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
Gimme a couple G’s for every emcee I knocked to his knees.
Verbally useless, ‘Oh you got the juice?’ I squeeze you juiceless.
Kurupt, “New York, New York,” from Tha Dogg Pound’s Dogg Food, 1995
So much anger built inside…
So don’t stop to say ‘Hi,’ muthafucka just die.
Lil’ Dap, “I’m the Man,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992
And from the moment that I saw you, I knew you was trouble,
But I disregarded detour signs,
And did not stop til you was mine.
I guess God was like, ‘Aight, fine.’
Careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it in heaps.
Try to give it back, He be like, ‘Nah, that’s yours to keep.’
Mos Def, “Ms. Fat Booty 2,” from Lyricist Lounge 2, 2000
Whatever floats your boat…or finds your lost remote…
Andre 3000, “The Whole World,” from Outkast’s Big Boi and Dre Present…Outkast, 2001
You would think I would recycle by the way I found my last chick…cause all she wants is paper or plastic.
Consequence, “Whatever U Want (G.O.O.D. Remix)”, 2009
I used to roll up: this is a hold up, ain’t nuthin funny.
Stop smiling, be still, don’t nuthin move but the money.
Rakim, “Paid in Full,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid in Full, 1987
This is sunny California
Where the phonies run up on ya
Cause they want you to be just like them.
Blu, “Vanity,” Her Favorite Colo(U)R, 2010
Stepping to me? Yo, that’s the wrong move.
So what you on, hobbs, dope or dog food?
Big Daddy Kane, “Ain’t No Half-Steppin,” Long Live the Kane, 1988
Reality is nourishment, but people don’t believe it,
I guess it’s hard to stomach the truth like a bulimic.
Immortal Technique, “Leaving The Past,” Revolutionary Vol. 2, 2003
Ayyyo, you know what I love (What’s that?)
It’s when motherfuckers assume
That they ass can’t get popped at 12 o’clock in the afternoon.
Billy Danze, “I Luv,” from M.O.P.’s First Family 4 Life, 1998
Commercial rap get the gun clap, day after day.
Buckshot Shorty, “Slave” from Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage, 1993
Are you tired of lyrical liars, passing fliers,
Wannabe MC’s, but really good triers,
Tripping over mic cords, getting you bored,
A total fraud, this kind of thing I can’t afford!
KRS-One, “Mortal Thought,” Return of the Boom-Bap, 1993
I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth.
Not the biased truth,
Not the liest truth,
But the highest truth.
Nas, “Sly Fox,” Untitled, 2008
Burn a Bush cause for peace he no push no button.
Killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction,
How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one?
Common, “A Letter to the Law,” from Def Poetry Jam, 2007
Sean Hannity’s latest race-baiting “controversy” stems from the invitation that First Lady Michelle Obama extended to Common for a White House poetry event tonight. Up next, a complementary quote from Nas’ “Sly Fox.”
Suckas on my jock when I walk down the block,
I really don’t care if you’re jealous or not.
LL Cool J, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” Radio, 1985
Took two drags off the blunts, and started breaking down the flag:
The blue is for the Crips, the red is for the Bloods,
The whites for the cops, and the stars come from the clubs
Or the slugs that ignite, through the night,
By the dawn early light, why is sons fighting for the stripe?
RZA, “A Better Tomorrow,” Wu-Tang Forever, 1997
I ain’t Mary, so ain’t a damn thing Poppin’.
Xzibit, “Eyes May Shine,” At the Speed of Life, 1996
My hustle’s the play,
That means the hood is a stage.
Been rehearsing for days…
STS, “The Play,” from Glorification of Gangster soundtrack, 2011
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
Now that Bin Laden dead, can we get our civil liberties back?
That George Bush stole with the Patriot Act?
Ras Kass, “Hello Iraq (Bin Laden Post Mortem)”, Endangered Lyricist, Vol 3, 2011
You only get honest expression when I spit in your ear;
That means even when I’m dissing you I’m being sincere.
One Be Lo, “Enecs Eht No Kcab,” S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., 2005
If wonder if I blasted a little Elvis Presley.
Would they pull me over and attempt to arrest me?
I doubt, doubt it, they’ll probably start dancin,
Jumpin on my dick and pissin in they pants and
Wiggle and then jiggle and grab on they pelvis
But you know my name, so you never hear no Elvis.
Masta Ace, “Jeep Ass Niguh,” Slaughtahouse, 1993
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
I’m like Demerol…
No disrespect to the Jacksons, but I kill mics.
Cyhi Da Prynce, “Top of the World,” Royal Flush mixtape, 2011
You need a bad operation.
Gimme the scissors, hammer, flame.
Dr. Octagon, “Elective Surgery,” Dr. Octagonecologyst, 1996
Pass me the scalpel, I’ll make an incision,
I’ll cut off the part of your brain that does the bitching…
MCA, “Make Some Noise,” from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, 2011
Classical slap-stick rappers need Chapstick.
