Said she loved my necklace, started relaxin’.
Now that’s what the fuck I call a chain reaction!
Jay-Z, “Money Ain’t a Thang,” from Jermaine Dupri’s Life in 1472, 1998
Tag: brooklyn
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Too much weak talk, and not enough real hip-hop.
Guru, “Watch What You Say,” Jazzmatazz Volume 2: The New Reality, 1995
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Some type of grief you must experience
In order to appreciate happiness.
‘Cause if you are always satisfied,
Life will just pass by; you would’ve never tried.MC Lyte, “Search 4 The Lyte,” Act Like You Know, 1991
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Was crazy poor, now I’m tryna get mad rich;
With a good girl…you couldn’t tell, cause she’s a bad bitch.Ka, “Chamber,” Grief Pedigree, 2012
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Christmas is over and this is my resolution:
To stop the confusion.
Let the fresh get fresh, and the stale get staler
And throw em in a pail of
Trash…with the other trash, and smash down the lid,
For all the weak shit they did.Special Ed, “Ready 2 Attack,” Legal, 1990
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We love it where we from, but we kick it where we at.
Ladybug Mecca, “It’s Good to Be Here,” from Digable Planets’ Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), 1993
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Got a freaky, freaky, freaky-freaky flow,
Control the mic like Fidel Castro.– Jeru Tha Damaja, “Come Clean,” The Sun Rises in the East, 1994
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Penny for your thoughts, a nickel for your dreams
A dime for your goals and a quarter in your jeans
Trying to make a dollar outta forty-one cents
Caught up in the barbed wire, shorty on the fence– Masta Ace, “Young Black Intelligent (Y.B.I.),” The Falling Season, 2016
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Funny what seven days can change…
It was all good just a week ago.Jay-Z, “A Week Ago,” Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life, 1998
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I’m not the one to kiss ass for the top position,
I take mine off the top like a politician.
Where I’m from, doin dirt is a part of livin…
I got mouths to feed, I gots to get it.– Dead Prez, “Hell Yeah (Pimp the System),” RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta, 2004
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You can’t raise a man if you ain’t one yourself,
Getting all your cred from the gun on your belt.– Troy Ave, “Drug Game,” Roland Collins, 2016
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Survive the droughts? I wish you well.
How sick am I? I wish you health.
I wish you wheels, I wish you wealth,
I wish you insight so you could see for yourself.– Jay-Z, “American Dreamin,” American Gangster, 2007
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To try and to fail:
The two things I hate.
Succeed, and this rap game:
The two things that’s great.– Jay-Z, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” The Blueprint, 2001.
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Life’s a bitch, who are we to judge each other?
I know I got faults, I ain’t the only muthafucka.– Guru, “No Shame in my Game,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992
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We live to love, and we love to rock mics.
We speak in ghetto tongue, cause ghetto’s the life.Doodlebug, “Where I’m From,” from Digable Planets’ Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), 1993. More from Digable Planets… -
Stay far from timid.
Only make moves when your heart is in it.
And live the phrase ‘Sky’s the Limit.’Notorious B.I.G., “Sky’s the Limit,” Life After Death, 1997. More from Biggie… -
She claims she loves my mind, cause I’m so intelligent,
But fuck my mental…she was scheming on my mint.Jeru tha Damaja, “Me or the Papes,” Wrath of the Math, 1996. More from Jeru… -
You know, I used to be a player…flygirl-layer and a heartbreaker,
Lovemaker, backbreaker, but then I made a mistake.
Yes, I fell in love with this ill chick,
Sweatin’ me for money, my name and the dilsnick.
My homeboys told me drop her cause it would be to my benefit;
She used to say I’d better quit hanging with those derelicts.Guru, “Ex Girl to the Next Girl,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992. More from Guru… -
Smoke good, fuck, eat, drink.
Drive nice car, wear all green mink.Action Bronson, “Terry,” Sincerely, Mr. Wonderful, 2015. More from Bronsolini… -
I wouldn’ta came and said my name and run some weak shit,
Puttin’ blurbs and slurs and words that don’t fit
In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone?
