Brother Ali - Writer's Block Lyrics






[Verse 1:]
I ain't trying to be one of them dudes
That make hundreds of new songs and none of them are good
Some of them are cool but ain't saying nothing new
Running through a verse just for something to do
I wanna be the cat that put the straw on the back
Of the camel and send him to the chiroprac
I wanna write a line that's in your head all day
Songs that make you say you never felt that way
Look I'm trying to give myself goosebumps okay?
Find the truth inside me and put it on display
Many dedicated folks, listen to me close
I open my inner soul and slip it in my quotes
Some flood the blogs, some flood the streets
I don't flood nothing I'm watering the seeds
I walk away from MCs offering me cheese
To author a 16 and drop it on the beat
And it's not like money ain't something that I need
There's a business side and I wanna succeed
Plus I gotta wife and a couple kids to feed
But if I sell my love then whats left for me?

[Hook:]
Sometimes I don't write a lot
I know some folks call that writers block
I just call it my process
It comes out when it's ready to I guess
I don't wanna let nobody down so
Here's some new shit you tell me how it sounds
I ain't trying to be difficult or no shit
It just hurts too bad to try to force it

[Verse 2:]
Had a week off and a short tour break
I flew out to Seattle to go and build with Jake
He give me the breaks that the famous dude would take
I'm hyped, imagining the magic we'll create
I love my family, but damn, they distract me
When I'm at home someones always yelling "daddy!"
Need to get away badly and focus
But its been a couple weeks since I really wrote shit
I'm strugglin'
Up late hummin'
Pace around the hotel the words ain't comin'
Wrote a little something threw it away "fuck it!"
Have an artist freak out moment start buggin'
Maybe it's a wash, my fire's just lost
I'm probably a fraud that got lucky before
If I let everybody down what's it all for?
Looking at Seattle from the 23rd floor
Crack the window it swung open wide
Nothing between me and the world outside
What if I decide to lean forward and fly
They say that's the way Donny Hathaway died
Such a beautiful life ended in suicide
Maybe trying to write was tearing him up inside
Maybe trying to write was tearing him up inside
I swear that trying to write was tearing me up inside
I bet that I'd regret it, the second that I did it
Wishing that instant that I could continue living
I pushed the window closed said "man you trippin"
Sat down on the bed and wrote this one

[Hook:]
Sometimes I don't write a lot
I know some folks out there call that writers block
I just call it my process
It comes out when it's ready to I guess
I don't wanna let nobody down so
Here's some new shit you tell me how it sounds
I ain't trying to be difficult or no shit
It just hurts too bad to try to force it





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Brother Ali Writer's Block Comments
  1. R.... ....

    🔥🔥🔥why am I just hearing this 7 yrs after it dropped??? Smh...Brother Ali went postal on this jawn. Jake One on the drum slaps go hard with Ali's cadence....real hip hop...this is the essence. Salute-

  2. M.... L....

    500k views. 250k are probably from me. Doesn't surprise me that a song this beautiful never touched the masses. But it changed my life, so hopefully that's enough for Ali to feel good about making it.

  3. A.... T....

    “I wanna write a line that’s in your head all day, songs that make you say you never felt that way. Look I’m trying to give my self goosebumps okay.” You did it. It’s this one

  4. B.... ....

    Probably couldnt think of anything that would appeal to liberals

  5. D.... S....

    what up with the one eyed symbolism my dude?.

  6. A.... T....

    I wanna write a line that’s in your head all day, songs that makes you say I never felt that way. Look I’m trying to give myself goosebumps okay

  7. n.... ....

    Deserves a million more views. Just cause it’d do them good.

  8. V.... A....

    hip-hop real raw lyrical era rap real good Cool Awesome skills lyricist

  9. B.... J....

    One of the best hip hop songs ever made. Extra credit for mentioning Donny Hathaway.

    B.... J....

    hip-hop real raw lyrical era rap play word flow vbes common

  10. S.... ....

    white jay-z that's sweet

  11. G.... R....

    sssssiiiiiiccccckkkk

  12. G.... P....

    Hey Brother Ali take your time, the result has been well worth it.

  13. A.... ....

    Brother Ali is just too raw. 

    A.... ....

    brother ail Classic hip-hop real good music lyricist play word

  14. J.... L....

    Very good flow

  15. J.... ....

    They need to bring the snare vol back...shits destroying the beat in a bad way

    J.... ....

    i personally think it makes the beat.. 

    J.... ....

    @killerdamski same here

    J.... ....

    Carl Jones they could of turn it down a little bit for real

  16. s.... ....

    truly a poet

  17. Y.... ....

    Great song! :)

  18. m.... g....

