Ryan Leslie "History" (taken from the new project #BlackMozart)

Ryan Leslie "History"

INTRO
Life is really what you make it
It's whatever you write in your own history book
So whatever story you write
Make sure it's good
Les

VERSE 1
Champagne flutes up, baby, it's a celebration
Shout out to the flyest the pride of my generation
Well-educated & under appreciated
Still pulling broads that make me the most hated
Legendary track record, man, always with a ten
Treat 'em good - give 'em stories for they friends
They just looking for adventure, lotta fun
I done had my share of problems : model ones
It's the same damn story, man, I'm just tryna spin it
Same damn game, man, I'm just tryna win it
Shout out to my hustler's that's doin it independent
See you at the top - we gon' be there any minute
Livin' like a Rolling Stone, homie, Ronnie Wood
Tryna get a second home out in Hollywood
And pretty girls be the best band-aid for my self esteem
Got a Chuck Berry hustle with an Elvis dream

HOOK
That's why we grind hard - it's no mystery
'Cause every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write hits
That's why we grind hard - for the victory
'Cause every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write hits

VERSE 2
I remember when I first got started
They told me I was retarded
Tell me what's worse - being broke or broken hearted, huh?
I was both when my girl left
Music was the only dream in my world left
Yeah, and everything in Sam Ash seemed to tempt me
Ran my credit to the ground for an MP + a R3
But look at me now
I travel the world touring, man, look at me now!
We payin' with black cards at the drive thru
Black suits, black trucks when we ride thru
And I tell the kids - "you can do what I do"
Buckle down, homie, focus on that high school
Yeah and I paid my dues
Studio videos got major views
When I lost my court case, I made the news
So I guess that was a milli it paid to lose!
Les

HOOK
That's why we grind hard - it's no mystery
'Cause every moment of our life we make history
Every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write hits
And so we go hard - for the victory
'Cause every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write hits

BRIDGE
And all the fans keep it so real
That's why we independent, man, no deal
I swear it ain't a stage that we won't kill
We good out in France, man, tranquille
They sayin' that boy Ryan is so ill
Look at him on the keys, man, he so skilled
We gettin' paid, homie - mo' bills
Hangin' off the balcony of hotels
Screamin' I love my life

HOOK
And I grind hard - it's no mystery
'Cause every moment of our life we make history
Every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write hits
That's why we go hard - for the victory
'Cause every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write history
Every moment of our life we write hits

OUTRO
That's why we grind hard

'Cause we out here tryna do more than just make it
We aiming for legendary
Les

- - - -

History (R. Leslie, C. McCormick)
Produced by Cardiak & Kyle Abacan for Heartfelt Productions & Ryan Leslie for NextSelection Lifestyle Group
WSO String Quartet
Violin 1: Roy Lucky
Violin 2: Serkan Gürkan
Viola: Cynthia Liao
Cello: Maria Frodl
Musicians Contracting & Supervision: Vienna Music Consulting : Andreas Winkler
Jonah Levine – Trombone
Emile Martinez - Trumpet
Camille Ramirez - Alto Saxophone
Nathan Kersey-Wilson - Tenor Saxophone
Gabe Lambirth - Guitar
Additional keyboards and programming - Ryan Leslie
Recorded by Hristo Koroniadis, Cardiak and Conrad Robinson at MG Sound Studios, Vienna, Austria
Mixed by Ryan Leslie at Wall Street Wonderland, NY