[Q-Tip] Back in the days when I was a teenager Before I had status and before I had a pager You could find the Abstract listening to hip hop My pops used to say, it reminded him of be-bop I said, well daddy don't you know that things go in cycles The way that Bobby Brown is just ampin like Michael Its all expected, things are for the looking If you got the money, Quest is for the booking Come on everybody, let's get with the fly modes Still got room on the truck, load the back boom Listen to the rhymes, to get a mental picture Of this black man, black woman venture Why do I say that, cuz I gotta speak the truth man Doing what we feel for the music is the proof and Planted on the ground, the act is so together Bonafied strong, you need leverage to sever The unit, yes, the unit, yes, the unit called the jazz is We deliver it each year on the street for the beat cuz You can find it on the rack in your record store(store) If you get the record, then your thoughts are adored and appreciated Cuz we're ever so glad we made it We work hard, so we gotta thank God Dishin out the plastic, do the dance till you spastic If you dis...it gets drastic Listen to the rhymes, cuz its time to make gravy If it moves your booty, then shake, shake it baby All the way to Africa a.k.a. The Motherland (uh) Stick out the left, then I'll ask for the other hand That's the right hand, Black Man (man) Only if you was noted as my man (man) If I get the credit, then I'll think I deserve it If you fake moves, don't fix your mouth to word it Get in the zone of positivity, not negativity Cuz we gotta strive for longevity If you botch up, what's in that (ass) (what?) A pair of Nikes, size ten-and-a-half (come on, come on)
Chorus:
We gotta make moves Never, ever, ever could we fake moves (come on, come on) (4X)
You gotta be a winner all the time Can't fall prey to a hip hop crime With the dope raps and dope tracks for you for blocks From the fly girlies to the hardest of the rocks Musically the Quest, is on the rise We on these Excursions so you must realize Hip hop continually, about the Zulu If you don't like it, get off the Zulu tip So what could you do in the times which exist You can't fake moves on your brother or your sis But if your sis is a (bitch), brother is a jerk Leave 'em both alone and continue with your work Whatever it may be into this society Everything is fair, at least that how it seems to me You must be honest and true to the next Don't be phony and expect one not to flex Especially if you rhyme, you have to live by the pen Your man is your man, then treat him like your friend All it is, is the code of the streets So listen to the knowledge being dropped over beats Beats that are hard, beats that are funky It could get you hooked like a crackhead junkie What you gotta do to is know that the Tribe's in this sphere The Abstract Poet, prominent like Shakespeare
Yo, microphone check one two what is this The five foot assassin with the ruffneck business I float like gravity, never had a cavity Got more rhymes than the Winans got family No need to sweat Arsenio to gain some type of fame No shame in my game cause I'll always be the same Styles upon styles upon styles is what I have You wanna diss the Phifer but you still don't know the half I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path Messin round with this you catch ?the sizin of em? I never half step cause I'm not a half stepper Drink a lot of soda so they call me Dr. Pepper Refuse to com-pete with BS competition Your name ain't Special Ed so won't you Seckle With the Mission I never walk the streets, think it's all about me Even though deep in my heart, it really could be I just try my best to like go all out Some might even say yo shorty black you're buggin' out
[Q-Tip] Uhhh, uhhh, uhhh, uh! Zulu Nation, brothers that's creation Minds get flooded, ejaculation right on the two inch tape The Abstract poet incognito, runsss the cape Not the best not the worst and occasionally I curse to get my point across, so bust, the floss As I go in betweeen, the grit and the dirt Listen to the mission listen Miss as I do work, umm as I crack the, monotone Children of the jazz so, get your own Smokin R
To the effect of nothing, effective fronting Is what i don't allow so let me tell you something I am a bon-a-fide Not too modest and not a lot of pride Soon to have a ride and a home to reside If my momma is sick i'm by her beside Used to watch the show on channel 4 called riptide Wash my wears in-tide cause it's too damn cold Out-tide, that's how the runnings go If there ain't no dough then there ain't no show So take your roly poly fat promoter (ass) To the chemical bank, and get my cash If you wanna see the people scream and laugh You best quest you ask the quest you ask real fast Cause i don't wanna see em, start buckin Throwin chairs in the air while you be duckin What what? don't step to me with that If you promotin the show make sure it ain't wack *sings* Or else i'm leaving ("let me tell you") I'm leaving (*cut and scratched* "let me tell you") I'm leaving (*cut and scratched* "let me tell you") Your wack show
