J. Ivy "PROMISE"
Directed by: Chris Velona & J. Ivy (@ChrispFilms @J_Ivy)
Video Produced by: Chrisp Productions (Chris Velona & Arthur Jones @joneseti)
Music Produced by: Nez & Rio (@NEZandRIO) and Terrance Holmes (@Slim_keys4life)
I want to thank everyone for the positive response to the "PROMISE" video. We put a lot into the piece from the writing and creation of the music to writing the script and production of the video itself. It's a great reflection of what both the album "HERE I AM," and the forthcoming book "HERE I AM: Then & Now" represent. For those who haven't seen it, I hope that you find it as inspiring as we have. If you do, we urge you to pass the video on to the next, including the up and coming generations. Below you will find the lyrics. I wish you well in your day and weeks to come.
God Bless, J. Ivy
PROMISE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO GOD, AND THE GOODNESS OF MY HOME, U.S.A. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO ME, J. IVY 63FROM MY MOTHER TO MY LOVER, FROM MY BOYS TO MY BROTHERS... I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, YES. YES, LIFE IS A BALANCING ACT, THERE’S UPS AND DOWNS, GOOD AND BAD, AND YOU SITTING BACK THINKING, “HOW AM I GO BALANCE ALL THAT?” IF YOU TIP THE SCALE THAT COULD LEAD TO A TRIP TO HELL, AND ME, WELL, IT WAS MEANT FOR ME TO DO WELL, CAN’T YOU TELL, WHEN I OPEN MY MOUTH MY SOUL YELLS, “I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST,” YES, IT’S SO EASY, WHY LIVE GREASY AND GO AGAINST THE GRAIN? THERE’S NO LIMIT TO WHAT I CAN OBTAIN, I’VE BEEN ONE OF THE SPECIAL ONES SINCE I WAS JUST JAMES, LIL JIMMY, I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE SKINNY, HEAVY IN HEART, I’VE BEEN STEADY WITH THE ART, I INVISION GROWTH, I USE PRECISION WITH MY QUOTES... YES, I FIGHT FOR HOPE, OF COURSE, I CAST MY VOTE, CAUSE SO MANY FOUGHT AND DIED FOR ME, SO HOW IGNORANT WOULD IT BE, IF I DIDN’T DO ME TO THE FULLEST, AND BE THE BEST THAT I CAN BE, SO YOU SEE... I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, YES. YES, YOU GOT TO MARCH TO THE BEAT OF THE BAND, GIVE ME A HAND AS I MARCH ON, I WAS BORN IN MARCH, I’M NOT A SAINT, BUT I’M MARCHING IN WITH THE PASSION THAT STARTS WITHIN, AS LONG AS MY HEART, BEATS, BEATS, BEATS, WITHIN MY CHEST, I PROMISE, I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, YES I’M BLESSED, EVEN WHEN MY LIFE WAS A MESS, BUT I REMEMBER MY MAMA LOOKED ME IN THE EYES, AND TOLD ME NOT TO SETTLE FOR LESS, YOU CAN’T SETTLE FOR STRESS, I’M THE BEST, FAR FROM AVERAGE, IT WAS MEANT FOR ME TO FLY HIGH, SO I LET GO OF THE BAGGAGE FILLED WITH BAD HABITS, SO WHEN THE BLESSINGS COME MY WAY, MY HANDS WILL BE FREE AND ABLE TO GRAB IT... I PROMISE I’M A OVERCOME, EVEN WHEN THE PROBLEMS WEIGH A TON, I PROMISE I’M A GET IT DONE, EVEN WHEN THE JOB AIN’T THAT FUN, I PROMISE CAUSE I KNOW I’M BLESSED, I PROMISE TO PASS THE TEST, I PROMISE TO NEVER REST, I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, BE THE BEST... I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST, YES.HOOK YES, I’M A MAKE YOU PROUD, THOSE HERE ON THE GROUND AND THOSE UP THERE IN THE CLOUDS, SCREAM IT OUT LOUD, LET YOUR TEARS RAIN, CHEER THE SAME, I SALUTE YOU, I’M A DO WHAT SUITS YOU, I’M A BE THE BEST FOR YOU, THIS ISN’T A PLOY TO WIN THE MEDIA OVER, I JUST FIND JOY IN THE FACT THAT I’M NOT MEDIOCRE, IT’S NOT A PART OF MY DEMEANOR, THE PATH IS A BEAST, BUT I SWEAR I’M MEANER, YOU MIGHT BE A BOOTLEG, BUT I’M A SCREENER, NO, I’M NOT A BLOCK HUSTLER, I’M A BLOCK BUSTER, IT’S J.I. MAX, I’VE BEEN SENT HERE TO SAVE YOU WITH THESE WORDS, THE SAME WAY OUR SOLDIERS WERE SENT TO SAVE IRAQ... COME BACK, COME BACK. I PROMISE NOT TO BREAK MY PROMISE, I’M A BE THE BEST, CAUSE IT WAS MEANT FOR ME TO BE, THE BEST OF THE BEST... YES. MARCH ON.
J. Ivy