KRS-One [Rap]

[KRS-One:]
Woooooooooo!
Where my men at? Real dudes
Where you at? Look

[Chorus: KRS-One]
Me is a mon, understand, not a passin trend
Me is a mon, understand, we provide and defend
Me a mon with a plan, my love it never ends
I'm callin - all my men, ALL MY MEN~!

[KRS-One:]
All my men that be holdin down they house and they spouse
Men, y'all know what I'm talkin about
Real men, providin for the kids, no doubt
Holla out, 'gwan shout, you the man of the house
Men! In my opinion if we gonna start winnin
F'real, we gotta respect women
Every mister, hug your sister, it's the
Time to support your woman and not diss her
It's the, teacher, overstand
I'm like a preacher, reachin your upper man
Man, many don't understand
How important it is to have a plan

[Chorus x2]

[KRS-One:]
All my men that be holdin they house down, true workin
All my men that be holdin they spouse down, for certain!
You spread love when you drivin around town, not jerkin
You a healer, you take away what's hurtin
Cause if a man can't do what a man plans to do, his purpose
Then a man makes plans with empty hands, he's worthless
He can't even understand the plan
What the second or the first is
Let me verse this or reverse this statistic
We gotta think futuristic
Strategic, logistical and even mystical
We need a new ritual
I'm tired of jumpin over buildings
And havin to stop to hold adult hands like children
C'mon, you can do it, c'mon
And when they get paid then they quickly run along
This ain't just another song
This is that fruit that reveals the right from the wrong
It won't be long here, before the storm's here
And real men are gonna have to be strong

[Chorus x2]

[KRS-One:]
Be a MON, stand on principle
Just be a MON, let God live in you
Just be a MON, walk in the spiritual
Metaphysical, political, lyrical
Just be a MON! Understand you not a passing trend
And this is the end

[KRS-One:]
Yeah, HUT HUT HUT HUT!
I know we ain't gettin soft, HUT HUT HUT HUT!
I know we ain't gettin soft, listen
FIYAH!

[Chorus: KRS-One]
When you advertise in New York
You best to beware, oh yes
When you advertise in New York, you best to beware
Cause the bling bling, and de sex t'ing
Dem no care, oh no, you best to beware
Oh no, yo you best to beware, oh no noooo

[KRS-One:]
This is how they do it kid, I thought you knew it kid
This is how they set us up listen I can prove it kid
Many don't understand, you see it's all a plan
To keep the black man a child like he's Peter Pan
You'll never see a man, a real black man
Until you see a man with control of his hands
And to control your hands means you control your mind
And to control your mind means you ain't commitin crimes
Man you smarter than that, goin to prison is whack
Even the people in prison know I'm spittin the facts
I'm gettin open, open the class up
Don't smoke crack it'll tear yo' ass up

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
Listen! We got our own problems here in the States
So you know I'm not pointin the finger BUT WAIT
This is somethin y'all got to see
Even the UN knows violence begins with poverty
When you ain't got no money, it's quicker to kill
It's human nature that's way the jails are filled
And the MILITARY? From the time you sign up
To kill your neighbor man it's a SIN already
And SIN meaning Selfish Inconsiderate Needs
Gimme what I want! I don't care who bleeds
These days people ready to steal and rob
All in the name of I'm DOING MY JOB~!
But what about doing your work, what's your purpose?
No human being is worthless
Think about this before you pull the trigger
And you call your sister a bitch and your brother a - WHOA

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
Knowledge Reigns Supreme again, ignorance is weakenin
Truth is what I'm speakin when I'm reachin and teachin my friends
Life is more than just cars and lust
Unity is a must, we need to build trust
Open up your mind to this, raisin up your consciousness
Whether you a pessimist, strategist or optimist
My synopsis is knowledge ain't where college is
Knowledge is for leaders and wisdom is for philosophers
Now I'm hearin London gettin violence like Brooklyn was
Brothers gettin shot just for lookin cause?
I thought we deaded that, we need to be headed back
Yo France, you need to be coverin your brother's back
Bring the lovin back, cause the government don't love you
They into murder, money, and stayin above you
They want you all in prison
So before you kill your sister or brother stop and listen

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
We need unity in the community
KRS, hip-hop is one
Conscious, gangsters, hustlers
Man

[Chorus:]
Hiiiip-Hop; I'm livin for that
Hiiiip-Hop; I'm livin for that
Hiiiip-Hop; I'm doin it for
Hiiiip-Hop

[KRS-One:]
Yo - we went from nuttin to somethin, bein real and not frontin
No one was givin us nuttin so we resorted to gunnin
Growin up and we comin, up the ladder not bummin
Dodgin warrants and summons, from the cops we were runnin
Goin to school not for nuttin they teachin lies and assumptions
And they tell us keep comin, comin to school now for what? When
Comin back to a system that's whack and really not runnin
Oh I'm sorry it's runnin, it's not PROPERLY runnin
It's a conspiracy hear me man it's got to be somethin
I can get guns faster than I can get an english muffin
And the black church ain't sayin nuttin
We on our own cousin, I'm stickin to this

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
I'm livin for this hip-hop, I'm spittin for this hip-hop
I'm givin to this hip-hop, my life is hip-hop
Culture, and y'all know that
Hip-Hop in the media, y'all know it's whack
But just like them dopefiends who keep comin back
Like the mayor of D.C., buyin Joey's crack
No disrespect to either one of them but look at that
Study the metaphors in this rap
We bigger than crack, but we keep buyin it
We bigger than rap, but we keep denyin it
Justice, equality, keep cryin it
But the only way to get it is to start applyin it
Fat Joe that's my bro shows 'nuff respect
Talib, that's my bro, shows 'nuff respect
50 Cent that's my bro he shows 'nuff respect
Common! That's my bro he shows 'nuff respect
Snoop Dogg is my bro showed 'nuff respect
Dead Prez that's my peeps yo 'nuff respect
Cassidy's an MC who shows 'nuff respect
Hip-Hop is one, don't forget
I'm stickin with this

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
I'm livin for that hip-hop culture, shape it like a sculpture
Touch it why don'tcha, touch it why don'tcha
Hip-Hop is yours and mine and that's fine
But hip-hop's culture ain't about just crime
You caught up in the image and, don't know they rhymes
You caught up in they bodies and don't know they minds
So I'm, here to bring the truth in the place
Like don't think Common won't punch you in your face~!
And don't think Talib won't hold the heat
To stop the violence you gotta know your street
You gotta know who Tanga Reed is
Fat Joe's a leader, Busta Rhymes a preacher
KRS-One's a teacher
But through Cassidy my lessons are quicker to reach ya
We one community
I'm talkin about unity, in other words you and me
I'm with this

[Chorus x2]

[Intro:]
And you say New York City!
Duane 'Darock', KRS

[Chorus: female singers]
It's New Yorrrrrrrrrk, and we livin
The whole world, it knows, your name
It's New Yorrrrrrrrrk, and we livin
The whole world, it knows, your name

[over Chorus:]
Lenox Avenue, Park Ave
Long Island I see you baby
Jamaican Ave, Queens
KRS, let's go!

[KRS-One:]
New, York, City, get it right, get it tight, get it hype
New York City's in the house tonight
All day, off and on, Broadway
The world's Big Apple is what they all say
Wait, way back in the day
Dudes from the South migrated this way North
Lookin for the higher pay of course
Led by the forces they became big bosses
Like Rick Ross is, the city that never sleeps
Yup, New York is
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere
What's that?

[Chorus]

[over Chorus:]
Flatbush! Brooklyn (we live this)
BX Bronx, c'mon
Gun Hill Road, Grand Concourse

[KRS-One:]
New, York, City, still part of my heart, still part of my start
As you can see it's still, part of my art
Still part of my lesson plan, listen man~!
N.Y., every year we fresh again
I be doin South Bronx everywhere I go
Everywhere I go, every nation know
I'm a New York dude that's not New York rude
All over the world I eat New York food
Ha, I'm at home anywhere, any place
Right now somebody from New York in this place
Yeah, no matter where I be
I'll always be N-Y-C

[Chorus]

[over Chorus:]
Coney Island! Brighton Beach
Wooo, Red Hook!
I see you Canal Street, Delancey Street
Hester Street, c'mon, New York let's go

[KRS-One:]
New, York, City, metropolitan life, cosmopolitan life
It put the strength inside of my life
But New York City got it's challenges also
Racism, sexism, crime, you all know!
Them guns that keep goin off bustin
And another one bites the dust when
Conflicts arise and dudes start bustin
And cussin, I gotta speak to this
New York is not unique in this
But if we keep sewing this we gonna keep reapin this
I'm teachin this, we gotta overcome our weaknesses
Remember man!

[Chorus]

[over Chorus:]
Big up to the firefighters, rest in peace
World Trades y'know
Brooklyn! The Bronx, Queens
Manhattan! Staten Island! New York love it baby

[Chorus]

[over Chorus:]
South Bronx
South Bronx, big 'em up!
Rest in peace Jam Master Jay, Big Pun
Big L, Randy Parker
You with us for life rest in peace my brother

[Chorus: KRS-One]
Get up! What we slowin down for?
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!
We got a whole nation to restore
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!
We gotta really love each other more
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!
When you see my CD in the store
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!

[KRS-One:]
It's the teacher, class is open G
Let's get open on the concept of votin, we
Begin the discussion by viewin democracy
People power, a people ruled philosophy
Democracy is a system of government
Where the whole population is the sum of it
Where the goverment can't move without it's people
Where before the law everybody's equal
But take a look at the police and how they treat you
Take a look at these corporations that cheat you
Democrats and Republicans are all see-through
Now we votin for the lesser of two evils
Man, don't let 'em deceive you
This is an autocracy, not a democracy
But to call this a democracy without mock interest
In the laws of society, that's called hypocrisy!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
Democracy only happened one time
In European history, now keep this in mind
It was practiced in Athens overseas
In 508 B.C. by Cleisthenes
Citizens would get together on a hillside
And decide how and if they was gonna ride
But in 322 B.C. here's what happened
Alexander of Macedon conquered Athens
And that was the end of democracy
Where the people had a say in their society
Today, we gotta get more knowledge
And learn about the function of the electorial college
It doesn't matter who you vote for today
The electorial college has the last say
But that's another day, here's what I came to say
RIIIIISE UP~!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
In corporate sponsored elections, who's winning?
This the wrong direction from the beginning
Every candidate got scandal, they all sinnin
Tryin to convince you, tellin you what they been in
But the real issues, they get avoided
While our children still gettin exploited
Heh, they call me Blastmaster Kris
Edutainment, that's what my tactic is!
Some criticize Kris, some laugh at Kris
But you can't say Kris is not an activist
Social justice, I got a PASSION for this
Cause equal rights we still ASKIN for this?
So when I do my tours it's not just rappin for Kris
I'm givin you more than gun packin with this
I'm openin doors, you should be askin 'bout this
You listenin to them whores and them capitalists
They game is tight, got you trapped into this
It won't be long before the ring you like have to kiss
That's why I'm a activist
I help people not to get trapped in this
The temptation? You gettin wrapped in this
So get up, stop sittin like a PACIFIST
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, PICK IT UP, PICK IT UP!

[Intro: KRS-One]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
This what we live for!
Let it rock, let it
(Big up to all Brooklyn man, all Bronx man)
(Uptown massive, follow)

[Chorus: KRS-One]
We can all be hear rockin 'til the mor-ning
Boom, bap, and rap is what I bring
We love, the clubs and we rock them
Yes all over the world we shock them
Cause everybody knows this flow
It blows your mind

[KRS-One:]
We used to step inna de club with these murderers
Hustlers, thugs, pimps and burglars
You ain't gettin in the spot if they ain't heard of ya
And if you sneak in the spot they might murder ya
I used to be in them spots just servin the
Raw rhymes flows and yes earnin the
The respect from the streets in a circular
Over the years, an MC I turned into

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
Ladies and gentlemen, the most controversial
MC in hip-hop is about to raise your adrenaline
Settle in and grab a seat, they start meddlin I'm a grab the heat
I already grabbed the streets
KRS, you don't find me on your radio station
You find me chillin on them Indian reservations
I spit like cajun spice
You don't know KRS? Your momma must notta raised you right
Man I blazed your type, done raced your type
Man sit down~! You still on a training bike
I'm the crazy type, you the lazy type
Hey yo, look, I blaze these mics; cause

[Chorus]

[Outro: ad libs from KRS and possibly the producer]

[Intro: sped up vocal sample]
Tonight's a special night
So remember with pride, these 20 happy years

[KRS-One:]
I can't leave my b-boys alone
I can't leave my b-girls alone
Let's turn this house right into a home
C'mon y'all let's get into the zone
Vibrate or mute or cellular phone
In here they might already be on roam
Minds are blown, I'm showin
You ain't gotta go major you can do it alone
As I look back on all the years, all the tears
All my peers, in fear
I hear, insecurity, the need for clout
Low self-esteem and self doubt
KRS lays out a whole different route
And shows you what hip-hop is really all about
Then we on the route, release self doubt
And sing with the feds when the fear is out now
Clear 'em out now, from the bottom to the tip-top
Take the vow, I am hip-hop
And recreate yourself, love don't hate yourself
Do not deny or lie or fake yourself
You can make yourself, reawake yourself
You can mold remodel and reshape yourself
You gotta take yourself more seriously
Create yourself to what you really can be~!
Yo the villain is free, look at me, I do what I do
I am hip-hop and so are you
Yo we almost through, but before we go
I wanna invite y'all all, to every show
Where the b-boys and girls are kept on their toes
Like the Rocksteady Crew tribute with Fat Joe
So now you know, if you got what it takes
No doubt, show 'em what you really all about!

[KRS-One:]
Yo, now that that is out of the way
Let me continue what I came to say
Breakers, writers, emcees and DJ's
Beatboxers too we've come a long way
Come to the Temple of Hip-Hop today
Our hip-hop week is every third week of May
Hip-Hop appreciation we remember
Hip-Hop history, that's in November
Peace, love, unity, that's the agenda
When I'm on the mic that's just what I send ya
We at the end sir, so what's the answer
Hip-Hop can be more than MC's and dancers
It's time to expand your
Awareness, consciousness, enhance your
Living, tell me, what are you playing for
What are you staying for, what are you giving?
I will demand your respect, with two MC's
Two b-boys, two DJ's on set
Two hour shows you bet!
We get authentically hip-hop as hip-hop can get
Independent, free from debt
2005 you ain't seen nuttin yet
Some like it dry, some like it wet
Some like to give, some like to get
Some like a good soundset
You a b-boy and you ain't been out to the Bronx yet?
No, yes, maybe, someday
Whatever, we bring it to you Sunday to Sunday
Workin for peace love unity and fun day
Just a little somethin to balance off gunplay
So now for the break if you got what it takes
No doubt, show 'em what you all about!

[Intro:]
FRESH~! For 2008, you suckers
Yeah! James Desmond, yeah, ha ha ha ha
KRS, keep bringin that

[Chorus: KRS-One]
Heat, the heat, the heat, the heat
The heat, the heat, the heeeeeat!

[KRS-One:]
I'm called when all falls and yes y'all stalls
And cornballs wanna get smoked like Pall Malls
I'm on all fours, all year on tours
Place your bets I'm takin all yours
All wars, topplin all scores
Teachin street laws, the teacher because I bring the

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
I'm called when no one is talkin
The truth about what's goin on and on and
When you wanna put that New York talk in
You cause the KRS-One to start barkin
Toward the mic, grab the mic, start barkin
Outside the club spot cars start parkin for the

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
Yeah, get it bumpin now, get it bumpin now
Turn up that da-dumb-dumb-dumb-BLAOW
I know you know how, we doin it right now
People in the club like WOW~! For that

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
OHH! It's gettin hot, don't stop
We just about to reach the top of hip-hop
That's why I'm called, with that yes yes y'all
At this very moment you feel no stress at all
No, I'm not testin y'all, this a real lyric
If you can hear it I'm blessin y'all, with the

[Chorus]

[KRS-One:]
So we can continue to go down the menu
I send you my poetry that critiques the evil that men do
You better attend to, the AC
When I MC I'm bringin heat lately, now fade me
No ifs ands buts or maybes
I'm not crazy, God made me speak with the

[Chorus]

[Outro:]
That's what I'm talkin about!