MF Doom, “Rhymes Like Dimes,” Operation: Doomsday!, 1999
I got a voodoo doll every time I pen a verse:
Not only do they say they feel it, but they say it hurts.
Pusha T, “My God,” Fear of God 2: Let Us Pray EP, 2011
But some find happiness while others find sorrow,
And what’s here today, may be gone tomorrow.
Guru, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” from Gang Starr’s Step In the Arena, 1991. RIP Keith Elam aka Guru, who passed 1 year ago today.
Peep what I wrote;
You bit so hard, I thought your shit was a quote.
Casual, “That’s How It Is,” Fear Itself, 1994
There’s a whole lot of questions that really need answers
Like: Who the fuck told you that your rhyme style was hot?
You know when Biggie died? Who bust that shot?
Why is Sammy Bull still living, and where the fuck is Pac?
Bumpy Knuckles, “P.A.I.N.E.,” The Konexion, 2003
I’m not a ‘Businessman,’ I’m a Business… man! Let me handle my business, damn!
Jay-Z, “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix),” from Kanye West’s Late Registration, 2005
‘Yo I’m from Africa’
Boy you’re just a faker.
Name one city: ‘Uhh, Jamaica!’
Wrong! And I think that’s a shame,
An African look with an American name…
King Sun, “Be Black,” Righteous but Ruthless, 1990
Too bad your inner sheep never forgets to follow…
Aesop Rock, “Fast Cars,” Fast Cars, Danger, Fire & Knives, 2005
Bullets ain’t racial, kid…they only hate you.
Kool G. Rap, “The Realest,” from Mobb Deep’s Murda Muzik, 1999
If you are not performing fellatio for radio rotation,
What’s the ratio for radio play at your station?
If you’re not paying to play, the record is dead.
Puts a whole new spin on ‘Radio-head’
Pharaohe Monch, “Hitman,” W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), 2011
I don’t wanna dance, baby girl, it’s like my legs is on strike.
Killa Sin, “La Rhumba,” from RZA’s Digital Bullet, 2001
I’d rather be dead than watch wack shit.
Color me gone, fill in the dirt, tell ‘em i kicked
10 buckets…
Jean Grae, “R.I.P.,” Cake or Death, 2011
You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather, Ms. Jackson.
Andre 3000, “Ms. Jackson,” from Outkast’s Stankonia, 2000
Rhyme to kill, rhyme to murder, rhyme to stomp,
Rhyme to ill, rhyme to romp,
Rhyme to smack, rhyme to shock, rhyme to roll,
Rhyme to destroy anything, toy boy.
On the microphone:
I’m Poppa Large, big shot on the East Coast.
Kool Keith, “Poppa Large,” from Ultramagnetic MC’s Funk Your Head Up, 1992
Imagine peace on this earth when there’s no grief,
Imagine grief on this earth when there’s no peace.
Scarface, “I Seen a Man Die,” The Diary, 1994
Think, just blink and I made…a million rhymes.
Just imagine if you blinked…a million times.
Damn, I’d be paid…I got it made.
Special Ed, “I Got It Made,” Youngest In Charge, 1989
We was sneakin’ in and it was general admission,
Now we ownin’ the arena and decidin’ who allowed in it.
Curren$y, “Rooftops,” from Wiz Khalifa’s Rolling Papers, 2011
Let’s pretend we’re both guns, and make this shit erratic:
I’ll be the revolver, you can play the automatic.
Automatic flip scripts, revolver show loyalty.
Each gun is die-able, but only one’s reliable.
You shoot fast, but in the end you jam,
Then I click back, and turn your brains into spam.
MF Grimm, “Crumb Snatchers,” Scars & Memories, 2005
Day in and day out we do the same thing,
Tryina find the joy in our repetition.
Always complainin’ about the routine and the mundane.
But let me stop to remind y’all bout one thing:
Come hell or high water you can count on the sun
Always shinin’ in its untamed glory.
Phonte, “Greater Than the Sun,” from Zo!’s SunStorm, 2010
Don’t underestimate me when you date me,
Got my clamp off safety, that’ll make you hate me…
Yo-Yo, “The Bonnie and Clyde Theme,” You Better Ask Somebody, 1993
Ya see I’m Irish, but I’m not a leprechaun.
You wanna fight, then step up and we’ll get it on!
Everlast, “Top ‘O The Morning to Ya,” from House of Pain’s self-titled album, 1992
Till the roof comes off, till the lights go out,
Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth,
Till the smoke clears out – am I high? Perhaps.
Imma rip this shit, till my bones collapse.
Nate Dogg, “‘Till I Collapse,” from Eminem’s The Eminem Show, 2002, RIP Nate Dogg, in the hip-hop chorus hall of fame, without a doubt. He will be missed.