Tennishu - Ray Of Light



This song is for the positive people listening. Sometimes rap music can get very dark and very fatalistic in the way that the lyricist provides context and detail about the worlds that inspire the music.

For this record, I really wanted to make something that had a positive outlook but still sounded cool. I didn't want to polish it up too much but I'm glad it made its way onto the album.



I can see the Ray of light
Can’t see what they go through
Work it till the feelin’s right
Til that’s the sound they runnin’ to

I can feel you by my side
That way I can see it through
Drivin is you down to ride
Chillin’ as I breeze through

Well Ima
Drop a
Fire flame philosophy 
On my shoulder feel the boulder stand on top of me
Posted up behind the arc now we poppin’ three
Poppin’ band poppin’ out just for a shoppin spree
Fly in’ higher yeah I’m shakin the top of the tree
Do it together now or never fuck workin’ for free
What’s the plan? Understand what you tryin’ tah be
Tryna to see plane train send a picture to me
Mercilessly I’m on the beat Golf ball on the tee
Tennishu Tee I’m on the street buy it just cuz they see
Just cuz they free for the moment don’t mean it last long
Spit it hot cuz I don’t know if this my last song
Stay stronger than the dude that was sellin’ that
When I finish the next one Ima be right back
Right stack will make me holla jump up and down
Spread the rhymes in the times out to every town

I can see the Ray of light
Can’t see what they go through
Work it till the feelin’s right
Til that’s the sound they runnin’ to

I can feel you by my side
That way I can see it through
Drivin is you down to ride
Chillin’ as I breeze through



Artwork by Derrick Tenney
Recorded at Dinah Recording in Richmond, VA
Produced by Tennishu for James Infinite
Written by Marcus James Tenney


©2024 James Infinite

More To The Story

Ray Of Light

Buy Here

This song was very difficult to write because the section of "Peace" that I sampled always reminds me of my Mom. She alway has a way to give sage advice and she was also really good at helping me understand the seriousness of situations that I was not involved in myself.

Artwork by Derrick Tenney
Recorded at Dinah Recording in Richmond, VA
Produced by Tennishu for James Infinite
Written by Marcus James Tenney for James Infinite

Come all the way around
Lay ya pistols on the ground
Put ya politics down
Hold hands if ya can
Those brands turn it down
Tune your ears to the sound of what all ya neighbors going thru
Deep in the hustle in the struggle
You could wild out
Use ya friends and ya clout
Make the Ms big amount
Balance never go in doubt
Never runnin' out
Scream and shout in the beginning like you winnin' but you can't pretend
It's froze ice cold when you alone and at the end
Deep in the mirror you swim in a burnin' sea of sin
And now ya band aid fallin' off cuz it's made of Gin
Even tho you limpin' you headed back just to ride again
And then again
I speak it cuz that's what we got in common
Started the hustle arizona tea and top ramen
Now I see the adriatic when Im finish rhymin'
Box full of gold Gz Ima keep diamond shinin'
Keep on shinin' just like a diamond bright
Tennishu fire lit for another night
Shoutout to the homies need it at the right height
Rolled up slow they caught him slippin' at the light
For that good life nigga you gon' hafta fight
With ya tooth and nail not a guard rail in sight
Right over the edge neva know you might
Right over the ledge ride slo alright
And if you keep on simpin' you'll limpin' toward your endin'
Ain't no mendin' when the outcome is descendin'
Ain't no runnin' from its just one and done no suspension
Swivel all time nigga please pay attention
Never swindle mine grow what I go invest in
Other guy try but I fly ascension
Elevator status it had us on and connected
Well-laid plans is what they tryna throw a wrench in
Come all the way around
Lay ya pistols on the ground
Put ya politics down
Hold hands if ya can
Those brands turn it down
Tune your ears to the sound of what all ya neighbors going thru
Deep in the hustle in the struggle
You could wild out
Use ya friends and ya clout
Make the Ms big amount
Balance never go in doubt
Never runnin' out
Scream and shout in the beginning like you winnin' but you can't pretend
It's froze ice cold when you alone and at the end
Deep in the mirror you swim in a burnin' sea of sin
And now ya band aid fallin' off cuz it's made of Gin
Even tho you limpin' you headed back just to ride again
And then again
I speak it cuz that's what we got in common
Started the hustle arizona tea and top ramen
Now I see the adriatic when Im finish rhymin'
Box full of gold Gz Ima keep diamond shinin'

