All I need is one life, one try, one breath, I’m one man.
What I stand for speaks for itself…they don’t understand.
Nas, “One Mic,” Stillmatic, 2001. More from Nas.
Tag: philosophy
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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 -
Up against Goliath, to bring butter home.
I’m David on pavement, sling another stone.Ka, “Up Against Goliath,” Grief Pedigree, 2012 -
You download it for free, we get charged back for it.
I know you’re saying, “They won’t know, they won’t miss it,
Besides, I ain’t a thief, they won’t pay me a visit.”
So, if I come to your job, take your corn on the cob,
And take a couple kernels off it, that would be alright with you?Andre 3000, “What a Job,” from Devin the Dude’s Waitin to Inhale, 2007 -
The world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket.
Q-Tip, “Verses from the Abstract,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, 1991 -
What’s better than tripping is falling in love.
What’s better than Letterman, Leno, Fallon, and all the above?
What’s better than popping bottles trying to ball in the club?
Is the first caveman pops with his son, ball and a club.
What’s better than paper is balling it up.
What’s better than followers is actually falling in love.
What’s better than frolicking, follies, fallin in mud?
Rolling in green pastures, wandering, following love.
What’s better than eating is feeding your fam.
What’s better than meetings is missing meetings to meet with your fam.
What’s better than leaning and needing your Xan?
Is hitting your zan dreaming a dream could mean leaving the land.
What’s better than yelling is hollering love.
What’s better than rhymes, nickles, dimes, dollars, and dubs?
Is dialing up your darling just for calling her up.
There ain’t nothing better than falling in love.Chance the Rapper, “Interlude (That’s Love),” Acid Rap, 2013 -
Be a king? Think not.
Why be a king when you can be a God?Eminem, “Rap God,” The Marshall Mathers LP 2, 2013 -
Pain is joy when it cries, it’s my smile in disguise.
Pusha T, “Pain,” My Name is My Name, 2013 -
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 -
Why do I need ID to get ID?
If I had ID, I wouldn’t need ID.Mos Def, “The Questions,” from Common’s Like Water for Chocolate, 2000 -
Every time I write these words they become a taboo,
Making sure my punctuation curve, every letter here’s true,
Living my life in the margin, and that metaphor was proof.Kendrick Lamar, “Poetic Justice,” good kid, m.A.A.d city, 2012 -
And as for the critics, tell me I don’t get it.
Everybody can tell you how to do it, they never did it.Jay-Z, “Already Home,” The Blueprint 3, 2009 -
Others tell like it is, while I tell it how I would like it to be.
Cee-Lo, “The World I Know,” from Slam The Soundtrack, 1998 -
What you base your happiness around?
Material, women, and large paper?
That means you inferior, not major.Nas, “No Idea’s Original,” The Lost Tapes, 2002 -
I live by the beat like you live check to check.
If you don’t move your feet then I don’t eat,
So we like neck to neck.André Benjamin, “Elevators (Me & You),” from Outkast’s ATLiens, 1996 -
I wanna just take this time out to be perfectly honest;
Cause there’s a lotta shit I keep bottled that hurts deep inside of my soul,
And just know that I grow colder the older I grow.
This boulder on my shoulder gets heavy and harder to hold,
And this load is like the weight of the world and I think my neck is breaking,
Should I just give up or try to live up to these expectations?Eminem, “Hailie’s Song,” The Eminem Show, 2002 -
I got mouths to feed,
Unnecessary beef is more cows to breed.GZA, “4th Chamber,” Liquid Swords, 1995 -
No matter what the name, we’re all the same pieces in one big chess game.
Chuck D., “Rebel Without a Pause,” from Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, 1988 -
It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.
Rakim, “I Know You Got Soul,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid In Full, 1987 -
I ain’t the captain of the yacht, but I’m on the boat;
I ain’t acting what I’m not, knowing that I don’t.
You niggaz acting like you will, but I know you won’t.
