The Strong Survive (EP)
by Nikki Lynette
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Digital Album
"If you know anything about my music or the Team Bad Ass movement, then you probably already know that I do A LOT of genre blending and my lyrics come from my heart...Even the ones that make me look like a jerk. I am still an independent artist, so I totally love you for buying my project and supporting indie music. The full EP will ONLY be available here on BandCamp, and I tossed in a few bonus goodies, too! Download the whole project here in whatever format you could possibly desire (mp3, wav, FLAC, etc.) Thanx for all the love & stuff. You Rock." - Nikki LynetteBuy Now $6.29 USD or more
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The Strong Survive
03:13
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Love U Crazy
04:08
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Chain Fail (interlude)
01:09
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Whatever I Want
04:14
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Chicago Sunrise
03:12
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City Slickers
02:40
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Ex Fail (interlude)
00:45
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It Doesn't Matter
05:02
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Make It Back Home
04:33
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about
To follow up the success of her mixtape "Roses N' Guns: The totally bad ass mixtape that rocks," Nikki Lynette is releasing her first EP. "The Strong Survive" finds Nikki flexing her production skills over eight tracks of bad-assness and sass & brash (the eighth bonus track and the two interludes are only available when you download the full EP here.) Taking artistic autonomy to the extreme, Nikki chose to helm the project solo. "I produced, wrote, and performed the entire EP myself," she says. "I even did the artwork for the cover. It's gonna rock." The title track and lead single from this EP as well her song "Whatever I Want" were featured on the second season of MTV's hit reality show Jersey Shore, making a total of three songs from this EP that are being featured on shows on MTV right now.
credits
released 14 September 2010
All songs written, performed, & produced by Nikki Lynette.
All songs recorded in Chicago at VSOP Studios except
track 3, which was recorded in New York at La Sala Studios.
Guitar on tracks 1, 2, & 7 provided by Geoff Sielbold.
Guitar on track 5 provided by Josh Pikulin.
Trumpet on track 1 & Bass on tracks 1 & 7 provided by Matthew Longbons.
Bass on track 5 provided by Arturo "Arturican" Rodriquez
All tracks mixed & mastered by Matt Hennessy for VSOP Studios.
Cover art by Nikki Lynette.
Photo on poster shot by Seth Kammueller.
All songs written, performed, & produced by Nikki Lynette.
All songs recorded in Chicago at VSOP Studios except
track 3, which was recorded in New York at La Sala Studios.
Guitar on tracks 1, 2, & 7 provided by Geoff Sielbold.
Guitar on track 5 provided by Josh Pikulin.
Trumpet on track 1 & Bass on tracks 1 & 7 provided by Matthew Longbons.
Bass on track 5 provided by Arturo "Arturican" Rodriquez
All tracks mixed & mastered by Matt Hennessy for VSOP Studios.
Cover art by Nikki Lynette.
Photo on poster shot by Seth Kammueller.
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- Track Name: The Strong Survive
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The Strong Survive (by Nikki Lynette)
The one you love might be the one to let you down every time.
Every time, oh, every time.
Just be sure you can survive without no one by your side.
'Cause in life, the strong survive.
I wanna tell you something that I bet you never hear
I wanna tell the truth, if you'll promise me your ear
Sometimes you have a friend closer to you than your kin, but what do you do when those who close betray you in the end
Stole the joy from your grin and tossed it in the wind/
Don't change within, just grow a thicker skin.
Backstabbers have to be close to get the knife in, so you gotta guard your heart with the force of 40 men
I'm gonna tell u clearly that i think its kinda silly that we're taught to fear a stranger
while the danger is near
I know nobody's perfect and the world is full of hurt but the ones you love should never be the causing tears
People always told us keep our enemies close, so we growing into not knowing a friend from a foe
Will the day ever show where people know right from wrong, hope so, but I really don't know
The one you love might be the one to let you down every time.
That ain't right, no, that ain't right.
So just be sure you can survive without no one by your side.
'Cause in life, the strong survive.
Now there are plenty reasons to stay mad at life but all the reasons lead to reliving your strife.
Cuz by the time you linger on how someone wasn't nice, staying mad, feeling bad, you living through your pain twice.