{q-tip} yo man whassup with that? {phife} yo don't sweat me... ... c'mon, five hundred, that was the deal {q-tip} c'mon man, don't try to play me out {phife} we don't need you, sorry!!! {q-tip} you know you need me *drum roll*
{q-tip} And the abstract rapper says
I want chicken, and orange juice, ?dat sauce on my rider? And my occasional potato by oreida Don't forget my pastry make sure they're tasty I'm not the type to be pushy or hasty See i'm the type of bro that's reared in the ghetto Took a few shorts before Now the only ones i take are the ones that i wear Ain't takin no shorts no more, now Please act proper 'fore i call the crimestoppers Don't dip on the dough, cause that's a no-no Make sure you count your money real slow Be alert, look alive, and act like ya know It's, the 90's, time to make moves Not, the 80's, do away withcha womb So what? you got a crew I got one too, they're called the brooklyn zoo Don't break fool, let's be reserved and cool We don't have to act like we in grade school Just make sure that we're taken care of And we'll do a fly show for ya bub, check it out Diggi-dang-diggi-dang, di-dang-ga-dang-a-diddy Diggi-dang-diggi-dang, di-dang-ga-dang-a-diddy Diggi-dang-diggi-dang, di-dang-ga-dang-a-diddy Diggi-dang-diggi-dang, di-dang-ga-dang-diggy-diggy
1988 Senior Year, Garvey High Where all the guys were corny but the girls were mad fly Loungin with the Tipster, Coolin with Sha Scopin out the honeys - they know who they are I was the b-ball playin fly rhyme sayin Fly girl gettin but never was I sweatin Cause when it came to honeys I would go on a stroll Until I met my match - her name was Flo Yeah - I messed around with the one called Flo All the troopers round the way used to call her a ho But deep down in my heart I knew that Flo was good to go Cause I thought it was me - like Bell Biv Devoe But little did I know that she was playin' with my mind The only thing I learned is, good girls are hard to find I feel like Heavy D I need somebody for me Not someone who's mind is blank and tryin' to juice me for my bank Swingin' with my main man Lucky behind my back What type of crap is that - yo, hows about a smack? Word life, I can't front - thought I was all that But now it seems, I met my match Was a stone cold lover, you couldn't tell me jack Settlin' down with one girl, wasn't tryin' to hear that I had Tonya, Tamika, Sharon, Karen Tina, Stacy, Julie, Tracy Used ta love 'em, leave 'em, skeeze 'em, tease 'em Find 'em, lose 'em - also abuse 'em My whole attitude was new day, next hon And believe it or not, they all got done Well here comes Flo, with the crazy whip appeal And I'm all true man, like Alexander O'Neal Is this really love, then again, how would I know After all this time tryin' to be a superhoe She finally played me, but yo, I'd find another Cause I got the crazy game and yo, I'm smooth like butter
Chorus: Q-Tip
Butter, like butter baby . . . [repeat 2X] Not no Parkay, not no margarine, Strickly butter baby, strictly butter
Verse Two: Phife Dawg
I remember when, Girls were goodie two shoes, but now they turned to freaks Allofasudden "We love you Phife" - ease of ho, my name's Malik Phife this, Phife that, where you goin', where you at These girls don't know me from jack, yet I feel like the Mack You didn't want me then, so hon, don't want me now Here, Here - take the towel, wipe off your brow And take the Ccontact out your eye, you're far from lookin' fly You get an E for effort, and T for nice try Now tell me what's the reason, for dyin' your hair Slum village gold still danglin in your ear You barely have a neck but still sportin' a rope Four-finger ring just so Phifer can scope You looked in the mirror, didn't know what to do Yesterday your eyes were brown but today they are blue Your whole appearance is a lie and it could never be true And if you really loved yourself then you would try and be you If your hair and eyes were real, I wouldn't have dissed ya But since it was bought, I had to dismiss ya If you can't achieve it, then why not try and weave it If you can't extend it then you might as well suspend it If you can't braid it, best thing to do is fade it I asked who did your hair and you tell me "Diane made it" If you were you and just you, talk to you, maybe But I can't stand, no bionic lady Tryin' hard to look fly, but yo, you're lookin' dumber If I wanted someone like you I woulda swung with Jamie Summers You wanna be treated right, see Father MC Or check Ralph Tresvant, for sens-a-tiv-i-ty See I am not the one, I got more game than Parker Brothers Phife Dog is on the mic and I'm smooth like Butter . . .
