The Wake Up Call - Substantial

«Hello?»

Mr. Robinson, this is your wake up call

Better get it together, don’t take too long

GET UP, and get on your job

Gotta gotta gotta make it though I know it’s been hard

Yeah you work hard, and I see you working overtime

You’re a star but you don’t shine like you’re supposed to shine

That’s one of the many things that’s been on my mind

Not enough people know that you’ve been on ya grind

And regardless of the frontin' you’ve been working hard for nothing

Think it’s time you did something before ya time pass

Yo, it’s time to take some action and finally make it happen

And have all the people asking to rewind that

Cause after reviewing all of the facts

It appears your own choices are what’s holding you back

Yo I wanna see you make it dog, really I do

But it’s like some of the songs you write are really 'bout you

Yeah you know what you want, but haven’t got what you needed

And I can’t even front, I can hear your heart bleeding

And they, still manage to front on your ass

It’s enough to make you pick up something and blast

And say «to hell with it»

But you didn’t you dealt with it

You need to be commended for your ongoing commitment

To overcoming the odds it isn’t easy to do

In fact, we know it’s been hard, but by believing in you

You’ve accomplished more things than most of your peers

And became a bit content with it, over the years

Fam, your destiny is bigger than this

Who knows you better than me

It gets no realer than this, you know?

Gotta gotta gotta get it together (and make it)

I support you when nobody does

I was even with you when you didn’t know who I was

Sometimes, I wish you didn’t love so hard

And I wish you had the balls to scream «fuck your job»

Thank God, that you don’t lust for cars

Now if I could only get you to trust your heart

A little bit more, but be sure, you go with your gut

Your literature is pure and your flow has been nuts

So stop lettin' other people tell you how to rhyme

Cause for one they can’t tell the sun how to shine

And for two none of the these dudes is hardly signed

Tell 'em «thanks but no thanks dog, I’ll be fine» (peace!)

I really wish you saw your family more

You need each other, what you think they’re called a «family» for?

Take better care of yourself, cause lack of sleep can really put a wear and

tear on your health

Sheeit but I can’t talk, this is a wake up call right?

That doesn’t mean you need to stay up all night

But easier said than done, we never said it’s fun

We need the bread to come, ain’t easy to get it son

So you compete when the drive is right then

And make music to leave minds enlightened

And I love you for how hard you work

But there’s more to be done, so give it all you’re worth

«Black man get on your job!»

→ sampled from De La Soul’s «Verbal Clap»

Printing Services, Substan- I mean Stan speaking.

How can I help you?

(Yes, is this Printing Services?)

That’s…what I just said, whatcha need?

(Something's wrong with my printer.)

What exactly is the problem ma’am?

(I don’t knoooow… can you please just come over and take a look?)

Alright ma’am, do you have pen and paper?

(Yes!)

Alright, take this number down

(OK…)

(Uh-huh…)

555-HELP

(Is this like some number for the help desk or something?)

Actually… that would be the number for someone who gives a fuck.

Have a nice one!