Don't do it to yourself, cuz happiness has a price, and the price is forgiveness, a grudge is a vice.
They hurt you, they sliced at the threads of your life but what's tearing you apart is holding on to being right.
Forgiving is hard, like breaking through prison bars but the healing wont start til you let go of the scars.
Strong people forgive and get the pain out their system
Weak people relive and they keep playing the victim/.
People always told us keep our enemies close, but I'd rather keep my distance than be phoney to a foe.
Best wisdom to own is knowing when to let go, but that's something u already know.
The one you love might be the one to let you down every time.
Don't you cry, no, don't you cry.
So just be sure you can survive without no one by your side.
'Cause in life, the strong survive.
The strong survive, the strong survive, the strong survive, the strong survive.
The one you love might be the one to let you down every time.
Dry your eyes, you dry your eyes.
So just be sure you can survive without no one by your side.
'Cause in life, the strong survive. - Track Name: Love U Crazy
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Come in my life, stay and play for a little
You make me hot til I steam and I sizzle
The game of life isn't always a riddle
Your heart and your head got you caught in the middle
I like you babe, got no time to be fickle
I just wanna love you crazy...
And I get so excited whenever I think about it.
If u feel like life's gonna pass up
When times get hard like cement & stuff
When the road's too rough for your half full cup
and u cant get away from it fast enough
Open up your heart, let me come in and get it
Been lost so long u dont know when u're winning
Frown should be grinning, and your shame should be hidden
Men running round like a smile is forbidden
Why it gotta be like that, I don't know
Can we get beyond all that, I hope so
I know that you're gold so u don't gotta show off to
hold me, just open and go with the flow
Don't fret, no sweat, go head, I wont leave,
cuz what u got is enough for me
I'll keep u company so fall in love with me, fall in love with me
Something sweet will be said every night before you go to bed. It's okay, it's alright, it's okay to step outside of your mind...
Come in my life, stay and play for a little
I just wanna love you crazy
You make me hot til I steam and I sizzle
I just wanna love you crazy
The game of life isn't always a riddle
Your heart and your head got you caught in the middle
I like you babe, got no time to be fickle
I just wanna love you crazy...
And I get so excited whenever I think about it.
If your burden's heavy but your bank is light
If u want a pretty girl but u're not her type
cuz her eyes turn bright when the card goes swipe
so u your spirits low, no highs in sight
Tell that broad she can fall in a gutter
Tumble in the mud til the rats run up on her
And the cat that she's smashing for cash will be laughing
And then she'll see the joke really is on her
Why they be like that, I don't know
can we they beyond all that, i hope so
I know that you're gold so it don't cost dough just to
hold me, be open and go with the flow
Don't fret, no sweat, go head, I'm right here
u're safe with me, the coast is clear
i'll keep u company so fall in love with me, fall in love with me
Something sweet will be said every night before you go to bed. It's okay, it's alright, it's okay to step outside of your mind...
Come in my life, stay and play for a little
I just wanna love you crazy
You make me hot til I steam and I sizzle
I just wanna love you crazy
The game of life isn't always a riddle
Your heart and your head got you caught in the middle
I like you babe, got no time to be fickle
I just wanna love you crazy...
And I can not deny it
What I got, let me provide it
Come on babe, be open-minded
If you feel it, don't you hide it
Its it love? I ain't decided
Feels good since our worlds collided...
And I get so excited whenever I think about it.
Something sweet will be said every night before you go to bed.
Something sweet will be said every night before you go to bed.
Something sweet will be said every night before you go to bed.
It's okay, it's alright, it's okay to step outside of your mind... - Track Name: Whatever I Want
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Whatever I Want
Ooooh, you 'bout to get mad. Feels good to say it, but it might sound bad.
I ain't gold digging, I don't need your cash. But learn how to treat me or stick to the trash.
Can't treat a lady how you treat a wack chick. Better stick with your demographic. I'm saying what i mean and I hope it don't sting, but if you were me then you would say the same thing.
I'm not nice, but I'm not mean. I fall somewhere in between.
I love them boys but I ain't no freak.
I'm not stuck up but I sho'll ain't cheap.
A man don't work the he sho'll don't eat.
That means if it's worthy you know it ain't free.
Your clothes aint free. Your watch ain't free.