I take this more serious than just a poem.
Rockin’ party to party, backyard to yard,
I tear it up y’all…and bless the mic for the Gods.Rakim, “My Melody,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid in Full, 1987. More from Rakim Allah… -
Now, yo: Juice Crew’s the family, Slick Rick’s a friend of me
And Doug E. Fresh, Stet, KRS and Public Enemy.
Blahzay-blah, you know who you are:
The red, black and green, the sun, moon and star.
Knowledge of self is being taught here on after,
Peace in the name of I, Self, Lord and Master.
I come to teach and preach and reaching each
With the speech every leech I’ll impeach.
Drop science and build with math,
And the dumb, deaf and blind’ll feel the Wrath…of Kane.Big Daddy Kane, “Wrath of Kane (Live),” It’s a Big Daddy Thing, 1990. More from Kane… -
Got the new Hummer in the summer when,
I was a newcomer then,
Drugs and Mac-10s, hugs from fake friends.
Make ends: they hate you,
Be broke: girls won’t date you.Notorious B.I.G., “Long Kiss Goodnight,” Life After Death, 1997. More from Biggie… -
Y’all niggaz ain’t rapping the same,
Fuck the flow, y’all jacking our slang,
I seen the same shit happen to Kane,
Three cuts in your eyebrow trying to wild out.
The game is ours, will never foul out,
Y’all just better hope we gracefully bow out.Jay-Z, “Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up),” Vol. 2…The Life and Times of S. Carter, 1999. More from Jay… -
Lyrically def and connecting, complete mic-wrecking…
No double-checking, vocals kill like weapons.Guru, “Mass Appeal,” from Gang Starr’s Hard To Earn, 1994. More from Guru… -
Never forget that I’m the one you thought wouldn’t make it.
I used to make money…now I just take it.Buckshot, “I Gotcha Opin,” from Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage, 1993. More from Black Moon… -
I know the price, know the risk, know the wrongs and the rights;
Still my blood flows ice…it’s just my life.Jay-Z, “In My Lifetime (Remix),” 12", 1994. More from Hov… -
Talk…well I heard talk is cheap.
But like beauty, talk is just skin deep.
And when you lie and you talk a lot,
People tell you to step off a lot.Daddy-O, “Talkin’ All That Jazz,” from Stetsasonic’s In Full Gear, 1988. -
I’m outspoken; my language is broken into a slang,
But it’s just a dialect that I select when I hang.Special Ed, “I Got It Made,” Youngest in Charge, 1989. More from Special Ed… -
Another day, another burial,
Got you wondering ’bout the day when they bury you.
Tear drops stain the Wally’s that you rockin’,
On the block, candles burn, guns poppin’.Tek, “Memorial,” from Cocoa Brovaz’ (aka Smif N Wessun) The Rude Awakening, 1998. -
It’s the message in the song that makes you rock on,
Some people go to places where they don’t belong.
Whether wrong or right, a lot of people fight,
But I’m here to bless this mic, aight?Guru, “What I’m Here 4,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998. More from Guru… -
In my heart, though, I do believe:
If you put out more love than you receive,
It’s bound to come back around, eventually.Masta Ace, “Glory,” from Marco Polo’s PA2: The Director’s Cut, 2013. More lyrics from Ace > -
No sheep clothing,
I wear wolf;
Howl at the moon.Ka, “Day 93,” from Ka and Preservation’s Days with Dr. Yen Lo, 2015. More from Ka… -
Before I lay my head down to rest,
I roll up a nickel sack of cess to relieve the stress.Steele, “Wontime,” from Smif-N-Wessun’s Dah Shinin’, 1995 -
You know how it go when you got no dough:
Niggas goin out to party and you got no clothes.
And when you do get clothes, then you can’t go out
That’s the bullshit I’m talkin’ about.Sean Price, “Mess You Made,” Jesus Price Supastar, 2007. More from Sean Price -
I mastered The Art of War before a nigga read Sun Tzu,
Third degree black-belt, master of Gun-Fu.