Q-tip: I had a dream about my man last night And my man came by the studio And his name is... Busta rhymes in effect, shaheed is in effect Phife did-awg is in effect Check it out and give me my 'spect
I'm movin, yes i'm groovin cuz my mouth is on the motor Use the coast in the mornin to avoid the funky odor Can't help bein funky, i'm the funky abstract brotha Funky in a sense, but i play the undacova Once had a fettish, fettish for some booty Now i'm gettin funky and my rappin, that's my duty Brothas tend to jock on the style in particular If you got the ego like some brothas, then i'll get with ya But if i don't pursue, then i just don't give a (fuck) My motto in the 90's is be happy makin bucks Girls love the jim, cuz it causes crazy friction When it goes up in and fluctuates the diction I still understand the (uh!) cuz that's what i met her for I'm hooked on the swings, so just call me the music whore Women love the voice, brothas dig the lyrics Quest the people's choice, we thrive it for the spirit If you can't hear it, then get the wax utensils Write my rhymes straight up, don't get with no fancy stensils The rhymes we get is sweet, we stay away from tart Our perfection is at work, perkin up the art If you want to battle, i suggest you check your clock Your demise is comin up and i want your man to watch Be the prime example, i deep instilled the sample Insignificance, here i'll place you on the mantle Born up in harlem, reside down in jamaica The girl i used to rock, her moms was a claker Now what does that make her? the evil money taker? The crazy move faker, i used that to break her
(vinia mojica singing in the background) Phife is in the house, uncle mike is in the house Bob power is in the house, tim latham is in the house Wise men is in the house, brand nubs is in the house The j beez, they in the house and de la, they in the house
I must regroup my thoughts and kick the next ones for my people Please don't be deceived by ugly slice of evil The world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket Wrap yourself up in it, if you love it, then you'll thank it Don't move to rebuttal, wave your hand for action The ladies of the '90's want more than satisfaction They want keys and gs, and all those illy things If you want to, i'll show you, just what the ab can bring I keep a tight net with my brothas ken and kenny If the question is of rhymes, then i'll tell ya, i got plenty The thing that men and women need to do is stick together Progressions can't be made if we're separate forever I hooked this funky beat with the loop and the feature With the funky singin by miss vinia mojica So listen because the quest is led through the underground My people been up on quest to long, no more will we be down People tend to riff cuz they don't know the mental People tend to bug cuz their beats are hard but gentle Afro kinda lurks through the body of this youngun' Play like bobby byrd on your back and your comin to The house of the jazz, of the funk, of the rhythm All the goods are welcome, but if you're a villain I'll just wait and debate, contemplate your arrival If flexin is your motive, then you don't like survival The abstract is speakin, the hard beats is reachin The black and puerto ricans Cuz their butt naked, streakin through the ever murky streets Of the urbanized areas Blastin out the speakers is the hip hop hysteria
Craig is in the house, pete rock is in the house Cl is in the house, ultra mag is in the house Nice and smooth is in the house, big daddy kane is in the house Beatnuts is in the house, special ed is in the house
Yeah(7x) This one goes out to my man Thanks alot ron carter on the bass Yes my man ron carter is on the bass Now check it out Born into the 91 decade You gotta say the quest is on And goddamn it, yes the quest is on And we out!
