Q-Tip

Released: December 2, 2008

Featuring: Al Kapone

Songwriter: Bo Diddley Q-Tip Al Kapone Steve Jordan

Producer: Steve Jordan Al Kapone

[Verse 1]
You're looking at a man with the heart of a lion
Got my eyes on the prize
I'm a get it or die trying
Comin from the bottom you can't take me no lower
Got the talent, the passion and I'm destined to take it over
Who am I? I'm not the one to be disrespected
Who am I? I'm changing the game, teaching a lesson
But the nay sayers try to blur my vision
Im so focused makin moves with grace and precision
Ima do it for me and everybody in the struggle
All my ancestors that died in the past to give me muscles
I'm a man, no matter if you got the upper hand
I'm a man with gods gift to get it the best
I'm a man

[Hook]
I'm a M-A-N
I'm a man, I'm a man
I'm a M-A-N
(You ain't dealing with no boy, I'm a grown-ass man)
I'm a man, I'm a man
I'm a M-A-N

[Verse 2]
Im a big fish in a small pond
Left the country for the city to get it done
They underestimate me try to treat me like a boy
But I flipped it around
Now I'm the one they can't ignore
I know what I'm worth and I want every cent
Try to short me again
And I'ma click in this bitch just to get me what's mine
Nothing more nothing less
And ima give you my all
Nothing less than the best
Please have the respect
I done felt enough pain
I done give you enough
To get where im at it ain't a game
I'm a M-A-N
Im takin a stand
Rub me the wrong way and you gonna find out
You dealin with a man

[Hook]
I'm a M-A-N
I'm a man, I'm a man
I'm a M-A-N
(You ain't dealing with no boy, I'm a grown-ass man)
I'm a man, I'm a man
I'm a M-A-N
I'm a man, I'm a man
I'm a M-A-N
I'm a man, I'm a man

Jonathan Davis (born April 10, 1970), aka Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, aka Q-Tip is a rapper and producer known as a member of A Tribe Called Quest, the hip-hop group responsible for helping popularize “jazz rap” and releasing classics such as “Bonita Applebum,” “Scenario,” and “Electric Relaxation.” After Tribe released their fifth album in 1998, Q-Tip launched his solo career, releasing three albums and popular singles such as “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe and Stop” before reuniting with Tribe in 2016 to release the group’s final album following the death of his rhyme partner Phife Dawg.

Q-Tip also produced on a number of other projects during his time with Tribe, most notably for Queens representatives Nas and Mobb Deep on their classic albums Illmatic and The Infamous respectively. In 1995, he connected with producer Jay Dee aka J Dilla and Tribe’s DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad to form the production crew The Ummah, and the trio produced and remixed tracks for Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson. Tip also produced for Run-DMC, The Roots, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and he also worked with both Jay-Z and Kanye West on their Watch the Throne album.

Q-Tip currently has his own Abstract Radio show on Apple Music’s Beats 1 station.

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Cadillac Records: Music From the Motion Picture