Pop pills, smoke weed, even get drunk too;
And you do what you can, and I do what I want to.Sean Price, “Like You,” Jesus Price Supastar, 2007. R.I.P! More from P! -
Dutch in my ear, Olde E in my palm,
I Freddy Krueger your face, Michael Myers your moms.
You botherin mine? That’s when I’m sparkin the nine.Sean Price, “King Kong,” Jesus Price Supastar, 2007. R.I.P! -
You can tell by the rhyme it’s my time to shine;
Let’s eat, motherfucker, I don’t dine on swine.
I don’t beef with turkeys, I told you the God’ll fold you,
Hard to digest: I suggest that you take tofu.Sean Price, “Like You,” Jesus Price Supastar, 2007. R.I.P! -
Wake up: all of that ‘crack in the street’ talk?
It’s made up, like ‘Jack and the Beanstalk.’Sean Price, “Pyrex,” Mic Tyson, 2012. R.I.P! -
I don’t like thugs, I don’t like nerds,
I don’t like myself and I hate bein’ disturbed.Sean Price, “Critically Acclaimed,” from Statik Selektah’s 100 Proof (The Hangover), 2010. R.I.P! -
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! -
Niggas’ rap albums sound like love letters,
Pen in my hand, like: damn, fam, I could do much better.Sean Price, “Chewbacca,” from Random Axe, 2011. R.I.P! -
Gangsta rappers can’t fight, so they rap about guns.
Sean Price, “Onion Head,” Monkey Barz, 2005. R.I.P! -
Don’t mourn me when I’m gone, celebrate my travels;
Whenever you need me, just take a plane to the astral zones.Joey BADA$$, “On and On,” B4.DA.$$, 2015. -
I give you life decoded,
Nicely quoted.Ka, “Day 110,” from Ka and Preservation’s Days with Dr. Yen Lo, 2015. More from Ka… -
A simple right or left
Can mean life or death.
Epic fail, or nice success,
Days of pleasure…nights of stress.Ka, “Decisions,” Grief Pedigree, 2012. More from Brownsville’s Ka > -
Fuck the world, don’t ask me for shit,
Everything you get you gotta work hard for it.
Honeys shake your hips, you don’t stop,
And niggas pack the clips, keep on…Notorious B.I.G. & Method Man, “The What,” Ready to Die, 1994. More from Biggie, more from Meth. -
I mastered The Art of War before a nigga read Sun Tzu,
Third degree black-belt, master of Gun-Fu.
Pop pills, smoke weed, even get drunk too;
And you do what you can, and I do what I want to.Sean Price, “Like You,” Jesus Price Supastar, 2007. More from P! -
Been tested, ain’t fail: I’m tried and true.
When it’s all falling apart, my pride’s the glue.
I felt at times worthless…
Pulled shifts with shifty crime merchants,
Stained hearts, brainwashed by mind serpents.
The fact I’m still here, it’s clear it’s divine purpose.Ka, “Day 912,” from Ka and Preservation’s Days with Dr. Yen Lo, 2015. More from Ka… -
This ain’t the world we thought it was when we as in pre-school.
Sometimes it’s hard to be cool, sometimes I feel like I’m see-through.
Sometimes I really wish…I wish that I could be you.Joey BADA$$, “Black Beetles,” B4.DA.$$, 2015. -
I used to want a Beemer, I used to want a Benz.
One thing that I never wanted was fake friends in the end.Buckshot, “Duress,” from Black Moon’s War Zone, 1999. More from Buckshot Shorty… -
I’m a true master, you can check my credentials
Cause I choose to use my infinite potential.Jeru tha Damaja, “Come Clean,” The Sun Rises in the East, 1994 -
I’ll never understand why a wack rapper tries and
Convinces himself that his image is so fly and
That’s the type of crap you know I’m not buying…
Chumps lack the beats and their rhymes don’t apply.Guru, “Much Too Much (Mack a Mil),” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992. More from Guru… -
30 rack on a neck of a artist (Say what?)
About another 20K on his arm (Say what?)
