Lookin down the barrel of a gun, son of gun, son of a bitch, gettin paid, gettin rich!
Beastie Boys, “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun,” Paul’s Boutique, 1989
Smell the pinetrees in the air, sleigh bells are ringing,
Toy stores are out of control, and kids singing.
That night before Christmas, dashing through the snow,
Rudolph the Reindeer, red nose that glow.
It’s all about the candy canes and Christmas list,
North Pole and that chubby, jolly, old Saint Nick,
The little elves getting busy, in Santa workshop
And how gingerbread men keep they buttons on top.
Wooden soldiers and chestnuts, roasting like marshmallows
Goodfellas, chocolate pudding pops and Jell-O’s.
It’s the gift, the cookies and milk on the mantle,
The mistletoe, that scent from that peppermint candles,
That warm French vanilla, mean coat with zippers,
Bareskin robe dragon with Versace slippers.
Around the fireplace we breathe, shirts are short sleeve,
We stayin’ up all night on Christmas Eve!
Ghostface Killah, “Ghostface X-Mas,” GhostDeini the Great, 2008
Do some good to the ghetto, Mr. Kris Kringle.
Come and stay awhile, kick it with God’s Angels.
Take and acknowledge my wisdom and understand
That Santa Claus is a black man.
Keith Murray, “Santa Baby,” A Very Special Christmas 3, 1997
A born terror, a rebel without a pause…
Ain’t never had a good Christmas, so who is Santa Claus?
Shyheim, “On and On,” Shyheim a.k.a. The Rugged Child, 1994 (via egotripland & babylonfalling)
See, you’re out your mind tryin’ to face tha God.
Your rhyme is like an empty prison…a waste of bars.
Lord Finesse, Freestyle vs. Percee P, 2003. Video
‘You Hollywood.’ Nah, nigga, I’m Chicago.
So I cracked his head with a muthafuckin bottle.
Common, “Raw (How You Like It),” The Dreamer, The Believer, 2011
Let’s be honest, the cards’ on the table:
Jealousy’s a sin, Cain killed Abel.
Backstabber…Caesar had Brutus.
It’s hard to weed ‘em out, even Jesus had Judas.
Pusha T, “Sweet Freestyle,” 2011
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death,
We got to fight the powers that be!
Chuck D., “Fight the Power,” from Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, 1990
Rap is not pop. If you call it that, then stop.
Q-Tip, “Check the Rhime,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, 1991
Butterfly, searchin for a relax,
Pullin from the jazz stacks, cause it’s Sunday.
On the air is incense, sounds to the ceiling
Tried to get this feelin since Monday.
Butterfly, “Pacifics (NY is Red Hot),” from Digable Planets’ Reachin – A New Refutation of Time and Space, 1993
Since I’m stereotyped to kill and destruct
Is one of the main reasons I don’t give a fuck.
MC Ren, “100 Miles and Runnin’” from N.W.A.’s 100 Miles and Runnin’ EP, 1990
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
I just need the junkies and the liars and the thieves,
I need the pimps, prostitutes and pushers out in the streets.
That’s where I’m seeking God, cause that’s where He found me.
Killer Mike, “God in the Building 2,” PL3DGE, 2011
I don’t see the world as you see it.
I see it as a game, and my aim is to complete it.
What you live for is what you die for:
To make a little name, grab some fame and the high score.
Murs, “Ice Cream Mountain,” from McKenzie Eddy’s Slow Your Horse Down, Son, 2011
Spit fire from my hammer like I wasn’t God’s child…
Billy Danze, “4 Alarm Blaze,” from M.O.P.’s First Family 4 Life, 1998
I’m the ghetto Mr. Universe, call me Lou FerNEGRO,
I push a lot of iron, but I don’t do it in the gym tho.
Lil’ Fame, “Blasphemy (Blast 4 Me)” from M.O.P.’s SPARTA, 2011
And when it comes to gettin nookie, I’m not a rookie…
I got girls that make that chick Toni Braxton look like Whoopi.
Big L, “Put it On,” Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, 1995 (via ninetynow)
Just because love is complex doesn’t mean it has complexion.
Legit, “A Nigger in Northface,” Coloring Outside the Lines, 2011. Video.
If I should fall asleep and death takes me away,
Don’t be surprised son, I wasn’t put here to stay.
Lauryn Hill, “Family Business,” from The Fugees’ The Score, 1996
In L.A. we buy houses, fuck apartments and lofts.
Defari, “Lowlands Anthem, Pt. 1,” Focused Daily, 1999
It’s kinda hard bein humble in the belly of the struggle,
Doin things that probably get you in trouble.
Busta Rhymes, “Been Through the Storm,” The Big Bang, 2006
Dallas Mavericks want me as a bald-headed 5’ 8" guard with a 95" vertical.
Vince Carter respect my legs, ask Shawn Kemp.
Kool Keith, “Extravagant Traveler,” Matthew, 2000
Damn right I like the life I live,
Cause I went from negative to positive.
Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy,” Ready to Die, 1994
They smile in my face, behind my back they talk trash,
Mad and stuff because they don’t have cash.
