Born October 19, 1988 to an absent father and a drug-addicted mother, Santiago Leyva grew up quickly. At age 12 he was living in a group home, but he was also writing his first rhymes, and by 15 he had released his first mixtape. Taken in by his uncle in Fresno, CA, the young MC soon caught the ear of Planet Asia, who was impressed by his rhymes and invited Leyva, who was by then going by the MC name Fashawn, to tour with him. Fashawn jumped on the opportunity, dropping out of high school to join the veteran rapper on the road. A prolific writer inspired by the likes of Tupac, N.W.A., Dilated Peoples, and Public Enemy, Fashawn begin putting out a series of mixtapes, including 2006’s Grizzly City and 2008’s The Phenom 2 and One Shot, One Kill, the Orisue-sponsored record hosted by Mick Boogie and Terry Urban. The two DJs hit up Fashawn for a verse on their Unbelievable: The Notorious Edition mixtape, as well, and the young MC’s The Antidote mixtape the following year, with beats by Alchemist, hit blogs. The hard work began to pay off, and Fashawn began to get recognition on hip-hop sites and magazines, including XXL, who gave a high rating to his full-length debut, Boy Meets World. Produced entirely by Exile, whom he had been introduced to through Planet Asia, Boy Meets World was released in October 2009 on One Records.
Fashawn – The Beginning
Fashawn – The Beginning Lyrics:
[Verse 1: Fashawn]
My thoughts travel by the speed of light
So bright
Can teach the blind how to read and write
I’m on a path divine
Craft the rhyme like a graff design, make the masses mine
Empty a magazine like a glass of wine
Just a matter of time
Before the doctors at the ‘spital have to stitch them up
Be a victim of the little nigga with the biggest nuts
The understanding of power
You get fifteen minutes to be the man of the hour
So I plan to stack a ton of loot
And that’s the doubletruth, my jacket bubblegoose
In the winter just to hide the heater
Spit out an acapella like it’s Aquafina
Got the spirit of a leader and lyrics by the liter
Dripping out the speaker, nigga
[Bridge: Fashawn]
Thirsty as the day I took my first breath
Back like I never left
From the start to the ending
I pick up from where you finish
At last I welcome you to the beginning
[Hook: Fashawn]
(Where should I begin)
The beginning
(Flow H20)
The beginning
(Flow H20) (Where should i begin)
The beginning
(Flow H20)
The beginning
At last this the beginning
The beginning, the beginning, the beginning, the beginning
[Verse 2: Fashawn]
I’m only human but
Admit I got animal tendencies
Malevolent, probably turn your man to a memory
I dare one of you amateurs mention me
Remote control how I channel my energy
Shooting dice over persian rugs
I’m the reason they raised the price up on certain drugs
My only outlet
Was to find the plug that I respected
Connect to supply the thugs
Where should I begin
Well lets start at the end
I made alot of money but never made amends
Friends turned foes
Foes turned friends
My whole world turned to one wicked whirlwind
But, lets go back to the beginning
Before i lost my innocence, started jacking with my henchman
I was trying to cath the rhythm
Just trying to find a pocket
For all of these paragraphs just pouring out my noggin
[Bridge: Fashawn]
Thirsty as the day I took my first breath
Back like I never left
From the start to the ending
I pick up from where you finish
At last I welcome you to the beginning
[Hook: Fashawn]
(Where should I begin)
The beginning
(Flow H20)
The beginning
(Flow H20) (Where should i begin)
The beginning
(Flow H20)
The beginning
At last this the beginning
The beginning, the beginning, the beginning, the beginning.