This nigga flashin’ 50 grand,
Walk around here, lookin like food for the wolves.
Listen! Illuminati rap: we don’t ride to that,
Everybody poppin’ molly…look at how they act.
(Y’all sweatin’) The whole place emotional,
Wake up to find out some dude’s Frank Ocean’ed you.Lil’ Fame, “187,” from M.O.P.’s Street Certified, 2014. -
It’s like every step bring me close to destiny,
And every breath I get closer to the death of me.
I’m just tryna carry out my own legacy,
But the place I call home ain’t lettin’ me.Joey Bada$$, “Like Me,” B4.DA.$$, 2015 -
Classical slap-stick rappers need Chapstick.
MF Doom, “Rhymes Like Dimes,” Operation: Doomsday!, 1999 -
Now if I worry too much about all my have nots,
I might not recognize just what I’ve got…Mike G., “Jungle Brother,” from Jungle Brothers’ Raw Deluxe, 1997 -
Happiness is temporary, always has been.
I just lost one…but sometimes I win,
I always spread love…but sometimes I sin.Joey Bada$$, “On & On," B4.DA.$$, 2015 -
Wrote this lyric from in the bed wit’ a chick
She had the tightest grip around the head of my…
…Bic. Now, can I get my pen back?MF Doom, “Batty-Boys,” Born Like This, 2009. More quotes from MF Doom… -
I’m pain in the spoken form;
This new strain came from where hope is gone.Ka, “Peace Akhi,” The Night’s Gambit, 2014. More quotes from Ka… -
The rich act poor, and the poor claim rich,
Whatever sounds cool’ll make the weaker mind switch.
If you on a major label or an indie 12-inch:
When you fronting on the mic, you still the industry’s bitch. -
Now when freaks get dressed to go out at night,
They like to wear leather jackets, chains and spikes.
They wear rips and zippers all in their shirts,
Real tight pants and fresh mini skirts.
All kinds of colors runnin’ through their hair,
And you could just about find a freak anywhere.
But then again, you could know someone all their life,
But might not know they’re a freak unless you see them at night.Whodini, “Freaks Come out at Night,” Escape, 1984 -
Black boy, black boy, turn that shit down.
You know that America don’t wanna hear the sound
Of the bass drum jungle music, go back to Africa,
Nigga I’ll arrest ya if you’re holding up traffic.I’ll be damned if I listen, so cops save your breath
And write another ticket if you have any left.
And I’m breaking eardrums while I’m breaking the law,
I’m disturbing all the peace cause Sister Soldier said ‘War!’So catch me if you can, if you can, here’s a donut,
Cause once you drive away, yo, you know I’m gonna go nuts.
And turn it up to where it was before, nice try!
But you can’t stop the power of the bass in your eye.Masta Ace, “Jeep Ass Niguh,” SlaughtaHouse, 1993. More from Ace… -
You can’t tell a motherfucker what to do with his life,
Niggaz tend to live trife…so I react with the mic.Lil Dap, “Speak Ya Clout” from Gang Starr’s Hard to Earn, 1994. More Gang Starr quotes… -
No-frill rappers: you will evaporate, disintegrate, deflate to your fate,
as the great will dominate straight to the state
Of reignin’, gainin’…So put Kane in
That category. Period. End of story.Big Daddy Kane, “The Symphony,” from Marley Marl’s In Control, Volume 1, 1988. More from King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal > -
Took a vow to protect and serve,
All you do is disrespect and murder.
I ask that you not hurt my kids;
This is where you work…this is where I live.Ka, “Mr. Officer,” Iron Works, 2011. More quotes from Ka… -
Once you find your lane, you can’t cruise;
When you define the game, you can’t lose.Ka, “Nothing Is,” Night’s Gambit, 2013. More Ka verbal jewels… -
And through our travels we get separated, never forget:
In order to survive, got to learn to live with regrets.Jay Z, “Regrets,” Reasonable Doubt, 1996 -
The Nets’ a stone throw from where I used to throw bricks
…So it’s only right I’m still tossing ‘round Knicks.Jay Z, “Seen It All,” from Jeezy’s Seen It All, 2014 -
You named them: hustlers, killers, fiends, ex-cons.
