Damn, I can’t wait until it get dark,
So I can light these fireworks up at the park,
And celebrate my independence,
It’s the 4th of July, but I ain’t got 10 cents.
Kam, “Holiday Madness,” Neva Again, 1993
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 NowI come prepared with the white suit and stethoscope,
Listen to your heartbeat, delete beep beep BEEP.
Your insurance is high, but my price is cheap.
Dr. Octagon, “Blue Flowers,” Octagonecologyst, 1996
Last time I failed is when I fell in love with distractions.
Lil B, “Exhibit 6,” Angels Exodus, 2011
Rap is something you do, Hip-hop is something you live.
KRS-One, “Hip-Hop vs. Rap,” B-Side to Sound of Da Police 12", 1993
This is a robbery, boy, gimme them dollars.
We hit the lottery, boy, it’s in ya wallets!
RZA, “Robbery,” featuring Rev. William Burke, 2011
You were perfect before you went on a diet,
You was way thicker, you think I don’t remember?
Shit…the magazines got to ya head…
Andre 3000, “Dedication to My Ex,” from Lloyd’s King of Hearts, 2011
I got the wild style, always been a foul child,
My guns go boom-boom, and your guns go pow-pow.
Big L, “Put It On,” Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, 1995
We missed a lot of church, so the music is our confessional
Big Boi, “Aquemini,” from Outkast’s Aquemini, 1998
We got to mediate our greedy levels,
Cause the lust of currency can have us sleepin with the devil.
Q-Tip, “Peace, Prosperity and Paper,” from High School High Soundtrack, 1996
Gangsta rappers can’t fight, so they rap about guns.
Sean Price, “Onion Head,” Monkey Barz, 2005
Pain took the softness away and left the hard half.
Co$$, “Pot Ash,” Before I Awoke, 2011
You gotta get back to your essence,
Use your gifts and share your presence,
Don’t count your dollars ‘til you count your blessings.
Talib Kweli, “Self Savior,” Gutter Rainbows, 2011
Nowadays, you gots ta walk the street and watch your back,
Cause brothers with the gats don’t be knowin’ how to act.
Shyheim, “On and On,” Shyheim a.k.a. The Rugged Child, 1994
Visualizin’ the realism of life and actuality,
Fuck who’s the baddest, a person’s status depends on salary.
AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’ Illmatic, 1994
Some wish that I was gone, cause they know I’ma win…
O.C., “My World,” Jewelz, 1997
The kid’s got the Juice and the OJ flavor–
OJ For Mayor cause I’m killing this rap shit,
White Bronco flow, the glove and the mask fit…
Danny!, “Get Down,” Where Is Danny?, 2010
It was you that chose your due,
You built a maze you can’t get through.
I tried to help you all I can,
Now I can’t do nuttin’ for you, man!
Flavor Flav, “Can’t Do Nuttin’ For Ya Man,” from Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, 1990
I never see the whips niggas be claimin’ they drivin,
I guess ‘entertainment’ means blatantly lyin’.
Nas, “Nasty,” Life is Good, 2011
If you’re crying under fire, then you wasn’t built for war.
If a pimp took your girl, then your girl was never yours.
MF Grimm, “Fame,” Hunt for the Gingerbread Man, 2007
This treadmill lifestyle ain’t workin for me…
It’s from ya crib to ya lab to ya job to make a profit,
And at the day’s end you still got nothing accomplished.
Phonte, “Speed,” from Little Brother’s The Listening, 2003
Do you ever think about when you outta here?
Record deal and video, outta here!?
Mercedes Benz and Range Rover, outta here!?
No doubt, BDP is old school, but we ain’t goin’ out!
KRS-One, “Outta Here," Return of the Boom Bap, 1993
On the reals, all these crab niggaz know the deal,
When we start the revolution, all they’ll probably do is squeal.
Nas, “One Love,” Illmatic, 1994
Just think: what if you could just, just blink yourself away?
Black Thought, “Proceed,” from The Roots’ Do You Want More?!!??!, 1995
You wanna know my occupation?
I get paid to rock the nation.
I go to work.
Kool Moe Dee, “I Go To Work,” Knowledge is King, 1989
Leave it up to me while I be livin’ proof,
To kick the truth to the young black youth.
Inspectah Deck, “C.R.E.A.M.” from Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), 1993
Gimme a couple G’s for every emcee I knocked to his knees.
Verbally useless, ‘Oh you got the juice?’ I squeeze you juiceless.
