L.O.B: The Final MC - Chroma - "Deep Breath"

My submission for Tantu's "The Final MC" contest! Lyrics below I came a long damn way but still miles to go Started from that basement, I'm still tryin to grow The rhyme + the flow could only capture moments in time No more walkin 'round blind, I gotta open my eyes 90's baby with a lot to prove To myself, not to you Or anyone else who doesn't have a blue what I been through My girl's been stressin me out, on some breakup shit I put it in the music don't really know what to make of it Life is happening fast, it's feelin like a crazy trip Wonder how my brother sees it, been around since '86 Got me on a couple of years and mad experience But so often I'm caught up in my head, not hearin it - Why? Not everything is clear as the sky Gotta make it through the clouds, you're only here til you die So I inhale, takin a deep breath Marking the progress I'm making with each step And I don't need a hook to draw the listeners near The message that I'm spittin is clear Soon as it's hittin your ears Got your head noddin right with the beat Tantu instrumentals, know who's bringin the heat The new school meets old school, symmetry sweet Fusion of eclectic styles when the two of 'em meet Some of the dopest shit I heard in my life Had to jump on and show 'em how I'm earning my stripes With this mic and my MPC I'm cookin beats on the day-to-day Instrumental chef, slice 'n dice with the razor blade Call me the Ace of Spades, top of the deck And if you think I'm being cocky try to keep me in check I'm only 19 years young, got a whole world to see But know that I've created my own inside this world of beats Rhymes and life, times are tight in grind mode Got me stressin sometimes and puffin on the hydro, So... I'm just takin a deep breath, Marking the progress I'm making with each step When I need rest that's when I work twice as hard I haven't slept in a minute as I write these bars It might be hard to understand, gunnin for a hundred grand Tension builds up, finna snap like a rubber band But you could never drag me down I'm always stayin afloat, it's not an option to drown Nobody's stopping me now, they can copy the sound And the style, but meanwhile I'll be choppin 'em down Like "wack!", all you rappers are wack You need to stop playin, let's take hip hop back 2013 is a beautiful year You know the musical revolution is finally here So I'm workin every hour, every day of the week But just takin a second to inhale and breathe deep Take a deep breath