Only in America could you find a way to make a healthy buck,
And still keep your attitude on self-destruct.
MF Doom, “Rhymes Like Dimes,” Operation Doomsday, 1999
Player haters be givin’ me harsh looks,
But I’m tryin to sell records like Garth Brooks.
Big L, “Holdin’ It Down,” The Big Picture, 2000
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
I learned more from Black Star and Black Thought
Than I ever did from any class of any sort.
Toine, “The Struggle Is Real,” from DTMD’s Makin’ Dollas, 2011
Dwellin’ in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled.
Or caught by the devil’s lasso…shit is a hassle.
Nas, “The World Is Yours,” Illmatic, 1994
Ultramagnetic MC’s interviewed on BET’s Rap City, 1992.
Happy Born-Day, Kool Keith.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Don’t quote me boy, cause I ain’t said shit.
Eazy-E, “Boyz-N-The-Hood,” N.W.A. & The Posse, 1987
Nothin’ taken for granted, just learn from my mistakes.
My will too strong, my spirit’s somethin’ they can’t take.
Slim The Mobster, “South Central Blues,” War Music, 2011
Never been to Sesame Street but I flip a Big Bird.
And I know “stealers” and they not from Pittsburgh…
Cam’Ron, “357,” Confessions of Fire, 1998
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
The more emotion I put into it, the harder I rock.
O.C., “Time’s Up,” Word…Life, 1994
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
I call my brother ‘Sun’ cause he shine like one.
Method Man, “Wu-Gambinos,” from Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, 1995
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
Had a gig doing Windows for small checks,
Now a nigga Mac’n through the Apple like I switched up the OS.
Maffew Ragazino, “Slumlord,” 2011. Rest in peace, Steve Jobs.
I’m caught up in the system where the blind lead the blind
And this artist only speaks on the Signs of the Time.
And I pop pills in Purple Rain to state my pain,
They say I’m just like my father, bold and too cold.
Beanie Sigel, “Got Nowhere,” from State Property Soundtrack, 2002
Fuck you, losers. While you fake jacks, I makes maneuvers.
Method Man, “Got My Mind Made Up,” from 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me, 1996 (via ninetynow)
I like my pockets fat, not flat.
Showbiz, “Diggin’ in the Crates,” from Showbiz & A.G.’s Soul Clap EP, 1992
…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
Just say the word, I’ll leave your DNA on the curb,
And stick my dick in your ear and fuck what you heard.
Rakim, “I’ll Buss Em, You Punish Em,” from Canibus’ 2000 B.C., 2000
I met this girl when I was ten years old,
And what I loved most she had so much soul.
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me.
Common, “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” from Resurrection, 1994
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
It started back in ‘79,
My whole darn future was on the line.
I created a brand new sensation
Through my mind and the whole darn nation…
Sylvia Robinson, “It’s Good To Be the Queen,” The Sugar Hill Record Story, 1982. Rest in peace, Sylvia Robinson, owner of Sugar Hill Records. 1936-2011.
I once lost a bill betting on the Red Sox,
…But that’s another topic.
Diamond D., “K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid),” Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop, 1992
You want ass? The cash is first.
You got dead presidents, baby, I got a hearse in my purse.
Roxanne Shanté, “Trick or Treat,” The Bitch Is Back, 1992
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
Niggas’ rap albums sound like love letters,
Pen in my hand, like: damn, fam, I could do much better.
Sean Price, “Chewbacca,” from Random Axe, 2011
True originator, innovator and creator,
Thinkin’ independent but I’m sayin’ something major.
One Be Lo, “Sheep’s Clothing,” LABOR, 2011
I ain’t no joke, I used to let the mic smoke,
Now I slam it when I’m done and make sure it’s broke.
Rakim, “I Ain’t No Joke,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid In Full, 1987. Congratulations to Eric B. and Rakim for their nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rappers on their sophomores…actin’ like they boss lords.
Fame’s such a funny thing for sure when niggas start believing all those encores.
Pusha T, “Don’t Fuck Wit Me,” Dreams Money Can Buy Freestyle, 2011
Rockin’ gay apparel, them jeans will make you sterile,
I’m steady stockin ammo, cocking the double barrel.
Apathy, “Stop What Ya Doin,” Honkey Kong, 2011
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
What good is a beautiful dame with a Rolls-Royce frame, and a Volkswagen brain?
J-Ro, “Likwit Ridas,” from Tha Alkaholiks’ Likwidation, 1997
…I got over there real cool and picked her up, all good.
But half-way to the hotel, smoke start coming up from the hood.
Me and the bitch had to push, and she didn’t even get mad at me,
Figured out the problem: made her go steal me a battery.
Devin the Dude, “Lacville ‘79,” Just Tryin Ta Live, 2002
I’m an animal thug, I grew up eatin’ animal cookies
Akinyele, “Akinyele,” Large Professor’s 1st Class, 2002
My genes tie me to those that despised me.
Brother Ali, “Daylight,” The Undisputed Truth, 2007
We runnin around in thousand-dollar clown suits,
Better get some boots when Lucifer turn your city to Beirut.
Ras Kass, “Soul On Ice (Remix),” 1996
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