I’m gettin’ stacks while you askin’ people, ‘Do you want some fries with that?’
Big L, “Holdin’ It Down,” The Big Picture, 2000
I don’t need your assistance, social persistence.
Any problem I got, I just put my fist in.
Ice-T, “Colors,” from Colors soundtrack, 1988
It’s war on the streets and a war in the Middle East
Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs
So the police can bother me…
2Pac, “Changes,” Greatest Hits, 1998 (Rest in power, 2Pac. 1971 – 1996)
We don’t just say “No”, we too busy sayin’ “Yeah!”
To drinkin’ straight out the eight bottle…
Do I look like a muthafuckin’ role model?!
Ice Cube, “Gangsta Gangsta,” from N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton, 1988
I’ll ignore you sellin crack, killin people, and keepin it real,
But disrespect me and my adopted fam and die young like veal.
El-P, “89.9 Detrimental,” from Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus, 1997
Every little fuck up, they blame it on Barack
Cause he just like Gucci, born in the trap.
Game, “Born In The Trap,” The R.E.D. Album, 2011
I’m not enthused by these rap dudes.
All in they videos, posin’ half nude, with all of them tattoos,
Til I blacken they eyes and have them lookin’ like raccoons.
Trife Da God, “Pass The Mic,” from Theodore Unit’s 718, 2004 (via @onedrunkboy)
A child is born with no state of mind,
Blind to the ways of mankind.
God is smilin’ on you but He’s frownin’ too,
Because only God knows what you’ll go through.
Grandmaster Melle Mel, “The Message,” from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s The Message, 1982
Life without knowledge is death in disguise.
Talib Kweli, “K.O.S.,” from Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, 1998
Real dudes move in silence…like a mute drivin a new hybrid.
Royce Da 5’9", “Writer’s Block,” Success is Certain, 2011
Yeah, I cut class…I got a D.
Cause History meant nothing to me
Except a definite nap.
That’s why I always sat in the back.
Mike G., “Acknowledge Your Own History,” from Jungle Brothers’ Done by the Forces of Nature, 1989
I found college awkward: another teacher, same old chalkboard.
I felt I was shifting backward, when I expected to shoot forward.
MC Paul Barman, “School Anthem,” It’s Very Stimulating EP, 2000
Lessons cut short to prep for tests that only test how well you prep.
…Man, no wonder why the score’s a mess.
J-Live, “Brooklyn Public Part 1,” The Hear After, 2005
Busta Rhymes the mighty infamous,
Always misbehaving and mischeivous,
Causing aggravation, I’ll never pause,
Pushing out spit balls through plastic straws.
Busta Rhymes, “Case of the P.T.A.,” from The Leaders of the New School’s Future Without A Past, 1991
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When I went to school I carried lunch in a bag
With an apple for my teacher ‘cause I knew I’d get a kiss.
Always got mad when the class was dismissed.
Romye, “Passin Me By,” from The Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ryde II the Pharcyde, 1992
You wake up late for school, man you don’t wanna go!
You ask your mom “Please?” but she still says “No!”
You missed two classes, and no homework,
But your teacher preaches class like you’re some kind of jerk!
Beastie Boys, “Fight For Your Right (to Party),” Licensed to Ill, 1986
Teach the student what needs to be taught.
‘Cause black and white kids both take shorts
When one doesn’t know about the other one’s culture,
Ignorance swoops down like a vulture.
KRS-One, “You Must Learn,” from Boogie Down Production’s Ghetto Music – The Blueprint of Hip-Hop, 1989
Where you been at?
You must’ve cut class.
If it ain’t me, another member of my crew will kick your ass.
Prodigy, “The Start of Your Ending (41st Side),” from Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, 1995 (submitted by @prisco_inferno)
What is the meaning of C.L.A.S.S.?
Is it a Conspiracy Levelled At Sleepy Students trying to pass?
MC Paul Barman, “School Anthem,” It’s Very Stimulating, 2000
I stay dipped like the first day of school.
Cappadonna, “MCF,” The Pillage, 1998
Get burnt like a candle, very hard to handle,
Do miracles in Nikes like Jesus did in sandals.
MF Grimm, “Take ‘Em To War,” Scars & Memories, 2005 (Probably first recorded in 1995)
Call me Charlie Bucket, attitude is fuck it,
No golden ticket so I’m ballin on a budget.
Apathy, “Check to Check,” Honkey Kong, 2011
Eat from the Tree of Life and throw away the verbal ham.
Sadat X, “Show Business,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, 1991
You called me on the phone, saying you were alone,
But that’s a lie because I heard your moms breathing on the phone.
And if you really like me, let your moms know
She should mind her business…before I let go.