Let me flaunt the style (style), I think that the time's near That we drop studs (studs), there will be no duds here Rappers play the dumb (dumb), kinda on the space tip But when they hear the jams (jams), they be on the dilsnick Now I'm not for the rock (rock), I know the territory Go ahead and try (try), that's a different story Similar to Grimm (Grimm), I could write a better one All about a kid (kid), who couldn't rap and didn't run Stand (stand) aside (aside), when the rap is gettin dumb Resort to baggin Billy (Billy), askin can he have some No, never ever (ever) come back and try again man If you come back (back), I'll be the first to shake your hand Competitions good (good), it brings out the vital parts The Abstract Poetic ('etic), majors in recital arts Do it for the kids (kids), the elders and the rap peers When the job is done (done), then we hear a lot of cheers Gotta feel the vibes (vibes), come from my creation If the hands clap (clap) are filled with elation Here I am ghetto, full with a lot of steam Think I gotta, I think I gotta, I think I gotta scream (scream) Cuz that's how good it feels child Let your hair down (down), so we can get buckwild Do your ill dance (dance), don't think about the next man We must have unity and think of the bigger plan The vision, we fall (fall) we must stick together, see I'd like to take this time (time) to say what's up to Kool G The name is Q-Tip (Tip), The Midnight Marauder Give enough respect ('spect) to Afrika Bambaataa As a man in the world (world), I must do my job Take care of Mama Duke (Duke), I won't resort to rob Bob you'll get your dough (dough), Mase is my witness Obsessed with the rap (rap), for its the mental fitness Like shootin cee-lo (lo), and always gettin headcracks The industry is luck (luck), winning with the fake raps Peace to the crews (crews), who pump the real hip hop Not sellin out (out) from hardrock to disc jock... (From disc jock to hardrock, from hardrock to disc jock)
Phife:
I don't know what to say, but here I go freak it If the papes come, then you know I'll seek it I'm just a short brotha, dark skin face Weigh a buck-fifty, 36 waist My hair is crazy curly Front like Mr. Furley To this day, I still believe that no MC can serve me Brothas try to front, but everybody know (know) I get more props than the Arsenio Hall Show Party animal I was, but now I chill at home All I do is write rhymes, eat, drink, shit and bone Found my thrill in Amityville, I'm always in the Island Fudge and Monkey know the time, they know who keeps 'em smilin Go out on my own, somethin that I gotta do Do what the hell I want and have no one to listen to I'm prompt with my business and I do things on the double Yo, I'm out like Buster Douglass, I say peace to MC Trouble Rest in Peace
Q-Tip:
Word Up, rest in Peace, and you know what else? We got, we got, we got the vibe (vibe) All the people in Long Island, we got the vibe (vibe) Brooklyn and Queens, we got the vibe (vibe) Uptown and New York, we got the vibe (vibe) People upstate, we got the vibe (vibe) If you're in DC, you got the vibe (vibe) Maryland, Virginia, Carolina vibe (vibe) Out West, we got the vibe (vibe) In the Bahamas, we got the vibe (vibe) Over in Europe, you know what? We got the vibe And we gotta keep it alive, it goes on...
Of rap I'm a fan, I've seen a whole lot of subs Goods with the girls, I got a whole lot of 'em From fat to skinny, Freeda to Winnie (Winnie) Emma to Cindy, Constance to Wendy (Wendy) Cuz I be more friendly (friendly), never on the snotty side I don't brag to brothas about the little papes I got (got) My vocal styles can vary, the sight is never scary (scary) It's only legendary ('dary), my father well prepared me ('pared me) My job ain't temporary, I'm here for the long shot Better yet, the long term, I don't have a perm (perm) In a way I do, call 'em the perma-naps I'm crazy slap-happy and I'm scrappy when I'm nappy When I get the mic in my hand and the crowd in stands (stands) It's as good as grand like that (that)
I wanna say peace and dedicate this joint to MC Trouble and to um...Trouble T-Roy And to um...Scott La Rock and to um...Cowboy, you know what I'm sayin? This is for the slain rappers and the fallen rappers you know what I'm sayin (sayin)? This is a special, special, special, special, special dedication And also to my pops and also to Vinny, his moms (moms) you know what I'm sayin? You just gotta keep it happy and keep the vibes going and this is Vibes and Stuff And we out...
