Anything worth having is hard to keep,
I love you like my coffee, so hot and so sweet.
So, let’s stick it out so we never regret it,
I could forgive the past–but I never forget it.

Ghostface Killah, “You Know I’m No Good (Remix),” More Fish, 2006

Ooh! Jesus Christ had dreads, so shake ‘em.
I ain’t got none, but I’m planning on growing some.
Imagine all the Hebrews going dumb…
Dancing on top of chariots and turning tight ones.

E-40, “Tell Me When to Go,” My Ghetto Report Card, 2006

We made plans, but we’ll never be able to fulfill ‘em.
This is shit we put together since we was little…
Every time we had dreams, you found a way you could kill ’em.

Kurupt, “Keep it Moving,” from Hi-Tek’s Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip, 2006

Every coast gotta know, I’m the most with the flow,
No joke I’m a pro, I’m like The Pope on the low.

AZ, “I Am the Truth,” The Format, 2006. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church yesterday.

You know them days you just got the blues,
All stressed and depressed from just watchin’ the news?
No matter what good you do, it seems you always get screwed.
Got you caught up in your feelings, now you off in the mood.
Shake that attitude and do what you can,
Set a couple goals, follow through with your plans.
Time waits for no man and tomorrow’s not promised,
So if she’s still alive, shoot a call to your mama.
Cause the fighting and the drama, it’s just not worth it,
Nobody’s perfect, ain’t none of us worthless.
We all got a place, and we all got a purpose.

Murs, “Yesterday & Today,” Murray’s Revenge, 2006

Ayo, the arm bone connected to the hand bone,
Nigga, the hand bone connected to the damn chrome!

Sean P, “Don’t You Cross the Line,” from Boot Camp Clik’s The Last Stand, 2006

Look here: “Mo’ money, mo’ problems,” my ass.
You’s a naive cat if you still believe that.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Pop Shots,” Osirus: The Official Mixtape, 2006

I’m from Jerz, the home of: “I could’ve swore I parked my car right here!”

Chino XL, “B-Boy Gangsta,” Poison Pen, 2006

It’s kinda hard bein humble in the belly of the struggle,
Doin things that probably get you in trouble.

Busta Rhymes, “Been Through the Storm,” The Big Bang, 2006

Your white tee, well to me, looks like a nightgown;
Make your mama proud, take that thing two sizes down.

Andre 3000, “Walk It Out (Remix)”, from Unk’s Beat’n Down Yo Block!, 2006

My karma’s the comma that puts you inside of a coma,
Hyphen, dot, dot, semi-colon, leave you semi-swollen.
Question mark, you pregnant?
Oh you’re not? I love you, period.

Chino XL, “Wordsmith,” Poison Pen, 2006

What’s poppin? My gun on ya head, nigga.
What’s crackin? The bones in ya head, nigga.
What’s really good? Nothin but the doe.
What’s really hood? You already know.

Prodigy, “You Already Know,” Mobb Deep & 50 Cent’s G-Unit Radio, Pt. 17: Best In The Business, 2006. More lyrics from P…

Miss can I get a second to speak and quietly mention,
That I am so into who you are, can I get your attention?

Busta Rhymes, “I’ll Do It All,” Big Bang, 2006

Don’t ask for a cig’ – I’m so self-centered, I won’t even share this cancer.

Joe Budden, “40 Licks,” Mood Muzik 2: Can It Get Any Worse?, 2006

The truth is easier when you leavin’ it out.
Like when you “5 minutes away” but you’re just leavin your house?

Wordsworth, “Liar, Liar,” from The Juggaknots’ Use Your Confusion, 2006

I’m from back then, bro, when the phrase was “fresh.”
…When Michael Jackson’s nose looked like KRS.

Breeze Brewin, “30 Something,” from The Juggaknots’ Use Your Confusion, 2006

Posdnuous (De La Soul) • “Smile a Lil’ Bit” • 2006

You need to smile a lil’ bit, frown a lil’ less.
Read a couple of books, and then smoke a lil’ sess.
Get your mind right, but don’t OD,
Cause overdoin’ it ain’t doin’ it with quality.

– Posdnuous of De La Soul, “Smile a Lil Bit,” from Oh No’s Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms, 2006

Ayo, the arm bone connected to the hand bone,
Nigga, the hand bone connected to the damn chrome!

Sean P, “Don’t You Cross the Line,” from Boot Camp Clik’s The Last Stand, 2006. R.I.P!

A thin line between the haters and the ones who love us.
A thinner line from the freedom and the foul judges,
In the streets where the snake niggas hold grudges.

Tragedy Khadafi, “Calm Down,” Thug Matrix II, 2006. More from The Intelligent Hoodlum…

What the fuck happened to reality-spitting rhyme sayers?
These days, everybody trying to be a thug or a player.
Where did all the real motherfuckers go in the game?
Bring back the breakdancers and graffiti writers with fame.

Immortal Technique, “Revolutionary,” Revolutionary Vol. 1, 2001. More from Immortal Technique >