Man, I read between the lines of the eyes of your brows,
Your handshake ain’t matchin your smile…Beanie Sigel, “Feel it in the Air,” The B. Coming, 2005 -
I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem,
Or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams.
I use it as my gas, so they say that I’m gassed,
But without it I’d be last, so I ought to laugh…Kanye West, “Last Call,” The College Dropout, 2003 -
I thank the Lord for every morning he allows me to rise,
And though the sun is shining, there’s a cloud in the sky
Lettin’ me know that at any moment there could be rain.
And as beautiful as life is, there still can be pain.
Down the park, I hear the sirens, just screamin’ away,
And then the inevitable happens, the end of them days,
As sad as it sounds, but that’s the price we all gotta pay.
And the whole world knows God giveth, and will taketh away.
I live and I learn, I sit and watch my cigarette burn
Down to the ash. It reminds me of the now and the past.
I say a little prayer, cause eventually I’ll stand in the path
Of the souls and dark rows that lead to rest.Scarface, “What Can I Do?,” The Fix, 2002 -
Never looking back or too far in front of me,
The present is a gift, and I just want to Be.Common, “Be,” Be, 2005 -
Actions have reactions, don’t be quick to judge,
You may not know the hardships people don’t speak of.
It’s best to step back, and observe with couth,
For we all must meet our Moment of Truth.Guru, “Moment of Truth,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998 -
My sense of self and my mental health
Is much more powerful than any hint of wealth.Guru, “Peace of Mine,” from Gang Starr’s The Ownerz, 2003 -
I thought I’d probably die in prison, expensive taste in women,
Ain’t have no pot to piss in, now my kitchen full of dishes.
Nose bloody from that sniffin’, your heroin addiction
Trigger finger itchin’, fuck parental supervision…
Purple sippin’, finger twistin’, teeth glisten like it’s Memphis
A bunch of hypocritic Christians, the land of no religion.A$AP Rocky, “LongLiveA$AP,” LongLiveA$AP, 2013 -
Just because no one can understand how you speak,
Don’t necessarily mean that what you be sayin is deep.Talib Kweli, “Good Mourning,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000 -
Time is money, every moment is costly,
So I ration emotion, ‘cause existence exhausts me.Slug, “They’re All Gonna Laugh @ You,” from Atmosphere’s Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs, 2001 -
Time is real, we can’t rewind it…
Out of everybody I met, who told the truth?
Time did.Common, “The Truth,” from Pharoahe Monch’s Internal Affairs, 1999 -
It’s like a cycle: niggas come home, some’ll go in,
Do a bullet, come back, do the same shit again.
From the womb to the tomb, presume the unpredictable,
Guns salute life, rapidly, that’s the ritual.Nas, “Verbal Intercourse,” from Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, 1995 -
The purpose of life is a life with a purpose;
So I’d rather die for a cause than live a life that is worthless.Immortal Technique, “The Martyr,” The Martyr, 2011 -
There’s a very big difference between what’s rap and what’s real,
When those worlds collide, that’s when rappers get killed.
Trappers, they go to jail, die without leaving a will,
There’s a very big difference between what’s rap and what’s real.Saigon, “Rap Vs. Real,” The Greatest Story Never Told 2: Bread and Circuses, 2012 -
City lights shine bright on my complexion,
Self-reflection…red hairs flashing at the intersection.
Life is a green light, one star, no script,
Supporting actors…fresh peaches, no pit.Action Bronson, “Randy The Musical,” Rare Chandeliers, 2012 -
In my world, even sure bets are not certain;
‘Cause you’ll get the picture, then find out it’s the cropped version.Joe Budden, “Going Through the Motions,” Mood Muzik: The Box Set, 2012 -
Look inside my soul and you can find gold and maybe get rich.
Look inside of your soul and you can find out it never exists…Kendrick Lamar, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” good kid, m.A.A.d. city, 2012 -
I bet you never heard of a playa with no game,
Told the truth to get what I want, but shot it with no shame.
Take this music dead serious while others entertain.
