You tried keeping it real, but you should try keeping it right.

Posdnuos, “The Bizness,” from De La Soul’s Stakes Is High, 1996. More from De La…

I’m livin’ in times where my daughters are found around
Kids who can’t afford thinking caps…
But always found drinkin’ raps and eatin’ off beats,
Claimin’ laws of the streets. But who made the laws?
Everybody playin’ rebel with no sign of a cause.

Posdnuos, “Held Down,” from De La Soul’s AOI: Bionix, 2001. More from De La Soul…

About those other Jennys I reckoned with,
Lost them all like a homework excuse.
This time, the Magic Number is two,
Cause it takes two, not three, to seduce.
My destiny of love is brought to an apex,
Sex is a mere molecule.
In this world of love that I have for you
It’s true…Eye know I love you better.

Dove/Trugoy, “Eye Know,” from De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, 1989. This landmark album was released 25 years ago today. More De La Soul quotes…

Though the meek shall inherit the earth, but don’t forget:
The poor are the ones who inherit the debt.

Posdnuos, “The Grind Date,” from De La Soul’s The Grind Date, 2004

…About those other Jennys I reckoned with
Lost them all like a homework excuse.
This time the Magic Number is Two,
‘Cause it takes two, not three, to seduce.

Dove, “Eye Know,” from De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, 1989

Stop raising your voice at me,
Stop messing around with my sanity,
Got me in a bubble, I can barely breathe…

Truth Enola, “Voicetress,” 12", 1999

Friends: 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

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

Ayo, shout out to Mobb Deep, the Extra P
Busta Rhymes, De La, the J Beez, so don’t sleep

Q-Tip, “Mind Power, ” A Tribe Called Quest’s Beats, Rhymes and Life, 1996

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

Always exhale the facts, cause I don’t inhale lies.

Dove, “The Bizness,” from De La Soul’s Stakes is High, 1996

See them Cubans don’t care what y’all niggas do,
Colombians ain’t never ran with your crew.
Why you acting all spicy and sheisty?
The only Italians you knew was ICEEs.

Dove, “Itsoweezee,” Stakes is High, 1996

Move over just a bit to the right of me,
For I cannot see
Where the booty is.

Dres, “Fanatic of the B Word,” from De La Soul Is Dead, 1991

If you got time to give, I got time to think…
See, it could all change in one eye blink.

De La Soul, “Trouble in the Water,” from DJ Honda’s HII, 1998

Posdnuous (De La Soul) • “Smile a Lil’ Bit” • 2006

You need to smile a lil’ bit, frown a lil’ less.
Read a couple of books, and then smoke a lil’ sess.
Get your mind right, but don’t OD,
Cause overdoin’ it ain’t doin’ it with quality.

– Posdnuous of De La Soul, “Smile a Lil Bit,” from Oh No’s Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms, 2006