Background
"I Have Not Begun" was a song recorded in 2009, during the A Thousand Suns sessions. It was released on the LP Underground X: Demos CD in November 2010.
On January 30, 2010, Mike joined The Roots for their 6th Annual Jam Session in Los Angeles. On their performance of "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", Mike rapped the first verse of "I Have Not Begun." At the time, it was unknown what the song was that Mike rapped, until the LPU X CD was released that fall.
On November 17, 2010, Mike posted on his blog: "The new LPUX CD is now available to LPU members. It’s definitely the strongest LPU album to date, with demos from all eras of the band. There are a few tracks on there with vocals from both me and Chester. This is one of the tracks from the CD; it’s called “I Have Not Begun.” It was a demo recorded around 2009 (although the lyrics were written earlier, which you can tell because of the "Machine Shop" reference!). Go to http://lpu.linkinpark.com/to join the LPU. This album is available for purchase by club members (and, as mentioned before, LPU members get first access to tickets to our upcoming North American tour). Lyrics on following page…"
Black Thought from The Roots is featured on Fort Minor's "Right Now" from 2005. The Roots also performed as the backing band on "Crossing A Line" when Mike performed on Jimmy Fallon in May 2018 to promote Post Traumatic.
Versions
Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Have Not Begun (Unreleased Demo 2009) | LP Underground X: Demos | 3:06 | 2009 | November 17, 2010 |
Live
Mike Shinoda was one of the guests of The Roots 6th Annual Jam Session which took place at Los Angeles' Key Club on January 30, 2010. At the event, Mike came out during "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)" and performed a verse of "I Have Not Begun". This is the only known time any form of the song has been performed live. A video of Mike's verse was later uploaded by Mike to his blog, with him saying, "I went onstage with The Roots last night at about 2:30am. Here's the clip. -mike"
In 2018 interviews after he played Jimmy Fallon with The Roots, Mike discussed this performance. He said that he was very prepared for the verse he was doing over "75 Bars," but when it came time for the show, the band was playing the tempo almost twice as fast due to being under the influence so he felt like he could barely get the words out to it in time. Mike said it was cool, but he'd like to do it again since he felt that his performance was a little underwhelming.
Personnel
Lyrics
Ladies and gents, sorry to keep ya'll waiting
This goes out to everybody still hating
For those that fake / ya'll can keep on fakin'
I'm cooking a plate for you to stick your whole face in
Tastes good, don't it cousin?
Just so you know it's nothin'
I get you buggin' like some Codiene in some Robitussin
It's just the way that I approach each time
I slap the track and turn around and choke each rhyme
Broadcast to the nation like NBC
With pages of 16s like an MPC
Deliver an ass-whipping via MP3
Giving you people more reality than MTV
Do it PPV / snap necks with the pressure
Make a mess / then carry you out on a stretcher
You could sue but / oh, the law won't protect ya
Even the court room sketcher could not sketch ya
You're not following me / I got your number like
Caller I.D. / try it / you can holler at me
I promise you pain / I will chop your body in threes
And you'll be sitting there stuttering / p-p-probabably
Follow me / I got styles / you can copy one
Back of your mind / I know you wanna stop me son
But here's news for you fucker: that can not be done
You can think that I'm finished / I have not begun
I'm grinding / putting these kids to bed
You think you're hard-boiled / fucker you're an easter egg
You got a pastel shell and a soft inside / squash your pride
You think I fucking lost my mind / I'm not playing
I might as well be making a bomb
I lay you down to foundation when I'm taking you on
Bet the farm on the rhyme for the sake of my mom
She's like / "Mike, show these pigs what kind of bacon you're on."
It's funny but don't laugh / money with no cash
The villain of vocab / I'm killing this notepad
The realest I wrote / man, you don't even know half
I'm banking a full tank / you're running on low gas
Take that / I'm cutting off your fun
You're nothing but a butter knife stopping a gun
We can dance but your chances are slim to none
And you can think that I'm finished / I have not begun
Got a razor-blade tongue and I get this done
No running, just dumping on your clique for fun
Machine Shop got it locked like the game's a joke
Say something funny get the whole gang provoked
Better buckle down fucker / go get your own
We been working ten years just to get this known
The people on the block start to get numb
They expect that it's fresh when the new shit come
Here it goes let 'em know they can fix the frown
Railroad rap hot tracks running you down
And they ask and repeat how I do this now
Like I'm really gonna tell 'em how I get this sound
We just do what we do give you that fix
We come in the back like we run this bitch
Turn the lights down low / and we start the show
When I give it to ya / give it right back and it goes
Take that / take that / cutting off your fun
You're nothing but a butter knife stopping a gun
We can dance but your chances are slim to none
You can think that I'm finished / I have not begun
Follow me / I got styles / you can copy one
Back of your mind / I know you wanna stop me son
But here's news for you fucker: that can not be done
You can think that I'm finished / I have not begun
Think I'm finished / I'm not
Begun
No