I see they makin’ they paper so I guess I can’t complain…or can I?
I feel they disrespectin’ the whole thang.
Them hooks like sellin’ dope to black folks,
And I choke when the food they serve ain’t tastin’ right,
My stomach can’t digest it even when I bless it…Andre 3000, “13th Floor/Growing Old,” from Outkast’s ATLiens, 1996 -
Let bygones be bygones…but where I’m from,
We buy guns and more guns, to give to the young.Kendrick Lamar, “The Heart Pt. 2,” from O(verly) D(edicated), 2010 -
Dear Mama, don’t cry, your baby boy’s doin’ good,
Tell the homies I’m in heaven, and they ain’t got hoods.
Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook,
Drippin’ peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke…2Pac, “Thugz Mansion,” Better Dayz, 2002 -
Everything has a price…
No matter if it’s fortune, fame or your life.
I understood later that it’s all about paper,
Everything has a fee in the land of the free.O.C., “Land of the Free,” from Show & A.G.’s Live Hard, 2007 -
We were beginners in the hood as 5 Percenters,
But somethin’ must’ve got in us, cause all of us turned to sinners.AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’ Illmatic, 1994 -
I ain’t never gave a fuck, I never did and never will.
Live my life on principle: keep it true, keep it real.
Better said, I keep it TRILL and no matter who don’t like it,
Homie, that just it how it is, naked truth
Like that stripper that’s in front of me,
And I keep a blunt, and a Bible, and a gun on me.Killer Mike, “Untitled,” R.A.P. Music, 2012 -
There’s a million ways to live on this thing called a planet,
I’mma live everyday, I ain’t takin’ nothing for granted.Sadat X, “The Next Spot,” from High School High soundtrack, 1996 -
Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal,
MC’s spit rhymes to uplift their people.KRS-One, “Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been),” 2007 -
Some seek fame cause they need validation,
Some say hating is confused admiration.Nas, “Stay,” Life is Good, 2012 -
You’ve got to realize that the world’s a test,
You can only do your best and let Him do the rest.
You’ve got your life, and got your health,
So quit procrastinating and push it yourself.Cee-Lo, “In Due Time,” from Soul Food Soundtrack, 1997 -
I wonder, who do you believe in? I know it ain’t me,
I hope it ain’t a priest, or who you seen on TV.
I hope it ain’t your poppa, potna, he only raised you.
And I know it ain’t your mom, even though that’s who you came through…Blu, “A Man,” from Blu & Exile’s Maybe One Day, 2012 -
It’s a thin line between paper and hate,
Friends and snakes, nine millis and thirty-eights,
Hell or the pearly gates…I was destined to come,
Predicted, blame God, He blew breath in my lungs.Nas, “Hate Me Now,” I Am…, 1999 -
Keep my planets in orbit,
Never forfeit or quit,
Move forward…
I talk with the awkward slang,
I walk with the Wu-Tang.RZA, “Tragedy,” from Rhyme & Reason soundtrack, 1997 -
A simple right or left can mean life or death,
Epic fail or nice success,
Days of pleasure or nights of stress.Ka, “Decisions,” Grief Pedigree, 2012 -
Rebel, renegade, must stay paid.
KRS-One, “I’m Still #1,” from Boogie Down Productions’ By Any Means Necessary, 1990 -
Everybody’s got opinions on the way you’re livin’,
But see, they can’t fill your shoes.Andre 3000, “Synthesizer,” from Outkast’s Aquemini, 1998 -
The line between playing to win and sin is thin,
But I walk it with grace and I talk it with taste.
I am that raw, simply put, and I rest my case.Cee-Lo, “One for the Road,” Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, 2002 -
We brag on havin’ bread, but none of us are bakers.
We all talk havin’ greens, but none of us on acres.
If none of us on acres, and none of us grow wheat,
Then who will feed our people when our people need to eat?
So it seems our people starve from lack of understandin’
Cause all we seem to give them is some ballin’ and some dancin’,
And some talkin’ about our car and imaginary mansions.