    So sick dude. God bless the movement at Rhymesayers!

  19. b.... ....

    r.i.p. donny hathaway ! 

    1 - 13 - 1979
    1 - 13 - 2014

    b.... ....

    he actually was born 10-1-1945

    b.... ....

    madworldfan123 close enough

    b.... ....

    dope Awesome Cool good music

  20. a.... ....

    poetry and the beat.

    a.... ....

    hip-hop raw lyrical cool good music

  21. D.... L....

    You've probably never heard of rhyme schemes. Fucking idiot.

  22. Z.... P....

    The revolution with never be televised.

  23. c.... ....

    lol you prob never heard of mc search, fucking hipster

    c.... ....

    MC Serch you mean I think.
    Anyway saw your Quake pic.
    Come play, Tiger X servers Q3.

  24. c.... ....

    excuse me joypad using call of duty playing noob child of the 90's, you dont know shit. em as you call him was not the first to make rhymes and not the best at it either infact he is quiet bad at it.

  25. D.... L....

    Eminems lyrical ability to make words that shouldn't rhyme, rhyme and his constant multisyllable and extended single syllable rhymes are unmatched, clearly you're an idiot

  26. W.... m....

    Exactly! im from Seattle so when ever i talk rap or hip hop someone brings up
    Macklemore like hes the god damn gold standard or something. the fact is hes not that great, like at all. His flow is so soft its flaccid, and his message is hypocritical, he insults the mainstream and MTV "rappers" in one breath then does a song with 2chainz on MTV with the next. Macklemore gives real underground rappers everywhere a bad image, as if they're all trying to "make it" in the mainstream when most aren't.

  27. J.... B....

    dude you didn't just state an opinion, you stated an opinion and then gave a command to anyone who dares to disagree. Also, you're wrong, Macklemore is not a fucking fixture in the underground hip-hop scene, or even the hip-hop scene in general. Macklemore has all the rapping and producing talent of a drunk college kid, he might've been the best on his campus but certainly wouldn't be a contender in any legit competitions. plus that Ryan Lewis mofucka carried him through most of his hits

  28. h.... ....

    "The revolution will not be televised."

  29. R.... H....

    Ali and greives all day long. And of couse atmosphere. Just enjoy alis words, if you dont like him, go listen to people you do like instead of trying to bring him and us down. Feel the music yall. Good vibes.

  30. c.... ....

    ems is fucking crap lol, allways has been, only his first album was ok then he just whined about his ex, his kid and pills. realy anybody that knows and GREW up with hip hop eg 30,40,50's knows 'ems level' is nothing to boast about.

  31. E.... ....

    Not even close. Clearly you're new to this whole "rap thing," so please take your unintelligent bullshit elsewhere.

  32. d.... b....

    come on were a re all the views this guys fukin talented !!!!!!!!!

  33. F.... ....

    Who said music is haram?

  34. s.... b....

    news flash brothern ali, music is haram

  35. T.... G....

    Shits on all modern "rappers" much love from Palestine

  36. T.... ....

    Good, more for us.

  37. J.... T....

    This guy is awesome every time I listen to him I feel his words and his lyrics I would easily trade him for any of these new shitty artists like machalmore or however you spell it

  38. F.... ....

    "I wanna write a line that's in your head all day
    Songs that make you say you never felt that way"

    you've done that many time ali, love ya keep up the amazing work

  39. V.... ....

    This is gonna go down as one if the best tracks of our generation. Brother Ali is the truth

  40. R.... H....

    Best song ive heard since walking away. Great tune.

  41. h.... o....

    He isn't the best whit rapper he is just the best rapper. Color has nothing to do with hip hop.

  42. M.... e....

    Respect from Egypt to u Brotha Ali

  43. M.... J....

    Sounds better than Royce's. I like Royce's but it never touched on any key issues.

  44. K.... T....

    if i sell my love whats left for me

  45. w.... ....

    Yes, God is Great

  46. N.... H....

    great job!!!

  47. N.... H....

    great job!!!

  48. G.... ....

    sounds like jay-z but better.

  49. I.... ....

    We have something in common and it isn't just the user picture.

  50. A.... A....

    Sheesh, Jake One. These drums are so raw.

  51. C.... ....

    Unless you were to say
    "Lil Wayne is not a lyricist.".

  52. L.... ....

    NO the brother is white and albino actually, but it dont matter his flow is immaculate by any standards

  53. J.... R....

    damn this guy goes hard!!

  54. W.... ....

    I love how this guy will inspire you to do something, while rappers like Apathy and others will tell you not to pick up the mic, or actually tell you not to try it. Rappers like this keep rap alive, while some kill it with the "everyone raps" crap, And I havnt even gotten into the "mainstream" conflict, SOUL-HOP.

