Masta Ace - I Refuse

Y'all can hear me now; yeah, I know you could
And confidence rings through when you know you're good
And greatness is defined by the length of time
That one man can stand with the strength of nine
And smile into the face of adversity
And then say this ain't as bad as the worst can be
That's when you know you're the cream of the crop
Way back when you was young, you would dream of the top
Schemin', scopin', hopin'
Knowin' that a lane is open
'Cause when you're forced to eat your words
That's the same as chokin'
So you strive to set the bar higher
Intoxicatin' heat -- hotter than a car fire
And when the rubber meet the road
Like a car tire
You'll be on top, and sharper than barbed wire

Be confident. Keep your skills sharp. And always stay hungry. Platitudinous? Perhaps. But Masta Ace makes it sound so profound.

And yes, my excerpts are usually shorter, but paring down this poetry was just too tall a task.  Enjoy!