Contradiction

Dm  C   X8


[Verse 1]
           Dm        C
The other day, me 'n XP opened for Souls of Mischief
          Dm                           C
I'm like "Yo, let's get on some angry MC showmanship and hit 'em"
Dm                                           C
Rocked all the cocky songs and not too many soulful lyrics
Dm                          C
Even a couple dissin' women callin' 'em "groupies," "hoes," and "bitches."
Dm                              C
   Got off stage, and I'm like "Yo, I know that we killed it,"
    Dm
Ran into a familiar face, a female who comes in and supports us
Dm                            C
   I said "Peace!" She said "Wait! Let me talk to you for a minute
   Dm                                    C
I know it's none of my business, but I wasn't impressed by your performance."
Dm                                              C
   I said "Word? Shit, I love feedback and criticism."
            Dm                        C
She said "I miss the passionate spirit, your political vision
      Dm                                                C
Quite honestly I wasn't offended by those references to women
            Dm             C
But you're only continuing society's conditioning."
Dm                        C
   It hit the heart of me

I told her that this was part of me
  Dm                             C                                    Dm
I stand up for human rights, and treat others how I would wanna be treated
                C
But every song can't be seepin' with freedom
               Dm                     N.C.
'Cuz the other side of me is sexist then people will feel that I'm preachin'
 Dm
"Everything's peace and love?" uhh, that's somewhat misleading
             Dm                           C
Because this world is fucked-up and I'm a pro-duct to what I'm seeing
Dm                               C
    Not to justify, but just to touch on my being
  Dm                             C
I learn from these verses and my purpose gets surfaced with demons
          Dm                   C
Now I am sexist, I'm prejudice, I put that in my music
             Dm                     C
She said she heard that perspective, but before she turned around
         Dm                       C
She said   "We have a flame, your fire's ignited with sound
        Dm                                    C
Are you building the empire up, or using your fire to burn it down?"


[Refrain]
    Dm               C                            Dm
Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite
    C
And through these songs you can witness it
     Dm              C
The differences, I admit this shit, because I'm just like you;
Dm                C
   Walking a fine line between saying and living it
    Dm               C                            Dm
Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite
    C
And through these songs you can witness it
     Dm               C
The differences, I admit this shit, because I'm just like you;
Dm                C
   Walking a fine line between saying and living it

[Chorus]
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down
Dm        C
    down, down
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down
Dm        C
    down, down, down, down down
N.C.
Down, down, down, down

[Verse 2]
         Dm                              C
Now one thing that I've always struggled on
                       Dm                         C
Is how to incorporate drugs and alcohol into my music outside of sober songs
Dm                         C
  'Cuz on that perspective, that's all over my records
        Dm                              C
But the other side isn't represented unless it sessions with XP
                       C
How can I admit that I love to smoke weed
            Dm                     C
Knowing the kids are listening and many of them look up to me?
       Dm                  C
Not to say that I'm a role model, but I know that words are power
       Dm                     C
And if I condone bottles and chronic, I am sending out the
C                   C
Message "It's okay," hey I believe that it is
               Dm                     C
Chronic can be medicine, but it's all about your relationship with it
               Dm                           C
See I'm either off in the wagon riding and everyday with the spliff
                   Dm                      C
Constantly looking for a balance but habit turns to addiction
    Dm                     C
And hip-hop music and weed: they're inseparable
                  Dm                        C
So MCs that don't smoke or drink, talking about it, to me, seems questionable
Dm                           C
   It proves how much people just want to be accepted
             Dm                                   C
And not seem straight-edge to their audience, so keeping it real is neglected
Dm                                   C
   'Cuz when I'm smoking, I wouldn't wanna bump a song like this
            Dm                     C
Put on some Dev and break out the Swishers, and a bong and some licks
    Dm
See that's a part of me too
C                                               Dm
   And I know that I would make more money if I wasn't as true
C                                          Dm
   To all the struggles of the blunted consumption I'm goin' through
C                          Dm                  C
  Make music for the party, and the people support you
                             Dm                      C
I burn Brother Ali and buy 50, what does that say to you?

Bring it back around
     Dm                         C
Am I building the empire up or using my fire to burn it down?


[Refrain]
    Dm               C                            Dm
Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite
    C
And through these songs you can witness it
     Dm              C
The differences, I admit this shit, because I'm just like you;
Dm                C
   Walking a fine line between saying and living it
    Dm               C                            Dm
Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite
    C
And through these songs you can witness it
     Dm               C
The differences, I admit this shit, because I'm just like you;
Dm                C
   Walking a fine line between saying and living it

[Chorus]
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down
Dm        C
    down, down
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it down,
Dm                 C
    Light it up to burn it
N.C.
    down, down, down, down down