A simple right or left can mean life or death,
Epic fail or nice success,
Days of pleasure or nights of stress.
Ka, “Decisions,” Grief Pedigree, 2012
Posts Tagged With: wisdom
You know the wisdom is reflected in the knowledge when it’s manifested;
If not fed in due time, the mind is anorexic.
Cormega, “American Beauty,” The Realness, 2001
So lovers of life, don’t keep your hopes up high.
Why? Cause it’s just a matter of time before it’s your turn to die.
But until then, when you stop breathin’,
It’s time to stand up and fight for what you believe in!
Sticky Fingaz, “2 Wrongz,” from Onyx’s All We Got Iz Us, 1995
Laugh now, cry later: this is the karma.
Hip-hop never died, it’s just sick of the drama.
Cormega, “Journey,” Born and Raised, 2009
Lookin’ out at the world through my window pane,
Every day has many colors ‘cause the glass is stained.
Everything has changed but remains the same,
So once again the mirror raised.
And I see myself as clear as day,
And I am goin’ to the limits of my ultimate destiny,
Feeling as though somebody somewhere is testin’ me.
He who sees the end from the beginning of time
Looking forward through all the ages:
Is, was, and always shall be.
MCA, “B-Boy Bouillabaisse (A Year And A Day),” from Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, 1989. Rest in power, Adam Yauch (1964 – 2012).
I don’t respect killers, I respect O.G. knowledge,
Codes of the streets got new rules, but no guidance.
Lessons, detrimental to a young disciple;
Folks, take care of your brothers, niggas do as I do.
Keep your enemies close, where they can see you.
It’s not your enemy who get you, it’s always your own people.
Nas, “In Between Us,” from Scarface’s The Fix, 2002
We can’t complain for this borrowed time;
So don’t misuse yours, cause you can’t borrow mine.
Big K.R.I.T., “Wake Up,” 4Eva N A Day, 2012
Yo, where the teachers went, with all that pro-black shit?
Where all the conscious niggas, who used to chat like this?
See, I remember yesterday when y’all was Gods and Earths,
Egyptians and metaphysicists on the verge of giving birth
To Understanding, and planting seeds that grow.
Now everybody’s on that bullshit about killing and so.
Wise Intelligent, “Conscious Style,” The New World Order, 1996
I was always taught my do’s and don’ts:
For do’s I did, and for don’ts, I said I won’t.
GZA, “I Gotcha Back,” from the Fresh soundtrack, and also on Liquid Swords, 1994
A prejudiced man is of a devil mentality.
These are words of a wise man, wisdom;
Take a taste and erase the racism.
Kool G Rap, “Erase Racism,” from Kool G Rap and DJ Polo’s Wanted: Dead or Alive, 1990
Truth had me up against the ropes
And semi-conscious without no boxing skills.
Pharoahe Monch, “The Truth,” Internal Affairs, 1999
They say the good die young, so the bad die old.
Guess we somewhere in the middle, so just pray for my soul.
Jon Connor, “Broken Mirrors,” Salvation, 2011
…I’ve never had a dream in my life,
Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven’t pursued.
I knew what I wanted, and did it till it was done.
So I’ve been the dream I wanted to be since Day One.
Aesop Rock, “No Regrets,” Labor Days, 2001
God damn! Drug dealers dealin’ to the kiddies,
Livin’ in the city ain’t no pity on the itty-bitty.
We try to cry, but still they all die,
I try to speak to the youth, and the truth is: they all high.
2Pac, “Wassup Wit The Luv?,” from Digital Underground’s The Body-Hat Syndrome, 1993
Pull down the shades on the windows of your soul,
And gaze into your mind and watch the wisdom unfold…
Beanie Sigel, “Hypnotic,” from Memphis Bleek’s M.A.D.E., 2003
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
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
Keepin’ this effervescent street ghetto essence inside us
Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us
AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’ Illmatic, 1994
So many programs you watch on the sofa,
But the real program sit on top of your shoulders.
One Be Lo., “Propaganda,” S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., 2005 (via emaciatedwildebeest)
Life is a blast when you know what you’re doin’,
Best to know what you’re doin’ ‘fore your life get ruined.
Life is a thrill when your skill is developed,
If you ain’t got a skill or trade, then shut the hell up.
Del the Funky Homosapien, “At the Helm,” from Hieroglyphics’ 3rd Eye Vision, 1998
Only in America could you find a way to make a healthy buck,
And still keep your attitude on self-destruct.
MF Doom, “Rhymes Like Dimes,” Operation Doomsday, 1999
Nothin’ taken for granted, just learn from my mistakes.
My will too strong, my spirit’s somethin’ they can’t take.
Slim The Mobster, “South Central Blues,” War Music, 2011
There comes a time in every man’s life when he’s gotta handle up on his own.
Can’t depend on friends to help you in a squeeze,
Please…they got problems of their own.
Slim Kid Tre, “Runnin’”, from Pharcyde’s Labcabincalifornia, 1995
We all seem to stumble, planning our own demise,
Getting the big picture, and making it wallet-sized.
Kendrick Lamar, “Growing Apart (To Get Closer),” Overly Dedicated, 2010
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
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
Life is a gamble, we scramble for money,
I might crack a smile, but ain’t a damn thing funny.
Prodigy, “Eye for an Eye (Your Beef Is Mines),” from Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, 1995. More gems from P >
Stro Rockets • “From Me” • 2017
I think we all motherfuckin’ hypocrites,
Asking God for life and we ain’t even livin’ it.
Stro Rockets, “From Me,” Grade A Frequencies EP, 2017
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
Imagine peace on this earth when there’s no grief,
Imagine grief on this earth when there’s no peace.
Scarface, “I Seen a Man Die,” The Diary, 1994
You never question when you get the blessings,
So don’t get vexed when your life is stressed.
Shad, “Rose Garden,” TSOL, 2010
Be grateful for blessings,
Don’t ever change, keep your essence.
The power is in the people and politics we address.
2Pac, “Me Against the World,” Me Against the World, 1995