I called them: cousins, aunts, pops, moms.
To you? Hoodlums, crackheads, gunmens.
To me? Just neighbors, classmates, young friends.Ka, “To Hull and Back,” 1200 B.C. EP, 2014. More bars from Ka… -
I’m a cold winter morning, y’all Summer’s Eve.
Ka, “Knighthood,” Night’s Gambit, 2013. More from Brownsville’s Ka… -
These internet thugs ain’t doin’ a thing,
Got caught with the Google Chrome…now they in the Bing.Your Old Droog, “Nutty Bars,” Your Old Droog EP, 2014 -
Why did one straw break the camel’s back?
Here’s the secret:
The million other straws underneath it.Mos Def, “Mathematics,” Black on Both Sides, 1999. More Mos Def quotables… -
Haters wanna ball, let me tighten up my draw string.
Wrong sport, boy, you know you’re as soft as a lacrosse team.Jay-Z, “They Don’t Love You No More,” from DJ Khaled’s I Changed A Lot, 2014. Another Drake jab from Hov, ha. -
Question religion, question it all,
Question existence until them questions are solved.Jay-Z, “Heaven,” Magna Carta Holy Grail, 2013. More Jay-Z quotes… -
Brooklyn: the home of the black and the beautiful.
For a rough rap sound, ain’t a place more suitable.Guru, “The Place Where We Dwell,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992. More lyrics from Guru… -
If you ain’t using all the talents God provided you with
For the betterment of Man, understand,
You ain’t nothing but a waste.Talib Kweli, “State of Grace,” Gravitas, 2013. More Talib Kweli quotes… -
Sorry, Mrs. Drizzy, for so much art talk;
Silly me rappin’ ‘bout shit that I really bought.
While these rappers rap about guns they ain’t shot,
And a bunch of other silly shit that they ain’t got.Jay-Z, “We Made It,” 2014 -
Real niggaz represent and don’t die,
Never dead, like I said, all we fuckin’ do is multiply.Buckshot Shorty, “Black Smif-n-Wessun,” from Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage, 1993. More Black Moon lyrics… -
It seems to me like all these people claim to be the victim,
Acting like the whole entire world is out to get them.
Stand up on your own,
And prove that you are grown,
Because the life that you save may be your own.Lee Majors, “Maybe,” from Da Bush Babees’ Gravity, 1996 -
Why is the world round?
Why do the suckas bite?
Why do the freaks come out at night?
Why they paint Jesus white?
I sit and wonder why we breakin hip-hop laws,
Doing videos in houses that we know ain’t yours.Lee Majors, “S.O.S.,” from Da Bush Babees’ Gravity, 1996 -
On the real, fuck your opinion.
I made it this far, and you broke.Troy Ave, “Classic Feel,” New York City: The Album, 2013 -
First I snatched the streets, then I snatched the charts.
First I had they ear, now I have their heart.
Rappers came and went…I’ve been here from the start.
I seen them put it together, watched them take it apart.Jay-Z, “Never Let Me Down,” from Kanye West’s The College Dropout, 2004 -
Just ‘cause you got money don’t mean you made it.
Just ’cause you make it, don’t give you the right to be on that fake shit.Talib Kweli, “Another World,” 12", 1999. More Talib Kweli quotes… -
My mind’s my 9, my pen’s my Mac-10.
My target? All you wack niggaz who started rappin’.The Notorious B.I.G., “Player’s Anthem,” from Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s Conspiracy, 1995. More Biggie quotes… -
Niggas out here buyin’ hoes bags n’ shoes,
But couldn’t buy their kid a new coat for school?
Damn.Troy Ave, “My Grind,” New York City: The Album, 2013 -
White Jesus in my crock pot,
I mix the shit with some soda.
Now Black Jesus turn water to wine,
…And all I had to do was turn the stove up.Jay-Z, “The Devil is a Lie,” from Rick Ross’ Mastermind, 2014. More Jay-Z quotes -
God gave us music, so we play with our words.
