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

…But when we got a good thing, can’t appreciate it,
Just like the chick I had on my team, was everything on my wish list.
Spendin’ holidays, Valentine’s and Christmas.
Now I’m in the club looking at other broads, like:
“I gave up home-cooked meals for this shit?”
“I gave up all them back rubs for this bitch?”
The whole damn thing is bass ackwards…

- Phonte, “Too Late For Us,” Babygrande Presents Beat Down Vol 1, 2010

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)

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

And when we holdin’ a Tec, we put a hole in your neck.
Equippin’ you with a permanent T-Pain vocal effect.

- Celph Titled, “Eraserheads,” Nineteen Ninety Now, 2010

Y’all place value on your wheels and your automobiles,
And never acknowledge your children’s diminishing skills,
Or that they continue to fill all the prisons they build.

- Skipp Coon, “4.28.1967, Pt. 2,” Sophomore Slump Vol. 1: Independents Day EP, 2010

We went from candy bars, to handle bars, to hangin’ in bars, to being behind bars

- MF Grimm, “Three Story Building,” from Copywrite’s The Life and Times of Peter Nelson, 2010

I gotta make a move, I gotta do this now,
If they don’t know your dreams, they can’t shoot ‘em down.

- J. Cole, “Too Deep For The Intro,” Friday Night Lights, 2010

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

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

Day in and day out we do the same thing,
Tryina find the joy in our repetition.
Always complainin’ about the routine and the mundane.
But let me stop to remind y’all bout one thing:
Come hell or high water you can count on the sun
Always shinin’ in its untamed glory.

- Phonte, “Greater Than the Sun,” from Zo!’s SunStorm, 2010

You never question when you get the blessings,
So don’t get vexed when your life is stressed.

- Shad, “Rose Garden,” TSOL, 2010

Every day is like a blank canvas,
Carving my initials in the planet like I brand it.
Hand-picked to live this life we take for granted,
Like a child with an upright bass, we can’t stand it.

- Blu, “The Day,” from The Roots’ How I Got Over, 2010

Funny how the love be fake…but I ain’t stressin’.
Thankful for the love that’s genuine…appreciate the blessin’.

- Busta Rhymes, “Superstar,” from Ghostface Killah’s Apollo Kids, 2010

I told her, “I got the chips if you got the dip.”
She said when I dip, that I better be equipped
and keep my hand on her hips…

- Ludacris, “Be With You,” from David Banner & 9th Wonder’s Death of a Pop Star, 2010