GaKnew Roxwel – Hustle Up

GaKnew Roxwel is a multi-talented artist from Los Angeles, who has made a name for himself in the world of art and music. With a background in social work and a passion for poetry, GaKnew has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of hip-hop.

Starting his career in the spoken word scene, GaKnew quickly rose to fame as a national poetry slam champion and was even featured on Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam. His work with incarcerated youth inspired him to take action in his community and put music on the back burner while he worked as a social work investigator. GaKnew’s work in this field led him to become a certified non-violent parenting educator and even inspired him to write his first book, “Under the Influence: Where Hiphop Meets Psychology.”

Despite his successful career in social work, GaKnew never lost his passion for the arts. In 2021, he decided to shift from social work to teaching high school art and animation. However, when his students discovered his music videos on YouTube, they constantly asked him why he was teaching instead of pursuing his music career.

GaKnew took the challenge and released his EP, “The Return” in 2022. His goal is to offer a fresh perspective of Black America, breaking away from the stereotypical urban music that dominates the industry today. Through his music, GaKnew aims to inspire and motivate the youth to chase their dreams and build a better future. As he raps in his Hustle Up single, “Schools all failin’, gotta get it together. We ain’t all felons, gotta show US we better!”

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GaKnew Roxwel – “Hustle Up”

Lyrics

[Chorus]

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Feelin’ special like everybody in the hood
know you won the fight?

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Let me shed some light
There’s a Holyfield, for every iron Mike

[Verse One]
‘ Sick of the power they hold over me!
‘ Might pack the seeds and move overseas;
leave lady liberty, where blue ovaries
‘ Sick of livin’ like a slave that she oversees!
How I become a social worker with no degree?
Schoolin’ MSW‘s

‘cause I know the streets, Hustle like I’m Nipsey
before I heard of Nipsey, workshops in juvy
‘cause my words are nifty
‘ Coolest square to ever do it since the early 90s
Revolution in the music like it’s still the 60s.
‘ Buildin’ with the youth from the Neighborhood
I ain’t move into teachin’ ‘cause the papers good
Even when the cops don’t murder, we still matter!
‘ Schools all failin’ ‘ Gotta get it together!
We ain’t all felons! ‘ Gotta show us we better!
They gentrifyin’ the city to weed us out it forever

[Chorus]

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Feelin’ special like everybody in the hood
know you won the fight?

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Let me shed some light
There’s a Holyfield, for every iron Mike

[Verse Two]
You’re only as good as you practice
Nah, practice ain’t a game, It’s a way of life
‘ Livin’ in the hood as an activist
What more can you ask me to sacrifice?
Dreams get deferred, homie, Have goals
‘ Nightmares of despair in the inner city
I’d be rich if all it took was to have flows
Spendin’ time on the craft’s only half the price
Know your role/roll; Your dice with your eyes closed, Who you shootin’ with?
Who’s there with him? ‘ Straight shooter; Steph Curry on Drink champs,
takin’ shots at opportunities like petty foes
‘ Team of instrumental players; the quartet, orchestratin’ our success
from the onset ‘ Vision less blurry when we link camps
bout to be the best story that the West told!

[Chorus]

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Feelin’ special like everybody in the hood
know you won the fight?

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Let me shed some light
There’s a Holyfield, for every iron Mike

[Verse Three]
‘ Pumpin’ iron like these wrinkles need some Botox
‘ Button up and tie, ready for the slave blocks
‘ Threatenin’ my job?! ‘Mandatory booster shots?!
I’m cool on this vaccine Bein’ routine
Not with it. I don’t get it It’s not vetted
‘ Gotta feed the fam, but it’s hard to not sweat it,
especially now that it’s no longer a pandemic
My body My choice

But, I’m not pregnant Oh, I don’t get a voice, though I had covid?
You injected, still not fully protected? ‘ Guess employment’s
only for the guinea pigs; payment for bein’ a test subject
‘ Only way not to be subjected’s to be self-employed?!
‘ Paper chaser in me’s suddenly bein’ deployed;
seekin’ freedom from what the rich tend to avoid
The middle class won’t last, We bein’ destroyed!

[Chorus]

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Feelin’ special like everybody in the hood
know you won the fight?

It’s time to hustle up, get your hustle up,
get your muscle up, get your muscle right
Wanna tussle right? Let me shed some light
There’s a Holyfield, for every iron Mike