Erick Sermon, “Strictly Business,” from EPMD’s Strictly Business, 1988
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
What’s up with this nonsense?
Wack ass jams with a built-in dance?
Rappers snap they fingers in a b-boy stance?
Radio play it all day, but real rap no chance?
Real rap don’t mean “take ‘em to school.”
I like bitches, cars and money, but I use my brains too.
Bishop Lamont, “Without You,” from Little Brother and Mick Boogie’s …And Justus For All, 2007
If you for real then you know the deal,
I do or die, and I never ran, never will.
Smif-N-Wessun, “Stand Strong,” Dah Shinin’, 1995
I leave scientists mentally scarred,
Triple Extra Large,
Wild like rock stars who smash guitars…
Inspectah Deck, “Above the Clouds,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998
They say it’s lonely at the top, in whatever you do,
You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you.
Nobody’s invincible, no plan is foolproof,
We all must meet our Moment of Truth.
Guru, “Moment of Truth,” from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, 1998
Watch out for the medallion, my diamonds are reckless,
Feels like a midget is hangin from my necklace!
Ludacris, “Stand Up,” Chicken-N-Beer, 2003
Your white tee, well to me, looks like a nightgown;
Make your mama proud, take that thing two sizes down.
Andre 3000, “Walk It Out (Remix)”, from Unk’s Beat’n Down Yo Block!, 2006
My radio, believe me, I like it loud,
I’m the man with a box that can rock the crowd.
Walkin’ down the street, to the hardcore beat
While my JVC vibrates the concrete.
LL Cool J, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” Radio, 1985
My life is like a song and I think I know the words,
And as I start to sing along the whole verse becomes a blur.
So I freestyle improv, make mistakes and evolve,
The obstacles repeat, cause naturally it revolves.
MURS, “18 with a Bullet (Remix),” The End of the Beginning, 2003
I heard when I talk, they all listen,
They hang on every word from the God, they all Christians.
I baptize ‘em with lines, this is y’all christenin’
Bless with the gift of my presence, this y’all’s Christmas.
Torae, “You Ready?” For the Record, 2011
I committed crimes of passion and my soul was suspected,
But it was thrown out of court because of course the Creator and I connected.
He told me, “Fear not for thou art protected. Your life is being requested,
And you are being tested, so make every attempt you can to expect the unexpected.”
Cee-Lo, “Big Ole Words (Damn),” Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, 2002
From city to city, coast to coast,
Friday night is the night they like to party the most.
Tha Alkaholiks, “Coast II Coast,” from Friday Soundtrack, 1995
If imitation is the greatest form of flattery,
Punk, don’t flatter me.
J-Ro, “Coast II Coast,” from Friday Soundtrack, 1995
The Chinamen built the railroad, the Indians saved the Pilgrim,
And in return, the Pilgrim killed ‘em.
They call it it Thanksgiving, I call your holiday ‘hell-day.’
Nas, “What Goes Around,” Stillmatic, 2001
I come strong, I make knowledge born,
I flip the script and rock on
From P.M. past to fucking Dawn.
Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Damage,” from Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, 1995
Layin niggas so flat, homies think you plankin’,
Only realize you dead when the corpse start stankin’.
Ras Kass, “Holes in the Ozone,” F.I.L.A. (Fuck It, Lose It All), 2012
Leave MC’s blind with amnesia;
Chop ‘em into salad, and my name ain’t Caesar.
Black Thought, “@15,” from The Roots’ Rising Down, 2008
You know the evil that men do, hell is where the men go.
We snatched him by his hands and feet and threw him out the window:
“Up, up, and away cause I don’t play, clown,
Buck, buck, buck, take that with you on the way down.”
I’m hoping you got springs and wings on your shoes,
But you lose, because I got the Ill Street Blues.
Kool G. Rap, “Ill Street Blues,” from Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo’s Live and Let Die, 1992
Doin forever shit: like pissin out the window on turnpikes,
Robbin niggaz for leathers, high swipin on dirt bikes.
Ghostface Killah, “Daytona 500,” Ironman, 1996. (via ninetynow)
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
I have to be perfectly honest:
You should have an anniversary to acknowledge the way I work the ebonics.
Big Pun, “Where Ya At,” from D.I.T.C.’s D.I.T.C., 1999
Don’t get offended, there’s no need for insecurity,
Age is but a number, it’s all about maturity.
Chi-Ali, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a #,” The Fabulous Chi-Ali, 1992
See, seventy percent of the world’s underwater,
Seventy percent of your body’s underwater,
Seventy percent of what we live is out of range,
We rearrange this order, but niggaz think it’s strange.
Boogiemonsters, “Strange,” Riders of the Storm: The Underwater Album, 1994
Well I’ma freakit like this because I be doper than the dopest,
I focus on the mic and if you like it you can quote this.
Dray, “Freakit,” from Das EFX’ Straight Up Sewaside, 1993
Used to have a crush on Dawn from En Vogue.
It’s not like honey dip would wanna get with me,
But just in case I own more condoms than TLC.
Phife Dawg, “Oh My God,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Maruaders, 1993
You got to have style, and learn to be original.
KRS-One, “My Philosophy,” from Boogie Down Productions’ By All Means Necessary, 1988