Rebel, renegade, must stay paid.

- KRS-One, “I’m Still #1,” from Boogie Down Productions’ By Any Means Necessary, 1990

Niggas is decaf, I stick ‘em for the C.R.E.A.M.

- Method Man, “Bring the Pain,” Tical, 1994

Rappers can’t sleep, need sleepin’,
B.I.G. keep creepin’,
Bullets heat-seekin’,
Casualties need treatin’,
Dumb rappers need teachin’.

- Notorious B.I.G., “Unbelievable,” Ready To Die, 1994

Deja vu, tell you what I’m gonna do,
When they reminisce over you, my God.

- CL Smooth, “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.),” from Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s Mecca and the Soul Brother, 1992

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

Spam ain’t the move it’s imitation ham.
Ham is pork, and the pork is foul.
Kinda like a pig and that ain’t my style.

- Milk Dee and King Ad Rock, “Spam,” from Milk Dee’s Never Dated EP, 1995

God works in different ways and it shows…
And everybody knows, love comes and goes.

- Ed O.G., “Love Comes and Goes,” from Ed O.G. and Da Bulldogs’ Roxbury 02119, 1993

There oughta be laws against you yappin’ your jaws.

- Guru, “Take it Personal,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992

I own the night…the heat’s my receipt.

- Ka, “Cold Facts,” Grief Pedigree, 2012

Niggas running around fantasizing like they’re Peter Pan…
Your life’s a scam and I’mma fuck it up like Neverland.

- MF Grimm, “Fame,” The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man, 2007

Your mom’s in our business…she’s in our business…
Can’t you see, girl, that your mom’s trying to end this?

- K-Solo, “Your Mom’s In My Business,” Tell the World My Name, 1990

What’s the remedy? Suckaz better get their own identity,
And to the enemy, you better roll like there’s ten of me.

- A.G., “Next Level,” from Show and A.G.’s Goodfellas, 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).

Let me spell my name out for you, it’s Ricky:
R: Ravishing, I: Impress,
C: Courageous or Careless,
K: for the Kangols which I’ve got,
That I wear everyday and Y: Why not?

- Slick Rick, “Mona Lisa,” The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, 1988