Be strong, be strong

[Intro: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You must tell these devils, word, {*HA! HA!*}
You got to tell a devil {*HUH*}, then tell a devil {*HA!*}
Got.. word.. what, {*HA! HA!*}
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, huh huh {*HA!*}
Be strong! {*HA! HA!*} Word
Stand on the rock (.. stand up on the rock ..)

[Verse One: KRS-One]
When the devil got your soul, and you ain't got control
You know you Born Again, but you feel like you old
You put your mind on Christ, or put your mind on Kris
For everlasting life, you must listen to this
Now you could get with this, or you can get with that
I think you'll go with this, yo Christians where you at?
Oh yes it's KRS, with Church of the Harvest
With Clarence {?}, hip-hop's winning evangelist
And then there's Hezekiah, his fire brings the fire
He's takin it higher, tell 'em {THE DEVIL IS A LIAR}
I know, you thinkin bout that Y2K
And I see, this fear that makes you lose your way
But we got, somethin that is bigger than Benz
And we stand, upon the rock that cannot break
Through millineiums, don't you think we been here before?
Through millineiums, God has always opened the door
Word!

[Chorus: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You got to tell the devil {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
Word, word up {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}
Word {*HUH*} {*HA!*}
{*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}

[Interlude]
(.. be strong ..) Be strong (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
Be strong! Word
(.. be strong ..) Be strong (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
Endure! Endure!

[Verse Two: KRS-One]
Yo, if all you got is money and the little things you wear
You worry bout your car note, you worry bout your hair
Then you ain't got no faith, and you must live in fear
Now listen to me people, and listen to me clear
So like I was just sayin, I think it's time for prayin
Don't put your trust in Satan, it's Christ you put your faith in
You minimize your hatin, and stop your hesitatin
It's faith that keeps you movin, so do not be mistaken

[Chorus: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You must to tell the devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} word
You got to tell the devil {*HUH*} UHH tell the devil {*HA!*}
You got to tell the devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} word
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
Word, tell that devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} wo-word
You must tell the devil {*HUH*} uhh {*HA!*} uh-huh, yo
{*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} Yo

[Verse Three: KRS-One]
Now you listen to these lyrics, they speak into your spirit
You shiver when you hear it, but some just cannot bear it
But when you get up near it, there's no need that you fear it
It's KRS O-N-E you know me hip-hop be spirit
So you tell the devil HUH, tell that devil HA
Tell that devil HUH, tell that devil HA
You must tell the devil HUH, tell that devil HA!
Get out of my life, change your life, word

[Outro]
(.. be strong ..) (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
(.. be strong ..) (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
(.. STAND UP ON THE ROCK! ..)

Be strong, be strong

[Intro: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You must tell these devils, word, {*HA! HA!*}
You got to tell a devil {*HUH*}, then tell a devil {*HA!*}
Got.. word.. what, {*HA! HA!*}
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, huh huh {*HA!*}
Be strong! {*HA! HA!*} Word
Stand on the rock (.. stand up on the rock ..)

[Verse One: KRS-One]
When the devil got your soul, and you ain't got control
You know you Born Again, but you feel like you old
You put your mind on Christ, or put your mind on Kris
For everlasting life, you must listen to this
Now you could get with this, or you can get with that
I think you'll go with this, yo Christians where you at?
Oh yes it's KRS, with Church of the Harvest
With Clarence {?}, hip-hop's winning evangelist
And then there's Hezekiah, his fire brings the fire
He's takin it higher, tell 'em {THE DEVIL IS A LIAR}
I know, you thinkin bout that Y2K
And I see, this fear that makes you lose your way
But we got, somethin that is bigger than Benz
And we stand, upon the rock that cannot break
Through millineiums, don't you think we been here before?
Through millineiums, God has always opened the door
Word!

[Chorus: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You got to tell the devil {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
Word, word up {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}
Word {*HUH*} {*HA!*}
{*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}

[Interlude]
(.. be strong ..) Be strong (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
Be strong! Word
(.. be strong ..) Be strong (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
Endure! Endure!

[Verse Two: KRS-One]
Yo, if all you got is money and the little things you wear
You worry bout your car note, you worry bout your hair
Then you ain't got no faith, and you must live in fear
Now listen to me people, and listen to me clear
So like I was just sayin, I think it's time for prayin
Don't put your trust in Satan, it's Christ you put your faith in
You minimize your hatin, and stop your hesitatin
It's faith that keeps you movin, so do not be mistaken

[Chorus: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You must to tell the devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} word
You got to tell the devil {*HUH*} UHH tell the devil {*HA!*}
You got to tell the devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} word
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
Word, tell that devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} wo-word
You must tell the devil {*HUH*} uhh {*HA!*} uh-huh, yo
{*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} Yo

[Verse Three: KRS-One]
Now you listen to these lyrics, they speak into your spirit
You shiver when you hear it, but some just cannot bear it
But when you get up near it, there's no need that you fear it
It's KRS O-N-E you know me hip-hop be spirit
So you tell the devil HUH, tell that devil HA
Tell that devil HUH, tell that devil HA
You must tell the devil HUH, tell that devil HA!
Get out of my life, change your life, word

[Outro]
(.. be strong ..) (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
(.. be strong ..) (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
(.. STAND UP ON THE ROCK! ..)

You cats still worried about chart position
It's the heart that your missin'
It's the art that your missin'
Just a little something to hold y'all over
The Kristal album on the way, word up
When you're number one, everybody come

But when you drop to two, everybody still with you
But when you drop to three, everybody want to see
But when you drop to four, everybody still endures
But when you drop to five, people will help you strive

When you drop to six, you still in every mix
But when you drop to seven, people start guessin'
When you drop to eight, people hesitate
But when you drop to nine, that's when you start to find

That when you drop to ten, you start to lose your friends
When you drop to eleven, your record stop sellin'
When you drop to twelve, it's everyone for themselves
So when you drop to thirteen, you stop working

When you drop to fourteen, no more self esteem
You drop to fifteen, 'cuz you lived and you seen
When you drop to sixteen, you now out the scene
When you drop to seventeen, you see things you never seen

Like when you drop to eighteen, you know what it mean
So drop to nineteen, and on then to twenty
At nineteen, you lose your honey
At twenty, your money to a Playboy bunny

At twenty one, things ain't funny
At twenty two, you don't know what to do
So you hit twenty three, you look for security
So you drop to twenty four, no more can you endure

When you drop to twenty five, at the bottom you've arrived
When you drop to twenty six, you in a old school mix
When you drop to twenty seven, until you start steppin'
When you drop to twenty eight, you start to meditate
When you drop to twenty nine, you expand your mind
When you drop to thirty, you see it was all dirty

No you drop to thirty two, and it occurs to you
When you hit thirty three, now you can see
That it's all about skill and a love for the art
Not whose above or whose below in the chart

You got to look in your heart
It's there where you start
I and hip hop are never ever ever apart
Word

Uh, ha, uh, ha
Another inebriated beat
You know what time it is
Straight for the street
KRS-One, hold tight, look, look

Crack, don't mess with that
Speed, don't mess with that
It's whack don't mess with that
Greed, don't mess with that

Knowledge yeah, mess with that
God yeah, mess with that
College yeah, mess with that
A job yeah, mess with that

Look, look, dealing don't mess with that
Crying, don't mess with that
Stealing, don't mess with that
Lying, don't mess with that

Meditation, mess with that
Forgiveness, mess with that
Education, mess with that
Hip hop we lovin' that

I rhyme for respect y'all, intellect y'all
Not sex y'all, move that neck y'all, correct y'all
Checks y'all, cash y'all, don't last y'all
With cops y'all to blast y'all, harass y'all

Flash y'all as they pass y'all, through the glass y'all
These videos gas y'all cause they trash y'all
I ask y'all this fact y'all
Unaired y'all, these cops y'all they scared y'all

They fear y'all they hear y'all they hate y'all
Less than 40,000 a week, they make y'all
Cops y'all with black feet, livin' from week to week

Walk crooked beats in the streets y'all
They greet y'all with the heat y'all, to defeat y'all
It's deep y'all, hear what I teach y'all and speak y'all

Hate don't mess with that
Trends, don't mess with that
[Unverified] don't mess with that
Revenge, don't mess with that

Truth yeah, mess with that
Skills yeah, mess with that
Proof yeah, mess with that
Build yeah, mess with that

Wars, don't look for that
Freaking, don't look for that
Whores, don't mess with that
Cheating, don't mess with that

G.E.D. mess with that
Science of mind mess with that
Family, mess with that
Hip hop, we lovin' that

Yeah, yo, aiyyo, yo, who seein' us
With an overdose level of free in us
They bring the heat to us
They don't really want the beat in us, take heed to us

While they plottin' and schemin' to be deletin' us
Best believe in us, they not defeatin' us
Them glocks wanna bust
With twenty-one shots to put the leak in us

So they can bloody the street with us
What does it mean to us?
You know what they need from us
Give cream to us, hide the lies and deceit from us

That doesn't equal us
Who's ready to get in the Jeep with us
Form a fleet with us and take back the street with us
Meet with us, drop bombs in the street with us

Never saw it comin', attack on the sneak with us
Thus, they can't compete with us
We flow through your veins like DJ's
When they cut, you'll be bleedin' us

I came with Kris to heat it up
Showin' my body's the temple
Hip hop is the lock
Now put the key in us

Crack, don't mess with that
Speed, don't mess with that
It's whack don't mess with that
Greed, don't mess with that

Knowledge yeah, mess with that
God yeah, mess with that
College yeah, mess with that
A job yeah, mess with that

Look, look, dealing don't mess with that
Crying, don't mess with that
Stealing, don't mess with that
Lying, don't mess with that

Meditation, mess with that
Forgiveness, mess with that
Education, mess with that
Hip hop we lovin' that

Truth y'all, facts y'all, proof y'all, black y'all
Time to check this map y'all, are we goin' back y'all?
Let's make a pact y'all, come together watch your back y'all
Stay in tact y'all, never whack gimme dap y'all

Comin' at y'all, headcrack y'all with the facts y'all
Police y'all, on the attack y'all if ya black y'all
So if this is fact y'all, when we rap y'all
Over the track y'all, why we rap about crack y'all?

That's whack y'all, we trapped y'all
Holdin' the gat y'all just to kill another black y'all
Clak, clak, clak y'all, it's like that y'all
KRS-One yo, let's take it back y'all, listen

Hate don't mess with that
Trends, don't mess with that
[Unverified] don't mess with that
Revenge, don't mess with that

Truth yeah, mess with that
Skills yeah, mess with that
Proof yeah, mess with that
Build yeah, mess with that

Wars, don't look for that
Freaking, don't look for that
Whores, don't mess with that
Cheating, don't mess with that

G.E.D. mess with that
Science of mind mess with that
Family, mess with that
Hip hop, we lovin' that

The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here

Blaow, blaow, blaow, blaow, clear 'em out, clear 'em out, word

Yo, Nelly, you ain't fo' real and you ain't Universal
Your whole style sounds like a N'Sync commercial
Ignoramus, I'm the baddest with the mic apparatus
Challengin' the God of rap is madness, I'll snatch your status
With this ugly lookin' billboard, you could stop them
But I got enough albums to make my own top ten

You limited like the spread of traffic
You bite my style off the radio
So when you speak you bet I hear the static
You better chill out like, Chuck, I kick like three, Norrises
One of my sixteen bar rhymes is eight of your choruses
Of course it is ridiculous, watch out, I begin to curve indispicuous
Gotcha, on your hands and knees
Ain't it about time for some real emcees?

The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here

Uh, we on a hunt tonight
When you see me comin', I don't front, I fight
People say I'm contradictin' cause I'm all about peace
To say the least, with a violent history
It ain't no mystery, these rappers wanna get with me
My people don't see that, all they hear is stop hittin' me, huh
Stop beatin' me, Chris, you want to help my career, Nelly?
Well, you can help if you don't exist, huh

I think it's 'bout time we stop these pop rappers
Fuck these pop rappers, hip hop does matter to me
Does it matter to you? My crew
If it does, you know what the hell to do
Throw your guns in the air, pump it like, yeah
Let these bitch ass rappers know we in here
Go to the shows, huh, boo 'em off stage
Tell 'em KRS told you they at the end of they days

Let me tell you, let's give hip hop a lift
And don't buy Nelly's album on June twenty fifth
That'll send a message back to all 'em sellouts
House nigga rapper, your bottom done fell out
You don't even know how
I told you I wasn't talkin' about you then
But I'm talkin' about you now
Blaow, one to the knees, blaow, one goes right through
Even St. Louis don't like you

The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here

Blaow, blaow, blaow, blaow, clear 'em out, clear 'em out, word

Yo, Nelly, you ain't fo' real and you ain't Universal
Your whole style sounds like a N'Sync commercial
Ignoramus, I'm the baddest with the mic apparatus
Challengin' the God of rap is madness, I'll snatch your status
With this ugly lookin' billboard, you could stop them
But I got enough albums to make my own top ten

You limited like the spread of traffic
You bite my style off the radio
So when you speak you bet I hear the static
You better chill out like, Chuck, I kick like three, Norrises
One of my sixteen bar rhymes is eight of your choruses
Of course it is ridiculous, watch out, I begin to curve indispicuous
Gotcha, on your hands and knees
Ain't it about time for some real emcees?

The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here
The real hip hop is ova here

Uh, we on a hunt tonight
When you see me comin', I don't front, I fight
People say I'm contradictin' cause I'm all about peace
To say the least, with a violent history
It ain't no mystery, these rappers wanna get with me
My people don't see that, all they hear is stop hittin' me, huh
Stop beatin' me, Chris, you want to help my career, Nelly?
Well, you can help if you don't exist, huh

I think it's 'bout time we stop these pop rappers
Fuck these pop rappers, hip hop does matter to me
Does it matter to you? My crew
If it does, you know what the hell to do
Throw your guns in the air, pump it like, yeah
Let these bitch ass rappers know we in here
Go to the shows, huh, boo 'em off stage
Tell 'em KRS told you they at the end of they days

Let me tell you, let's give hip hop a lift
And don't buy Nelly's album on June twenty fifth
That'll send a message back to all 'em sellouts
House nigga rapper, your bottom done fell out
You don't even know how
I told you I wasn't talkin' about you then
But I'm talkin' about you now
Blaow, one to the knees, blaow, one goes right through
Even St. Louis don't like you

{*audience clapping, beat starts*}
We've been having these gatherings for over 12 years
Uhh, my first one, was ah at Latin Quarters in 1987
with Afrika Bambaataa - he threw the first one, that I attended
We kept the tradition going through the Stop the Violence Movement
Through Human Education Against Lies, Rhythm Cultural Institute
And now the Temple of Hip-Hop
This is Hip-Hop's spiritual base
And as a spiritual base, we look to guide the youth in that discipline
Uhh, no culture is a culture, unless it has principles
unless it has morals, unless - we are unified
in some sort of principle, something we are not going to step beyond
Something that defines us
What I'd like to do, is just for a moment as we.. deal with this
Think about your role in Hip-Hop


Think about what you do everyday in Hip-Hop
This is not about right now
It's about twenty years from now
It's about ten years from now
The tapes are rolling, the notes are being taken
This is the type of thinking we have to get into
if this is going to survive and last
So again, Hip-Hop Appreciation Week, is a time of self-reflection
A time for Hip-Hoppers to ask,
"What am I doing, to preserve the culture?" {*echoes*}

Yeah man, yo Marla what's up
Yeah, Inebriated Beats, big up Boston, the whole Boston
Edo.G what's up man? I got you
We gon' bounce this now, can I start? Can I start?
Here we go

I'm the newest and the truest MC on the mic
I wrote over 500 songs, pick what you like
It ain't easy bein me, by day or night
But it's easy bein free to recite what you like
Hip-Hop is my inalienable right
When it comes to emceeing KRS is a whole different type
Now go get it right, did I flow spit it tight
In a fight I was the type to go get a pipe
Bink! bink! bink! bink! Movin 'em back
Bink! That's the sound of an aluminum bat
But it seems they new to these facts
Which means they new to the tracks
Which means they do hold us back
Too new to know all that but still runnin they trap
Do the math, radio gets a 20 record a week stream
But only three are ever seen
What happens to the other 17?

