You’re mad cause my style you’re admiring…
Don’t be mad, UPS is hiring.
The Notorious B.I.G., “Flava In Ya Ear (Remix),” 12”, 1994
My Mind on My Money…
Wear this tee while you are rolling down the street, smokin indo, and/or sippin on gin & juice. Or just to work, school, wherever.
Shop NowThere’s gonna be a lot of slow singing and flower bringing
If my burglar alarm starts ringing
The Notorious B.I.G., “Warning,” Ready to Die, 1994
…The greatest rapper of all time died on March 9th.
God bless his soul, rest in peace, kid.
It’s because of him now at least I know what beef is.
Canibus, “Second Round K.O.,” Can-I-Bus, 1998. RIP Christopher George Latore Wallace, best known as The Notorious B.I.G., born May 21, 1972, died March 9, 1997 at the age of 24.
About those other Jennys I reckoned with,
Lost them all like a homework excuse.
This time, the Magic Number is two,
Cause it takes two, not three, to seduce.
My destiny of love is brought to an apex,
Sex is a mere molecule.
In this world of love that I have for you
It’s true…Eye know I love you better.
Dove/Trugoy, “Eye Know,” from De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, 1989. This landmark album was released 25 years ago today. More De La Soul quotes…
Unpredictable, liable to flip my lid…
My moms dropped me on my head when I was a kid.
Back then I lost all my marbles, today I lost my job,
So in essence, it’s Armageddon, somebody’s bound to get robbed!
Sticky Fingaz, “Shiftee,” from Onyx’s Bacdafucup, 1993. More Onyx quotes…
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
How can they say feeling good is an addiction?
But the world is full of shit, so I don’t listen,
In fact, ‘we livin’ to die’ is a contradiction.
ScHoolboy Q, “Oxymoron,” Oxymoron, 2014
On the real, fuck your opinion.
I made it this far, and you broke.
Troy Ave, “Classic Feel,” New York City: The Album, 2013
I be tossin’, enforcin’, my style is awesome.
I’m causin’ more Family Feuds than Richard Dawson.
And the survey said: “You’re dead.”
Fatal Flying Guillotine chops off your fuckin’ head!
RZA, “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit,” from Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), 1993. More RZA quotes…
I met a gypsy and she hipped me to some life game,
To stimulate, then activate the left and right brain.
Said, ‘Baby boy, you only funky as your last cut.
You focus on the past, your ass’ll be a has-what.’
That’s one to live by, or either that’s one to die to.
Andre 3000, “Rosa Parks,” from Outkast’s Aquemini, 1998. More Outkast quotes…
I am recognizing that the voice inside my head
Is urging me to be myself, but never follow someone else
Because opinions are like voices, we all have a different kind.
Q-Tip, “Steve Biko (Stir It Up),” from A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders, 1993
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
I be with broads that got they shit together;
Even if it ain’t meant forever, still smoke the spliff together.
The essence of the herbs, the presence of the words…
Yeah you got a chest, but I’m treasurin’ your curves.
Common, “Made in Black America,” Nobody Smiling, 2014
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…
If you admire somebody, you should go on ‘head tell ’em;
People never get the flowers while they can still smell ’em.
Kanye West, “Big Brother,” Graduation, 2007. More Kanye West quotes…
What if somebody from the Chi that was ill got a deal on the hottest rap label around?
But he wasn’t talking ‘bout coke and birds, it was more like spoken word,
Except he’s really puttin’ it down.
Kanye West, “Through the Wire,” The College Dropout, 2004. The highly influential debut album was released 10 years ago, on February 10, 2004. More Kanye West Quotes…
Bullets ain’t racial, kid…they only hate you.
Kool G. Rap, “The Realest,” from Mobb Deep’s Murda Muzik, 1999
I clock G’s while you clock Z’s.
And I don’t smoke crack…I smoke MC’s.
PMD, “Rampage,” from EPMD’s Business As Usual, 1990
Can’t live with them…can’t live without them.
But I love a whole lot more than I hate about them.
They look good, feel good, and smell even better,
So why you acting like your mama didn’t use that leather?
‘B word’ this, ‘H bomb’ that.
In the midst all of this, I wonder: ‘Where your moms at?’
Cause if she ain’t one, then tell me where the hate from?
You just calm down, and maybe you can date one.
Buy some flowers, open up some doors.
She needs some tampons? Homie, go to the store.
Vitamin Water, a bottle of Motrin,
Teddy bear, candy bar, something, a token
Of affection, a step in that direction,
…Cause love is about progress, not perfection.
Murs, “Love & Appreciate 2," Murs for President, 2008. More Murs quotes…
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more.
But it’s biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme,
I can’t hold it back…I’m looking for the line.
Taking off my coat, clearing my throat,
My rhyme will be kicking until I hit my last note.
Rakim, “Eric B. Is President,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid In Full, 1987. More Rakim quotes…
Life is something you can’t borrow and give back;
Here today and gone tomorrow…just like that.
E-40, “The Story,” Tha Hall of Game, 1996
If I don’t got two balls and a middle finger to throw up,
I’m takin off both shoes and stickin each middle toe up.
Eminem, “The Last Hit,” from The High & Mighty’s Home Field Advantage, 1999. More Eminem 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…
Two wrongs don’t make it right, but it damn sure makes us even.
