not pure, my love

Yo, yo, yo, yo, This is my life, been doin this since I was young/
But you wanna get mad now that my time has come/
I used to, rhyme for fun, ya see, but now I'm stretched/
So ya know that I'm down for makin moves and pilin checks/
It's all time and effort, not just heart and soul on track/
I've gotta stay dedicated, but you wanna hold me back/
And I can tell you're irked with my long nights at work/
I'm tryin to stay focussed but you got me feelin like a jerk/
And forget your friends who say I'm with some booty-ho/
Gettin my freak on not really in the studio/
My attention's what you want babe, I can give it/
But understand that I'm a man, this my life, I've gotta live it/
I'm climbin especially with you standin next to me/
You're more of a necessity than an accessory/
But, throttle back, yo don't force me to choose/
Because in reality, this was here before you!

(Chorus)

This is me, this is mine, this is part of who I am/
Here's the difference, that isn't, that's all on you my man/
I don't wanna blow you off, and instill ill feelings/
But I simply don't have the time, dog, I'm still building/
I'm not gonna start lying to you, or even try to be rude/
I honestly don't have the space to be rhymin with you/
It's not that it's a pain to show you game and give help/
It's just still chasin mine and tryin to make a name for myself/
I know exactly where ya comin from, hear me though/
I was in the same position eleven years ago/
There are no limits, the tools are there you've gotta take em/
No handouts, and the opportunities you've gotta make em/
I'm all for a collab and rippin a track with lines/
But first your identity is what you have to find/
And you can get mad like I just wanna ignore you/
Man, it's all cool, but this was here before you

(Chorus)

I drew an outline and stuck to my guns/
And kept at it, not knowin what it'd become/
I had a dream reading rap magazines/
Playin Warren G CD's and bouncin on a trampoline/
It was curbs and doorsteps, basements and porches/
Then rallies, parties, record shops and live performance/
Now it's, time to think big, work to get this record made/
Doin it for myself, stayin true, and gettin paid/
Let me say without a few, this wouldn't have been possible/
But 90% of kith and kin ended up bein obstacles/
You listen, and then you call me a hater/
But if you wanna act like that, well then, fuck it, see ya later/
But know this, I'll always be real, don't need a golden crown/
And if you wanna go against me, shit, I'll still hold it down/
That's integrity and dignity it's all true/
cause remember man, this was here before you!

(Chorus)