MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

(album: HERBERT - 2022)

Hey Herb, it's grandma
I found a scripture and I thought about you
It says, "For what shall it profit a man
If he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
Mark 8:36, Herb, I'm praying for you, grandma loves you
I wrote this message especially for you (Hey, man)

First they love me, then they hate me, then they love me again
I'm scratching my head, I'm rubbing my chin
This ain't the way it was supposed to be, supposedly I'm close to an end
Don't push me, I'm close to the edge, I'm no rookie

What happens ahead is a leap of your faith
You need him to hear what you see and see what you say
We gearing up for something major, you should stay in your lane
Try to hydroplane in God's rain, amen
Just tryna fulfill prophecy properly
Sprinkle fronto on top of the broccoli
Getting high as we possibly can, I'm more than a man
That's why I left these holes in my hands
Hell yeah, I'm still quoting myself
The soul is a spirit floating in the lyrics, guess I ghostwrote it myself
Getting loaded to the point I ain't controlling myself
Couple grams and I'm on the 'Gram, trolling myself
Like, "Get a hold of yourself," gotta get over myself
Message in a bottle ain't gon' open itself
I wrote this message especially for
Let me hear that one
Now everybody get your hands up high
If you don't give a fuck, get your hands up high
I wrote this message especially for you (Yo)

First they love me, then they hate me, then they love me again
I'm scratching my head, I'm rubbing my chin (Yeah)
This ain't the way it was supposed to be, supposedly, I'm close to an end (Nah)
Don't push me, I'm close to the edge, I'm no rookie (No rookie)

Ignore what you took me for (Uh-huh)
In the first place, unless it's in first place (Yeah)
Worst case scenario, this shit stereo burial
You're very venereal, I'ma set you men straight (Soul)
Crooked letter O-U-L
Real recognize real and I don't know you well
Yet and still, waters run deep, you better fill your pail (Yeah)
Your bucket'll get kicked the minute you inhale (Yeah)
And then you can admit you really live in Hell
They should sift this on digital fish scales (No)
D-O-P-E, that's slang for what I sling (No)
Life's a dice game and me and Allah finna tee lee
I'm busy rummaging through government intel (Yeah)
Staying on top of the subject like a CC
This message in a bottle ain't gon' open itself (Nah, yeah)

That's hard, nigga, but you gotta think
You been gone like five or six years

Has TDE missed with signing artists?
Oh, no, the people that they done signed been doing great
What What What rap crew has ever done that?
A miss by most standards, ours, no
The music industry prolly wouldn't say that they hit with Ab-Soul (Ayy, ayy, ayy)
Yeah, yeah (Mac)

First they love me, then they hate me, then they love me again
I'm scratching my head, I'm rubbing my chin
This ain't the way it was supposed to be, supposedly, I'm close to an end
Don't push me, I'm close to the edge, no rookie

Bitch, I'm a vet, show some fucking respect
I'm sensitive, I just lost my best friend
My ego dead, I see no threat
A million clicks ahead of your penmanship, shit
My first demo was on cassette, lil' nigga
Product of determination
I define the word amazing (Yeah, yeah-yeah)
Pastor Black Lip back on that shit
Don't come to altar call with an altercation
I've yet to perish, the meek can wait, uh
The Earth is Herbert's, you don't deserve her
I set the trap and you eat the bait
Who will last is a weak debate
I pray you find peace of mind, mental and physical health and wealth
Don't be deprived by nothing or no one else
A moment with Soul sicker than taking a ghost's picture
Save a frame on your shelf
'Cause I just saw myself seeing myself how I seen myself
See for yourself
This message in a bottle ain't gon' open itself

But, nobody else would say that
Yeah, the music industry would say that
Ab is sick, his projects are sick (Ab-Soul is eclectic)
He is sick, he makes unique, different music
He don't really give a fuck about none of that shit y'all talking 'bout
He just a different nigga, and I think that's why he's there