Swimming with Sharks

I been lied on, blackballed
Never said a thing
Wait, wait, let me set the scene
It's been over ten years now
Swimming in the water with great white
Tiger-like hammerhead sharks
I've been overlooked, underpaid
Never said a thing
Seen brother kill brother like Abel and Cain
Everything ain't what it seem when
You see behind the scenes
It's a pretty scary thing when
You see who pulling strings
I done seen them sharp teeth looking
Deep in a shark's eyes
All I could do is pray I
Was prey in a shark's eyes
I just wanna rap for God
Wanna see some people saved
But I am so afraid if my publishing is shaved
Seeing royalty payments that break
Up loyalty statements
Since I started in the basement
I've been royalty shaded
I got a call, dude threatenin' to blackball
You know who you are
'Cause I said I wouldn't sign with y'all?
Why you wanna see the flame fall?
Is that what you in the game for?
Some people doubt, "Is the game over?"
You should really be ashamed
You can be a pain need to be tamed, dang bro
Take my kindness as weakness (alright)
Up execs ought to tweak this (what)
Rapping less about Jesus (yeah)
It's overwhelming egregious (I know)
When you see all the greediness (I know)
Capitalism at it's finest? (woo)
"Oh, you can break the glass ceiling
(or sellout) be a slave and just sign this"

Swimming in this industry ain't
Just with the fishes
You swimming with the bloodthirsty
Fame-seeking vicious
Cold-hearted, selfish-minded sneaky
Opportunists
Who will call another venue and then
Tell 'em they be foolish
If they book you 'cause they
Artist bring a better show
If you coming in this ocean
Even if you got a boat?
There's some people that's aboard
That's ready to overthrow
If you don't know how to swim
Then at least you better float
'Cause these sharks smell weakness
They'll eat you alive
I know that you was thinking that
We doing this for God
"Well, surprise!" certain guys coming
For your neck bring something to the table
They'll steal your connect
Take credit for it, discredit you and benefit
From your blood, it's messed up
It's levels to this disrespect
When predators see a threat
They be going all out
And you see them jaws out
Better know that Jaws out woo

What I been through, only God knows (ah)
All them long nights, only God knows
(God knows)
Will I be alright? Only God knows
Got me questioning the life here that I chose
(ah)
What I been through, only God knows (ah)
All them long nights, only God knows (ah)
Will I be alright? Only God knows (yeah)
I'm just trying to stay afloat, yeah

So much slander, so much dealing
While you swimming guard your heart
May you never compromise
Fall apart and become a shark
Every time when they plot my
Demise and they scheme (uh huh)
Then I cry
"Most High" and my God intervenes (yeah)
With a ram and a bush and
He fights all my battles
And they bribe and they push
With all their might
But it don't matter (na)
'Cause He guards, shields, rescues, saves
"You just stay faithful, pray, pray
You'll get your reward
Don't you ever change (no)
Focus on the Lord yeah
Keep preaching His grace
Keep telling the world
(what) that our Jesus saves
And we're protected and it's
All gonna pass away
Just keep it pushing, like"

Just keep swimming, just, just keep swimming
Just keep swimming, just, just keep swimming
Just keep swimming, just, just keep swimming
Just keep swimming, just, just keep swimming
Swimming