It’s weak to speak and blame somebody else
…When you destroy yourself.
Tag: wisdom
-
Chuck D., “Welcome to the Terrordome,” from Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, 1990
-
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 -
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 -
Next time you see a brother down
Stop and pick him up,
Cause you might be the next one stuck.Grand Puba, “Mind Your Business,” Ya Know How It Goes 12", 1992 -
Never become so involved with something that it blinds you.
Never forget where you from; someone will remind you.DMX, “It’s On,” from DJ Clue’s The Professional, 1998 -
This generation lacks true knowledge of how the past has trapped you with psychological lassos over Adam’s apples.
Reks, “Unlearn,” REBELutionary, 2012 -
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 -
You know the wisdom is reflected in the knowledge when it’s manifested;
If not fed in due time, the mind is anorexic.Cormega, “American Beauty,” The Realness, 2001 -
So lovers of life, don’t keep your hopes up high.
Why? Cause it’s just a matter of time before it’s your turn to die.
But until then, when you stop breathin’,
It’s time to stand up and fight for what you believe in!Sticky Fingaz, “2 Wrongz,” from Onyx’s All We Got Iz Us, 1995 -
Laugh now, cry later: this is the karma.
Hip-hop never died, it’s just sick of the drama.Cormega, “Journey,” Born and Raised, 2009 -
Lookin’ out at the world through my window pane,
Every day has many colors ‘cause the glass is stained.
Everything has changed but remains the same,
So once again the mirror raised.
And I see myself as clear as day,
And I am goin’ to the limits of my ultimate destiny,
Feeling as though somebody somewhere is testin’ me.
He who sees the end from the beginning of time
Looking forward through all the ages:
Is, was, and always shall be.MCA, “B-Boy Bouillabaisse (A Year And A Day),” from Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, 1989. Rest in power, Adam Yauch (1964 – 2012). -
I don’t respect killers, I respect O.G. knowledge,
Codes of the streets got new rules, but no guidance.
Lessons, detrimental to a young disciple;
Folks, take care of your brothers, niggas do as I do.
Keep your enemies close, where they can see you.
It’s not your enemy who get you, it’s always your own people.Nas, “In Between Us,” from Scarface’s The Fix, 2002 -
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 -
A prejudiced man is of a devil mentality.
These are words of a wise man, wisdom;
Take a taste and erase the racism.Kool G Rap, “Erase Racism,” from Kool G Rap and DJ Polo’s Wanted: Dead or Alive, 1990 -
Truth had me up against the ropes
And semi-conscious without no boxing skills.Pharoahe Monch, “The Truth,” Internal Affairs, 1999 -
…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 -
God damn! Drug dealers dealin’ to the kiddies,
Livin’ in the city ain’t no pity on the itty-bitty.
We try to cry, but still they all die,
I try to speak to the youth, and the truth is: they all high.2Pac, “Wassup Wit The Luv?,” from Digital Underground’s The Body-Hat Syndrome, 1993 -
Pull down the shades on the windows of your soul,
And gaze into your mind and watch the wisdom unfold…Beanie Sigel, “Hypnotic,” from Memphis Bleek’s M.A.D.E., 2003 -
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 -
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 -
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) -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Fuck jewels: I think my soul glows bright enough.
And fuck whips: I learn more when I ride the bus.
And fuck, it’s bad enough that we fight for bucks.
And fuck hoes: cause in the end I need a wife to love.Blu, “Show Me the Good Life,” Below the Heavens, 2007 -
Hate a liar more than I hate a thief.
A thief is only after my salary,
A liar is after my reality.50 Cent, “I’m a Hustler,” Power of the Dollar, 2000 -
And to the shorties on the block, tryin’ to twist 40 tops,
Get your act together, do some carpentry with a Black & Decker,
And stop speedin like a Kawasaki…Prospect, “The Hidden Hand,” from Fat Joe’s Don Cartagena, 1998 -
Life is a gamble, we scramble for money,
I might crack a smile, but ain’t a damn thing funny.Prodigy, “Eye for an Eye (Your Beef Is Mines),” from Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, 1995. More gems from P > -
I think we all motherfuckin’ hypocrites,
Asking God for life and we ain’t even livin’ it.Stro Rockets, “From Me,” Grade A Frequencies EP, 2017
-
Leave it up to me while I be livin’ proof,
To kick the truth to the young black youth.Inspectah Deck, “C.R.E.A.M.” from Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), 1993 -
Be grateful for blessings,
Don’t ever change, keep your essence.
