To those that rock with OTSNY daily you probably have already heard D. Horton’s excellent album “The Sessions 2”. If you haven’t, the Mississippi native weaves together a masterful project that is lined with top-notch lyricism and concepts. The album is filled with an undertone of religious themes as it essentially finds D. Horton having public conversations with God and himself quite often as he struggles to stay on his righteous journey. With the album carrying such deep thoughts and concepts, we figured it to be a great candidate for a “bar exam” if you will. That’s just what we do as we catch up with the Columbus representative for some thoughts on 10 of the standout lyrics on Horton’s new album.

“Initially I was invested in finding identification, but I know I ain’t concerned with relations Relating to any concerns you were having about my relations look, really big team and we need some really big rings. Cause we doing really big things and we cause a really big scene. We on a really really big wave, fans giving really big screams. Really big shows, really big screens and I keep it honest every sixteen. Never said I wasn’t raised that way, I know that my momma wouldn’t never go for that. Know the devil wanna try and take me out, know my squad wouldn’t never go for that. I know God wouldn’t let me work hard I mean so hard and not grow from that. So look im not concerned with residuals, im more concerned with the universe. Do good or bad I’ll let you decide. Just don’t be part of the suicide. You got the power to rise above, what would you do though if you were God?”

D. Horton: So I’m really responding to the people around me questioning why I want to rap. And it’s not so much rapping as it is writing. But I’m explaining to them how this is different ya know. Like my traction is solely dedicated to righteousness. So we gonna win and do good simultaneously.

“I think heavily back to when I told my mama I’d be rich. I think I was like 10. She said don’t sell your soul for profit it’s better being a prophet. Reach heaven’s gates and remind us all how to get in.”

D. Horton: This is me letting my fans know why I’m so comfortable with walking this path. Because I have those who always allude to how fast I could “make it” if I cared more about the music instead of the message.

“Realize what you have stake baby girl don’t settle for the settlement. Don’t rush to decisions you’ll spend forever with. To be honest I know you can do better than him hitting your phone, 2 in the morn, cause he sitting alone drunk as a dog trying to get him a bone. Praying to God that you pick up the phone and guess what? You do and every woman in the world has been you.”

D. Horton: I just want the daughters to know that they are not identified by their mistakes. You can’t learn if you never live baby girl. That double standard fugazy because we do what we want and we crucify them for the same.

“This shit way to familiar to me. Will my city bring out the killer in me? We ain’t safe just pretending to be and its getting harder just remembering me before the storm. Tell me how my home don’t feel like where I belong? Shots to the dome lets pray he wake in the morn. They just get confused so i keep making the songs no one listen to, and pray they listen to them. And Hope the children not distracted pay attention to them. I win this billion I’ll split it all up and give it to them. They need hope. Shit they hang out enough don’t need rope.”

D. Horton: Columbus. The friendly city. That’s what I care about. And when I make it so will they. Because it’s crazy there man. And I am them. So I’m going to fight tooth and nail to fix it.

“I had the hardest time adjusting to the lights. They say monsters get created when you blinded by distractions. Am I overreacting? Overboard? Overrated? Overall the greatest? Over all the haters? Overalls and pagers over all they waists. Oh, that was the greatest time when my O.G. ‘s let me listen to they rhymes. Busta Rhymes tear the roof off ’99. That was back when they had told me, be loyal to all ya homies and don’t sell out for no buck. Cause if you die today Ben Franklin ain’t gone give no fuck. Now how that make you feel?”

D. Horton: Great job man. Lol. I wrote this to myself actually. I was just really broke and that’s tough especially when you’re a dad so every day I’m just thinking about money this money that. All day. And I wasn’t appreciating all the blessings around me like my family, my boys, life, all that shit. So I’m checking myself like pull it together because you never going to be happy depending on money to create it for you.

“In the words of Ali, there’s a bee and it stings when you live just to gain those material things. How the people in your corner disappear in the ring? Whoa, you hear that ding look around see not a thing. Hit the town and hear all those things they say about you, You flustered who must you trust just to keep snakes from laying round you? Shawty don’t even like you, she spiteful. She stay around you cause she see’s potential. This gets suspenseful lets stick around and see what happens next? Maybe we’ll order lobster on my private jet. Maybe we’ll shop in places we can’t even pronounce. Maybe we’ll have some children and spoil them to death. Maybe I’m next, but what if I’m not?”

D. Horton: Soul food. One of my favorites. The song is an allusion to how happy you were when you eating at grandma house on thanksgiving. It’s crazy how you can gain all the riches in the world and it’ll never equal that feeling. Because getting money doesn’t equal having peace and their value isn’t even comparable I swear.

“People that’s at home discussing Queen Bee and Kendrick, fuck money man make a difference. More love, less hate, more peace. It was 9 souls at one church in one blink of the eye of God Inside battling for your soul, I know the devils all around you but dont let him take control. Amen.”

D. Horton: Just don’t be distracted. It’s hard. But it’s important that you stay focused on the mission. We get lulled to sleep too easily.

“I was mad lost on Instagram saw a lip challenge and it took me back, to 4th grade in gym when they clowned Jade for that. Press rewind, so I played it back. So you mean to tell me you saying that the same girls that played Jade in fact is on the gram with lips like Jay perhaps ‘The Blueprint’ to try to ‘Fade To Black’ and its amazing that you can’t see that you’re amazing. Ask yourself this…tell me who you think is inspiring big lips? Tell me why the sudden desire for wide hips? Girl if I must show you each day then I will. Long as you know that its real. This is how love supposed to feel. Take you and show you the deal. They say you’re not beauty, well, I say that’s a lie. You’re the black butterfly and baby girl you better fly.”

D. Horton: For my daughter. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you aren’t beautiful. Royalty. And if you doubt it, look around you. This story is real. Childhood friend of mine had really big lips and some kids made fun of her or whatever. So when I saw the Kylie Jenner joint on ig where all the girls were making their lips bigger I’m just like…that’s ironic. You feel me?

“Know Donald Trump but got no clue who Marcus Garvey is? Well there the problem is. Politicians and politics erase leaders from history. His story never told. His story might have saved our souls. His story might have changed history. Mystery to the masses he’ll be. Well I can’t let them kill me. Lord shine your light on me until I know forever, feel me? The real me. So here I am, David Wayne from Columbus, MS. ‘Friendly City’ but the city ain’t friendly at all. Walk in the mall he slanging kicks. He just sits back on the wall, pulling in minimum wage. Picturing stages to release all the rage that he feels. Cause he fears that he won’t get out this cage if God don’t shine down on me. So I pray!”

D. Horton: History is going to know David Horton. I promise you that.

“You’ll get the message if the message for you. This beat the coldest but that’s KT and New Message for you. Give me the canvas just to paint a brighter picture for the youth. Mix the pain in with the truth. What this image say to you? If you heard this and this shit dont move your spirit says enough about you. I gave you all the problems now what you gone do? My conclusion is to seek solutions. Be proactive, see them post it on IG but never see them take no action. Overreacting cause this shit is heavy, so I put it in song. They might never pay attention but they damn sure sing along in the friendly city.”

D. Horton: We just working hard. My team. My guys. Really hard. And people might miss somethings sometimes…but we gonna keep working. Not for rap. For right.