It's a problem, problem
Problem in hip-hop today
We gotta solve it

Too many players and not enough crime
When they finally wake up they woulda ran out of time
They can't see today how they effect tomorrow
Too afraid to follow, cause they trust is hollow
Because according to the laws they'll harp some sorrow
Yo, "Victory Over the Streets" that's our motto

But if people ain't got no vision, that's a problem
Problem in hip-hop today
We gotta solve it

People say, "Kris why you teach so much?
Why you preach so much? Why you speak and such?
Why you so bent on reachin each of us?"
I reply because you eatin with us
In the future our children will be meetin with us
Have a seat then with us and start speakin with us
They'll be critiquin us to be sure they believe in us

We don't need a problem
Problem in hip-hop today
We gotta fix it

We live non-toxic, we teach that hip-hop is
The transformation of all subjects and objects
Retrain your optics, to reinterpret the topics
We gotta stop treatin hip-hop like a product
And more of a strategyI got graphs, charts
Sacred textbooks, these cats can't battle me

But they try, and why? Cause that's a problem
Problem in hip-hop today
We gotta fix that

These cats need history to get with me
But hip-hop's history's a mystery
So how they gonna find out, trial and error
We can make one the example for all to get better
Inform, KRS is not the norm
I go from hot to warm to cold to hot
But hip-hop's history many forgot

And that's a Problem
Problem in hip-hop today
We gotta solve that

Problem problem in hip-hop today
We gotta fix that

Word up! It's just a little somethin to tide you over, word up
The "KRStyle" album comin soon, KRS-One all in the room
We gonna bounce these cats this year, word up
Why they do this? Ha yo, yo

I climb up the back of rappers
Reach over they head, and rap backwards at 'em
Excuse me madam, I used to throw these Uzi's at 'em
But I'm a teacher, skills I truly have 'em
These clubs I duly pack 'em
Potential lawyers engineers and doctors, I do attract 'em
Go to your professors and ask 'em
If the songs of the "Edutainment" in college they didn't blast 'em
Yes I'm that ancient one
I set the framework for today's rappers to make they funds
But no you don't know me son
My facial features matches the Sphinx with it's nose redone
You know how many clubs we done rocked?
You know how many guns we done popped?
You know how many funds we done dropped?
You know how many ones we done got?
We been gettin live since the days of Chubb Rock
We know how to survivethese other cats
Be in at nine o'clock then be out at five, uhh
We doin the overtime, on stage I over-rhyme
Makin these whack rappers tow the line
Steppin to me, I know you blindcause your whole flow
Your show, your style, you know it's all mine
The first time you learned to spit
It was either me, Kane, Rakim or Slick Rick

Welcome to the "KRStyle"
This year I had to switch styles and bust off two miss-lies
And that's not all, rappers have the gall
To pray and pray for my downfall but still in all
I have X amount of lyrics to get 'em all
Live at the club I spit 'em all
Rappers backstage lookin sad and pitiful
Cause they know I'm the pinnacle and they mini-mal
I spit the metaphysical, the spiritual
The oracle, the lyrical, the oratorical
Rookie! I'll mop the floor witcho'
I'm the lyrical foundation to all your flows
All your clothes, all your shows and I'm not alone
You wouldn't even know how to hold the mic or the phone
You couldn't even bite on the bone
While we was rockin mics out in Rome
Now you hyped cause you grown?
You know we internationally known, the people love it
But what they learnin bout is on the whole, look above it
But let us get back to what we call hip-hop
Before you whack rappers went pop

Word we stand out, word
We don't wanna sound like that bullshit

Let 'em all be aware, not at all will I care
You gotta know it's about the flow when you comin in here
Not how long is your hair, but how long were you here
How many dues you paid, crews you slayed, yeah
How many clubs you done rocked, for-real
You ever rocked outside with cats poppin they steel?
You fake like Ma-Ma-Ma-Max Headroom
You go from the bedroom to the studio back to the bedroom
We be on the front line, pavin the way
For you to do what you do, get what you get, say what you say
Flip what you flip, play what you play at the Grammy's
But you don't represent our family, you a thief

All up and down the East coast
Things is about to change
All up and down the West coast, down in the South
Things is about to change
All up top and in North Canada, make some noise
Things is about to change
All my cats in London, Birmingham, Brixton, word
Things is about to change

Join the campaign to rearrange the rap game
Don't look at me like I'm insane, the facts remain plain
You to blame, when you take it in vein
The gains and struggles and pains of those that already came
From the beginning we tried to attain, the money and fame
That's not new to the game, it's still the same
But what seems to change is the loyalty
Rappers degrade hip-hop for a royalty
It's all about me and my click and we ballin G
But we fallin, stallin our callin to be free
You can't see, they're gonna judge our poetry
In two-thousand and twenty-three, where will your money be?
Where will your Benz be? Your friends be?
Your beginnin be? Your end be? Gently
You tell me to my face my style you envy
But behind my back you condemn me, you a thief

All out in Germany, Africa
Things is about to change
Word up, hip-hop, join the nation, movin
Things is about to change
Word up, all them fake-ass whack rappers, word up
Things is about to change
Tell 'em, go to they shows and let 'em know it's like this
Things is about to change

For sure, it's the people that defend me
Yeah you on MTV, but did you know Ted Demme?
What about Fab 5 Freddy, Red Alert?
You not ready ready ready

[Verse 1]
Yeah... KRS-One bout to wreck the joint
I was seen openin up at the edge of Detroit
where the cops go beyond the laws
where enemies work together by putting they shit on pause
So what does it mean, Assault on Precinct 13?
You are bout to see just what the dirt bring
It's working, that force, I have been searching
Like Lawrence Fishburne when it's time to hurt things
Ethan Hawke, man he face all that
I hold the mic like Ja held the baseball bat
I stay ahead, like a baseball cap
The ways of the world, Kris don't chase all that

[Chorus]
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?

[Verse 2]
Well as I walk through the street, my spirit will speak
to those I meet and great from week to week
I am not my handsome beat. I command the speak
As the observer inside the physique
Many rappers try to compete, of course
But they got smashed and trashed in the streets and tossed
Sometimes I think we all just lost
We just flashin and flossin the disasterous cause
We don't even know the one-ness of the only force
Instead of a golden calf, we got a platinum horse
But what did Moses do with the golden calf?
Threw the log at it and it ended in a blast
Master, get on them quick, get on them faster
In the background you frontin, cuz there's nothing but laughter
I tag church like the shirt king
Turn up the track for Assault on Precinct 13

[Chorus]
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?

[Verse 3]
Wow, what an ending. What a conclusion
They thought they was winning, but they really was losin
He though he was sinnin, but he really was provin
that leadership keeps it moving, steady cruising
Guns up, funds up, from sun up to sun up to sun up
Buck buck buck! Yo, duck duck
We run up, two down, one up
Dope MCs see me and get butterflies in they stomach
Others can't speak, they just shut up
KRS on the come up, liftin Big Pun up. Let me sum up
Dope MCs, wack MCs, thin MCs, fat MCs, commercial MCs, they can't all
get done up
Raise the drum up, breath for breath, I'll rip your lung up
On my trophy wall, I'm nailing your tongue up
KRS-One, you know what it means
Turn up the track for Assault on Precinct 13

[Chorus]
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?

[Verse 4]
We gotta start trusting each other right now if we gonna make it
through this night
From Criminal Minded to Spiritual Minded, and even beyond and behind
it, never be afraid to fight
or be the lazy type. Me, I'm the crazy type
I get them clubs so crazy hype
I throw them glasses on that them ladies like
And years later, rock what they babies like
I blaze the light, there me be 8,000,000 ways to die
but there's 16,000,000 ways to fight
So wherever you are... in the crib or your car, in your tank too
KRS-One would like to thank you, right
That's why KRS on the mic
Wishin you peace for the rest of the night
Cuz at the end of the film, you'll see what it mean
Turn up the track for Assault on Precinct 13!

Fresh (fresh)... For 2005... You suucckkkkaaaa!

[Verse 1]
Yeah... KRS-One bout to wreck the joint
I was seen openin up at the edge of Detroit
where the cops go beyond the laws
where enemies work together by putting they shit on pause
So what does it mean, Assault on Precinct 13?
You are bout to see just what the dirt bring
It's working, that force, I have been searching
Like Lawrence Fishburne when it's time to hurt things
Ethan Hawke, man he face all that
I hold the mic like Ja held the baseball bat
I stay ahead, like a baseball cap
The ways of the world, Kris don't chase all that

[Chorus]
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?

[Verse 2]
Well as I walk through the street, my spirit will speak
to those I meet and great from week to week
I am not my handsome beat. I command the speak
As the observer inside the physique
Many rappers try to compete, of course
But they got smashed and trashed in the streets and tossed
Sometimes I think we all just lost
We just flashin and flossin the disasterous cause
We don't even know the one-ness of the only force
Instead of a golden calf, we got a platinum horse
But what did Moses do with the golden calf?
Threw the log at it and it ended in a blast
Master, get on them quick, get on them faster
In the background you frontin, cuz there's nothing but laughter
I tag church like the shirt king
Turn up the track for Assault on Precinct 13

[Chorus]
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?

[Verse 3]
Wow, what an ending. What a conclusion
They thought they was winning, but they really was losin
He though he was sinnin, but he really was provin
that leadership keeps it moving, steady cruising
Guns up, funds up, from sun up to sun up to sun up
Buck buck buck! Yo, duck duck
We run up, two down, one up
Dope MCs see me and get butterflies in they stomach
Others can't speak, they just shut up
KRS on the come up, liftin Big Pun up. Let me sum up
Dope MCs, wack MCs, thin MCs, fat MCs, commercial MCs, they can't all
get done up
Raise the drum up, breath for breath, I'll rip your lung up
On my trophy wall, I'm nailing your tongue up
KRS-One, you know what it means
Turn up the track for Assault on Precinct 13

[Chorus]
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?
We gettin up outta here, that's what's up. That's what's up
Watch me back up the truck
You livin wit a lot of fear. That's what's up, my gats stay up
So crooked cops you backin me up?

[Verse 4]
We gotta start trusting each other right now if we gonna make it
through this night
From Criminal Minded to Spiritual Minded, and even beyond and behind
it, never be afraid to fight
or be the lazy type. Me, I'm the crazy type
I get them clubs so crazy hype
I throw them glasses on that them ladies like
And years later, rock what they babies like
I blaze the light, there me be 8,000,000 ways to die
but there's 16,000,000 ways to fight
So wherever you are... in the crib or your car, in your tank too
KRS-One would like to thank you, right
That's why KRS on the mic
Wishin you peace for the rest of the night
Cuz at the end of the film, you'll see what it mean
Turn up the track for Assault on Precinct 13!

Fresh (fresh)... For 2005... You suucckkkkaaaa!

Here comes the mighty
Yes im a righty
I live in a apartment with my mom
I rap becuz i listen to beats on cd roms
Man i wish i was on the road to fame
Instead they say im lame
But ill try to prove them right
I just think they're lookin for a fight
Forget it
Ill just get my revenge on them rabbits
No im just playing
I just hope i keep praying
I couldnt hear what my mom was saying
All i heard was
Blahbleebblibblob
My brotha has an imaginary friend named
Bob
All he does is talk about gob
Naw ill quit talkin
And ill just keep walkin
Im outy
Before it gets too crowdy

Im out

Intro: KRS-One

Ah yeah, that's whatcha say when you see a devil down
Ah yeah, that's whatcha say when you take the devil's crown
Ah yeah, stay alive all things will change around
Ah yeah, what? Ah yeah!

Verse One: KRS-One

So here I go kickin science in ninety-five
I be illin, parental discretion is advised still
don't call me nigga, this MC goes for his
Call me God, cause that's what the black man is
Roamin through the forest as the hardest lyrical artist
Black women you are not a bitch you're a Goddess
Let it be known, you can lean on KRS-One
Like a wall cause I'm hard, I represent GOD
Wack MC's have only one style: gun buck
But when you say, "Let's buck for revolution"
They shut the fuck up, kid, get with it
Down to start a riot in a minute
You'll hear so many Bowe-Bowe-Bowe, you think I'm Riddick
While other MC's are talkin bout up with hope down with dope
I'll have a devil in my infrared scope, WOY!
That's for calling my father a boy and, KLAK KLAK KLAK!
That's for putting scars on my mother's back, BO!
That's for calling my sister a hoe, and for you
BUCK BUCK BUCK, cause I don't give a motherfuck
Remember the whip, remember the chant, remember about rope and
you black people still thinkin about vot-ing
Every president we ever had lied
You know I'm kinda glad Nixon died!

Chorus

Verse Two: KRS

This is not the first time I came to the planet
But everytime I come, only a few could understand it
I came as Isis, my words they tried to ban it
I came as Moses, they couldn't follow my commandments
I came as Solomon, to a people that was lost
I came as Jesus, but they nailed me to a cross
I came as Harriet Tubman, I put the truth to Sojourner
Other times, I had to come as Nat Turner
They tried to burn me, lynch me and starve me
So I had to come back as Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley
They tried to harm me, I used to be Malcolm X
Now I'm on the planet as the one called KRS
Kickin the metaphysical, spiritual, tryin to like
get wit you, showin you, you are invincible
The Black Panther is the black answer for real
In my spiritual form, I turn into Bobby Seale
On the wheels of steel, my spirit flies away
and enters into Kwame Ture

Chorus

Verse Three: KRS-One

In the streets there is no EQ, no di-do-di-do-di-do
So I grab the air and speak through the code
the devil cannot see through as I unload
into another cerebellum
Then I can tell em, because my vibes go through denim
and leather whatever, however, I'm still rockin
We used to pick cotton, now we pick up cotton when we shoppin
Have you forgotten why we buildin in a cypher
Yo hear me kid, government is building in a pyramid
The son of God is brighter than the son of man
The spirit is, check your dollar bill G, here it is
We got no time for fancy mathematics
Your mental frequency frequently pickin up static
Makin you a naked body, attic and it's democratic
They press auto, and you kill it with an automatic

Chorus

[KRS-One]
Every once in a while
You got to put aside childish things
And get with the teachers and the kings
K-R-S... Truck Turner...
Bring It To The Cypher
Like this, like this y'all

[Verse One: Truck Turner]
I'm at the end of my rope, I'm bout to snap
Cut a nigga throat, put a bullet through his hat
With his head attached
What's the deal new jack? Who dat? Got his chest blew back
Clak! Clak! Bullet through his teeth, nigga true that
You in my way, move that, Truck coming through that
Run up in your spot, come out, raising two gats
Move back, give a nigga room, let me hit this
Way back, since up in the womb, I was with this
Every sentence, we doom with consistence
Be the witness, let me spit this, Kris hit this

[KRS-One]
Yo... if it's all about the hundreds, let's try to get two 50s
Don't stop and switch a temple, let's work and build a city
You see the equation, to this whole situation?
If I'm the God of rap and you battling me, you Satan
And that's why you hating, creating debates
When you know damn well that your title will be taken

[Hook: 2X]
You think you all that son?
BRING IT TO THE CYPHER!
You only got platinum?
BRING IT TO THE CYPHER!
You think you got props son?
BRING IT TO THE CYPHER!
You living Hip Hop son?
BRING IT TO THE CYPHER!