So free ain't the thing my time's gon be.
Take Nikki on a cheap date and I can't sit through it.
Couldn't give a care if you paid me to do it.
Claim you got cash, I'ma hold you to it.
And tax that boy like I'm Jackson Hewitt.
How you got a new pair of Jordan's on your feet
while you're trying to be cheap where you're taking me to eat?
I'm outta your league, stick to your home team.
And if you were me then you would say the same thing.
All I want in life is whatever I want
That's why I provide me whatever I want.
If you don't like to give whatever I want
Plenty other guys give whatever I want
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit if you gimme what I need babe.
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit, if you want it better say so.
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit if you gimme my way, boy.
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit if you want me, baby yeah.
Nah... You don't have to like it. You can go find yourself a sidekick.
She can be everything you need from the second class,
baby I'm Grade a, just let me pass.
That ain't cras, and I ain't mad. I think you're better off with an under grad.
She ain't got nothing like what you woulda had if you treated me as good
as how bad you wanna smash. If I wanna donate my free time
I'll go join P.E.T.A. or March of Dimes,
so keep the 2 piece with a side of fries
cuz a breast and a thigh only works on guys.
Cry me a river, I'ma wash my hair. Ask me to dinner, I'ma be like "Where?"
Treat me like a queen, I'ma treat you like a king, and if you were me then you would say the same thing.
All I want in life is whatever I want
That's why I provide me whatever I want.
I think that my time's worth whatever I want
I don't care cuz I'm worth whatever I want
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit if you gimme what I need babe.
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit, if you want it better say so.
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit if you gimme my way, boy.
I really, really want whatever I want.
The sky is the limit if you want me, baby yeah.
All I want in life is whatever I want
That's why I provide me whatever I want.
I don't need a lot, just whatever I want
Life's too short to not have whatever I want - Track Name: Chicago Sunrise
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Chicago Sunrise
In the morning I wake to see the rays of light shining down on me at sunrise
Another day to find a new way, what life's prepared for us today is a surprise
It's a beautiful place to be, by the time you wake the streets are asleep at sunrise
You never know how the dice will roll, the game ain't fair when it comes up showing snake eyes
It's the land of the profits and the gd's & moes, and all other walks of life I suppose
Who dares to question what the new day holds? No, I don't, I won't, I don't know
It's a crazy world in this city here, to understand u must stand beneath our sky....
Chicago sunrise
I call it home cuz its all i know, but the children we lost are the saddest souls at sunrise
Skyscrapers, the lake, & trees, surrounding life with color schemes for my eyes
In spite of us swimming upstream, the haves and the have nots walk the streets at sunrise
I can't deny that i love this scene, but it seems the bad out ways the good things sometimes
It's the land of the paper and the pimps & hoes, and all other walks of life I suppose
Who dares to question hat the new day holds? No, I don't, I won't, I don't know
It's a crazy world in this city here, to understand u must stand beneath our sky....
Chicago sunrise
It's the land of the poor, politicians, po po's, and all other walks of life I suppose
Who dares to question hat the new day holds? No, I don't, I won't, I don't know
It's a crazy world in this city here, to understand come meet me here tonight...
