It don’t make sense: either you a soldier from the start,
Or a actor with a record deal tryin’ to play the part.
Xzibit, “Paparazzi,” At the Speed of Life, 1996
Tag: Rap Quote
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Fuck a moment of silence…I need a moment of violence.
Immortal Technique, “Toast to the Dead,” The Martyr, 2011 -
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 -
A forty and a blunt, that’s all she really wants.
Grand Puba, “Slow Down,” from Brand Nubian’s One for All, 1990 -
Look past the garbage, over the trains,
Under the ruins, through the remains,
Around the crime and pollution,
And tell me…where I fit in?Grandmaster Caz, “South Bronx Subway Rap,” from Wild Style Soundtrack, 1983 -
Why is it a honey act like she don’t want to be bothered?
But after the tappin’, she yappin’ like she want her children fathered?Breeze Brewin’, “Sex Type Thang,” from Juggaknots’ Clear Blue Skies (Re-Release), 2002 -
Every time the ball drop on New Year’s Eve,
We toast to more money, we smoke to more cheese…Prodigy, “New Yitty,” H.N.I.C. Part 2, 20081988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2011 2012 2013 2014 atlanta brooklyn death dj premier east coast girls Guns hip-hop humor life los angeles love lyrics midwest money nas new york philosophy queens queensbridge Rap Quote RZA South south bronx staten island truth weed west coast wisdom wordplay wu-tang clan
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Mental energy from within keeps me higher,
Than anything rolled and set on fireMasta Ace, “Sittin’ On Chrome,” Sittin’ on Chrome, 1995 -
A rap pro, do a show, good to go, also
Cameo afro, Virgo, domino, I go Rambo,
Gigolo, Romeo, Friday night spend money on a ho…tel,
To get a good night’s sleep, I’m keeping in step.
Now do I come off? Yep.Big Daddy Kane, “Just Rhymin’ with Biz,” Long Live the Kane, 1988 -
‘That buck that bought the bottle coulda struck the lotto.’
To invest in scratch tickets is a fucked up motto.Reks, “Black Cream (The Negro Epidemic),” Grey Hairs, 2008 -
You might win some, but you just lost one.
Lauryn Hill, “Lost Ones,” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998 -
If you can’t respect that, your whole perspective is wack.
Maybe you’ll love me when I fade to black.Jay-Z, “December 4th,” The Black Album, 2003 -
Linguine linguistics that left my verbal essence saucy,
Send a message, leave you sleepin’ next to headless horsey.Action Bronson, “Terror Death Camp,” from Action Bronson and Statik Selektah’s Well Done, 2011 -
A born terror, a rebel without a pause…
Ain’t never had a good Christmas, so who is Santa Claus?Shyheim, “On and On,” Shyheim a.k.a. The Rugged Child, 1994 (via egotripland & babylonfalling) -
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 -
And when it comes to gettin nookie, I’m not a rookie…
I got girls that make that chick Toni Braxton look like Whoopi.Big L, “Put it On,” Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, 1995 (via ninetynow) -
If I should fall asleep and death takes me away,
Don’t be surprised son, I wasn’t put here to stay.Lauryn Hill, “Family Business,” from The Fugees’ The Score, 1996 -
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 -
Damn right I like the life I live,
Cause I went from negative to positive.Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy,” Ready to Die, 1994 -
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 -
If you for real then you know the deal,
I do or die, and I never ran, never will.Smif-N-Wessun, “Stand Strong,” Dah Shinin’, 1995 -
I leave scientists mentally scarred,
Triple Extra Large,
Wild like rock stars who smash guitars…Inspectah Deck, “Above the Clouds,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998 -
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 -
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 radio, believe me, I like it loud,
I’m the man with a box that can rock the crowd.
Walkin’ down the street, to the hardcore beat
While my JVC vibrates the concrete.LL Cool J, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” Radio, 1985 -
My life is like a song and I think I know the words,
And as I start to sing along the whole verse becomes a blur.
So I freestyle improv, make mistakes and evolve,
The obstacles repeat, cause naturally it revolves.MURS, “18 with a Bullet (Remix),” The End of the Beginning, 2003 -
I committed crimes of passion and my soul was suspected,
But it was thrown out of court because of course the Creator and I connected.