Run it up
Run it up
Juice swimmin' in my cup
Thoughts swimmin' in my mind
Acts swimmin' with the swine
Quick to push the hard line
Slow to rethink and refine
But they still pressin' rewind
You think you havin' the time
But yo time comin' up
It's my time to shine
I waited long enough
Head down on the grind
Put it all on the ground
Tell me what you have now
Watch them sway with the sound
Send the gas back around
No confusion yo team losin'
In the whip cruisin'
With the bars that be steady bruisin'
The shit you choosin' is problem cuz you lack the sauce
Pockets empty you ain't got enough to pay the cost
My shit is two up two down with 95 across
A survival horse pushin' in the porsche of course
Bitch I got the key tah open up them doors
Pour it up til it drip drop to the floors

©2024 James Infinite

Threat

"The Formula" was written back when my daughter was drinking formula. Everyday that we were at home, I remember timing everything around when my wife and I scheduled her eating time.

During that time, there was a lot of formula the counter tops, the floor, my clothes and anywhere else that super small powder particles could fit.

At the moment that the idea for this record came to me, I was thinking about going down a highway at night with the windows down in the summer time. The feeling of the warm air blowing past my face and head while I blast rap music on my to play somewhere was a mental get away from the repetitive nature of taking care of an infant so I thought to myself, "I can get there, I just need to know the formula."

Drums were recorded by Lance Koehler at Minimum Wage Recording in Richmond, VA
All other instruments and vocals recorded at Dinah Recording in Richmond, VA

Artwork by Derrick Tenney
Produced by Tennishu for James Infinite
Written by Marcus James Tenney for James Infinite

Yeah
Yeah
Yeah

Yeah
Yeah
Lets go

I wanna know what it feel like
Don't wanna do it if it ain't right
No
But I wanna know what it feel like
I think about it deep into the night
Cuz I wanna know what it feel like
I wanna know what it feel like
I wanna know what it feel like

Take a look
What do we have
What do you want
What can you grab
What do you flaunt
What do you flash
Never the cash
Never the stash
Both of my legs I be runnin the race
Chef in the kitchen I give 'em a taste
Spoonful melody straight to the face
Uppercut twice now it's blood in yo space
Whole lotta red
Some of em dead
Shit I don't know I be wreckin' the mic and I'm stackin' it til I git fed
Trackin' it all from the head
Straight from the tip
Right off the rip
Audio drip
Yeah
Slide to the side for the VIP
Water is plentiful but don't slip
Feelin' is mutual please don't trip
Yeah
Uh
See you ain't have to get but I ain't havin' it
Uh
The energy I'm burnin' up while I do this shit
Uh
I can see it all over they face
Vibe way different I'm on the chase
Sauce straight burnin' yo eye
Doin' it fore I die
They got murder all on the case
So we don't go
Moving too slow for the feel
Make it right with the real
Knee-deep up in the field with the grass and the cash
And the name but we not the same
Not even the game
It ain't no rules
Not for the pussy the cars or the jewels
That's why they poppin' the trunk for the tools

But so what

I wanna know what it feel like
Don't wanna do it if it ain't right
No
But I wanna know what it feel like
I think about it deep into the night
Cuz I wanna know what it feels like
I wanna know what it feel like
I wanna know what it feel like

Step inside my mind and have a seat
I'm pourin' you a drink
But don't get it twisted I don't give a fuck 'bout what you think
Sixes on me
Neck is icy like I'm slidin' in a rink
Kill this beat dead hide the body til it start to stink
Then we move it to another box and paint that ho pink
Steppin' up out in the Rolls finest leather freshest mink
Smokin' on the super veggie lots of iron lots of zinc
Count the money in the tub and wash the tools in the sink
Keep it quiet til you buy it what them old heads say
Pistol for a little issue how them young boys play
Microphone inside my grip then I'm gon git up and slay
Get money up today
Homie so fuck whatcha say
Im gone do it my way cuz
I wanna know what it feel like
I wanna know what it feel like

©2024 James Infinite

The Formula

The question of "Do I Know What I'm Doing" has really been present throughout this production process so I wanted to make a jam about that specifically. 

The vibe of this record is a little different than the rest of the album. The drum groove has an island tinge to it. The bass line provide top and bottom line melodies to count on while the synths and percussion drop in and out to aid with the overall flow of the vibe.