[Verse Two: KRS-One]
Yo... daytime, nighttime, anytime, I got plenty time
To kick many rhymes, big time, all time
Taking it to you over time, so when I'm flowing rhymes
Bright I shine, simply cuz I'm
Lyrically be kicking out the tighter rhyme, till I climb
Bring in the chime, in your mind, you fall behind
Picking up your rhyming skill, I am fulfilled, when I kill at will
Still number one for fun, kill another one
Battle your bugging son
Look I cut your tongue, KRS-One is never done
I am the proper one, this ass-whipping will make you better son
Go and tell your mum I took a bite out of your bum
Anytime you want it, doggone it, yo put me on it
Never running up on it, you never disappointed, get on it
I simply jam, not that I give a damn
Let me tell you who I am, just ask your buddy
Put your cash on Kris, I bet you double up your money
You can call me Chris Rock, ain't nothing funny

[Truck Turner]
Nigga what, let me change my style up, in a rough
Nigga duck, dropped your face, pick it up, shook 'em up
Automatic fire ? Brrrrrrrruh! Brrrrrrrruh!
All up in the party, clip it out, give it up

[KRS-One]
Where's the money for this single, get it out, give it up
Blastmaster's coming through Truck, what

[Hook: 2X]

[Verse Three: Truck Turner]
That night I let the fo'-fo' bark, spark right off the dark
Body parts chalked, where we live, how we get down
Come up on my block making noise, keep the shit down
I cripple you, pull up a wheelchair, permanent sit-down
Perfect fit now, now clown, who the shit now?
Fo'-fo' aimed at your dome, bout to spit rounds
Me and you, getting it on? Don't even go there
Once I bring it to you, you won't be save nowhere
Oh yeah, your mom's funeral don't even show there
It'll be a double burial dukes, when the smoke clears
Love you like a brother, but I'll kill you if you rally
Stay on my good side, my bad side, I annihilate
Don't hold me back, get off me, told these kats never cross me
But they crossed the line, I gotta show 'em
My fo'-fo' snub is what I owe 'em, Kris you know him? (Nah)
Ice pick, adequate style, I'm bout to blow him
Dudes get trifle, catch the barrel of the rifle
Fuck you, until more niggaz looking just like you
Don't toot, when you hear me squeeze off the cycles
I squeeze you load (I squeeze you reload)
I squeeze you reload till this whole shit can roll
Where I'm from, that's the code, BDP got your shit sold
Like bad heads that fold at war, anything goes
Made us, broke the mold, another Bronx episode nigga what

[Hook: 2X]

Truck... Turner... express, ya don't stop
K... R... S......
Truck... Turner... express, c'mon y'all
K... R... S......

[Chorus: sample from a live performance of "The Bridge is Over"]
Here's another example of the KRS-One (BO!)
Here's another example of the KRS-One (BO!)
They wish to battle BDP but they cannot
They must be on the jock of WHO? (DJ Scott LaRock!)

[KRS-One]
Yeah, one-two, what? What?
Grab any tape that you think is hard
Put it in your tape deck and press record
Get this - what's a real hip-hop emcee?
Is it MTV? Is it BET?
Is it five M-I-C's so the people can see?
I mean, how you think you free when you act like property?
Tell me, how can you judge an MC when he's rockin
I mean, rockin it live, not pickin his cotton
I mean, adjustin his clothes I mean, how do you know
before you come to the show, and you're not gettin cheated
That you're not gettin heated, that you ain't come to the club
thinkin, "Uh-uh - I must have been weeded!"
You got to be a educated consumer
Spend your money on MC's cause these rappers'll do ya
All they want is your cash, ass, glass, gas and a flick
When you ask for that autograph, they ass dash quick
Beware of the rapper, he talks like it don't matter
He pulls his gat while we BUST OFF the gatler
He's more of an actor, someone, into theater
Not an upright MC with styles who speaks clearer!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
MC's have no time for the bar
Unless we politickin a tape to some drunk A&R
We grab the mic and say who we are, KRS
And start takin it to the chest of the best
This is not a test or a demo
This is when you let go of the limo, like many can't do
They may wanna amp you and chant new, record sellin
But movin the crowd is somethin that they can't do!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
C'mon!
You got to be mistaken, I am not your boy
You fake what you creatin, playin wit'cha toys
G'wan with all that bullshit bout you bringin noise
Time for somethin more than PO-PO-POI-POI
All of hip-hop ain't seventeen
Some of us still go back to "Microphone Fiend"
Back when it was just MC's and DJ's
No video that come on and just replay

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
Uhhh... uh-huh, uh-huh uh-huh
We can never stop, forever we rock, take a listen
The t'cha is back, cause rap's whack when I'm missin
Me, I would never want the future to believe
that when they trust to look back on us there was no dope MC's
There was, all these rappers grabbin more and more money
And now that I'm A&R they look more and more funny
They rap for platinum plaques without buildin
a cultural strategy worthy of our children!

Knowledge, where the people at?
Free Mumia!
Channel Live! (KRS-One, come and represent)
(The wisdom)
Hah hah hah hah hah hahaha!
Free Mumia!

Everywhere I look there's another house negro
Talkin about they people and how they should be equal
They talkin but the conversation ain't goin nowhere
You can't diss hip-hop, so don't you even go there
C. Delores Tucker, you want to quote the scripture
Everytime you hear nigga, listen up sista

Verse One: Hakim, KRS, Tuffy

I met up with this girl named Delores, a prankster
I said I MC, she said, "You're a gangster"
But she was caught up, she hit the floor like a breakdance
Wrapped her up like the arms in a be

[unknown singer]
When the mooooon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter, aliiiiigns with Mars
And Pete, will guide the planet
And love will steal the stars
Right now we're living in the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquariussssssssssss
Aquariusssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
(Aquariusssssssssssss)

[KRS-One]
Yeah, ah, yeah, ah
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more need for superstition
All your living dreams are visions
Mystic crystal revelations
And the mind's true li-ber-aaa-tion

[unknown singer]
Aquariusssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
(Aquariusssssssssssss)

Of course, we have just accepted all applications and tuition will be paid on
Friday....


You you can't can't be be ripping the mic the mic
like do re me me measels are contagious like my lyrical pages
ripping and flipping the mic
from back in the back in the days the days its kinda hectic hectic
when these suckas don't respect it, check it. Flame on.
I know the light is bright but keep on watching me
I'm stolen property, kicking the flavor to society.
Police be clocking me, but logically they got to be
cause they were taught that serious poetry would come from Socrates.
But that ain't it, in 94 I'll kick the hit
and if I was in front of Shakespear, battle a punk and take his shit.
I'm not having it,
bust a narrative and come to get with it.
Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live.
The difference is kids nowadays, they got the videos.
Rappers don't need skills to build so they don't really know.
Hear me yo, I'm four times on Arsenio,
got ten videos, but does that help me flow? No.
That's why when I come to the show MC's act like they don't know
cause they were too young to rock up in the disco
Frisco disco the disc is like a Nabisco
chocolate chip cookie, don't fuck with me rookie.
I'm rocking beats and
with death defying feats and
I'm never sneaking
always peeping when I'm speaking
inside I'm keeping a statement for police and
I'm down for peace and but not turn the other cheek and
so this DJ, he gets down
mixing records while they go
round and round round we go
two years ago a friend of mine
and Flash is gonna rock your mind
welcome to the Terrordome, the Terrordome
I wonder if I take you home
E-F-F-E-C-T a cool operator operating correctly
but back in the day I knew rap would never die
too late baby bwai
bai in a body boy head head
head insane in the membrane
take the train, take the train
M-E-T-H-O-D Man
'Hattan keeps on making it
Brooklyn keeps on taking it
We keep coming back with more and more hits
party people, I came through the door, I said it before
Two years ago, super hoe
If my train goes off the track,
pick it up, pick it up, pick it up back back
back to the grill again, the grill again
friends
how many MC's must get dissed?
Before somebody says don't fuck with Chris
Hey! Ho! Keep on moving don't stop no
body beats the Biz
Let's do the dance called the Pee Wee Herman
Hey, Erick Sermon, Hey
you you get off my cloud,
go down baby, go down baby, the gods must be crazy
you ain't fresh, you ain't fresh
Yeah!

(I remember..) Big Daddy Kane
(You've forgotten..) Salt-N-Pepa
(To remember..) Outrageous clothes
(I wonder why..) Uhh, oh
(I remember..) Heavy D
(You've forgotten..) Kool Moe Dee
(To remember..) Dope videos
(I wonder why..)

[KRS-One]
Remember the day, 'member the play, 'member the way we used to say
"Dee-dee-dee-da-di-dee-dee-dee-dee-da-di-dayyyyy"
Remember the jams, 'member the plans
'member the plans you made with your man
Maybe you can or maybe you can not
Remember the architects of hip-hop
It's really hard to forget about Tupac
Respect is what the Crash Crew got
Better we ask you not, to recite the history of Hip-Hop on the block
You could forget about Grandmaster Flash if you try
You know not, the t'cha returns, have you forgotten?
I speak not to idle concerns, I keep it rockin
But you have forgotten I'm the holder of a boulder
Money-folder, we will be here forever, I TOLD YA!
To remind ya, just when them chrome rims blind ya
That them rims come from the expression of what's inside ya
My lyrics guide ya, and they fly too
Why don't you try to find who you rhyme through?
I think it's time to untie you

(I remember..) MC Lyte
(You've forgotten..) Stetsasonic
(To remember..) Fancy bars
(I wonder why..) Oh, oh
(I remember..) Brand Nubian
(You've forgotten..) Nice & Smooth
(To remember..) Those candy cars
(I wonder why..)

[KRS-One]
Some like it slow, some like it off beat
Some like smooth jazz I like it all street
We come in all shades, like coke we always
thinkin of more ways to leave them all dazed
All hazed, all crazed and all amazed
My last name should have been Letterman like Dave
But I wasn't his slave, I'm referrin to the way
that my lyrics behave, when I rock raves
Let off shockwaves baby it's crazy not too much can stop me
I walk right in, these other cats be knock-kneed
Terrified, they still actin all cocky
When the storm hits they be screamin "MAMI! PAPI!"
"AUNTIE! SOMEBODY!" I'm from the orthodoxy
It takes more to rock me, like in "Attack of the Clones"
these rappers be carbon copies, and they hardly got the
flow, rhyme style sloppy and old
What's up with "The Show"?

(I remember..) Public Enemy
(You've forgotten..) Dana Dane
(To remember..) Outrageous clothes
(I wonder why..) Yo, oh, oh
(I remember..) Doug E. Fresh
(You've forgotten..) Das EFX
(To remember..) Videos
(I wonder why..)

(I remember..) W-H-B-I
(You've forgotten..) K-Day!
(To remember..) Outrageous clothes
(I wonder why..) Oh, oh
(I remember..) Red Alert
(You've forgotten..) Fab 5 Freddy
(To remember..) Videos
(I wonder why..)

[KRS-One]
Yo, oh, ah, yes, do it
Do it, ah, Mad Lion on the hookup
J Rock on the hookup
Oh, we do it just like that, just like that

Be strong, be strong

[Intro: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You must tell these devils, word, {*HA! HA!*}
You got to tell a devil {*HUH*}, then tell a devil {*HA!*}
Got.. word.. what, {*HA! HA!*}
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, huh huh {*HA!*}
Be strong! {*HA! HA!*} Word
Stand on the rock (.. stand up on the rock ..)

[Verse One: KRS-One]
When the devil got your soul, and you ain't got control
You know you Born Again, but you feel like you old
You put your mind on Christ, or put your mind on Kris
For everlasting life, you must listen to this
Now you could get with this, or you can get with that
I think you'll go with this, yo Christians where you at?
Oh yes it's KRS, with Church of the Harvest
With Clarence {?}, hip-hop's winning evangelist
And then there's Hezekiah, his fire brings the fire
He's takin it higher, tell 'em {THE DEVIL IS A LIAR}
I know, you thinkin bout that Y2K
And I see, this fear that makes you lose your way
But we got, somethin that is bigger than Benz
And we stand, upon the rock that cannot break
Through millineiums, don't you think we been here before?
Through millineiums, God has always opened the door
Word!

[Chorus: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You got to tell the devil {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
Word, word up {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}
Word {*HUH*} {*HA!*}
{*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*}

[Interlude]
(.. be strong ..) Be strong (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
Be strong! Word
(.. be strong ..) Be strong (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
Endure! Endure!

[Verse Two: KRS-One]
Yo, if all you got is money and the little things you wear
You worry bout your car note, you worry bout your hair
Then you ain't got no faith, and you must live in fear
Now listen to me people, and listen to me clear
So like I was just sayin, I think it's time for prayin
Don't put your trust in Satan, it's Christ you put your faith in
You minimize your hatin, and stop your hesitatin
It's faith that keeps you movin, so do not be mistaken

[Chorus: KRS-One]
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
You must to tell the devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} word
You got to tell the devil {*HUH*} UHH tell the devil {*HA!*}
You got to tell the devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} word
You must tell the devil {*HUH*}, you must tell the devil {*HA!*}
Word, tell that devil, word {*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} wo-word
You must tell the devil {*HUH*} uhh {*HA!*} uh-huh, yo
{*Ahhhhhhhhhh HA! HA!*} Yo

[Verse Three: KRS-One]
Now you listen to these lyrics, they speak into your spirit
You shiver when you hear it, but some just cannot bear it
But when you get up near it, there's no need that you fear it
It's KRS O-N-E you know me hip-hop be spirit
So you tell the devil HUH, tell that devil HA
Tell that devil HUH, tell that devil HA
You must tell the devil HUH, tell that devil HA!
Get out of my life, change your life, word

[Outro]
(.. be strong ..) (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
(.. be strong ..) (.. be stronnnnnnnng ..)
(.. STAND UP ON THE ROCK! ..)

Well my ladies and gentlemen

This is a rapsession and my name is "KRS-One!"


And when I talk about "Hip-Hop Music!", I know


[Kris]


One: Breaking or breakdancing

Rally b-boying, freestyle or streetdancin'

Two: MC'ing or rap
Divine speech what I'm doing right now no act
Three: Grafitti art or burning bombin'


Taggin', writin', now you're learning! uh!

Four : DJ'ing, we ain't playing!

{*scratch* You know what I'm saying!

Five : Beatboxing

Give me a {*beatboxin* Yes and we rockin'!
Six: Street fashion, lookin' fly


Catchin' the eye while them cats walk on by

Seven: Street language, our verbal communication

Our codes throughout the nation

Eight: Street knowledge, common sense

The wisdom of the elders from way back whence


Nine : Street entrepreneur realism
No job, just get up call 'em and get 'em



Here's how I'm tellin' it, all 9 Elements

We stand in love, no we're never failing it

Intelligent? No doubt

Hip-Hop? We're not selling it out, we're just lettin' it out

If you're checkin' us out this hour, we teatchin' hip-hop

Holy integrated people have it, I'm the present power!


[Chorus]


Rap is something you do!

3x Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*

Rap is something you do!


Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*


[Kris]

Skaters, BMX-bike riders rock



Don't you ever stop! You are hip-hop

You doing the same things we did on our block in the suburbs

You know you be packing that black block

Selling that crackrock and ecstacy

Gettin' pissydrunk, fallin' out next to me

But like I told those in the ghettoes

Here's the facts! True hip-hop is so much more than that


Hip-hop is all about victory over the streets
Some much more than rap, so much more than beats

What you see on TV is a lie

That's not something you wanna live or pattern your life by

But, huh that's too much preachin' ain't it?


You don't want the ?education?, you wanna be dead on the pavement
Well, so be it, some of ya'll ain't gonna see it

Others wanna enslave your mind! Kris wanna free it!



[Chorus]
Rap is something you do!


5x Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*



"Oh yea" *scratched* --- From "P is dead"



"I have spent my whole life livin'", "talk to the fullest", "no doubt"



[Kris]

You know that's why these rappers can't hang

Cause the essence of hip-hop is not a material thang


They so careless, hip-hop is in a {? we give
Rap we do, hip-hop we live

How many times I gotta say it? How the radio ain't gonna play it

And you hip-hoppers sit back and okay it

Think about it! (think about it)

The present course of action, we have got to reroute it!



[Chorus: repeat 3X]

Hip-Hop is something you live!

[KRS]
You know it's Kris!

[Chorus]
It ain't the same now (it ain't the same)
They switched the game now (they switched up on us)
They talk 'bout chains now (bling bling)
Rims on the Range now
It's sounding plain now
Y'all rock the same style (sound of the mic)
I know the way how (I know)
Bring it back to one
It's supposed to be...

