Joanlee just dropped a new MV for his song “I Am” off his Under the Radar mixtape, produced by Smash Hitta. The autobiographical track spells out the ups and downs of his pursuit of a career in music. This may be one of Joan’s strongest releases yet, especially since it’s rooted in his own personal experiences. He takes a step back from singing and opts to stick to rap verses for this one.
HOOK:
The lights, the cameras
The people are watching
But nobody knows
What it took to get here
I’m overcoming the struggle
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
I’m overcoming the struggle
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
I’m overcoming them…VERSE 1:
Now, now, now, now, now I know you ain’t talking
Just know you won’t stop me
I’ve grown to keep watching, for those who be blocking
So, I went ahead & made up my mind, and I invested my time
Said I’ll be damned if I keep thinking it twice
Ain’t gon please ’em all, yeah I know that
But you can never hold back
I’m in the booth, when the homies asking, “Where all the hoes at?”
Started from “Anaheim & Rose”, to all these studios
See you wouldn’t know the shit I went thru to even get this closeHOOK:
The lights, (the lights), the cameras, (the cameras)
The people are watching, (yeah they’re watching)
But nobody knows (nobody knows)
What it took to get here (ugh)
I’m overcoming the struggle, (I Am)
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
I’m overcoming the struggle, (I Am)
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
I’m overcoming them…VERSE 2:
Yo what you know about
Doing all these showcases and have the whole place just in shock!
You killing ’em, they’re feelin’ him, but you’re the only Asian
Saying that I’m tryna be black, “Yo what the fuck is that?!”
This ain’t an act, this who “I Am”, so yall can kiss my ass!
Never knew music had racism, but they had hate for him
Just cuz of my skin, they didn’t think I could relate to ’em
My parents survived a war, came to the states to give me more
Was poor, made it this far, so what you hating for?HOOK:
The lights, (the lights), the cameras, (the cameras)
The people are watching, (yeah they’re watching)
But nobody knows (nobody knows)
What it took to get here (ugh)
I’m overcoming the struggle, (I Am)
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
I’m overcoming the struggle, (I Am)
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
I’m overcoming them…VERSE 3:
Was about to sign on a Major offer, took up everything “he” brought up
“I’m on!” bout to pack up and get gone out to “Atlanta”
But a year passed and nothing progressed, the shit just lagged
It didn’t last, depressed as hell, so then I came back
And told myself on my flight back home
That I’m gon’ have to do it on my own
Write all my songs and record ’em on
Whatever equipment I came across
So after, years of all that, and all the fall backs
I’m still here, paying my dues just to prove thatHOOK:
The lights, (the lights), the cameras, (the cameras)
The people are watching, (yeah they’re watching)
But nobody knows (nobody knows)
What it took to get here (ugh)
I’m overcoming the struggle, (I Am)
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh
I’m overcoming the struggle, (I Am)
Oh, oooh, oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
Oh, ooooh, oh-ohhh (I Am)
I’m overcoming them…
a-Tunes 