Sticky Fingaz, “2 Wrongs,” from Onyx’s All We Got Iz Us, 1996
My old soul remains forever young…
I’ve done it all, and still I’m doing shit that I ain’t ever done.
See, it depends on your definition of winning;
I ain’t started from the bottom, I started from the beginning.
Oddisee, “Tangible Dream,” Tangible Dream, 2013
…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. More Aesop Rock quotes…
Who gives a fuck about a goddamn Grammy?
Flavor Flav, “Terminator X to the Edge of Panic,” from Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, 1988. More P.E. quotes…
The motto goes: Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
I prefer: Love, Hugs and Hip-Hop Soul.
Zev Love X (aka MF Doom), “Figure of Speech,” from K.M.D.’s Mr. Hood, 1991. More MF Doom quotes…
You can take back all the things you give,
But you can’t take back the days you live.
Life is to some people who’ve been on earth
Livin’ every single day for what it’s worth.
I live life just how I please,
Satisfy one person I know: that’s me.
Too $hort, “Life Is.. Too $hort,” Life Is… Too $hort, 1988
If I upset you, don’t stress. Never forget
That God isn’t finished with me yet.
I feel His hand on my brain…
When I write rhymes, I go blind and let the Lord do His thang.
2Pac, “Ghetto Gospel,” Loyal to the Game, 2004. More 2Pac quotes…
I got a lot of things to do, a lot of money to make;
I got no time for you and all the moves you fake.
JuJu, “Props Over Here,” from The Beatnuts’ Street Level, 1994
Life is full of stress and it wrecks my brain,
So I puff the buddha bless and destroy the pain.
JuJu, “Props Over Here,” from The Beatnuts’ Street Level, 1994
Of course I’m funky like fat people having intercourse.
Basically, the funk is stuck in your teeth…so get the dental floss.
Redman, “Freak Out,” from Erick Sermon’s Double or Nothing, 1995. More from Redman…
Even through the unseen, I know that God watches,
From one King’s dream, he was able to Barack us.
Common, “The Believer,” The Dreamer/The Believer, 2011
I believe in heaven more than hell, lessons more than jail.
In the ghetto, let love prevail with a story to tell.
My eyes see the glory, and well,
The world waiting for me to yell, “I Have A Dream!”
Common, “A Dream,” from Freedom Writers Soundtrack, 2007
I’m living three dreams:
Biggie Smalls’, Dr. King, Rodney King’s.
Cause we can’t get along, no resolution?
‘Til we drown all these haters…
Rest in peace to Whitney Houston
Kanye West, “New God Flow,” Cruel Summer, 2012
If Dr. King marched today, would Bill Gates march?
I know Obama would, but would Hillary take part?
The Game, “Letter to the King,” L.A.X., 2008
I have a dream:
One day we will get to the promised land.
Then the president will be me,
The government will be Shabaam, Mos and Kweli…that’s it!
All wackness is now banned.
Pharoahe Monch, “Intro,” Internal Affairs, 1999. More from Pharoahe Monch…
What’s the basis when rappers don’t know the basics?
Still not takin’ advice from those I wouldn’t trade places with.
Skeme, “No Time,” Ingleworld, 2013
Got more milky syllables than alphabet cereals.
Keith Murray, “Tell ‘Em,” from Erick Sermon’s Double or Nothing, 1995. More Keith Murray quotes >
Play the game for my people, stay in charge of your dreams.
Keep your vision focused, get wise, and largen your C.R.E.A.M.
AZ, “New Life,” Pieces of a Man, 1998. More AZ quotes.
I play chess, but my past is checkered,
The mic and I are like staff and shepherd.
Ka, “Peace Akhi,” Night’s Gambit, 2013. More Ka quotes.
Now I don’t want to be a dopeman, listen:
I didn’t have a dime, a nickel, penny, a pot to piss in.
See, all my clothes had holes and they fit tight,
Pray to God cause it’s hard trying to live right.
Waiting on the train, can’t hang with the street gangs,
Making me insane, putting rain on my whole brain.
But the train means change to better thangs;
Can’t live with the negative and ghetto pains.
Can’t be late, can’t wait to get to where we’re going,
Almost ten to four and I’m sure that the train is showing.
But I ain’t sure where it goes, I don’t really know it,
But I got faith, that’s all it takes to get to where we’re going.
2Pac, “The D-Flo Shuttle,” from Digital Underground’s Sons of the P, 1991. More 2Pac Quotes.
You better recognize, adjust your bifocals;
Your style is local…I sit on the beach in Acapulco.
I put words together like Peter Jennings,
And skate on motherfuckers like Peggy Fleming.
Diamond D., “The Next Level,” from Tha Alkaholiks’ Coast II Coast, 1995
Question: Why is that MC’s be wack
And major labels wanna sign that crap?
A-yo…funk that!
Phife Dawg, “One Two Shit,” A Tribe Called Quest’s The Love Movement, 1998. More Tribe Quotes.
I write raps, and when niggas bite, I clap.
Cause their shit sounds better now.
Casual, “That’s How It Is,” Fear Itself, 1994
Fuck movin’ mountains, I move planets and leave you Earthless.
Terror Squad: the worst that hurt shit, split your universes.
Fat Joe, “Find Out,” Don Cartagena, 1998
I can’t relate to livin’ less than great.
Large Professor, “Stress (Extra P Remix),” from Organized Konfusion’s Stress 12", 1994