[KRS]
This is the way it's supposed to be
It's supposed to be like you more close to me
It's supposed to be about our families
It's supposed to be about avoiding catastrophe
But it's all about salary and flattery
Distrust, lust, hate and tragedy
It's supposed to be about you and me on the same route
Were you there in eighty-six when I first came out?
And you know about how they runnin' this game out
It's supposed to be about fun and getting' the pain out
But it's all about clout and poppin' them chains out
Instead of forgiveness, we poppin' they brains out
It's supposed to be about seekin' in the seek out
You witnessin' injustice, you got to speak out
If you claimin' you love this, you got to release doubt
Knowledge is what I'm all about

[Chorus]

[KRS]
Well it's supposed to be sunlight over me
Light over you, not you runnin' over me
It's supposed to be a two dollar royalty minimum
A Hiphop guild�we got to begin buildin' 'em
It's supposed to be NO police brutality
And the fact that we tolerate that crap is insanity
It's supposed to be museums and archives
Where people can see the importance of OUR lives
But it ain't about any of this
Cats are trying to get that diamond-studded Rolex on they wrist
You hear a voice in the wilderness�you know it's Kris
Higher consciousness lyrics, they will persist
But it's supposed to be about makin' it better
You see, Hiphop's not a product like pants or sweater
Go ahead�be a hero, get your cheddar
Even y'all gonna see when you look back you remember that

[Chorus]

[KRS]
You can see in your heart how it's supposed to be
You doin' your part, THAT'S how it's supposed to be
Pursuin' your art, THAT'S how it's supposed to be
Today you will start, THAT'S how it's supposed to be
It shouldn't be about you movin' slowly
Then talkin' junk when you don't even know me
And you cats be pussy like Josie
I +Touch+ "50 MC's" like +Tony+
Everybody in the hood ain't your homie
I spit the truth, but I'm not the only
There's plenty
K-R-S-O-N-E

[Chorus]

[Chorus]
I've got the illest live show (Now what you sayin?)
I drop the illest rhyme flow (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to act like you don't know
Well, that's alright with me
People sample me like James Brown (Now what you sayin?)
When they want to hear that sound (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to put me down
Well, that's alright with me

[Verse One]
The Kristyles is officially on blast
Don't worry about what he say, cuz he wont last
If you want to learn the way take a seat in this class
I write albums like singles and release them so fast
I get around the whole country on foot like Flash
I don't fly across country I be there with the mass
Drivin, drivin, pulling up to your hood spot
You sayin to your son, "now this how radio should rock."
I pray for these radio cats cuz they don't know
how fast I be movin when they be movin slow
This ain't no fast food rap dude, get it and go
This that home cooked type meal, lyrical flow
Spiritual grow, ya know cuz ya was there, fo sho
Like Joey Greck I'm not the average Joe
(Yo, welcome cats to the BDP show
with KRS, Kenny Barker, G Simone, and Chalk-o)

[Chorus]
I've got the illest live show (Now what you sayin?)
I drop the illest rhyme flow (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to act like you don't know
Well, that's alright with me
People sample me like James Brown (Now what you sayin?)
When they want to hear that sound (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to put me down
Well, that's alright with me

[Verse Two]
I spit when I speak, when I speak I spit
When I spit what I spat it splits ya clique
Spit, spat, speak, spoke, either way
I spat that your rap's not dope any way
When you spoke I spit that splattered your scope
I split that and spit that unanimous quote
No hope when I battle I'm staggering folk
They slip-sliding away there rappers ain't dope
Get my coat, I make sure you can see shells
For sure you gon' see them cuz all you see is sales
Forget it you ain't wit it, admit it
Every thing you did I already did it

[Chorus]
I've got the illest live show (Now what you sayin?)
I drop the illest rhyme flow (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to act like you don't know
Well, that's alright with me
People sample me like James Brown (Now what you sayin?)
When they want to hear that sound (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to put me down
Well, that's alright with me

[Verse Three]
Too many emcees not enough time
nine out of ten niggaz say they wanna rhyme
Four out of nine talk about drugs and crime
Three out of four say they wit it but they not
Two out of five spit fire plus the underground
One out of three spit righteous but they never shine
One out of two claim they ballin all the time
And only one make it to prime
Do that math, only one Biggie, one Pac, one Jay-Z
one Nas, one Fifty, one X, one Slim Shady
One KRS-One, one L, one K, one Busta, one Pun, one Love, only one me
Take that TNT, that spit is my property
You copy me, fuck you, pay me (nigga)

[Chorus]
I've got the illest live show (Now what you sayin?)
I drop the illest rhyme flow (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to act like you don't know
Well, that's alright with me
People sample me like James Brown (Now what you sayin?)
When they want to hear that sound (Now what you sayin?)
But you still want to put me down
Well, that's alright with me

[KRS-One]
Turn it up now, it's yo' time (ha!)


Thanks for yo' nickel and yo' dime (ha!)

The Kris-Style will blow yo' mind (ha!)

Let's get it started, RIGHT ON TIME (ha!)

The elements, I represent all nine (ha!)

I do the written or the freeflow rhyme (ha!)

These rappers nowadays they be so blind (ha!)

You lookin for the skill but you won't find (ha!)

Real live skills I show mine (ha!)

Whack rappers I'll pay them no mind (ha!)

Improvement, they showin no sign (ha!)

DJ's, I hang with the dope kind (ha!)


All you cats, know meeeee (ha!)
I'm not ashamed of who I beeee (ha!)
I teach about G.O.Deeeee (ha!)


It's YOU that's frontin, not meeee (ha!)

I keeps it bumpin in the C-L-U-B

Eleven albums, what are you tellin me?

I am B-L-E-S-S-E-D


I don't need radio +OR+ TV
You are C-U-R-S-E-D

All I wanna do is recite my poetry



You hear somebody preachin, YEAH you know it's me

You hear the t'cha speakin and yo, you gotta see

"Criminal Minded," do you got it?




[switching to a live performance]
(Throw your hands up!) "Criminal Minded," do you got it?
"By All Means Necessary" (uh)



"By All Means Necessary" (uh)

"Ghetto Music," do you got it? (uh)
"Ghetto Music," do you got it? (uh)

"Edutainment," do you got it? (uh)


"Edutainment," do you got it? (uh)

"Sex and Violence" - ooh they got it!
"Sex and Violence," do you got it? (uh)

("I Got Next" - do you got it?)

("I Got Next" - do you got it?)

("The Sneak Attack" - do you got it?)
("The Sneak Attack" - do you got it?)


"Spiritual Minded," do you got it? (huh?)


"Spiritual Minded," do YOU got it?!
(Alright, check it out..)

[KRS-One]
Uh-huh! Y'all forgot about this shit right? Haha
Haha, TURN THE RADIO OFF!!
Word! Yeah, whattup Choco? Haha
Yo turn it around for me one time
Uhh, uhh, yo

[Verse One]
I don't despise thugs, I +ADVISE+ thugs
I teach y'all thugs, cause that's what I was
Yeah I say was cause today I'm above
All the guns, illegal funds, the crews and the drugs
ANY HOOD I walk in, they show me love
They say 'Knowledge Reigns Supreme, WHATTUP CUZ?'
Cops wanna get sit down and get all bud
They wanna think as they drink drink down to the suds
I respect it, but I don't get down with the fuzz
I don't drink with DT's I don't hang with the judge
But truth be truth and I got the proof
Most ministers were straight thugged out in they youth
See if you're over 25 and you never got live
when it was time to ride, you ain't got no heart
But if you're over 26 and you're still in the mix
and your life you ain't fixed, you ain't doin your part
You see them cats on TV, playin the role?
Gassin y'all, them cats be over thirty years old!
Actin all dirty and cold
NONE OF MY CLASSIC ALBUMS they was worthy to hold
I'm concerned with the soul, overstand?
When we was slappin up rappers they was doin the running man
You don't know my style, we be straight gunnin man
If you don't know you better ask your older brother man
Shit gets realer than, Real TV
From eighty-six, ain't no rapper realer than me
Or Just-Ice, I.C.U. or Steady B
What y'all waitin to see? Somethin faker than me?
Don't let me have to pull out the Jamaican in me
I'd rather pull out the asalaam alaikum in me
Wa-alaikum salaam, yo you wan' tess de Don?
BLAOW BLAOW BLAOW-BLOAW-BLAOW, bwoy gone!

[Chorus]
They don't really wanna learn - well start gunnin 'em down!
Yo they really ain't concerned - well start gunnin 'em down!
They don't wanna get the book - well start gunnin 'em down!
They don't want a conscious hook - well start gunnin 'em down!
They don't wanna pay dues - well start gunnin 'em down!
They be actin brand new - well start gunnin 'em down!
They don't wanna get the light - well start gunnin 'em down!
Yo, pass me the mic - we'll start gunnin 'em down!

[Verse Two]
Watch dis! Your crew is my crew and my crew is my crew
Your crew you lied to, my crew will find you
The light I recite will blind and outshine you
Street cats be wonderin why they even signed you
Where they find you? WHO is the first cat to rap
"wa-da-da-ding" and show you what the nine do?
You ain't never seen me behave with them firearms
Maybe not, cause you just a slave to Viacom
Me, I'm a free MC hip-hopper
I teach real gangsters, hang with real Godsters
I am to hip-hop what Selassie is to rastas
Watch your mouth before someone I don't know pops ya
Lemme stop, don't-a-stop the street rhetorhic, ha
Your soul you sellin it ha, come wit some better shit, ha
In five years your whole catalogue's irrelevant ha
You spit the ignorance while I spit intelligence
You got it backwards like sayin hop-hip
That's why when you battled your whole crew got ripped!

{*needle drags across record*} You wanna battle?

[Chorus]

[KRS]
Yo, my man, how bad do you want it?
You know how many cats I threw the pitch, and they never caught it?
I told them to bring they lyric, but they never brought it
Scared to get ripped off, cheated, deleted, rejected and shorted?
Yo, how bad do you want it?
FearoI ain't got no time for it
If you want it, yo there's the trackoput your rhyme on it!

[Peedo]
This hunger inside of me's unexplainable, Kris
The struggle we put in this box will be put into disc
Birth and ever, these family problems is hurtin'
Both of my sisters is pregnant, fuckin' feel like murkin'
All I have is my word and my balls
And my fam and my music speaks for them all
It's the Dominican animal ready to damage, you puttin'
Pressure to rappers that think they can challenge you, Kris (uh huh)
We been through it all, the grimiest days, this earth ain't
Ready for my brain, comin' to face (word)
Everyone plus everyone
Do you hear me, KRS-One?

[KRS]
Well listen
You grimy and hungry?
But how long you gonn' trust me?
You really down for this cause or just chasin' the money?
I be up in them spots to be hot, so dusty and ugly
Nothin' be funny, it's all dark, nothin' sunny
Can you walk with me? Talk with me? Pop the cork with me?
When we in other cities, will you rep New York with me? (yeah!)
I need respect and honor
Discipline and no drama
How bad you want it, poppa? (with all my?)

[Peedo]
Loyalty is the key to it all (remember)
Get used to my face, we the winners of all
By mi gente, yo I go low to say-ah
Real like them Washington Heights
Niggaz there (say yeah!)

[KRS]
After you rap, will you stab my back? (never)
You gimme a track, will you take that back? (never)
I give the word, yo you bustin' your Gatt? (whatever)
Respect from your crew? They livin' like that? (they better)
This is no game! Why should I make you popular?
You know I'm the philosopha
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
If you see it, you can believe it, perceive it, retrieve it and flaunt it
How bad do you want, doggone it, there's the track, if you want it
You got to put your rhyme on it!

[Peedo]
How bad do I want it? I'm ready to die like Big
A serious man with blood in my eyes for this
Success doesn't come overnight
It's gonna be dark a while until I see light (that's right!)
What is it?

[KRS]
This is no game, why should I do it?
KRS-One, me and Peedo runnin' through it
I saw you down the street in FedEx
You said you had the beats was comin', like "I Got Next"
So we went upstairs, my man Choco hooked it up
This is KRS-Oneoturn my voice up! Whao (wha-,wha-)
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you see it?
How bad do you hear it?
How bad do you BELIEVE you can be it?
If you doubt, then you're out
If you believe, you can achieve
I got the city on lock, but I'm gonna hand you the Keys like Alicia
You know my style, you know I'm the teacha
Philosopha, minister, emcee, Hiphop's spiritual leader
With the heater
You comin' with me? You runnin' with me?
In the spirit Scott LaRock, JMJ and Pun is with me
Yo, cats be steppin' to me ALL the time
With the rawest rhyme
But two weeks later, they fall to crime
If you listenin' to this song, and you want to be put on
You must be loyal to the cats that made you strong
It could be your friend, your father, you sister, your mother, your brother
or some other
Just remember the days when YOU was under!
Before the Hummer, before the Benz
Before the hundreds, before the fifties, the twenties and tens
When you was thirsty, remember the living water, and who poured it
Now ask yourself, how bad do you want it?

[KRS]
Yo, my man, how bad do you want it?
You know how many cats I threw the pitch, and they never caught it?
I told them to bring they lyric, but they never brought it
Scared to get ripped off, cheated, deleted, rejected and shorted?
Yo, how bad do you want it?
FearoI ain't got no time for it
If you want it, yo there's the trackoput your rhyme on it!

[Peedo]
This hunger inside of me's unexplainable, Kris
The struggle we put in this box will be put into disc
Birth and ever, these family problems is hurtin'
Both of my sisters is pregnant, fuckin' feel like murkin'
All I have is my word and my balls
And my fam and my music speaks for them all
It's the Dominican animal ready to damage, you puttin'
Pressure to rappers that think they can challenge you, Kris (uh huh)
We been through it all, the grimiest days, this earth ain't
Ready for my brain, comin' to face (word)
Everyone plus everyone
Do you hear me, KRS-One?

[KRS]
Well listen
You grimy and hungry?
But how long you gonn' trust me?
You really down for this cause or just chasin' the money?
I be up in them spots to be hot, so dusty and ugly
Nothin' be funny, it's all dark, nothin' sunny
Can you walk with me? Talk with me? Pop the cork with me?
When we in other cities, will you rep New York with me? (yeah!)
I need respect and honor
Discipline and no drama
How bad you want it, poppa? (with all my?)

[Peedo]
Loyalty is the key to it all (remember)
Get used to my face, we the winners of all
By mi gente, yo I go low to say-ah
Real like them Washington Heights
Niggaz there (say yeah!)

[KRS]
After you rap, will you stab my back? (never)
You gimme a track, will you take that back? (never)
I give the word, yo you bustin' your Gatt? (whatever)
Respect from your crew? They livin' like that? (they better)
This is no game! Why should I make you popular?
You know I'm the philosopha
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
If you see it, you can believe it, perceive it, retrieve it and flaunt it
How bad do you want, doggone it, there's the track, if you want it
You got to put your rhyme on it!

[Peedo]
How bad do I want it? I'm ready to die like Big
A serious man with blood in my eyes for this
Success doesn't come overnight
It's gonna be dark a while until I see light (that's right!)
What is it?

[KRS]
This is no game, why should I do it?
KRS-One, me and Peedo runnin' through it
I saw you down the street in FedEx
You said you had the beats was comin', like "I Got Next"
So we went upstairs, my man Choco hooked it up
This is KRS-Oneoturn my voice up! Whao (wha-,wha-)
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you see it?
How bad do you hear it?
How bad do you BELIEVE you can be it?
If you doubt, then you're out
If you believe, you can achieve
I got the city on lock, but I'm gonna hand you the Keys like Alicia
You know my style, you know I'm the teacha
Philosopha, minister, emcee, Hiphop's spiritual leader
With the heater
You comin' with me? You runnin' with me?
In the spirit Scott LaRock, JMJ and Pun is with me
Yo, cats be steppin' to me ALL the time
With the rawest rhyme
But two weeks later, they fall to crime
If you listenin' to this song, and you want to be put on
You must be loyal to the cats that made you strong
It could be your friend, your father, you sister, your mother, your brother
or some other
Just remember the days when YOU was under!
Before the Hummer, before the Benz
Before the hundreds, before the fifties, the twenties and tens
When you was thirsty, remember the living water, and who poured it
Now ask yourself, how bad do you want it?

[KRS]
Yo, my man, how bad do you want it?
You know how many cats I threw the pitch, and they never caught it?
I told them to bring they lyric, but they never brought it
Scared to get ripped off, cheated, deleted, rejected and shorted?
Yo, how bad do you want it?
FearoI ain't got no time for it
If you want it, yo there's the trackoput your rhyme on it!

[Peedo]
This hunger inside of me's unexplainable, Kris
The struggle we put in this box will be put into disc
Birth and ever, these family problems is hurtin'
Both of my sisters is pregnant, fuckin' feel like murkin'
All I have is my word and my balls
And my fam and my music speaks for them all
It's the Dominican animal ready to damage, you puttin'
Pressure to rappers that think they can challenge you, Kris (uh huh)
We been through it all, the grimiest days, this earth ain't
Ready for my brain, comin' to face (word)
Everyone plus everyone
Do you hear me, KRS-One?

