Destiny made a mistake and gave my fate to someone else.
Joe Budden, “Going Thru the Motions,” Mood Muzik: The Box Set, 2012
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 NowFriends: how many have ‘em?
How long before they split like atoms?
Don’t ask me, but what I do stand behind
Is someone havin’ your back seems hard to find.
Posdnous, “The Book of Life,” from De La Soul’s Plug 1 and Plug 2, First Serve, 2012
Shorty, let me tell you about my only vice:
It has to do with lots of lovin’, and it ain’t nuttin’ nice.
Q-Tip, “Electric Relaxation,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders, 1993
I’m on some tax-free shit by any means,
Whether bound to hit scheme or some counterfeit C.R.E.A.M.
GZA, “4th Chamber,” Liquid Swords, 1995
I’m like an eclipse on a Friday the 13th,
With black cats and Haley’s Comet,
Blazin’ blunts in my driveway…
Redman, “Cosmic Slop,” Dare Iz a Darkside, 1994
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
I am the manifestation of study,
NOT the manifestation of money.
Therefore, I advance through thought,
NOT what’s manufactured and bought.
KRS-One, “Original Lyrics,” from Boogie Down Productions’ Edutainment, 1990
…Cops just surrounding me with pistols everywhere.
They put me in the backseat of their car handcuffed,
Pushed out them chests like they’re big rough and tough.
A cop come and said ‘You’ll never sell your guns now.’
I said ‘It doesn’t matter, you’ll sell them anyhow.
You take the guns from me, you sell them for a fee;
Anyway you put it, they’ll get in the city!’
KRS-One, “100 Guns,” from Boogie Down Productions’ Edutainment, 1990
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
We live in an era where it ain’t about dope rhymes.
When beef is online, and how big is your co-sign…
Jon Connor, “Hova Mojo,” The Blue Album, 2012
Every night I pray to God: ‘Please, no more wack MC’s.’
J-Ro, “Likwit,” from Tha Alkaholiks’ 21 and Over, 1993
You pout like a trout in a drought…can’t get out.
You want to scream, but fish can’t shout.
MF Grimm, “King of New York,” Scars & Memories, 2005
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
Shakespeare’s gone, don’t even think about it.
Dr. Octagon, “Blue Flowers,” Dr. Octagonecologyst, 1996
She’s not impressed by your fancy car.
She got a body so she’s snotty and she don’t care who you are.
So don’t get mad and dis her reputation
Callin’ her a floozy, any conversation.
Mad grammar, backstabber, girls they wanna be her.
But like Stevie Wonder, none of y’all can see her!
Positive K, “A Flower Grows in Brooklyn,” The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills, 1992
Tell ya mama to stop flirtin’ boy, I’m not a good step-pop.
I interrupt your little session…and wreck shop.
Bumpy Knuckles, “GrEaTnEsS,” from DJ Premier and Bumpy Knuckles’ KoleXXXion, 2012
Look here: “Mo’ money, mo’ problems,” my ass.
You’s a naive cat if you still believe that.
Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Pop Shots,” Osirus: The Official Mixtape, 2006
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
I seen her in the subway, on my way to Brooklyn.
“Hello, good lookin, is this seat tooken?”On the A Train, pickin at her brain,
I couldn’t get her number, I couldn’t get her name.I said, “I still like your style and fashion,
But I hate your hot sadiddy attitude wit a passion.
Is it because brothers like to hawk a lot?
Is it because your sign don’t talk a lot?”She turned away, no play, I said, “OK,
You don’t really look good, I hope you have a bad day.”
Rakim, “What’s On Your Mind,” from Eric B. & Rakim’s Don’t Sweat the Technique, 1992
For what it’s worth, I’ve been a hip-hopper from birth.
Try to disrespect, and get your ass played up like a Smurf.
Large Professor, “Actual Facts,” from Lord Finesse’s The Awakening, 1996
Don’t you like when the winter’s gone,
And all of a sudden it starts gettin’ warm?
The trees and the grass start lookin’ fresh,
And the sun and sky be lookin’ their best…
Biz Markie, “Spring Again,” The Biz Never Sleeps, 1989
Look: if I shoot you, I’m brainless,
But if you shoot me, then you’re famous.
What’s a nigga to do?
Jay-Z, “Streets Is Watching,” In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, 1997
Keep bustin about where you rest, and what you own, and what you drive.
So the day some niggaz come for you, I’m really not surprised.
Xzibit, “Three Card Molly,” 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, 1999
Ain’t nothin’ like hip-hop music;
You like it cause you choose it.
Most DJ’s won’t refuse it,
A lotta sucka MC’s misuse it.
Daddy-O, “Go Stetsa I,” from Stetsasonic’s On Fire, 1986
The poor get worked, the rich get richer,
The world gets worse, do you get the picture?