Artwork by Derrick Tenney
Recorded at Dinah Recording in Richmond, VA
Produced by Tennishu for James Infinite
Written by Marcus James Tenney for James Infinite

I hope you know that this is the right way
And not the tonight way
Just what's in sight way
I hope you know that this is the right way
Because we're runnin' out of time

Whoa
Damn
Lookin' in the mirra
Eyes on the prize
See a little cleara
Get alil neara
I could reach out
Grip my fingaz before the time runs out
Fuck the stingers I think they comin' knives out
No more shadows inside my mind no doubt
No more bottles inside I'm fine breathe out
Ima stand out me no come for the clout
Nah
Body body just twist when ya hear it
Deep in ya spirit
A lesser man finna fear it
The heat I sear it
Tear when ya comin' near
But don't get too close
Cuz only God I fear
Let that go ear to ear
I swear I'm so sincere
Yah
Watch the sharks posted up by the pier
No peer that I'm used too
It's by my own hand
Use my ears just for the view
Cuz time like quicksand
So

I hope you know that this is the right way
And not the tonight way
Just what's in sight way
I hope you know that this is the right way
Because we're runnin' out of time

U know where you goin'?
You know where you comin' from?
When the wind blowin'
Cold make ya fingaz numb
I see the liquor pourin' and I'm gittin some
Smoke passin' now we activated gettin' dumb
No plastic all glass when you throwin' them
No spine too flaccid when you owin' them
No shine I ain't hatin' but you go with them
No lime ayo you gotta do a show with them
One time
One bar I pull out the sky
We sky high dappin' up God
Got tah try
No lie
No sigh I'm just havin' fun
Too many one and done
Nobody stick around
Lookin' at the mud it's no tracks
All facts
If you gettin' hyper relax
Get stacks
Vocals layin' down maad tracks on tracks
And my shit always top notch
Neva whack

I hope you know that this is the right way
And not the tonight way
Just what's in sight way
I hope you know that this is the right way
Because we're runnin' out of time

Please believe me when I tell you that I
Breathe in deep and I can connect you to
My imagination with these bars so
Pay attention fruit is from these scars

Please believe me when I tell you that I
Breathe in deep and I can connect you to
My imagination with these bars so
Pay attention fruit is from these scars

Fruit from these scars produce bars
Fruit from bad deeds produce bars
Fruit from bad seeds come back hard
Roll up maad trees so you don't start

So you don't flip out and fall apart
So you can show the homies better ways to start
Tell all of ya friends this is from the heart
Do you know the way way before ya start
Souls caught in crossfire
Ascend higher to a plane
A domain where shit remain insane
I can't explain ya brain is on sugar Cain
And will remain as long as they let the rappers in
Ready aim
Bars ready to go and kill again
Ain't no discussion
Destructive percussive rappin' mayne
In mah lane
Eyes open
I'm like a hurricane
I can see the destination through the window payne

I hope you know that this is the right way
And not the tonight way
Just what's in sight way
I hope you know that this is the right way
Because we're runnin' out of time

I hope you know that this is the right way
And not the tonight way
Just what's in sight way
I hope you know that this is the right way
Because we're runnin' out of time

©2024 James Infinite

Hope You Know

BeatWindow_006: Visual Vibrations

This is from somewhere in Virginia Beach, VA. I can't remember where but I do remember thinking that someone wrote on the sky. The vibes in the place felt super calming so I had to slap a tune on that thang

Produced by Tennishu
Written by Marcus James Tenney
2024 James Infinite

BeatWindow_006 VA Beach

BeatWindow_006: Virginia Beach, VA

Tennishu is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and MC based in Richmond, VA. As a member of the genre-defying band Butcher Brown since 2017, he brings a distinct voice to the group’s fusion of jazz, hip-hop, soul, and funk. Whether performing on saxophone, trumpet, or crafting tracks behind the scenes, his work is rooted in rhythm, intention, and movement.

His latest solo album, More Of The Story, showcases that approach in full form. Entirely self-produced, the project weaves live instrumentation with groove-forward production to create an immersive sonic experience. From high-energy cuts to more meditative moments, the album reflects a mindset of growth, clarity, and artistic purpose—inviting listeners into a sound that is both personal and expansive.

Tennishu’s career is marked by constant evolution. From his early experiments in production to his role in Butcher Brown, he has steadily carved out a solo path defined by intention and versatility. As a producer, instrumentalist, and vocalist, he continues to refine his voice across mediums—building a catalog that stands on its own while pushing into new creative territory. Whether performing live, composing, or producing, Tennishu is shaping a body of work that reflects growth, discipline, and a vision that keeps moving forward.

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