Rough, rough, rugged Tough like a nugget Listen to the Abstract Poetic, don't snub it The Midnight Marauder is the hype beat arranger Don't front on the lyrics or the two cuz it's danger Hook you like a junkie, you'll flip like a monkey To the openness of the rhythm, so proceed because I'm funky I get down, down like a fly hooker's panties Make you catch a spirit and motivate a fanny I be the fly poet, rappers, they get jelly Upset when I rock, cuz yo, they beats is smelly See, I got it goin on like a Forbes tax return Listenin to these lyrics when it's hot will make it burn Baby burn, baby burn, up into the heavens The skies up above, the one you think of Is the highly regarded, hell of the people Your mic and my mic? Come on, yo, no equal So if ya wanna do it to yourself That is to mess around with the jazz, then just blame yourself Cuz you made your bed, so now you lay in it That's your (shit) on the floor, then go and play in it I refuse to catch a 'L' in a battle Cuz yo, I got the jazz and I'll whup a rapper's (ass) Into little next to nuthin Test me if I'm frontin I'm passin flyin colors cuz yo...
Chorus (Q-Tip): Who got the jazz? (We've got the jazz) (7X) We've got the jazz Come on Come on, Phife
Phife: No need for introductions cuz you know who I be (the Phife Dawg) Yep, the one who loves to slaugher MCs I got style, grace and razamatazz I'm like my girl Patrice Rushen, yo I add pizazz, now Most people remember Phife from the Phife like smoothness But now it's time to hit you with roughneck rudeness I'm st
[q-tip] Babies babble on, they lookin for excuses Game for the buzzer who kicked it to the losers Lame as a brain, could be, golly gee If you see a shrink he'll charge you a fee If you see me ya see the fee is nothing [fee will be for patience] all that's no fronting What is a party if it doesn't really rock? What is a poet? all balls, no cock What is a war if it doesn't have a general? What's channel nine if it doesn't have arsenio? What is life if you don't have fun? What is a what if you ain't got a gun? What's ali without shaheed muhammad? Nothing. [calpekur] makes you vomit What is a quest if the players ain't willing? What is a pence if you don't have a shilling? Excuse me if i'm chillin, hey what, say what What's a fat man without food in his gut? What's a child birth, without the umbilical? What's united parcel, without the deliverer? What's momma-san, without poppa-san? What's martial arts without daniel-san? What's rasheed without tonya, tamika? What's orange juice and doug e. doug without shaniqua? Not a not a not a, not a damn thing What's duke ellington without that swing? What's alex haley if it doesn't have roots? What's a weekend if you ain't knockin boots? What's a black nation, without black unity? What is a child who doesn't know pubery? What is my label when i exit boom status? What's menage-a-tois, or, that is What is sex when you have three people? What are laws if they ain't fair and equal? What's clark kent without a telephone booth? What is a liquor if it ain't 80 proof? What are the youth if they ain't rebellin? What's raplh cramden, if he ain't yellin At ed norton, what is coke snortin? What is position if there is no contortin? What is hip-hop if it doesn't have violence? Chill for a minute, doug e. fresh said silence *four second pause* What is a glock if you don't have a clip? What's a lollipop without the good ship? What's s&m if you don't have chains? What's a con artist if he doesn't have brains? What's america without greed and glamour? What's an mc if he doesn't have stamina? What's music fractured without mr. walt? What's trugoy without a phrase called torte? What's kris lighty if he wasn't such a baby? What is a woman if she didn't say maybe? Baby laid down, i removed the frown What would be my penal cord if it wasn't brown? What is a paper without a president? What is a compound without a element? What is a jam if you don't spike the punch? Was it bruce lee if you don't like brunch? Oooh ooh, it's like that you keep goin Freak freak y'all cause you know that we showin What to go what to go what to go what to go what To go what to go what to go what to go what!
