I met this girl when I was ten years old,
And what I loved most she had so much soul.
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me.

- Common, “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” from Resurrection, 1994

I bathe in basslines, rinse in riffs, dry in drums

- Common, “Resurrection,” Resurrection, 1994

I’m a addict for sneakers, twenties of buddah and bitches with beepers.

- Nas, “N.Y. State of Mind,” Illmatic, 1994

She’s got charm, a firearm to match mine,
Goin to the movies packin his and her nine’s.
Wearin Carhart and leather, motherfuck the weather,
On Valentine’s Day, doin stick-ups together.
No one to blame, no shame in her game,
And when we fuck she makes me scream out her name.

- Apache, “Gangsta Bitch”, Apache Ain’t Shit, 1994

Back in the days, our parents used to take care of us.
Look at ‘em now…they even fuckin’ scared of us.

- Notorious B.I.G., “Things Done Changed,” Ready to Die, 1994

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

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

Peep what I wrote;
You bit so hard, I thought your shit was a quote.

- Casual, “That’s How It Is,” Fear Itself, 1994

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

I never let the worst things in life get the best of me.
So take these testes and, ummm…open sesame.

- King Sun, “Humm Deez Nuts,” Strictly Ghetto EP, 1994

I never boned a honey that I didn’t like
I never saw a mile that I couldn’t hike
I never had a spliff to make me choke
I never had a pocket that was broke

- Dres, “Flavor of the Month,” from Black Sheep’s A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing, 1994

There are few things that’s forever, my lady.
We can make war or make babies.

- Method Man, “All I Need,” Tical, 1994

(Peace!) Piece of what?
You can’t mean P-E-A-C-E
Cause I’ve seen people on the streets
Shoot the next man and turn around and say ‘peace.’
But that’s leaving people in pieces
It’s not what the meaning of peace is.

- Large Professor, “Peace Is Not the Word to Play,” Main Source’s Breaking Atoms, 1994