Talib Kweli, “Manifesto,” from Lyricist Lounge, Volume 1, 1998. More Talib Kweli quotes -
Do the math: You never settle for less than the whole if you knew the half.
Talib Kweli, “Violations,” Gravitas, 2013. More Talib Kweli quotes -
From open mics to solutions, I got a collage of answers,
And a 10-point program, just like the Black Panthers:1: First, respect yourself as an artist
If you don’t respect yourself, then your rhymes is garbage.2: Make sure your crew is as tight as you
Cause when them niggaz fallin off, they gonna bring you down too.3: Understand the meaning of MC
The power to Move the Crowd like Moses split the seas.4: Know your shit and don’t ever be blunted
If you don’t know what your words mean, then your rhymes mean nothin.5: Kick facts in the raps, and curse with clarity
What’s a curse when language is immersed in vulgarity?6: We gonna fix industrial poli-tricks
Shit, they made an art form out of ridin dicks.7: We soldiers for God needin new recruits
So if you rhymin for the loot, then you’s a prostitute.8: Acknowledge that you need food on your plate
In order to say your grace, make sure your business is straight.9: We buildin black minds with intelligence
And when you freestyle, keep the subject matter relevant.10: Every MC grab a pen
And write some conscious lyrics to tell the children.Talib Kweli, “Manifesto,” from Lyricist Lounge, Volume 1, 1998. More Talib Kweli quotes -
Up against Goliath, to bring butter home.
I’m David on pavement, sling another stone.Ka, “Up Against Goliath,” Grief Pedigree, 2012 -
I only drink Cristal, or Imperial Moet,
No more weak ass Rose, that’s why the game too sweet.
We don’t wear tight ass clothes, we don’t do down South beats,
That ain’t New York–I restore our identification,
‘Cause dick-riding never been a form of transportation.Troy Ave, “Cigar Smoke,” New York City, 2013 -
Shawn Carter was born December 4th,
Weighing in at 10 pounds, 8 ounces.
He was the last of my 4 children,
The only one who didn’t give me any pain when I gave birth to him.
…And that’s how I knew that he was a special child.Jay-Z’s mom, Gloria Carter, “December 4th,” The Black Album, 2003. Happy Bornday, Shawn Carter, born December 4, 1969. -
Brain cells are lit, ideas start to hit,
Next the formation of words that fit.
At the table I sit, making it legit,
And when my pen hits the paper…ahhhh shit!Big Daddy Kane, “Ain’t No Half Steppin’,” Long Live The Kane, 1988 -
Dutch in my ear, Olde E in my palm,
I Freddy Krueger your face, Michael Myers your moms.
You botherin mine? That’s when I’m sparkin the nine.Sean Price, “King Kong,” Jesus Price Superstar, 2007 -
We ain’t speak, clicking heat is our Morse code.
Ka, “Jungle,” Night’s Gambit, 2013 -
Bitch is in the back looking righteous
In a tight dress…I think I might just
Hit her with a little Biggie 101:
How to tote a gun,
And have fun with Jamaican rum.The Notorious B.I.G., “Party and Bullshit,” from Who’s The Man? soundtrack, 1993 -
I’ve been layin’, waiting for your next mistake,
I put in work, and watch my status escalate.Guru, “Work,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998 -
A lot of rappers be like one time wonders,
Couldn’t say a fly rhyme if there was one right under their noses…
I hate those motherfuckin posers.Guru, “Mass Appeal,” from Gang Starr’s Hard to Earn, 1994 (via ninetynow) -
MCs get a little bit of love and think they hot,
Talkin bout how much money they got…all y’all records sound the same.
I’m sick of that fake thug, R&B-rap scenario, all day on the radio,
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material.
…Y’all don’t hear me though:
These record labels slang our tapes like dope.
You can be next in line and signed, and still be writing rhymes and broke.stic.man, “Hip-Hop,” from Dead Prez’s Let’s Get Free, 2000