  55. p.... ....

    i've had this on repeat for the past hour or so trying to write a speech for school, it's definitely helping :)
    Actually while I'm here i may as well use all of the resources at my dipsosal..
    I'm writing about the mens rights issue that i see existing, if anyone has any resources/opinions i'd be more than happy to know!
    till then Brother Ali is going to have to provide me with brain stimulant

  56. K.... M....

    DAMN! After listening to this, no longer do I have writer's block ;))

  57. B.... L....

    Che Reppin lrg

  58. T.... ....

    No. He's a white albino. don't comment just to disagree unless you have done at least research about things you don't know for certain.

  59. W.... ....

    He's a black albino.

  60. R.... H....

    FUCKING UNREAL

  61. b.... ....

    Everytime I watch this I give it a thumbs up..

  62. F.... F....

    dude is nice!

  63. M.... ....

    i want a white beard

  64. T.... T....

    exactly how im feelin right now....thanks for creating this, i think i needed to hear it.

  65. M.... A....

    yo jake one my fav droducer right now an this my fav ali track big up

  66. s.... ....

    You succeeded Brother Ali. I now have some of these lines stuck in my head all day. Now when i can't figure out what to write in school i can just tell my teacher the chorus of this song.

  67. b.... ....

    I really like the clip,I like especially the beginning and end of..I wish you continued success..

  68. H.... D....

    Nice Gil Scott Heron reference

  69. B.... C....

    We are here aren't we? I didn't miss anything and I certainly miss mainstream.

  70. a.... ....

    This past decade, with artists like Brother Ali, his peers at Rhymesayers, and Def Jux, a Hip Hop Revolution took place. But since it wasn't televised, the whole fucking populace missed it...

  71. B.... L....

    Always With You Brother ... Allah Save You ...Peace From Algeria..One L<3-B-STA°-

  72. K.... d....

    Luckily water is free, and it's the healthiest most refreshingly blissful liquid we can drink.
    Both Coca cola and champaign are toxic devil-drinks ;)

  73. E.... ....

    This should've been on the album

  74. C.... ....

    Its amazing how he encapsulated all the emotions of feeling writers block man true emcee shoutout to brother ali. thank you!!!!!!!

  75. H.... L....

    this made me think of a poem I love and which inspires me a lot. unfortunately the link doesn't work, but google "geetanjali the morning will surely come", click the top-link and it's "song 19" which should show up more or less on top.

  76. M.... o....

    It's tracks like this that I can listen to over and over and over and still have straight-faced buried emotions pull out of me like a cloth from a magician's fist that makes me enjoy this music so much more. Thanks Ali!

  77. C.... V....

    ^ Knowledge

  78. J.... S....

    they wrote the freshest boook, with Brother.Ali putting down science on the art of emceeing, along-side over a hundred other brilliant emcees, like Pharaohe-Monch, Masta.Ace, Chuck-D, G Rap, Kane, Tribe ,Cypress.... it has the name-
    ,Hovv .: To :. Rap,
    excellent read...

  79. B.... S....

    GREAT COMMENT! VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, THANK YOU

  80. T.... ....

    woah woah woah woah.....WOAH...jake one might be ali's premo

  81. F.... T....

    "making love to the music means vibing to the beat at night"

    -Shing02

  82. M.... ....

    Fuck you can literally feel the emotion he puts into this song, I got chills

  83. P.... ....

    "Mourning in America" completely validates your statement. That song is unstoppable.

  84. T.... J....

    I wouldn't downplay Jake One like that, he is a musical beast. His beats are way more suitable for ALi then Ant

  85. m.... ....

    don't feed the troll lol

  86. j.... h....

    this is exactally how i feel when i write, writers block sucks

  87. A.... ....

    Brother Ali isn't the same wthout Ant

  88. T.... K....

    Please tell me I'm not alone in saying that this song just makes me SMILE! Haha.

  89. B.... �....

    nice ! :)

  90. G.... ....

    know what you meen man! i smoked a joint whit the cunninlynguists crew

  91. B.... �....

    Smoking a cigarette with him at the show in iceland was fucking awesome!

  92. b.... ....

    Wow. Unbelievable.

  93. J.... O....

    worst beat ali ever rapt on.

  94. T.... S....

    I feel like he's talking to me

  95. M.... H....

    This is how I feel right now!!!

  96. A.... G....

    The truth is here, the truth is here!

  97. A.... G....

    DAMN! You gotta LOVE Brother Ali!

  98. T.... ....

    I ain't tryna be difficult or no shit, it just hurts too much to force it.