Let's Begin

## Song by Jon Bellion featuring Roc Marciano, RZA, B.Keyz and Travis Mendes

"**Let's Begin**" is a song by Jon Bellion released as the third track from his second studio album *Glory Sound Prep*, featuring guest vocals from Roc Marciano, RZA, B.Keyz and Travis Mendes.

## Background

B.Keyz said of the track, "It's one of the standout rap tracks on the album. A collaboration between a few legends and new artists that I think we need more of in today's age. It's a song that shows a steady build of energy, lyricism, and conviction as the song goes on. As a frequent collaborator of Jon Bellion's, this might be my favorite of all the tracks we've done together."

## Credits and personnel

* Aaron "YS" Dales – writer, producer, bass
* Alexander Abayev – violin
* Baris Deviatov – viola
* Ben Dotson – editor
* Chris Galland – assistant mixing engineer, studio personnel
* David Ardinaryas Lojaya – artwork
* Hakim "B.Keyz" Hardy – vocals, writer
* John Arbuckle – recording engineer, studio personnel
* Jonathan "Jon" Bellion – vocals, writer, producer, synthesizer, programmer, piano, percussion
* Liz Isik – A&R
* Manny Marroquin – mixing engineer, studio personnel
* Mark Williams – background vocals, writer, synthesizer, programmer, piano, percussion, organ, mandolin, guitar, bass, banjo
* Michelle Mancini – mastering engineer, studio personnel
* Mylon Hayde – writer, producer, programmer
* Ojivolta – producer
* Raul "Volta" Cubina – background vocals, writer, synthesizer, recording engineer, programmer, percussion, drums, studio personnel
* Robert "RZA" Diggs – vocals
* Roc Marciano – vocals
* Stan Orlovsky – cello
* Travis Mendes – vocals, writer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1: Roc Marciano]

You already know how we came up (Came up)

I'm sayin' it was a real pain in the butt (Ow)

If it's paper to touch, we may just cut you, scrapin' it up

Get your trachea cut and then escape in a truck

Smudge a lady makeup, bang the trey-eighty, wake the baby up

I just came for the weight like a gymnasium

I'm finna spray everything in my radius

Lately, my skin been lookin' radiant

The Mercedes is eighties sent

I have three sixes in my fade like Damien

I'd die before I let the jakes take me in

Baby, we everything we say we is (Facts)

My stable of women couldn't fit in the stadium (No)

They sayin' me and Jon Bellion, we some aliens

And durags had us lookin' like Saudi Arabians (Wow)

Your wave miscellaneous, we some ladies men (Mmm)

It's Roc, Marcberg be the alias

Now let's begin

[Verse 2: Jon Bellion]

Was never focused on gettin' bigger, just gettin' better

That's why I keep gettin' bigger after every record

Said I got lucky, the last record that y'all was blessed with

Watch me give you sequels, I'm Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon

I let the talent speak volumes, that's why there's different levels

I stopped the flexin' on socials, corny shit to impress you

You get too famous, then everything in your life is stressful

There's a big difference 'tween bein' known and bein' successful

Great grandfather, an immigrant from the Naples district

Dirty Guinea crew in the cut, call that the true incision

My wife thicker than liquor soaked in Italian biscuits

Cookin' minestron' every Sunday, call that a superstition

I left LA just to cook in Brooklyn, the winter's reaper

I sleep in Timbs and a Yankee fitted, that's just for leisure

I'm really better than everybody pretends to be

So ask the label now, why the fuck would I want an urban feature?

"I love the song and we really wanna know how you made it"

Or I could keep all you wonderin' how we been creatin'

It's annoyin' when cameras catchin' your every statement

And I've had enough of these corny artists that replicate it

Champagne supernovas destroy the morning glory

I'd rather build an oasis sober and thrive at fourty

Don't get me wrong, I've been celebratin' the life before me

But I see the wisdom in moderation for certain stories

When you're afraid to hurt feelings, you water down the worth

I'm done pretendin' your record's great and I'm down to work

Plus, I'll be actressin' and mixed with sociopath-issin'

And when I'm worried about bein' famous for bein' down to earth

I spoke with Yahweh, he told me Jesus grafted us in

Which means my brother's my brother, it don't matter the skin

America needs to watch how they treat His chosen people

But that's for deeper than surface records, now let's begin

[Chorus: RZA, *B.Keyz*]

Now let's begin

*Yeah, yeah-yeah*

Yeah, uh

*Now let's begin*

[Verse 3: B.Keyz]

Uh, foot on the gas, foot on your neck, uh

One mashin', other gaspin' for a breath

I'm unclassed, capital punishment blast backwards

You tumblin', trash rappers who mumblin' for respect

I'm uncheckable, wide open, the foul technical

Go full press, I still glide like Clyde Drexler do

I'm done testin' two times over, I'll get the best of you

Better pay attention, two eyes open wide when I execute

And I been waitin' so long that you asked for this

Try to give me your table scraps, I'ma give you my ass to kiss

I won't even wait for the dap, you'll get faded right after this

A masochist who ready to face the masses like Catholics, uh

And you can tell the whole school I'm prepped for the glory

In the presence of your professor, attendance is mandatory

With a weapon, freshman semester, you test the mess, it get gory

I'm just here to kill the game, let the messenger tell the story

[Chorus: RZA]

Now let's begin

Now let's begin

[Outro: Travis Mendes]

Palms in the sky, I'm feelin' angel high

Funk got me sanctified (Funk got me sanctified)

Swim to the light, come save your soul tonight

Funk got me sanctified (Uh-huh, oh, hey-hey)

Funk got me sanctified (Oh hey, oh-oh)

Funk got me sanctified (Oh, oh)

Palms in the sky, I'm feelin' angel high (Palms in the sky, I'm feelin')

Funk got me sanctified (Funk got me sanctified)

Swim to the light, come save your soul tonight (Oh-oh, hey-hey)

Funk got me sanctified (Oh)

(*Oh, my God*)

## References

1. ↑ Frometa, RJ (November 22, 2018). "Interview: B. Keyz". *Vents Magazine*.