Here we go yo, here we go yo So what so what so what's the scenario Here we go yo, here we go yo So what so what so what's the scenario
(Phife Dawg) Aiyyo Bo knows this (what?) and Bo knows that (what?) But Bo don't know jack, cause Bo can't rap Well whaddya know, the Di-Dawg, is first up to bat No batteries included, and no strings attached No holds barred, no time for move fakin Gots to get the loot so I can bring home the bacon Brothers front, they say the Tribe can't flow But we've been known to do the impossible like Broadway Joe so Sleep if you want, my crew will help you get your Z's troop But here's the real scoop I'm all that and then some, short dark and handsome Bust a nut inside your eye, to show you where I come from I'm vexed, fumin, I've had it up to here My days of payin dues are over, acknowledge me as in there (YEAH) Head for the border, go get a taco I'll be wreckin from the jump street, meaning from the get-go Sit back relax and let yourself go Don't sweat what you heard, but act like you know
(Charlie Brown)
Yes yes y'all (yes y'all!) Who got the vibe? It's the Tribe y'all (Tribe y'all!) Real live y'all (live y'all!) Inside outside come around... (who's that??) Browwwwwwwwn Some may, I say, call me Charlie The word is the herb and I'm deep like Bob Marley Layback on the payback, (evolve rotate the gates?) CONTACT! Can I get a hit? (HIT!) Boom bip with a brother named Tip and we're ready to flip East coast stompin, rippin and rompin New York, North Cak-a-laka, and Compton Checka-checka-check it out! The loops for the troops, more bounce to the ounce And wow how now wow how now Brown cow We're ill till the skill gets down For the flex, next, it's the textbook old to the new but the rest are doo-doo From radio, to the video, to Arsenio Tell me! Yo, what's the scenario
(Dinco D) (True blue!) Scooby Doo, whoopie doo Scenario's ready yo, always rates more than four Scores for the snores that's lovin dance floors Now I go for mine, (shades of G sure?) Ship-shape plus Grape Apes to play tapes Papes make grapes great for the waist I'm an L-AH, an E-ADER, simply just a leader Bass in his face means peace see ya later Later? (LATER!) Later alligator Pop blows the weasel and my Earth the inflater So yo the D what the O, incorporated I-N-C into a flow Funk flipped flat back first this foul fight fight fight Laugh yo how's that sound (ohhhhhh!)
(Q-Tip) It's the leader Quest mission and we got the goods here (here!) Never on the left cause my right's my good ear (ear!) I could give a damn about a ill subliminal Stay away from crime cause so ain't no CRIMINAL I love my young nation, groovy sensation No time for hibernation, only elation Don't ever try to test, yo whattup little kid? Yo Mr. Busta Rhymes, tell him what I did
(Busta Rhymes) I heard you rushed and rushed, AND ATTACKED Then baby puked then you had TO SMACK Causin rambunction, throughout the sphere Raise the levels of the boom, inside the ear
(Q-Tip) You know I did it So don't violate or you get violated The hip-hop sound is well agitated Won't ever waste no time on the played out ego So here's Busta Rhymes with the scenario
(Busta Rhymes) Watch, as I combine all the juice from the mind Heel up, reel up, bring it back, come rewind Powerful impact BOOM! from the cannon Not braggin, try to read my mind just imagine Vo-cab-u-lary's necessary When diggin into my library Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Eating ayea toadstool like the one Peter Tosh-a Uh, uh uhh, alone with the track man Uh, pardon me, uhh, as I come back As I did it yo I heard you beg your pardon When I travel to the Sun I roll with the squadron RRRRRROAW RRRRRRROAW like a dungeon dragon Change your little drawers cause your pants are saggin Try to step to this, I will, fits you in a turban And had you smellin right, like some old stale urine Checkady-choco, the chocolate chicken The rear cock diesel, for chicks they were kickin Yo, bustin out before the Busta bust a nut the rhyme the rhythm is in sync (UHH!) the rhymes are on time (TIME!) Rippin up this dance just like a radio Observe the vibe and check out the scenario!!