[KRS]
Well listen
You grimy and hungry?
But how long you gonn' trust me?
You really down for this cause or just chasin' the money?
I be up in them spots to be hot, so dusty and ugly
Nothin' be funny, it's all dark, nothin' sunny
Can you walk with me? Talk with me? Pop the cork with me?
When we in other cities, will you rep New York with me? (yeah!)
I need respect and honor
Discipline and no drama
How bad you want it, poppa? (with all my?)

[Peedo]
Loyalty is the key to it all (remember)
Get used to my face, we the winners of all
By mi gente, yo I go low to say-ah
Real like them Washington Heights
Niggaz there (say yeah!)

[KRS]
After you rap, will you stab my back? (never)
You gimme a track, will you take that back? (never)
I give the word, yo you bustin' your Gatt? (whatever)
Respect from your crew? They livin' like that? (they better)
This is no game! Why should I make you popular?
You know I'm the philosopha
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
If you see it, you can believe it, perceive it, retrieve it and flaunt it
How bad do you want, doggone it, there's the track, if you want it
You got to put your rhyme on it!

[Peedo]
How bad do I want it? I'm ready to die like Big
A serious man with blood in my eyes for this
Success doesn't come overnight
It's gonna be dark a while until I see light (that's right!)
What is it?

[KRS]
This is no game, why should I do it?
KRS-One, me and Peedo runnin' through it
I saw you down the street in FedEx
You said you had the beats was comin', like "I Got Next"
So we went upstairs, my man Choco hooked it up
This is KRS-Oneoturn my voice up! Whao (wha-,wha-)
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you see it?
How bad do you hear it?
How bad do you BELIEVE you can be it?
If you doubt, then you're out
If you believe, you can achieve
I got the city on lock, but I'm gonna hand you the Keys like Alicia
You know my style, you know I'm the teacha
Philosopha, minister, emcee, Hiphop's spiritual leader
With the heater
You comin' with me? You runnin' with me?
In the spirit Scott LaRock, JMJ and Pun is with me
Yo, cats be steppin' to me ALL the time
With the rawest rhyme
But two weeks later, they fall to crime
If you listenin' to this song, and you want to be put on
You must be loyal to the cats that made you strong
It could be your friend, your father, you sister, your mother, your brother
or some other
Just remember the days when YOU was under!
Before the Hummer, before the Benz
Before the hundreds, before the fifties, the twenties and tens
When you was thirsty, remember the living water, and who poured it
Now ask yourself, how bad do you want it?

[Chorus: KRS] + (guest)
It's all a struggle (tryin to make it day to day)
It's all a struggle (from my hood to around your way)
It's all a struggle (single parents all by theyself)
It's all a struggle (diseases decreasin your health)
It's all a struggle (fiends swearin that's they last puff)
It's all a struggle (hustler tryin to avoid handcuffs)
(No matter what you do, who you are or where you from)
(Rich poor black white, at the end of the day)

[Verse One: KRS-One]
It's all a struggle - and most people's struggles are doubled
You ain't the only one with a challenge facin some trouble
Look at the woman chewed up by the dog with no muzzle
Or the workers that got trapped underground in that tunnel
Some kids are playin in pools, others in puddles
When they listen to the news the propoganda is subtle
But it's time for you to know that the cryin got to go
Release the guilt that you built and let it flow
Slow and low, that is the tempo
Move slow and on the low, this you gotta know
You don't get the muscles without the hard struggles
You ain't the only one out here tryin to get dough
From the hustler to the preacher to the government leaders
From the airline pilot to the chef to the teachers
We linked in the same huddle, in the same tussle'n'bustle
Cause at the end of the day, it's all a struggle

[Chorus]

[Verse Two: KRS-One]
It's all a struggle - but don't let the challenges bug you
Or the government drug you, or the thieves in the street
beat and mug you - build your tunnel under the rubble
Come up on the other side eye to eye with the trouble
Look at the Twin Towers crumble
Look at the religious leadership stumble, everybody struggles
But not everybody comes through nifty, it's fifty/fifty
The city itself will outrun you quickly
Whether you be healthy or sickly
Whether you be wealthy or thrifty, ugly or pretty
Everybody's tryin to get 50's and 100's
I taught this at UCLA just off Sunset
Now run get "Ruminations"
It's a book that I published for the healing of this nation
In just a few chapters we run through, some possible solutions
Cause at the end of the day

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
It's all a struggle

[Verse One: KRS-One]
Yo turn me up just a bit, so I can hear it and spit
Reverse spit, and get tips, rehearse a hit and take tricks
Research the art just a bit, don't let me start I won't quit
But if I start I'ma flip, just like I'm startin the whip
Puttin the key into it, mentally seein it
G.O.D. believin in it, I get a fee when I spit
C-L-U-B's I just rip, I'm lyrically well equipped
Over the beats and the mix, I keep the streets in a fit
When it comes to lyrical spit, I'm the t'cha of it
Higher consciousness, truth, I'll be reachin for it
Metaphysics, here's an example cause I'm speakin of it
Put your hands in the air, but you must be aware
That even if your hands are down, ain't they still in the air?
I be takin you all the way down the road, takin you there
I'm livin and givin just a smidgen of what I share
The style that I'm kickin, lyric lickings from over there
We rockin forever, we get better with every year
With letters and intercessors I sever every fear
Lookin here, like UPS KRS takes it there
Let's make it clear, thought waves go through the air
You can act like you busy or you dizzy or you don't care
But listen here, everybody got a fear
An insecurity, some type of thing they gotta clear
So that's when I, reappear, from the rear
Philsopher, follow the bright light to right here
I might wear, light gear
Appear when you least expect it, tellin you now how to fight fear
With faith, you hear the bass, well clear the waste
You gotta get the negative cats out your face
Get that irrelevant crap out your space


Conceive it believe it decree it achieve it with HASTE!
[Chorus]
Nuttin in the world is impossible
Listen to the shit that I drop on you
KRS-One, philosophical
Believe and achieve what you got to do
[Verse Two: KRS-One]
We rawwwwwwwwwk, we don't stop
Hip-Hooooooooop, we don't stop
Tick-tooooooock, we don't stop
We at the top we never drop cause true hip-hop is so hot
Some people thuggin, some be pimpin, I be teachin a lot
I be teachin about the meaning of a deeper hip-hop
That don't make me any better than a thief or a cop
All I know is when I flow, the people be shocked
You don't really want the teacher to come step on your block
With my whole glock takin everything that you've got
I'm a different type of deeper intellectual rock
For when you really wanna compete and get up off your block
You are not just doin hip-hop, you +ARE+ hip-hop
Like if you have a badge and a gun, you ARE the cop
Like if you practice medicine, you ARE the doc
You just forgot rappers rap about cars a lot
And the magazines worry about stars a lot
But I'm the sun and they avoid me BECAUSE I'm hot
The orthodox hip-hop is sure to rock
With or without a video, I'm leavin 'em all in shock, OHH!
[Chorus] - repeat 4X

Oh, do it now, oh, do it now
Yeah, we celebrate diversity in the university
Everybody can't be a queen, everybody can't be a ho and a bitch
(Ha ha)

Everybody can't be a philosopher
Some of y'all gotta load up the clip
Word up, watch this

It goes 1, 2, 3 we the best
Knowledge Reigns Supreme, as you can see, or KRS
You don't wanna test the team, why get a vest
You don't wanna be cursed in a verse, by the blessed

KRS with the sound for the eat and the west
Follow no, follow no, follow no, follow no beast on a quest

Somebody gotta be fresh
Somebody gotta be wack
Somebody gotta be the MC
Somebody gotta do the rap

Somebody gotta be smart
Somebody gotta do that
Somebody gotta do art
Somebody gotta be black

Somebody gotta have heart
Somebody gotta be white
Somebody gotta do their part
Somebody gotta be bright

Somebody gotta be up
somebody gotta be down
Somebody gotta be the teacher
Somebody gotta be the clown

Somebody gotta be lost
Somebody gotta be found
Somebody gotta be in the economy making the money go round
Somebody gotta be the president

Somebody gotta get down
Somebody gotta be hesitant
Somebody gotta be relevant
Somebody gotta be celibate

Somebody gotta be having their sex in a lex for the hell of it
Somebody gotta be intelligent
Somebody gotta be illiterate
Somebody gotta go all the way

Somebody gotta go a little bit
Somebody got to be an idiot
Somebody gotta be belligerent
Somebody gotta be hip hop

'Cause somebody else is living it
Somebody gotta be spitting it
Somebody gotta be ignorant
Somebody gotta be holy

But somebody gotta have sin in it
Somebody gotta be losing it
Somebody gotta be winning it
Somebody gotta be flippin' the style I'm kicking just a little bit

Somebody gotta be into it
Somebody gotta be out of it
Somebody gotta be up for it
Somebody gotta be doubtin' it

Somebody gotta be running it
Somebody gotta be all that
Somebody don't even known that
Somebody gotta come right here

Somebody else gotta go back
Somebody gotta be scheming
Somebody gotta be a witness
Somebody gotta be seeing in the meaning is different

Somebody else gotta be somebody
For some else to be somebody
Somebody else to run into to wealth
To try to create one body

One aim, one God, one destiny
I'm not non-violent, you can back up off of me
I sip my tea, and cock back three
One for Tiny Tim, Mr. Walt, and Evil Dee

I hope you all see, the need for unity
I'll never stop speaking about Marcus Garvey
Kwame Ture or Malcolm X all day
Black leadership today is all play

Y'all play, y'all immature black behavior
Is worse than being a trader
Do on to others
As you would have done do to your neighbor

Big up to my philosophy majors
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal from the cages
We writes the pages and teach all ages
Justice, tell me what we want now

Justice, for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Or justice for Amado Dialo
Justice, there is no peace without
(Justice)
All dem mercy, now watch this

I sing, 1, 2, 3 we the best
Knowledge Reigns Supreme, as you can see, or KRS
You don't wanna test the team, why get a vest
You don't wanna be cursed in a verse, by the blessed

KRS with the new sound for the eat and the west
Follow no, follow no, follow no, follow no beast on a quest
Follow no, follow no, follow no, follow no beast on a quest
Follow no, follow no, follow no, follow no beast on a quest
Follow no, follow no, follow no, follow no, follow no
Follow no, follow no, follow no

Follow no beast, on a quest
Do you hear me?
Follow no beast, on a quest
Word

Hip Hop ya don't stop
Tiny Tim ya don't stop
KRS ya don't stop
Get by us

[KRS-One] Yeah, all my fathers
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[KRS-One] Uh.. uh, word
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin
[KRS-One] Uh.. hold your head up!
[Tekitha] Survivin, survivin
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin

[Verse One: uncredited - possibly Shuman]
Yo, time to do what we gotta do
These days, livin ain't true, but I ain't mad at you
I don't got time for the stress and the nonsense
So I try to stay blessed, but it's all tense
When I awake, feel the sun on my right side
It make me wanna grab a gun and change my lifestyle
But it only goes so far, so live it up
Or realize what you know star, and give it up
Or either switch it up, gotta keep reppin on
And lookin out for our kids, like the rest of (?)
Now I know how it is, and what you're handin me
So I can calculate the right moves for my family, yo

[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[KRS-One] Keep on!
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin
[KRS-One] C'mon, c'mon!
[Tekitha] Survivin, survivin
[KRS-One] C'mon, that's right
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin
[KRS-One] Word up!
[Tekitha] Survivin, survivin

[Verse Two: KRS-One]
C'mon, let's do this
When it comes to the cash, we ain't equal
Rich man, poor man, poverty defeats you
Where my people? Yo, Kris see you
There's only one of you, that's why you gotta be you
Them others be see-through, flashin and flossin
Me I'm with Inebriated Beats in Boston
Strivin, survivin, we get cash often
But do you really know what daycare be costin?
All my fathers, all my mothers
All my sisters, all my brothers
Hold your head up and teach them younger cats
It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at!

[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin

[Verse Three: uncredited - possibly Priest]
Now see I'm livin just to die without most any reason
So I keep on chasin paper 'til it's time to go
But should I really go for mine and put the clip all in the 9
Or stay at the 9 to 5 a day I just don't know
But a brother got a daughter I gotta support her
Caught up in the system inside a order, man I can't afford
a kitted Escalade, or bling bling
And so I gotta keep survivin, is the song that I keep singin
I try to keep my head off the floor, the country's goin to war
While Bush is givin dough to NASA and ain't feedin the poor
But I keep love over these beats, these beats keep me alive
Alive, I got to stay the Priest, I will survive y'all

[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[KRS-One] Uh, word
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin
[KRS-One] C'mon, c'mon.. SURVIVIN
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[KRS-One] Uhh! Keep your head up, word!
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin
[KRS-One] C'mon, uhh.. SURVIVIN
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[KRS-One] Uh
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin
[KRS-One] Word! Uh-huh
[Tekitha] That survive, gotta ride to break the illusion, confusion
[KRS-One] Uh.. ALL MY FATHERS
[Tekitha] Keep on fightin, strivin, survivin, survivin
[KRS-One] Word!

[KRS-One]
Sadat X, is down wit us
Stud Doogie, is down wit us
Lord Jamar, down wit us
Alamo, you down wit us
Grand Puba, down wit us
Brand Nubian, down wit us
Shuman, you down wit us
Yo Priest, you down wit us
Marlo, you down wit us
Choco, you down wit us
Vangod(?), you down wit us
Desmond Terrow(?), you down wit us
Cliff Cultrary(?), you down wit us
Yo Tekitha, you down wit us
Aiyyo RZA, you down wit us
The whole Wu-Tang, is down wit us
Makin funky music is a must!
Makin funky music is a must!

{*sampled: "One For All.. All.. All.." repeats to fade*}

Where the real at?
Where the real at?
Yeah

Yo, where I come from gats bust for nothin'
Thugs, ministers, cops, teachers, all be hustlin'
Your family's the only one ya trustin'
Clubs be jumpin', redesigned cars be bumpin'

Now there's ranks supreme KRS is a free man
In hip hop culture
I'm like Allen Greenspan
I tell the culture what's hot and what's not

Now look who's on top and look whose shit just dropped
We ain't about sellin' records
We ain't music merchants
We emcees, we go straight to the club and hurt shit

New York, New Jers', Boston, come on
California, D.C., Baltimore, come on
Texas, Atlanta, New Orleans, come on
Philly to Chicago, Carolinas, come on

Memphis to Nashville, Colorado, come on
Detroit to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, come on
Seattle to Miami, Arizona, come on
San Fran', Oakland, hip hop, come on

Down to the spot this is real hip hop
Join this movement them other cats steal a lot
You can feel the knowledge of self or feel this glock
I'm authentic, KRS I'm really hot

Yo, what up Fat Joe that's my nigga for life
Remember when Pun fell off the stage, right on my wife
In the Bronx, we all laugh about it today
What up Freddie Fox, 2 Glocks, Pik and Spay

Dr.Dre, all day, both of them
Dr.Dre with Ed Lover and the one with Eminem
This a movement, all over the world we reach
I can prove it, all over the world I teach

You hear that Dr.King, ?I have a dream?, speech a lot
But no where is it manifested but in hip hop
While them other cats be lookin' for a radio song
I'm in Washington Heights, puttin' them Dominicans on

You can feel it, I'm strong, I last longer lets do it
You want the real hip-hop well, join this movement
We ain't about sellin' records, we ain't music merchants
We emcees we go to the club and straight hurt shit

Utah, Minnesota, Mexico, come on
V.A., Arkansas, Portland, come on
Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, come on
East St.Louis, Milwaukee man, come on

Montreal, Toronto, Canada, come on
East Coast, West Coast, Dirty South, come on
Mid-West, Bible Belt, up-top, come on
Hip hop, come on
Hip hop, come on

In case you aint know, check it
Let me tell you right not and the whole world
You are the only one

I saw them guys you were with
I don't flash platinum watches and drop-top whips
But you can rest assure you're my perfect fit
Every dollar that we get, we be earning it
Yo, you never have to worry about me taking a trip
Or leaving you at home so I can quickly forget
Yo, with me it's the opposite, you swerve the jeep
You the queen of your house, you earn your keep
And I respect that, in high school we both got left back
We both were divorced and had setbacks
But you should never let that depress you
God has blessed you
Yo, here's what KRS do
Support your goals, keep you warm when it's cold
It aint about now it's about when we get old

{Chorus 2x}

Let me tell you right now and the whole world
You are the only one
In my heart you are that number one girl
You are the one (one, one, one)
Even when your hair aint done with no curl
You are the only one (one, one, one)