We should be indicted for bullshit we inciting,
Havin’ children deaf and pretendin’ it’s exciting.
We are advertisements for agony and pain.
We exploit the youth. We tell them to join a gang.
We tell them dope stories, introduced them to the game.Killer Mike, “Reagan,” R.A.P. Music, 2012 -
Destiny made a mistake and gave my fate to someone else.
Joe Budden, “Going Thru the Motions,” Mood Muzik: The Box Set, 2012 -
I am the manifestation of study,
NOT the manifestation of money.
Therefore, I advance through thought,
NOT what’s manufactured and bought.KRS-One, “Original Lyrics,” from Boogie Down Productions’ Edutainment, 1990 -
We can’t complain for this borrowed time;
So don’t misuse yours, cause you can’t borrow mine.Big K.R.I.T., “Wake Up,” 4Eva N A Day, 2012 -
Yo, where the teachers went, with all that pro-black shit?
Where all the conscious niggas, who used to chat like this?
See, I remember yesterday when y’all was Gods and Earths,
Egyptians and metaphysicists on the verge of giving birth
To Understanding, and planting seeds that grow.
Now everybody’s on that bullshit about killing and so.Wise Intelligent, “Conscious Style,” The New World Order, 1996 -
I was always taught my do’s and don’ts:
For do’s I did, and for don’ts, I said I won’t.GZA, “I Gotcha Back,” from the Fresh soundtrack, and also on Liquid Swords, 1994 -
Look: if I shoot you, I’m brainless,
But if you shoot me, then you’re famous.
What’s a nigga to do?Jay-Z, “Streets Is Watching,” In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, 1997 -
The poor get worked, the rich get richer,
The world gets worse, do you get the picture?
The poor gets dead, the rich get depressed,
The ugly get mad, the pretty get stressed.
The ugly get violent, the pretty get gone,
The old get stiff, the young get stepped on.Whoever told you that “it was all good” lied,
So throw your fists up if you not satisfied.J-Live, “Satisfied,” All of the Above, 2002 -
There ain’t no time to be wasted, the world is going under…
Nowadays, can’t tell Fall from Spring, and Winter from Summer.Big K.R.I.T., “As Small as a Giant,” K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, 2012 -
We speak the love language, they speak from pain and anguish.
Some don’t love theyselves, so they perception is tainted.Talib Kweli, “Love Language,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000 -
I’d rather die enormous than live dormant.
Jay-Z, “Can I Live,” Reasonable Doubt, 1996 -
I’m your Mr., you my Mrs. with hugs and kisses,
Valentine cards and birthday wishes?
Please…be on another level of planning, of understanding
The bond between man and woman and child.
The highest elevation, cause we above
All that romance crap, just show your love.Method Man, “All I Need (Remix),” from I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need 12", 1995 -
…I’ve never had a dream in my life,
Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven’t pursued.
I knew what I wanted, and did it till it was done.
So I’ve been the dream I wanted to be since Day One.Aesop Rock, “No Regrets,” Labor Days, 2001 -
You can call it hell…
But I say it’s below the heavens.Blu, “The World Is…(Below the Heavens),” from Blu & Exile’s Below the Heavens, 2007 -
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death,
We got to fight the powers that be!Chuck D., “Fight the Power,” from Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, 1990 -
I don’t see the world as you see it.
I see it as a game, and my aim is to complete it.
What you live for is what you die for:
To make a little name, grab some fame and the high score.Murs, “Ice Cream Mountain,” from McKenzie Eddy’s Slow Your Horse Down, Son, 2011 -
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 -
You would rather have a Lexus, or justice?
A dream, or some substance?
A Beamer, a necklace, or freedom?stic.man, “Hip-Hop,” from Dead Prez’ Let’s Get Free, 2000 -
They say it’s lonely at the top, in whatever you do,
You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you.
Nobody’s invincible, no plan is foolproof,
We all must meet our Moment of Truth.Guru, “Moment of Truth,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998