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
Fuck jewels: I think my soul glows bright enough.
And fuck whips: I learn more when I ride the bus.
And fuck, it’s bad enough that we fight for bucks.
And fuck hoes: cause in the end I need a wife to love.
Blu, “Show Me the Good Life,” Below the Heavens, 2007
It’s hard bein’ real in a world that’s a fallacy.
Meyhem Lauren, “Just Can’t Win,” Self-Induced Illness, 2011
The colder the weather, the bigger the gun
Got to rock a lot of clothes if you tryina hide one
In June it’s .22’s, February it’s fifths
But all year round, it’s 616.
Willie the Kid, “The Colder the Weather,” 2011
Hate a liar more than I hate a thief.
A thief is only after my salary,
A liar is after my reality.
50 Cent, “I’m a Hustler,” Power of the Dollar, 2000
And to the shorties on the block, tryin’ to twist 40 tops,
Get your act together, do some carpentry with a Black & Decker,
And stop speedin like a Kawasaki…
Prospect, “The Hidden Hand,” from Fat Joe’s Don Cartagena, 1998
Nah, I don’t really have to spit nothin’ too complex,
I just rep for my hood, and it sound correct.
Cappadonna, “Pass the Mic,” from Theodore Unit’s 718, 2004
See me looking like Atlas, when he handle the globe.
I see you looking like Alice, Wonderland is your home.
It makes me wonder if you practice your flow…
One Be Lo, “Dragon Slayer,” LABOR, 2011. Buy the album at One Be Lo’s Bandcamp site. (via emaciatedwildebeest)
You niggaz ain’t killaz…you caterpillars.
N.O.R.E., “Electrolytes (Remix),” 2011
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