Crazy why love making we already did
Shit, that's why we got four kids
Romantic, our parenthood we planned it
On the queue two to England, cross the Atlantic
Respect, you don't have to demend
It's like you got the perfect husband and your friends cant stand it
Especially when I watch the kids
And when you come home I aint trying to find out what you did
It flips theirs leave, 'cause they looking for the player
A little boy trying to pay theirs cell phones and pagers
But with me you living with the savior
We be up in the temple of hip-hop, or chilling with the mayor
I thank the creator
We don't need what they handing out
This is what your man is about
It's like peace and much love
Trust and respect
Your friends may have diamonds but they aint get that yet
They may have the burghettes and cars and private jets
But all they're really good for is sex

{Chorus}

We be hanging out late night at denys
Having conversations about every and any
Many people want what we got
A relationship that just keeps getting hot like hip-hop
You know I'm not the regular guy
You know I can't be compared
You know when the drama comes I aint scared
My name rings bells in the street
You can say my name in any hood your protection is complete
Thugs be right on their feet
Saying �What, your man is Kris?�
You don't worry miss

{Chorus}

But most of the time you're with me and the kids
Mind at ease, chilling out at Chucky Cheese's
These are my kids, I know what their need is
I know what the doctor bill in school to which in fee is
My daughter, I know who she is
And all my sons know exactly what being free is

{Chorus}

No, you might not get the drop-top three
But all your kids want to be like me
Their father, and even when times is getting harder
There's only one name you could trust, Kris Parker

{Chorus}

uhh
send this out to you
you and yours....word
it's that time yo.....that's word

{Chorus}

-------------
Lyrics Powered by LyricFind
Written By JONES, KIMBERLY / COMBS, SEAN / SCANDRICK, MARVIN / KEITH, MICHAEL / PARKER, QUINNES / JONES, DARON / MAXWELL, LAMONT / THOMAS, CARL
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics to Things Will Change :
Hands in the air! (X 4)
[KRS]
Good looking, word...
DJ Revolution, word up...
Let's do this, kid...
Here we go!
[Chorus]
A good time, a good vibe, and a house with a court
Good life, good wife, a little food for thought
I need (I need) food, clothes, and a whip with rims
I need God in my life
I need family and friends
(I need) money, power, respect, I need love
I need world peace, homeless to eat, no drugs
I need every race and creed to be one
Every nation, every face and seed to see sun
[KRS]
You need to listen to this
You need to listen to Kris
You need to have peace at least
You need spiritual bliss
You need a lyrical twist
Do you know what a miracle is?
Before we begin, you may need a kiss
I suggest either one from J to O-one from the lips
Either way what I'm saying, yo, is bound to uplift
You need checks, you need cash
You need intellect
You need to be moving fast
You need that big respect
You need to be rolling in a car
Going to a bar that's far
Makin' the deal to make you a star
You need to ask yourself, now do you know who you are?
Where you goin'? How many steps you took so far?
You need patience, you need to control your mind
If you read and don't act, then you're wasting your time
We need better leaders, we need better preachers
We need a three-thousand dollar raise to all teachers
[Chorus]
[KRS]
You need some meditation
You need rejuvenation
You need assistance right now with your situation
You need some contemplation
You need a combination
—A combination of will power and concentration
You need some syncopation
With regular relaxation
But you can't, 'cause you runnin' and racin' and chasin'
You need to slow down, maybe you should speed up
One sayin' ""lay down,"" the other's sayin' ""leap up""
You gotta keep up
I suggest you start to speak up
A lawyer, a doctor, a rapper창?""you wanna be what?
Whatever it is, you gotta visualize
You need to focus for real, and stop livin' them lies
The time you givin' them guys
You could be workin' upon the goal you hold
Yo, you must realize
Yo, you need to be wise
Yo, you need to be alive, there could be no revenge or deceit in your eyes
Rise!
[Chorus]
[KRS]
Gimme what I need
Do it with speed
Change the situation around, plant new seeds!
I roll with a righteous team of adults
Forget the insults
We plan to get results
You can call us a cult, you can call us a gang
But when it comes to Hiphop, no, you cats can't hang
When the Gatts go bang
And the telephone rang
Telling you to come to identify the remains
That's when you feel the pain
And my name comes as comfort, ease and all stress and strain
You need to know the game
You need to know the meaning of your own name
Reprogram your own brain
Ask questions with no shame
How you think you gonna master your craft if you don't train?
Perfecting your skill, that's the aim
Perfect your skill, and you'll always have money and fame
C'mon!
[Chorus]
What I, uhh, what I need
(House on the hill)
That's what I need
(Cash credit on my bill)
That's what I need
(All my dreams fulfilled)
That's what I need
(New whip that I can wheel)
What I need
(With the chromed out grill)
Uh huh, that's what I need
(And the girl that can chill)
That's what I need
(And my spirit all healed)
That's what I need
(That's what I need)
That's what I need
(That's what I need)
That's what I need
(That's what I need)
That's what I need
(That's what I need)
That's what I need
That's what I need
(That's what I need)

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

It's time that I open with a thunder sound
Now look around your own town for the underground
Yo, you rhymin for the TV or a million Cd's?
You ain't a MC, you ain't underground

You could be platinum or gold, hot or cold
But it's the respect you hold that's underground
When the critics don't get, that for the streets you spit it
When your lyric they fear, that's underground

Yeah what does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Yo, white kids, black kids, skinny kids, fat kids
Them Asian cats be underground
Chicanos, Palestinians, Milanos, fuck the lone ranger
Where's Tanto? That's underground

Freddie Fox, Blackalicious, Kweli
M.O.P., Gangstarr that's underground
Mad lion, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot
Armageddon T.S. that's underground

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Yo, the t'cha returns, I told y'all I went to Cali to learn
And that shit was underground
If the cops be eyein' you 'cause survive is what you try to do
Yo I'm wit you, you underground

If it's justice you want and you protest the ice they flaunt
You want skills that's underground
Yo it's not about a rugger, rapper, or an actor
It's about your subject matter that's underground, look

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground, alright

Chevonne Dean from Ruff Ryders, all the outsiderz
Young Zee, that's underground
When all your money's spent and you're still hangin' on
To 50 Cent, get it, you underground

When you rep the collective consciousness of hip-hop
Not hip-pop, you underground
Yo it ain't about jewels, bitches and cars
It's about Nas, that's underground, yo

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

To be underground simply means that you're down
For the struggle, get 'em up, that's underground
You could be a classy lady or a whore
But if you protest the war, for sure, you underground

If the government can't see you or deceive you
You love your people, believe you underground
If you refuse to play the game, you go against the grain
You ridin' the train, you underground, get it

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Yo, yo, that blast from the past, like Grandmaster Caz
Bam and Flash, that's underground
Doug E. Fresh, Lord Finesse, KRS
If you listenin' to this you underground

Turn it up now KRS about to show you how
They go wow, blaow for the underground
Mr. Walt, Evil Dee, KRS, BDP
Kenny P, that's underground, do it

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Alright turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up if you underground, listen
Sure shall

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

It's time that I open with a thunder sound
Now look around your own town for the underground
Yo, you rhymin for the TV or a million Cd's?
You ain't a MC, you ain't underground

You could be platinum or gold, hot or cold
But it's the respect you hold that's underground
When the critics don't get, that for the streets you spit it
When your lyric they fear, that's underground

Yeah what does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Yo, white kids, black kids, skinny kids, fat kids
Them Asian cats be underground
Chicanos, Palestinians, Milanos, fuck the lone ranger
Where's Tanto? That's underground

Freddie Fox, Blackalicious, Kweli
M.O.P., Gangstarr that's underground
Mad lion, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot
Armageddon T.S. that's underground

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Yo, the t'cha returns, I told y'all I went to Cali to learn
And that shit was underground
If the cops be eyein' you 'cause survive is what you try to do
Yo I'm wit you, you underground

If it's justice you want and you protest the ice they flaunt
You want skills that's underground
Yo it's not about a rugger, rapper, or an actor
It's about your subject matter that's underground, look

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground, alright

Chevonne Dean from Ruff Ryders, all the outsiderz
Young Zee, that's underground
When all your money's spent and you're still hangin' on
To 50 Cent, get it, you underground

When you rep the collective consciousness of hip-hop
Not hip-pop, you underground
Yo it ain't about jewels, bitches and cars
It's about Nas, that's underground, yo

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

To be underground simply means that you're down
For the struggle, get 'em up, that's underground
You could be a classy lady or a whore
But if you protest the war, for sure, you underground

If the government can't see you or deceive you
You love your people, believe you underground
If you refuse to play the game, you go against the grain
You ridin' the train, you underground, get it

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Yo, yo, that blast from the past, like Grandmaster Caz
Bam and Flash, that's underground
Doug E. Fresh, Lord Finesse, KRS
If you listenin' to this you underground

Turn it up now KRS about to show you how
They go wow, blaow for the underground
Mr. Walt, Evil Dee, KRS, BDP
Kenny P, that's underground, do it

What does it mean to be underground?
It means you gotta be free to be underground
Yo, you got your own key when you're underground
If you're listening to me yo you underground

Alright turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up if you underground, listen
Sure shall

There was once a dreamer named Peter
{What else happened}
Peter was also known as Skeeter
{What else happened}
Peter had sex with Anita
{What else happened}
Anita got pregnant from Peter
{What else happened}
Peter wasn't just with Anita
{What else happened}
Peter knew this girl named Rita
{What else happened}
Peter had sex with Rita
{What else happened}
Rita got pregnant from Peter
{What else happened}
Now two girls are pregnant by Peter
{What else happened}
But Rita doesn't know of Anita
{What else happened}
And Anita doesn't know Rita
{What else happened}
The two of them only know Peter
{What else happened}
Now Peter's at the mall with Anita
{What else happened}
You know he runs into Rita
{What else happened}


Well Rita takes a look at Anita
{What else happened}
And Anita takes a good look at Rita
{What else happened}
Well Rita starts to pull out the heater
{What else happened}
The heater now is pointed at Peter
{What else happened}
Anita jumps right on Rita
{What else happened}
Rita busts shots at Anita
{What else happened}
Rita missed Anita by meters
{What else happened}
But Rita's bustin' shots at Peter
{What else happened}
Just then somebody shook Peter
{What else happened}
Yo how many spoons of the dairy creamer
{What else happened}
It's Keisha sayin' wake up Peter
{What else happened}
That's why they call you the dreamer
{Now that's happenin'}

[Chorus]
Ya feel dat? (HO!) Ya see dat? (HO!)
Ya hear dat? (HO!) You believe dat? (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) Could it be dat? (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) Can you believe dat? (HO!)
Ya hear dat? (HO!) Ya see dat? (HO!)
You believe dat? (HO!) You can feel dat (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) You believe dat? (HO!)
Ya see dat? (HO!)
[Verse One]
Show me an MC that think he's too hot
Bring him to KRS-One, I'll show him he's NOT
Blowin the whole spot up when I spit up
Knowledge Reigns Supreme, when I walk past, get up
My wrists ain't lit up! I don't even live that life
Gold, diamonds, platinum, I give to my wife - you see
Diamonds are a girl's best friend, not mine
You got it, FINE - but what about that rhyme?
Can you rhyme? Can you spit it quick
like watermelon pits at a picnic? Ha!
Or are you just dressed up with nowhere to go?
Or is the record company the pimp and you the ho?
LET'S GO!
[Chorus] w/ variations
[Verse Two]
I write my own books like I write my own hooks
Step in the spot and these rappers be so shook
They don't look here cause KRS is BOOM!
Platinum rappers be hidin out in they dressin rooms
Yo, get away from me
You got a million dollar video but I'M the one they wanna see
The capital E-M-C-E-E
A repitition of words, I been divorced Melodie
I'm out, confident, no doubt
I get what I gotta get when I spit I don't shout


This New Yorker, Kris Parker's a quick talker
You can get what I spit or get the klik-klocker
Overseas I got the breeze as a hip-hopper
Where they speak eat and drop the beats proper
Street doctor, I'm +Brown+ and +Foxy+ like the +Ill Nana+
Whoever you think is hot, I'm hotter
[Chorus] w/ variations
[Verse Three]
RADIO! These suckers never play me
or Chuck - but do you think we really give a...
Southside, Westside, Eastside, North
I spit the hot flame, you get your flesh torn off
I come from that place where you cats can't face
Where cops can't chase or invade my space
We turn up the bass, you tremble in the place
Phones ain't traced and flows we don't waste
Hoes we don't chase or kiss, they know they place
with Kris or Christ, they'll lose their life
You don't lose if you come in two's, you and a wife
But you crews wanna be bruised, so choose your knife
Choose your gat, choose your rat, when the smoke clears
you'll be like, God damn - who was that?
Loosen that noose around your neck and back
Embarassin blacks, ain't no respect in that!
[Chorus] w/ variations
[KRS-One]
Let's do it! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Everybody up top! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, all my cats in the front! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, yo, all my cats in the back (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, we out!

[Chorus]
Ya feel dat? (HO!) Ya see dat? (HO!)
Ya hear dat? (HO!) You believe dat? (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) Could it be dat? (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) Can you believe dat? (HO!)
Ya hear dat? (HO!) Ya see dat? (HO!)
You believe dat? (HO!) You can feel dat (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) You believe dat? (HO!)
Ya see dat? (HO!)
[Verse One]
Show me an MC that think he's too hot
Bring him to KRS-One, I'll show him he's NOT
Blowin the whole spot up when I spit up
Knowledge Reigns Supreme, when I walk past, get up
My wrists ain't lit up! I don't even live that life
Gold, diamonds, platinum, I give to my wife - you see
Diamonds are a girl's best friend, not mine
You got it, FINE - but what about that rhyme?
Can you rhyme? Can you spit it quick
like watermelon pits at a picnic? Ha!
Or are you just dressed up with nowhere to go?
Or is the record company the pimp and you the ho?
LET'S GO!
[Chorus] w/ variations
[Verse Two]
I write my own books like I write my own hooks
Step in the spot and these rappers be so shook
They don't look here cause KRS is BOOM!
Platinum rappers be hidin out in they dressin rooms
Yo, get away from me
You got a million dollar video but I'M the one they wanna see
The capital E-M-C-E-E
A repitition of words, I been divorced Melodie
I'm out, confident, no doubt
I get what I gotta get when I spit I don't shout


This New Yorker, Kris Parker's a quick talker
You can get what I spit or get the klik-klocker
Overseas I got the breeze as a hip-hopper
Where they speak eat and drop the beats proper
Street doctor, I'm +Brown+ and +Foxy+ like the +Ill Nana+
Whoever you think is hot, I'm hotter
[Chorus] w/ variations
[Verse Three]
RADIO! These suckers never play me
or Chuck - but do you think we really give a...
Southside, Westside, Eastside, North
I spit the hot flame, you get your flesh torn off
I come from that place where you cats can't face
Where cops can't chase or invade my space
We turn up the bass, you tremble in the place
Phones ain't traced and flows we don't waste
Hoes we don't chase or kiss, they know they place
with Kris or Christ, they'll lose their life
You don't lose if you come in two's, you and a wife
But you crews wanna be bruised, so choose your knife
Choose your gat, choose your rat, when the smoke clears
you'll be like, God damn - who was that?
Loosen that noose around your neck and back
Embarassin blacks, ain't no respect in that!
[Chorus] w/ variations
[KRS-One]
Let's do it! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Everybody up top! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, all my cats in the front! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, yo, all my cats in the back (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, we out!

