Step It Up Lyrics - Hand Shakes And Middle Fingers - Classified

[Intro: Classified - talking] 

Uh 

Yeah 

Nowadays, everybody's always askin me 

"Yo Class, what can I do to make it in this music game, man? " 

[Chorus: Classified] 

(Step 1), get your flow, come out of your shell 

(Step 2), learn the game and study it well 

(Step 3), go for self, not anyone else 

(Step 4), if you wanna be heard (you gotta yell!) 

If you wanna make it in the music business 

I wrote a couple steps that you all could follow 

Gather all around, sit down and listen 

And when it's time to go in, kid go all out 

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[Verse 1: Classified] 

Uh, yeah, a lot of people be hittin me up 

Tryin to get into the game and mixin it up 

Like, I got a name and I'm livin it up 

Don't think I'm livin it up but I guess I'm gettin my cut 

(Step 1), always stay faithful 

And try to bring somethin new to the table 

The game's tough and the world can be hateful 

Prepare yourself 'cause that hate might break you 

Look, a label won't make you 

Just startin off? Don't worry about sendin in your demo 

Shit nowadays ain't nobody mail demos anyway 

Gotta learn, value every penny saved 

(Step 2), make your music timeless 

'Cause that'll live on after you gone in silence 

Never run out of gas like drivin a Hybrid 

You in for the long haul, so mind your mileage 

Now to make a record takes real talent 

But after that's when you face a real challenge 

That's when you see who's got the heart and the valence 

And honestly, it's hard to find the right balance 

You follow me? Good, now the record is done 

And the pressure is on and the lessons to come 

Now we separate one from the rest of the bunch 

The test has begun (the test has begun) 

Photos 

[Chorus: Classified] 

(Step 1), get your flow, come out of your shell 

(Step 2), learn the game and study it well 

(Step 3), go for self, not anyone else 

(Step 4), and if you wanna be heard (you gotta yell!) 

If you wanna make it in the music business (yeah) 

I wrote a couple steps that you all could follow (ha) 

Gather all around, sit down and listen (uh) 

And when it's time to go in (yeah), kid go all out 

[Verse 2: Classified] 

Alright team, let's huddle in it 

We gotta build our own buzz, the hustle begins 

I know you write rhymes but can you draw crowds? 

That's the key to success, so don't get locked out 

You gotta draw hype, everything is fair play 

Hit the blog sites, the streets and the airplay 

Avoid the negativity, any haters and low lifes 

And oh right, get your live show tight 

(Step 3), always step up your performance 

Nothin more important than doin shows and tourin 

Hit the open mics, hit your local promoters 

Who are puttin on shows and need a couple local openers 

Be the engineer and the manager 

And the record label and the janitor 

Be a pro in this whole pro-cess 

The promoter, the producer and you may progress 

(Step 4), and when the real work's done 

You know what they say "if you build it, they will come" 

The labels come callin but the tables have spun 

Now you got the under hand, you can take what you want 

You think sellin records, is gonna make you income? 

What I make in sales, I make in three shows and then some 

Remember this, anyone can sell your music 

But they can't sell your live show unless you're gonna do it 

You can take this for whatever it's worth, my word 

But there's no guarantees it's gonna work for sure 

[Chorus: Classified] 

(Step 1), don't believe all the shit they say 

(Step 2), the industry is a shady place 

(Step 3), and everybody is out for self 

(Step 4), so if you wanna be heard (you gotta yell!) 

If you wanna make it in the music business (yeah) 

I wrote a couple steps that you all could follow (ha) 

Gather all around, sit down and listen (uh) 

And when it's time to go in, kid go all out 

[Outro: Sample] 

It's a game, at times unrealistic 

But a game all the same 

Somebody wins and somebody loses 

It all depends on whoever chooses 

To take it most seriously [fades out]