Kurupt, “New York, New York,” from Tha Dogg Pound’s Dogg Food, 1995
So much anger built inside…
So don’t stop to say ‘Hi,’ muthafucka just die.
Lil’ Dap, “I’m the Man,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992
And from the moment that I saw you, I knew you was trouble,
But I disregarded detour signs,
And did not stop til you was mine.
I guess God was like, ‘Aight, fine.’
Careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it in heaps.
Try to give it back, He be like, ‘Nah, that’s yours to keep.’
Mos Def, “Ms. Fat Booty 2,” from Lyricist Lounge 2, 2000
Whatever floats your boat…or finds your lost remote…
Andre 3000, “The Whole World,” from Outkast’s Big Boi and Dre Present…Outkast, 2001
You would think I would recycle by the way I found my last chick…cause all she wants is paper or plastic.
Consequence, “Whatever U Want (G.O.O.D. Remix)”, 2009
I used to roll up: this is a hold up, ain’t nuthin funny.
Stop smiling, be still, don’t nuthin move but the money.
Rakim, “Paid in Full,” from Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid in Full, 1987
This is sunny California
Where the phonies run up on ya
Cause they want you to be just like them.
Blu, “Vanity,” Her Favorite Colo(U)R, 2010
Stepping to me? Yo, that’s the wrong move.
So what you on, hobbs, dope or dog food?
Big Daddy Kane, “Ain’t No Half-Steppin,” Long Live the Kane, 1988
Reality is nourishment, but people don’t believe it,
I guess it’s hard to stomach the truth like a bulimic.
Immortal Technique, “Leaving The Past,” Revolutionary Vol. 2, 2003
Ayyyo, you know what I love (What’s that?)
It’s when motherfuckers assume
That they ass can’t get popped at 12 o’clock in the afternoon.
Billy Danze, “I Luv,” from M.O.P.’s First Family 4 Life, 1998
Commercial rap get the gun clap, day after day.
Buckshot Shorty, “Slave” from Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage, 1993
Are you tired of lyrical liars, passing fliers,
Wannabe MC’s, but really good triers,
Tripping over mic cords, getting you bored,
A total fraud, this kind of thing I can’t afford!
KRS-One, “Mortal Thought,” Return of the Boom-Bap, 1993
I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth.
Not the biased truth,
Not the liest truth,
But the highest truth.
Nas, “Sly Fox,” Untitled, 2008
Burn a Bush cause for peace he no push no button.
Killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction,
How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one?
Common, “A Letter to the Law,” from Def Poetry Jam, 2007
Sean Hannity’s latest race-baiting “controversy” stems from the invitation that First Lady Michelle Obama extended to Common for a White House poetry event tonight. Up next, a complementary quote from Nas’ “Sly Fox.”
Suckas on my jock when I walk down the block,
I really don’t care if you’re jealous or not.
LL Cool J, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” Radio, 1985
Took two drags off the blunts, and started breaking down the flag:
The blue is for the Crips, the red is for the Bloods,
The whites for the cops, and the stars come from the clubs
Or the slugs that ignite, through the night,
By the dawn early light, why is sons fighting for the stripe?
RZA, “A Better Tomorrow,” Wu-Tang Forever, 1997
I ain’t Mary, so ain’t a damn thing Poppin’.
Xzibit, “Eyes May Shine,” At the Speed of Life, 1996
My hustle’s the play,
That means the hood is a stage.
Been rehearsing for days…
STS, “The Play,” from Glorification of Gangster soundtrack, 2011
Don’t ask for a cig’ – I’m so self-centered, I won’t even share this cancer.
Joe Budden, “40 Licks,” Mood Muzik 2: Can It Get Any Worse?, 2006
Now that Bin Laden dead, can we get our civil liberties back?
That George Bush stole with the Patriot Act?
Ras Kass, “Hello Iraq (Bin Laden Post Mortem)”, Endangered Lyricist, Vol 3, 2011
You only get honest expression when I spit in your ear;
That means even when I’m dissing you I’m being sincere.
One Be Lo, “Enecs Eht No Kcab,” S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., 2005
If wonder if I blasted a little Elvis Presley.
Would they pull me over and attempt to arrest me?
I doubt, doubt it, they’ll probably start dancin,
Jumpin on my dick and pissin in they pants and
Wiggle and then jiggle and grab on they pelvis
But you know my name, so you never hear no Elvis.
Masta Ace, “Jeep Ass Niguh,” Slaughtahouse, 1993
The world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket.
Q-Tip, “Verses from the Abstract,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, 1991