Chicago sunrise - Track Name: City Slickers
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They told me live for today cuz tomorrow isn't promised
got nothing to lose so I might as well be honest
we all die regardless so strive to be hottest
ball til u fall, so Isaiah Thomas
We're the bastard kid of a dollar and a dream
The fatherless back packers, click-clackers in the streets
suburban hurt and defeated
the urban squirting the heat
ain't nothing free but cleavage,
money's receded, take it or leave it
I don't back track, like trading iPods for wax,
For every day u live, that's one more that subtracts
So I'm living vivid, to hell with it, I play to win it
with my middle finger presented,
get it, that's right, I meant it
Imagine u my passenger, we pass over the avenue,
the advantage of driving is u see life from my point of view
people be opposed to me,
like posing gets them close to me
before, u never noticed me, but now u so engrossed in me
no one is supposed to be the one treated so bogusly,
they cold to me like 0 degrees,
i just treat them appropriately
And thats why I'm meaner than a good girl is supposed to
Singing "screw the world" and I'll transpose it in any key
They told me live for today cuz tomorrow isn't promised
got nothing to lose so I might as well be honest with ya
everybody dies, but we're born to live regardless,
so if you living life to the fullest then I'm rocking with ya
life is short, but death is quicker
blame it on the food and liquor
the stripping, the tipping,
living faster than a candle flicker
don't cry for us, we already gone
that's the life of a city slicker, rock the hell on
Rappers sound like hell to me, I can't wait til u fail & leave
You not making music, you make noise to a melody
Go back underground, man. U're killing me, you're boring,
your raps not major, its Fridgian and Dorian
that's band geek humor for pianos & the tubas
I'm humming Mozart while I'm lacing up my pumas
We living for today cuz tomorrow isn't promised
got nothing to lose like I already lost it
Apparently, its scary when people say stuff contrary
to what's accepted, i can be expected to always vary,
i'm vicious like Bloody Mary in Jimmy Choos and some earrings
since the bird is the word, on the surface i'm a canary
smarter than the average Bear-y, like Halle with longer hairy
they bitter like sour cherries, thought i told them don't compare me
fallback, my mind's a military,
i don't cause no trouble, But I'll do it if u dare me
I'm living for today cuz tomorrow isn't promised
got nothing to lose so I might as well be honest with ya
everybody dies, but we're born to live regardless,
so if you living life to the fullest then I'm rocking with ya
life is short, but death is quicker
blame it on your food and liquor
the stripping, the tipping,
living faster than a candle flicker
don't cry for us, we already gone
that's the life of a city slicker, rock the hell on
Living for today cuz tomorrow isn't promised
got nothing to lose so I might as well be honest
we all die regardless so strive to be hottest
i'm balling til i fall, I don't believe in being modest. - Track Name: Model In the Mirror (Fashion)
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Model In the Mirror (Fashion)
I like clothes, the new or the old, apparel that's cold, baby anything goes.
I like shoes, pumps, flats, or boots. Nickolas Kirkwoods & Jimmy Choos.
I like bags, that's a must have. Your purse is a statement, it has to match.
I like new, brand new couture, cuz I'm so happy with what I got, I gotta have more.
A bad outfit is like a character assassin, a bullet to the chest & it's all cuz of your fashion.
Swimming in shopping bags every single weekend, and if that's shallow I don't wanna see the deep end. Spend money quick like dj's switching a beat off. Looking cold is hot, so I never turn the heat off.
I'm that kinda girl, that's the kinda girl I am, I'm the girl that's into fashion and the fashion's in demand.
Its all about fashion
we dress to impress more or less, but the truth is you dress to get the proper reaction.
You mix a base with a acid, the chemicals are clashing, that's fashion
I get satisfaction
when I'm all dolled up, bossed up, feeling SO Donald Trump,
its just the law of attraction
You only get what you're projecting, my outfit's a weapon, its my image I'm protecting.
You fight for the fashion you're passionate for, you can't spell wardrobe without the word war.
A bad look now makes a bad first impression, I play it like I'm psychic and prevent it while i'm dressing.
If you don't like it you can judge me it and resent it, but it ain't what you wearing, its about how u present it.
That's the girl I am, man, I'm that kinda girl, I'm the girl that's into fashion cuz the fashion runs the world.
I like clothes, the chic and the bold, clean cut or punk, Glamour mag or the Vogue.
I like shoes, shoes are my vice, cant go without my thigh highs and tights.
I like bags, satchels and totes, hand bags and clutches, you better take note.
I like new, brand new couture cuz i'm so happy with what I got I gottta have more.
Gotta be in style, cuz that's part of my persona, I dont follow trends, I rock whatever I wanna.
Don't care if it costs 200 or if its 2 dollars, if I like it, I wear it, and I do it like a baller.
You can talk about me but can't knock it til you try it, my fashion statements saying you should shut up & be quiet.
I'm that kinda girl, that's the kinda girl I am, I'm the girl thats into fashion and the fashion's in demand. - Track Name: It Doesn't Matter
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Welcome back from my past, I got a lot to say so I'll try to talk fast.
We broke each others' heart, still hurts when you're near it. I loved you so hard you didn't have the strength to hear it.
But I didn't call you here to revisit. All I wanna know is do you still have feelings?
My only issue is that I still miss you, I know you moved on but you took my heart with you.