K-Solo, “Your Mom’s in My Business,” Tell the World My Name, 1990
Five days you work, one whole day to play
Come on everybody, wear your rollerskates today
It’s Saturday…
De La Soul, “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays,’” De La Soul is Dead, 1991
I hate your fuckin’ guts, and I hope that you die.
Sticky Fingaz’s tha name, and my life is a lie,
Cause I’m havin a bad day, so stay out of my way,
And what the pistol packin’ people say, you better obey!
Sticky Fingaz, “Throw Ya Gunz,” from Onyx’s Bacdafucup, 1993
A lot of crews like to act like a violent mob,
They really need to just shut the fuck up like Silent Bob.
Viktor Vaughn, “Saliva,” Vaudeville Villain, 2003
Let’s test the waters…
Love makes a splash, and you too thick to skinny-dip.
Pusha T, “Lovely,” from John West’s John West, 2011
Got coke from the Contras
Gave crack to the poor.
And the government responds to it:
‘Just Say No.’
Skipp Coon, “4.28.1967, Pt 2,” 2010 (via egotripland)
Ignorance is a poison and knowledge will nourish.
KRS-One, “Word From Our Sponsor,” from Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded, 1987
Whatever you goin’ through, could always be much worse,
Don’t make a mistake, mistakin’ your blessings for a curse.
Joe Budden, “Welcome to Real Life,” Mood Muzik 4: A Turn for the Worst, 2010
These days you can’t see who’s in cahoots
Cause now the KKK wears three-piece suits.
Chuck D., “Rebirth,” from Public Enemy’s Apocalypse ‘91…The Enemy Strikes Black, 1991
The sky is falling, the wind is calling,
Stand for something, or die in the morning.
Kendrick Lamar, “HiiPower,” Section.80, 2011
We love it where we from, but we kick it where we at.
Ladybug Mecca, “It’s Good to Be Here,” from Digable Planets’ Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), 1993
You don’t wanna hear the truth, so I’ma lie to you…make it sound fly to you.
Cee-Lo, “The Experience,” from Goodie Mob’s Still Standing, 1998
What if Manhattan was hit by Hurricane Katrina?
Jadakiss, “What If,” The Last Kiss, 2009
The most beautifullest thing in the world is a .44 Desert Eagle.
Nigga, THAT SHIT IS DIESEL!!
Billy Danze, “Stick To Ya Gunz,” Firing Squad, 1996
…But until then, I’ma shine to the last sin,
Resurrect through the birth of my son, and live again.
Tragedy Khadafi, “T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)”, from CNN’s The War Report, 1997
And when we holdin’ a Tec, we put a hole in your neck.
Equippin’ you with a permanent T-Pain vocal effect.
Celph Titled, “Eraserheads,” Nineteen Ninety Now, 2010
My experience oughta learn ya:
That if a nigga ain’t trying to smoke ya, a bitch trying to burn ya.
DJ Quik, “Trust No Bitch,” from Penthouse Players Clique’s Paid the Cost, 1992
I got a smile that’ll make the mirror crack,
And I seem to stay under clouds that’s pitch black.
So when it rains, it pours, and when it pours, I’m soaked.
I contracted lung cancer from third hand smoke,
And I’m like the frog that’s dying to be a prince,
The boy who cried wolf and no one was convinced.
The man who hit lotto and lost his ticket,
In a rainstorm…and struck by lightning trying to get it.
GZA, “Life Is a Movie,” Pro Tools, 2008
I dribble rhymes like basketball…
People call me ‘E.T.’
What’s that, Shaq man?
‘Extra Tall.’
Shaquille O’Neal, “I Know I Got Skillz,” Shaq Diesel, 1993
You need to sweat yourself. Don’t sweat nobody else.
Busta Rhymes, “A Quarter to Cutthroat,” from Leaders of the New School’s The Inner Mind’s Eye (T.I.M.E.), 1993
My father always told me to wisen up, son.
Cause if you hung with nine broke friends, you’re bound to be the tenth one.
Parrish Smith, “It Wasn’t Me, It Was the Fame,” from EPMD’s Unfinished Business, 1989
He doesn’t even suit ya, and he’s surely not your size,
I’m surprised that you slept on a heart that’s worldwide.
Slim Kid Tre, “Otha Fish,” from The Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, 1992
Starstruck with one buck, your girl look like Donald Duck.
Dr. Dooom, “You Live at Home with Your Mom,” First Come First Served, 1999
Unemployment at a record high.
People coming, people going, people born to die.
Don’t ask me, because I don’t know why,
But it’s like that, and that’s the way it is.
Run, “It’s Like That,” from Run-D.M.C., 1984
I called every day to see how she was doin,
Every time that I called her, it seemed somethin was brewin.
I called her on my dime, picked up, and then I called again,
I said, ‘Yo, who was that?’
‘Oh, he’s just a friend.’
Biz Markie, “Just a Friend,” The Biz Never Sleeps, 1990