He told me, “Fear not for thou art protected. Your life is being requested,
And you are being tested, so make every attempt you can to expect the unexpected.”Cee-Lo, “Big Ole Words (Damn),” Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, 2002 -
I come strong, I make knowledge born,
I flip the script and rock on
From P.M. past to fucking Dawn.Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Damage,” from Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, 1995 -
Leave MC’s blind with amnesia;
Chop ‘em into salad, and my name ain’t Caesar.Black Thought, “@15,” from The Roots’ Rising Down, 2008 -
In this lifetime, you got two things:
Bad and good, and ain’t nothin’ in between.Cold 187um, “Untouchable,” from Above the Law’s Livin’ Like Hustlers, 1990 -
Don’t get offended, there’s no need for insecurity,
Age is but a number, it’s all about maturity.Chi-Ali, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a #,” The Fabulous Chi-Ali, 1992 -
See, seventy percent of the world’s underwater,
Seventy percent of your body’s underwater,
Seventy percent of what we live is out of range,
We rearrange this order, but niggaz think it’s strange.Boogiemonsters, “Strange,” Riders of the Storm: The Underwater Album, 1994 -
Well I’ma freakit like this because I be doper than the dopest,
I focus on the mic and if you like it you can quote this.Dray, “Freakit,” from Das EFX’ Straight Up Sewaside, 1993 -
Used to have a crush on Dawn from En Vogue.
It’s not like honey dip would wanna get with me,
But just in case I own more condoms than TLC.Phife Dawg, “Oh My God,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Maruaders, 1993 -
You got to have style, and learn to be original.
KRS-One, “My Philosophy,” from Boogie Down Productions’ By All Means Necessary, 1988 -
It’s important to practice good hygiene,
At least if you wanna run with my team.Del the Funky Homosapien, “If You Must,” Both Sides of the Brain, 2000 -
I am to hip-hop what Obama is to politics
Common, “Sweet,” The Dreamer, The Believer, 2011 -
I’m a firm believer that we all meet up in eternity,
Just hope the Big Man show me some courtesyNas, “Like Smoke,” from Amy Winehouse’s Lioness, 2011 -
I got a letter from the government the other day
I opened and read it…it said they were suckers.Chuck D., “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos,” from Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, 1988 -
I made a new lane for myself and said, ‘Fuck it.’
Why Rage Against the Machine when you can just unplug it?Phonte, “Everything is Falling Down,” Charity Starts at Home, 2011 -
So many programs you watch on the sofa,
But the real program sit on top of your shoulders.One Be Lo., “Propaganda,” S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., 2005 (via emaciatedwildebeest) -
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 -
Life is a blast when you know what you’re doin’,
Best to know what you’re doin’ ‘fore your life get ruined.
Life is a thrill when your skill is developed,
If you ain’t got a skill or trade, then shut the hell up.Del the Funky Homosapien, “At the Helm,” from Hieroglyphics’ 3rd Eye Vision, 1998 -
I’m puttin’ pressure on you kids like I’m a soccer mom.
Vinnie Paz, “Design in Malice,” from Jedi Mind Tricks’ Violence Begets Violence, 2011 -
New York City gritty committee pity the fool that act shitty in the midst of the calm, the witty.
Pharaohe Monch, “Simon Says (Get the Fuck Up),” Internal Affairs, 1999 -
$5 gas and poverty rates are rising much higher than your hourly rate.
So if you thinkin about quittin, you should probably wait,
Cause everybody has to do a fuckin job that they hate.Phonte, “The Good Fight,” Charity Starts at Home, 2011 -
You gotta school these young macks comin’ up today…
I mean to be ‘frank’, they just hot dogs,
The girls are relish, and they need to catchup on they pimpin’.Big Daddy Kane, “Nightshift,” from Positive K’s The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills, 1992 -
You know it’s funny, when it rains it pours,
They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor.2Pac, “Keep Ya Head Up,” Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., 1993 -
When I met you it was magic…
We polar opposites, but attracted like we was magnets.Talib Kweli, “Beautifully Bad,” from Idle Warship’s Habits of the Heart, 2011 -
First of all, who’s your A&R?
A mountain climber who plays an electric guitar?
But he don’t know the meaning of dope,
When he’s lookin for a suit and tie rap
That’s cleaner than a bar of soap!
And I’m the dirtiest thing in sight,
Matter of fact, bring out the girls and let’s have a mud fight.GZA, “Protect Ya Neck,” from Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), 1993 -
Am I really just a narcissist,
Cause I wake up to a bowl of lobster bisque?Rick Ross, “I Love My Bitches,” God Forgives, I Don’t, 2011 -
There comes a time in every man’s life when he’s gotta handle up on his own.
Can’t depend on friends to help you in a squeeze,
Please…they got problems of their own.Slim Kid Tre, “Runnin’”, from Pharcyde’s Labcabincalifornia, 1995 -
And while you was bangin on tables, I was bangin Snow White.