The power is in the people and politics we address.2Pac, “Me Against the World,” Me Against the World, 1995 -
I have a strong point of view on the way things run:
Just shut up, and listen, and learn, my son.Erick Sermon, “You’re a Customer,” from EPMD’s Strictly Business, 1988
-
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
-
It’s time to invent the future, cause there ain’t nobody else
Who can make it happen right, so make it happen for yourself.Mr. Man, “Gravity,” from Da Bush Babees’ Gravity, 1996
-
How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?
Lauryn Hill, “Doo Wop (That Thing),” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998
-
Reality’s really the individual’s mentality;
Some seek eternal life, while others seek fatality.Juju, “Peace Akki,” from Al’ Tariq’s God Connections, 1996
-
To increase your life line, strengthen your heart.
Eat fish…that brain food will get you smart.
Yoga…deep meditational tactics,
You no good? Then just practice, cause practice makes perfect.
Stop burying your lies, and bring the truth to the surface.Ghostface Killah, “Food,” from BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah’s Sour Soul, 2015
-
It’s only human to express the way you really feel,
But that same humanity is my Achilles’ heel.
A leopard can’t change his spots and never will;
So I’m forever ill…now I can never chill.– Black Thought, “I Remember,” from The Roots’ undun, 2011
-
Let me break it down for you again,
You know I only say it because I’m truly genuine:
Don’t be a hard rock when you really are a gem.Lauryn Hill, “Doo Wop (That Thing),” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998
-
I’d rather stimulate your mind than emulate your purpose.
– Aceyalone, “The Guidelines,” A Book of Human Language, 1998
-
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
-
I lost my innocence at birth but I make no excuses
For the trivial things and the pain life induces.– B-Real, “Bitter,” from Cypress Hill’s Stoned Raiders, 2001
-
God, money, war…
If heaven free, what we kill for money for?
They say, “When it rains it pours,” but it rain on the poor;
So you ain’t really rich if what’s rich ain’t in your core.– King Los, “God Money War,” God, Money, War, 2015
-
Sippin’ on that brown stuff
Got you feeling like you found love,
Or maybe it was just luck.
But honestly…it’s probably none of the above.– Slug, “Arthur’s Song” from Atmosphere’s Southsiders, 2014.
-
They say I’m so low key, I’m socially awkward,
Only those that really know me are the ones that I talk with.
They smile in the light, hate in the dark,
You call it beef, to me it’s just a fuckin’ walk in the park.– Nas, “I Do It for Hip-Hop,” from Ludacris’ Theater of the Mind, 2008
-
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.
-
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
-
To everyone out there who’s a little different:
I say, “Damn a magazine, these is God’s fingerprints.”
You can call me ugly, but can’t take nothing from me;
I am what I am, doctor, you ain’t gotta love me.
Brother Ali, “Forest Whitaker,” Shadows on the Sun, 2003. -
I just want to innovate and stimulate minds,
Travel the world and penetrate the times,
Escape through rhythms,
In search of peace and wisdom.
Common, “The 6th Sense,” Like Water for Chocolate, 2000. More from Comm… -
Battle physically, conquer mentally.
CL Smooth, “Take You There,” from Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s The Main Ingredient, 1994 -
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… -
If you can’t live, you dying,
You give or you buy in.
Keep it real or keep it moving,
Keep grinding, keep shining.Raekwon, “Gorgeous,” from Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 2010. More from Chef… -
The thing that men and women need to do is stick together,
Progressions can’t be made if we’re separate forever.Q-Tip, “Verses from the Abstract,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, 1991. More from the Abstract… -
The greatest lesson ever learned has yet to be taught.
Nas, “One Plus One,” from Large Professor’s The LP, 1996. More from Nasir… -
I guess nobody told you a little knowledge is dangerous,
It can’t be mixed, diluted, it can’t be changed or switched.
Here’s a lesson if you’re guessing and borrowing:
Hurry, hurry step right up and keep following the leader.Rakim, “Follow the Leader,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Follow the Leader, 1988. More from Rakim… -
You say you wanna be my leader?
I think you wanna be my God.
You say you on the side of the righteous?
I say I’m gonna hang with the wrong.
There’s truth where the filth is,
There’s lies in the law.
You want a whore with a white dress,
I want a wife in a thong.El-P, “Angel Duster,” from Run the Jewels’ RTJ2, 2014. More from El-P… -
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.