In my head or in my dreams, I'm thinking 'bout you when you're fast asleep. Baby, it doesn't matter to me.
In my bed or across the street, if you're with her or if you're with me. For you, it doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter to me.
It's funny how things can make you so mad, until you realize the roll that you had. Time goes on and the right and the wrong don't mean quite as much as love that went bad.
I guess when you're younger you have time to play. To argue and fuss and push love away. We both took sides, what I've learned in life is nobody ever wins the blame game.
It took me some time to realize the truth, I'll never be right cuz I'm wrong without you. Everybody wishes that they could revisit and redo mistakes they made in their youth.
I'm not perfect and neither are you but all of your flaws are what make you so cute. I know you moved on but the girl on your arm ain't never gonna love you the way that I do. That's the truth.
In my head or in my dreams, I'm thinking 'bout you when you're fast asleep. Baby, it doesn't matter to me.
In my bed or across the street, if you're with her or if you're with me. For you, it doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter to me.
It's strange how time can always erase, the pain that you felt and leave love in it's place. We try to save face but when your heart breaks it just comes back stronger, no time to waste.
You stay on my mind and live in my dreams so to think you're with her just makes my soul bleed. I'm saying out loud I love you right now and I'm sending silent prayers you come back to me.
If I could I'd take it all back. The words that we said, the fights that we had. We fought to be right but I think we lost sight of the way you should treat the love we both had.
I'm not the girl that I was back when and I can tell you're smarter and we've grown since then, so I'm ready to try, my heart's on the line, if you gimme back your then I'll give you mine.
In my head or in my dreams, I'm thinking 'bout you when you're fast asleep. Baby, it doesn't matter to me.
In my bed or across the street, if you're with her or if you're with me. For you, it doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter, really doesn't matter to me.
It doesn't matter to me. - Track Name: Make It Back Home
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I thought my heart was gonna stop, everything was a blur, mind raced so my words ran together til they slurrrred
I asked "Are u serious?" He said "Very." My baby brother just said he joined the military. Time stood still, its was real, my feelings feeling they'd spill like oil we drilling that the reason soldiers kill. Your 50/50 shot of getting out the hood or not was fulfilled, my only fear was that you wouldn't fall ill, or rack up too many bills, or knock up a cheap thrill, now what you're doing makes me wish u didn't have a free will. Is that selfish? I feel so helpless. He told me u that u had to go cuz he's been living reckless. I said "Is it too late to change your mind?" He didnt wanna. I asked "Did u go tell momma yet?" He said "I'm gonna." I said "Don't u know where they're gonna make you go?" He said "I'll tell u all about it when I make it back home."
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home...make it home.
After years of protecting you the best that I can, all the times we crossed the street while I was holding your hand, after teaching u to fight and watching u become a man you signed up with Uncle Sam and leaving me where I stand. You can call it god's plan, fighting for your homeland, like you can call Autumn Fall or call Persia Iran, but when its all over al that I can understand is my brother's going to fight a war in a foreign land. I hate this but I'm facing it, the war between the nations, my lil bro embraced it now I'm forced to be a patriot. Suddenly my make up kit can't pretty up the face I get when my mascara's mixing in the tears that made the stains with it. But I love you. So I support you. I promise when you need me I'll be here for you. So don't forget the promise that u made me on the phone when u promised me in honestly u'd make it back home.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home...make it home.
So if u hear me in the east, if your on the frontline, please don't hurt the boy with the face like mine. Cuz if you take him the u're killing me, a civilian who's living in the shadow of a waving flag and the Statue of Liberty. Please don't hurt my brother, he's the only man that loves me with no condidtions limiting the things he does for me. Cuz if he wasn't with me there'd be no men left to trust, so I'd perish from earth in a gust of wind and dust. But if you send him back to me then just maybe my family would finally live on happily the way we always wanted. Happily ever after up until the closing chapter, when the ending credits rolling we're still smiling for the camera. So Vince, if u're listening, I'm just saying I'll miss u when the time comes I can't reach you by picking up the phone. I've never asked a lot from you, the only thing you've got to do is what you promised, bring your ass back home
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home to you baby.
Gonna make it back home to you baby,
Gonna make it back home...make it home.