Parrish Smith, “Rampage”, from EPMD’s Business as Usual, 1991 -
We all seem to stumble, planning our own demise,
Getting the big picture, and making it wallet-sized.Kendrick Lamar, “Growing Apart (To Get Closer),” Overly Dedicated, 2010 -
Nowadays, crazy ass bitches want they bills paid,
But can’t even make a good thing of Kool Aid.Ice Cube, “The Gutter Shit,” War and Peace Vol. 2, 2000 -
Abraham Lincoln got shot and died,
Freed the slaves so they put him on the five.Too $hort, “Money In The Ghetto,” Get In Where You Fit In, 1993 -
If you turn on TV, all you see’s a bunch of ‘what the fucks.’
‘Dude is dating so and so,’ blabberin about ‘such and such.’
And that ain’t Jersey Shore, homie that’s the news.
And these the same people supposedly tellin us the truth.
Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist
Gaza Strip was gettin bombed, Obama didn’t say shit.
That’s why I ain’t vote for him, next one either,
I’m a part of the problem, my problem is I’m peaceful
And I believe in the people.Lupe Fiasco, “Words I Never Said,” Lasers, 2011 -
A flower that grow in the ghetto know more about survival than the one from fresh meadows.
Talib Kweli, “Love Language,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000 -
…But when we got a good thing, can’t appreciate it,
Just like the chick I had on my team, was everything on my wish list.
Spendin’ holidays, Valentine’s and Christmas.
Now I’m in the club looking at other broads, like:
“I gave up home-cooked meals for this shit?”
“I gave up all them back rubs for this bitch?”
The whole damn thing is bass ackwards…Phonte, “Too Late For Us,” Babygrande Presents Beat Down Vol 1, 2010 -
Think about it, if you was there standing looking at me.
What would you do, if I hit your face with dog doo-doo?Dr. Octagon, “I’m Destructive,” Dr. Octagonecologyst, 1996 -
Hip-hop is universal now, it’s all commercial now.
It’s like a circle full of circus clowns up in the circuit now.Eminem, “If I Get Locked Up,” from Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap’s The Tunnel, 1999 -
You just met me, you won’t let me…
Well if I couldn’t have it, silly rabbit, why you sweating me?2Pac, “I Get Around,” Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., 1993 -
Yo Premier, why these rappers so soft?
They corny ass raps be makin me doze off.KRS-One, “Criminal Minded ‘08," Smirnoff Signature Mix Series, 2008 -
Makin’ veterans run for medicine,
Cause I put out more lights in a fight than ConEdison.Kool G. Rap, “The Symphony,” from Marley Marl’s In Control Vol. 1, 1988 -
We don’t just say “No”, we too busy sayin’ “Yeah!”
To drinkin’ straight out the eight bottle…
Do I look like a muthafuckin’ role model?!Ice Cube, “Gangsta Gangsta,” from N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton, 1988 -
Life without knowledge is death in disguise.
Talib Kweli, “K.O.S.,” from Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, 1998 -
Yeah, I cut class…I got a D.
Cause History meant nothing to me
Except a definite nap.
That’s why I always sat in the back.Mike G., “Acknowledge Your Own History,” from Jungle Brothers’ Done by the Forces of Nature, 1989 -
Submit a quote from your favorite emcee. If it’s up to par, it’ll get posted on RapQuote.com, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube outlets. Include your URL so we can return the favor and give you credit.
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When I went to school I carried lunch in a bag
With an apple for my teacher ‘cause I knew I’d get a kiss.
Always got mad when the class was dismissed.Romye, “Passin Me By,” from The Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ryde II the Pharcyde, 1992 -
Teach the student what needs to be taught.
‘Cause black and white kids both take shorts
When one doesn’t know about the other one’s culture,
Ignorance swoops down like a vulture.KRS-One, “You Must Learn,” from Boogie Down Production’s Ghetto Music – The Blueprint of Hip-Hop, 1989 -
Where you been at?
You must’ve cut class.
If it ain’t me, another member of my crew will kick your ass.Prodigy, “The Start of Your Ending (41st Side),” from Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, 1995 (submitted by @prisco_inferno) -
I stay dipped like the first day of school.
Cappadonna, “MCF,” The Pillage, 1998 -
Get burnt like a candle, very hard to handle,
Do miracles in Nikes like Jesus did in sandals.MF Grimm, “Take ‘Em To War,” Scars & Memories, 2005 (Probably first recorded in 1995) -
Call me Charlie Bucket, attitude is fuck it,
No golden ticket so I’m ballin on a budget.Apathy, “Check to Check,” Honkey Kong, 2011 -
Eat from the Tree of Life and throw away the verbal ham.
Sadat X, “Show Business,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, 1991
