Illuminate

## Promotional single by Ab-Soul featuring Kendrick Lamar

"**Illuminate**" (stylized as "**ILLuminate**") is a song by Ab-Soul, released as a promotional single from his second studio album, *Control System*, on May 8, 2012. It features guest vocals from Kendrick Lamar on the third verse and chorus. The official music video was uploaded to YouTube on January 15, 2013, directed by Fredo Tovar and Scott Fleishman.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1: Ab-Soul]

Back when I first grabbed that pen

I told myself I was gon' win

And I ain't know when

But it was gon' end up happenin', I want in

So you can take your top 5 list

Dead or alive, and put me after Em

I'm a fuckin' genius

Grippin' my fuckin' penis, livin' this life

You can't tell me nothin'

Still ain't really got no money, fuckin' right

I'm all about that real, about that real

This ain't no motion picture

I tell you how that feel, how that feel

Even when the odds against you

They wanna see me wearin' Polo drawers

Put two chains on, and that ain't wrong

But that ain't me, I go too damn hard

I don't need clothes or jewelry to stand out

Black lip n\*\*\*a with his hair wild, too damn proud

Been killin' this since Cam made "Oh Boy"

Oh boy, I'm the man now

TDE, put the money in my hand, ain't shit free

This business is quick sand and I won't sink

Put the pistol in my hand and I won't think

Blat, blat, blat! Rest in peace

You just made room for the next to be

I never been afraid to say what I wanna say

When I wanna say it, okay then

Furthermore, we do this for y'all

Rap is stressin', but it pays great

That is, until you lose appeal

And your release date get date raped

Stay safe, hold your head

I got two fish and a loaf of bread

Feed the people food for thought

‘Cause we all equal, who'd have thought?

[Chorus: Ab-Soul, *Kendrick Lamar*]

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

*You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light*

*You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light*

[Verse 2: Ab-Soul]

I used to wanna rap like Jay Z

Now I feel I could run laps 'round Jay Z

Nas ain't seen nothin' this nasty

BIG and Pac got it comin' when I pass, too

You got the mic? I ain't the one you wanna pass to

My n\*\*\*as say my new shit past due

I paid dues, even got that shit tattooed

HiiiPower on another plateau

I know you know we need a few plaques too

The brand new n\*\*\*as with a attitude

Poppin' in Compton or Timbuktu

I might even sell my new shit for ten bucks too

Too ill when I jot these words, true eel when I shock the world

I know life's a bitch

When you know life's a bitch, then that's not your girl

Cold shit, I'm hot though, like coal get, Ab-Soul

This is a shift in paradigm

I remember when I couldn't spare a dime

Now I step in with a pair of dimes, on P's, y'all know me

Flow like water, admiralty, the best author ever to breathe

And as we proceed to follow these dreams, I ain't losin' no sleep

No-no on them NoDoz, just know "no" if it's no dough

So high, but I'm Soulo, two cups and I sip slow

Takin' my time, we don't just shine, we illuminate the whole show

Now let's go!

[Chorus: Ab-Soul, *Kendrick Lamar*]

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

*You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light*

*You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light*

[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]

Time and time, I drop line for line but only time will tell

If I ever go Columbine and cop thirty 9s and cock back and kill

See, the truth is they wanna know

How close me, Dre, and Snoop is

Or how the shoe fits when they choose this

To beat 2Pac, but truth, I give two shits

'Bout expectations or critics hatin'

Shit, I just put Moms on vacation

Bitch, you never know my new location, it's across nations

Court cases get thrown out

So tell the mothafuckin' king dethrone now

I am ruler, I am highness, the Prince Zamunda

I am the shit like what the prune does

Black on black tint like Kinte Kunta

Black is back, bitch, I'm kin to Kunta

Black-on-black crime resent the shooter

Blat, blat, blat! I intend to mute ya

Racks on racks, I don't rap on tracks

Without my A-game, so please don't ask me about no pressure

Bitch, with the grip of my fingertip I can hold this coast together

[Chorus: Ab-Soul, *Kendrick Lamar*]

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

They wanna share my light, they wanna share my light

*You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light*

*You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light*

## References

1. ↑ "Ab-Soul 'ILLuminate' ft. Kendrick Lamar (Official Video)". *YouTube*. January 15, 2013.