The poor gets dead, the rich get depressed,
The ugly get mad, the pretty get stressed.
The ugly get violent, the pretty get gone,
The old get stiff, the young get stepped on.Whoever told you that “it was all good” lied,
So throw your fists up if you not satisfied.
J-Live, “Satisfied,” All of the Above, 2002
I won’t say I’m the baddest, or portray that role,
But I’m in the top 2, and my father’s gettin’ old.
Big Daddy Kane, “Cause I Can Do It Right,” Taste of Chocolate, 1990
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is;
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis.
Guru, “DWYCK,” from Gang Starr featuring Nice & Smooth DWYCK 12", 1994
Truth had me up against the ropes
And semi-conscious without no boxing skills.
Pharoahe Monch, “The Truth,” Internal Affairs, 1999
There’s so many wack rappers out here, I don’t know where to aim at.
Sticky Fingaz, “Shut ‘Em Down (Remix),” from Onyx’s Shut ‘Em Down, 1998
There ain’t no time to be wasted, the world is going under…
Nowadays, can’t tell Fall from Spring, and Winter from Summer.
Big K.R.I.T., “As Small as a Giant,” K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, 2012
Brothers ain’t half-steppin…they’re walking backwards.
A.G., “Back to Back Rhyming,” from Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth’s Funky Technician, 1990
This country of ours was built on violence;
If your ass got in the way, you was killed in silence.
And these been the ways since back in the days:
Just ask the Indians or the African slaves.
Masta Ace, “The Ways,” A Long Hot Summer, 2004
Some girls barely speak, but always askin’ for a dollar.
Big L, “No Endz, No Skinz,” Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, 1995
Y’all really think Ms. Shakur, or Ms. Wallace,
Or Ms. Mizell from out in Hollis
Wouldn’t exchange the love and fame
Attached to their loved ones’ names
Just to have ‘em still alive in their arms?
Posdnuos, “Rewind DJ, ” from Eslam Jawaad’s The Mammoth Tusk, 2009
I call wild niggas together like Cyrus,
And knock off more birds than the West Nile Virus.
Freddie Foxxx, “I Come to War,” 12", 2001
I admit skinz ain’t a reason to lose friends,
But then again I didn’t know. Sorry.
Casual, “I Didn’t Mean To,” Fear Itself, 1994
Lyrics are weak, like clock radio speakers.
GZA, “Liquid Swords,” Liquid Swords, 1995
Craig Mack • “Get Down (Q-Tip Remix)” • 1994
You can’t bite my style cause my style ain’t a style that is a style so I can go buckwild.”
Craig Mack, “Get Down (Q-Tip Remix)”, 1994
Nigga hit me on the Sidekick sayin’ he gon’ shoot me:
Soundin’ like a real groupie.
He a bitch with a heater like Lara Croft,
He gonna get his ass wet like Noah’s Ark.
Got the choppa won’t hesitate to squeeze,
Get his ass cut like a Whopper with Cheese.
Danny Brown, “LOL,” from Black Milk and Danny Brown’s Black and Brown, 2011
…And Sunday’s the one day I rest, give thanks, and bless.
Special Ed, “Ready 2 Attack,” Legal, 1990
Educated: no. Stupid: yes.
And when I say “stupid,” I mean stupid fresh.
King Ad Rock, “Hey Ladies,” from Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, 1989
Now we feel the good vibrations…
So many females, so much inspiration.
Opio, “‘93 Til Infinity,” from Souls of Mischief’s ’93 Til Infinity, 1993
I cannot stand no wack MC.
So step back if you please,
And don’t test me, you’re history.
Del the Funky Homosapien, “Wack M.C.’s,” No Need for Alarm, 1993
They say the good die young, so the bad die old.
Guess we somewhere in the middle, so just pray for my soul.
Jon Connor, “Broken Mirrors,” Salvation, 2011
New York, New York, big city of dreams,
Where there’s nothing but foreign cars, bitches, and triple beams.
Fat Joe, “All Luv,” from D.I.T.C.’s All Luv 12", 1998
How can polar bears swing on vines with the gorillas?
Brother J, “Grand Verbalizer,” from X-Clan’s To the East, Blackwards, 1990
I like ‘em brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian.
Phife, “Electric Relaxation,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders, 1993
We speak the love language, they speak from pain and anguish.
Some don’t love theyselves, so they perception is tainted.
Talib Kweli, “Love Language,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000
Say somethin’ positive? Well positive ain’t where I live.
I live right around the corner from West Hell,
Two blocks from South Shit, and once in a jail cell.
Treach, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (Ghetto Bastard),” from Naughty By Nature’s Naughty By Nature, 1991