[Chorus]
Ya feel dat? (HO!) Ya see dat? (HO!)
Ya hear dat? (HO!) You believe dat? (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) Could it be dat? (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) Can you believe dat? (HO!)
Ya hear dat? (HO!) Ya see dat? (HO!)
You believe dat? (HO!) You can feel dat (HO!)
Ya follow dat? (HO!) You believe dat? (HO!)
Ya see dat? (HO!)
[Verse One]
Show me an MC that think he's too hot
Bring him to KRS-One, I'll show him he's NOT
Blowin the whole spot up when I spit up
Knowledge Reigns Supreme, when I walk past, get up
My wrists ain't lit up! I don't even live that life
Gold, diamonds, platinum, I give to my wife - you see
Diamonds are a girl's best friend, not mine
You got it, FINE - but what about that rhyme?
Can you rhyme? Can you spit it quick
like watermelon pits at a picnic? Ha!
Or are you just dressed up with nowhere to go?
Or is the record company the pimp and you the ho?
LET'S GO!
[Chorus] w/ variations
[Verse Two]
I write my own books like I write my own hooks
Step in the spot and these rappers be so shook
They don't look here cause KRS is BOOM!
Platinum rappers be hidin out in they dressin rooms
Yo, get away from me
You got a million dollar video but I'M the one they wanna see
The capital E-M-C-E-E
A repitition of words, I been divorced Melodie
I'm out, confident, no doubt
I get what I gotta get when I spit I don't shout


This New Yorker, Kris Parker's a quick talker
You can get what I spit or get the klik-klocker
Overseas I got the breeze as a hip-hopper
Where they speak eat and drop the beats proper
Street doctor, I'm +Brown+ and +Foxy+ like the +Ill Nana+
Whoever you think is hot, I'm hotter
[Chorus] w/ variations
[Verse Three]
RADIO! These suckers never play me
or Chuck - but do you think we really give a...
Southside, Westside, Eastside, North
I spit the hot flame, you get your flesh torn off
I come from that place where you cats can't face
Where cops can't chase or invade my space
We turn up the bass, you tremble in the place
Phones ain't traced and flows we don't waste
Hoes we don't chase or kiss, they know they place
with Kris or Christ, they'll lose their life
You don't lose if you come in two's, you and a wife
But you crews wanna be bruised, so choose your knife
Choose your gat, choose your rat, when the smoke clears
you'll be like, God damn - who was that?
Loosen that noose around your neck and back
Embarassin blacks, ain't no respect in that!
[Chorus] w/ variations
[KRS-One]
Let's do it! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Everybody up top! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, all my cats in the front! (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, yo, all my cats in the back (HO!) (HO!) (HO!) (HO!)
Yo, we out!

[KRS-One]
Who was the first to flash the heat on the cover?
Who was the first crew to go against another?
Who was the first to go acapella on a video replay?
Who was the first to lose a DJ?
Who was the first to teach at Yale?
Who was the first to hit that hip-hop reggae, on the nail?
Who was the first to say +Stop the Violence+
And teach that real bad boys move in silence?
You're soon to see the mind bendin rhyme weapon
Get more busy than two-two-three-double-nine-seven
All these rappers, swear they the best
I know whatchu thinkin about, "Where's KRS?"
Eighty percent of these rappers fake they {shit}
The other twenty percent they goin upstate and {shit}
There's no way out except knowledge and wisdom
I got it so I spit 'em you ain't got it you gotta get 'em
Who was the first to produce mix and write
At the same time up in the club rockin the mic?
Who was the first to have a DJ and a side man?
The first to say what is hip-hop? "I AM!"
Who was the first to produce gangster {shit}?
Put out, gangster hits with a gangster click?
Not no prankster (shit), Steady be, Mad Lion
Just-Ice, Shabba Ranks and (shit)
My Channel is Live, my only battle is Jive
MC to MC, you won't survive
You'll be censored cause my Crew is 2 Live
I ascend like Christ and watch you die

Breakers (HERE!) MC's (HERE!)
Writers (HERE!) Beat-boxers (HERE!)
DJ's (HERE!) Hip-Hop (HERE!)
Hip-Hop (RIGHT HERE!) Hip-Hop (RIGHT HERE!)
Breakers (HERE!) MC's (HERE!)
Writers (HERE!) Beat-boxers (HERE!)
DJ's (HERE!) Hip-Hop (HERE!)
Hip-Hop (RIGHT HERE!) Hip-Hop (RIGHT HERE!)

[KRS-One]
I'm like Noah, I'm takin 'em, two by two
I took, them and them and I'll take, you and you
Be I'm right or be I'm wrong
You'll see I'm tight with this mic, you should be like, "be

[KRS-One]
Thou knowest not what thou sayeth in speech?
Doth thou know what thou teacheth to each?
From thine own mouth, thy corrupt thine own house
Thy corrupt thine siblings and thine own spouse
Satan has hold of thy spirit
So evil has hold of thy lyric
Whomsoever shall hear it shall adapt it
And walk the talk of evil just as ye rapped it
But I cometh forth today to say thus
Evil is an illusion, in GOD we trust
In Satan we lust
Coveting thy brother's vehicle while riding the bus
Feeling unjust
Trust not sinners in the flesh they aren't winners
But in the spirit they art children, beginners
Eat not of the dinner they serve
Seek the experienced MC, not the beginners in word

[KRS-One]
Okay now, listen to this..
[Seagull sounds]
A mystical teacher sat by the seaside
It was about five o'clock cause we heard the free ride
Anyway; the teacher was talking in stride
Sitting upon a rock that was wide
And warning against false pride
"Come to where I reside!" a woman cried
And the teacher replied, "Do you serve your fish fried?"
"Yes," she replied, "with potato salad on the side."
And the teacher replied, "Well where do you reside?"
She said, "Up on the hillside, it's not a far ride.
If you came to have dinner, I would be so gratified."
The teacher replied, "It's six o'clock, seven o'clock, you decide."
She replied, "Seven o'clock, do you like stir-fried?"
She was mystified and felt so dignified
The teacher was coming to the house where she resides
So she purified with pesticides
[Chemicals sprayed; noise]
Called her friends up nationwide
[Phone being dialed]
Some of her friends were tongue-tied they felt so glorified
She made steamed fish, baked fish, fish that was fried
Soup, steamed vegetables, potato salad on the side
[Cooking food]
You could smell the bread in the oven far and wide
Natural juices and water purified
Organic fruits brought from the countryside
With silver forks and knives placed side by side
[Silverware clinks; noise]
You could not be dissatisfied;
Looking out the window staring at the mountainside,
You would have died
6:59 she's swollen with pride
As the moment intensified, there's a knock from outside
[Knocking at door]
She opens the door, for the teacher has arrived
[Door opening]
But to her surprise, it was a bum who cried
"Please, I smelt the bread from outside!
One piece," and then she replied
"The teacher is coming, he's soon to have arrived.
You're making me look bad, come on now, step aside!"
The bum then replied,
"When I say I'm hungry I haven't lied.
Give me some of that chicken that you just fried."
[Food cooking]
She replied, "Chicken - fried?
No that's for the teacher, you're not purified"
Then she slammed the door and went back inside
[Door closing]
Sat on the couch with the TV Guide
She looked at the clock, it was 7:09, then 7:30;
He still hasn't arrived
Eight o'clock, she's on the downside
Nine o'clock, by now she's teary-eyed
She's pissed off and her anger multiplied
She cried, then fell asleep dissatisfied
Next day she woke up, and was preoccupied
With meeting the mystical teacher who lied
Where could he hide?
She ran down by the seaside
[Seagull sounds]
He was there teaching about - false pride
"You lied!" she replied, "You lied!
You said you'd be there at seven o'clock, you lied!"
He replied, "No I have not lied.
I came at 6:59, and you told me to move aside.
I asked for bread and the chicken that was fried.
[Food Cooking]
And you said, that I wasn't purified."
She replied, "I wasn't notified!
I had no idea that you was the bum that cried!"
And the teacher sighed, then replied,
"This concludes our lesson on false pride."

Why do you listen to KRS-One?
"Cause it's more than just music.
He speaks to my way of life."
"KRS is the best. Listen for the inner meanings."
"Never heard, anyone like this."

[KRS-One]
Feel this! Feel it!
Feel the power, of DJ Kenny Parker, word up.. huh!
C'mon, yeah.. uhh.. {"Yeah yeah yeah"}
So we gonna come down one time for your mind, you know whassup
Turn it up, turn it up turn it up turn it up
Look!!
We spit out hits, ghetto chicks, chromed out whips
Philosophers rockin your corner movie scripts
Ghetto lifestyles, keep watchin..
("Protect yourself") - that's right!
We spit out hits, ghetto chicks, chromed out whips
Philosophers rockin your corner movie scripts
Ghetto lifestyles, keep watchin..
("Protect yourself")
Yo, all summer they bump the KRS-Oner
From the microscopic atomic structure of the under
I spit thunder, which hunts ya, runs you down and stuns ya
I'm at the center of all rap worlds like a rotunda
Then again, I rock you and your friend again
In any club in the country when you say KRS they say, "Let him in"
V.I.P. passes for intellectuals with glasses
Ignorant asses get left outside with the masses
Next day we attend classes and gatherings
Shattering, those that be rattling about battling
Battin 'em down from the Bronx like Don Mattingly(?)
The black African snappin backs again and laughin again
You won't be askin again, my album I'm already masterin
Whoever you think is dope I'm already blastin him
We spit out hits, ghetto chicks, chromed out whips
Philosophers rockin your corner movie scripts
Ghetto lifestyles, keep watchin..
("Protect yourself") - that's right!
We spit out hits, ghetto chicks, chromed out whips
Philosophers rockin your corner movie scripts
Ghetto lifestyles, keep watchin..

Yeah, who will be standing when the smoke clears?
(KRS-One)
Word up, what's up with this? We're coming through
Boogie Down style, kid, what's up?
This is KRS-One, the light at the end of the tunnel

Yo, they not hot, all they do is talk a lot
That's not hot, where's your respect on the block?
That's hot, not 'cause you're friends with the cops
That's not hot, a real MC you're not

I'm hot, been hot, repeatedly heated
Don't call the teacher, hah, you best be seated
You got these kids gazed up like you own the inventory
Fake muthafuckas ain't tellin' the whole story

Tell 'em how you borrow from everyone you knew
And now that you're on top, they can't borrow from you
That's not hot, tell 'em how you love bein' pop
'Cause you was so broke before sleepin' cold on a cot

You don't rock, you grab money
Your crocks rock the spot and you grab them honeys
It's about to get ugly
I don't even go to these bullshit kiddie-ass clubs

You wanna be a thug? Let's thug
First of all, soldiers speak to soldiers
Captains speak to captains
Lieutenant, lieutenant, cool?

But your first mistake is, he's steppin' to me, rookie
Like you a O.G. and you just a run-up, fool
Who really got these streets on lock?
Whose name really holds high respect on the block?

Who opened up these clubs and taught you how to mix?
Who opened up these thugs from Compton to the Bricks?
I don't even sound like the rest of you kiddies
I study the ways of God, you studyin' titties

And ass, I pity your class
'Cause you come out with a blast
But you're trash, so you really don't last

They not hot, all they do is talk a lot
That's not hot, where's your respect on the block?
That's hot, not cause you're friends with the cops
That's not hot, a real MC you're not

They not hot, all they do is talk a lot
That's not hot, where's your respect on the block?
That's hot, not 'cause you're friends with the cops
That's not hot, a real MC you're not

This is hotter than heat, too deep, I'm on top of the streets
You weak, you ain't really rockin' these beats
You [unverified], you dress straight, eat straight
But you're a slave and yo, you can't come up in a heat tank

God we thank, we watch what we sell
You better hope these Christians are wrong 'cause you goin' to hell
Think about that when you're spittin' your raps
And you call out KRS, I'll put you flat on your back

You're not hot, all you do is talk a lot
That's not hot, where's your respect on the block?
That's hot, not cause you're friends with the cops
That's not hot, a real MC you're not

What's hot?
(KRS-One)
That's hot, what's hot?
(KRS-One)

That's hot, who's hot?
(KRS-One)
That's hot, where's your respect on the block?
(KRS-One need to be runnin' for office)
(So Butta-Pican Rican, tell 'em to get off it)

Uh-huh, whatchu thought? Uh-huh, we was done?
Uh-huh, whatchu thought?! Yeah, yeah
Yeah, whatchu thought? Uhh, uhh, uhh
Yo, yo, back again! What's that? Back again!
What's that? Word! see'mon
A North Face and skully hat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A army suit, a pair of Timbs don't MAKE YOU A THUG
An ill mug and a gat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
A North Face and skully hat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A army suit, a pair of Timbs don't MAKE YOU A THUG
An ill mug and a gat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
Yo, yo, yo, check it, check it
Let us begin, KRS, winnin again, KRS-One did it again
KRS bigger than them, look at them they bit it again
I think my gun just gonna start clickin again
Click-clack, I always spit back
Anybody call my name I go get that
In fact we draggin 'em out, to a deserted route
The teacher returns, you must learn, the word is out
No doubt highly respected, Front Page Records
Off the hook, yet still connected
Are you teachin yourself, teachin yourself?
I'm like history repeatin itself
"Criminal Minded", you've been blinded again
Lookin for my style you can't find it again
You can find these others that may sound like Kris
but when it comes to the hands they don't get down like Kris!
They never ran up in the clubs with a hundred thugs
Never had the respect of Crips and Bloods
Never knew B.O., they never knew Big Pun
They never battled MC's, they never bust they gun
They don't know that, all they know is that show DAT
That's Digital Audio Tape if you don't know that
Now go back and get my name correct
'fore I snatch that platinum from 'round your neck
A doo rag a platinum chain don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A fat ride with chrome don't MAKE YOU A THUG
That tough guy talk don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
A doo rag a platinum chain don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A fat ride with chrome don't MAKE YOU A THUG
That tough guy talk don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
Word, yeah yeah, uh-huh, yo
Yo, yo, yo (hit 'em Kris!)
What mean the world to me? H-I-P, H-O-P
And S-I-M, O-N-E
And G-O-D, I stay low key
I go down to hell, and slap up Satan
Then return to heaven, where Scott LaRock is waitin
Resurrection, just like my brown complexion
when I speak, I don't need protection from the heat
I walk these streets and I'm quick to hit first
Throw on any beat I'll be quick to spit first
and rip town, I take one look around
And all you hear is, "Get down, get down, get down!"
Knowledge Reigns Supreme, I stay on blast
That's why these rappers want me to go on last
That's the truth, that's the fact, that's the deal
Forget sex appeal, my tech is real
And my rep is real, K-are-S
Woo-woop-woop! That's the sound of E-M-S
The rag on your head, it best stay white
Cause I can turn that red in a mintue a-ight?
Now go back and get my name correct
'fore I snatch them diamonds from 'round your neck
Once again, get my name correct
'fore I snatch that platinum from 'round your neck
A North Face and skully hat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A army suit, a pair of Timbs don't MAKE YOU A THUG
An ill mug and a gat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
A doo rag a platinum chain don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A fat ride with chrome don't MAKE YOU A THUG
That tough guy talk don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
Yeah.. yeah.. yo, yo, yo
To all my heads who want to see an improvement
in hip-hop culture, join this movement
We need more glocks than my man Freddie Foxxx
The knowledge I spit to the click it don't stop
That hardcore God-core, ready to start war
Rock more shock more top your pop tour
I'm sure I'll drop the grade to zero
When the teacher return, I don't chase DeNiro
Like where yo? Where yo? They livin in fear yo
It's a jungle sometime, but I got my spear yo
The album's called "Sneak Attack", that's what it is
KRS-One spittin facts to kids
A army suit, a pair of Timbs don't MAKE YOU A THUG
That tough guy talk don't MAKE YOU A THUG
An ill mug and a gat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!
A doo rag a platinum chain don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A North Face and skully hat don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A fat ride with chrome don't MAKE YOU A THUG
A real thug is a thug that's HUSH!

Instead of reading the word of Christ, be the word of Christ
Instead of following God's word, be God's word
That's the conciousness of hip-hop
You are not just doing hip-hop, you are hip-hop
You are not just reading the word of God, you are the word of God

I will make it
I will make it
They can fake it
()
Time that I state it
I can create it
I create it
No one can make it

For me, what you see is what you get in these days
I'm so hungry you can throw my dinner right on the stage
You can bite down on my rage, bite down on my anticipation
With no doubt or hesitation, repeat this affirmation
I will make it, Not I wanna make it
Show em how we made it In fact, we've made it
Every time we state and believe it we create it
The power of your very word is highly underrated
Sleepin in the dark in the park watchin others push they cart
Say this whole thing in your heart

I will make it
I will make it
They can fake it
()
Time that I state it
I can create it
I create it
No one can make it

For me, I ain't askin I ain't beggin I ain't pleadin
In a positive direction my lifestyle I'm leadin
I'm readin about ways of achievin what I'm believin
Every time I'm speakin I'm seein myself leapin
Over buildings, over the one on the corner chillin
Straight into knowledge of self, countin up millions
Changin my situation, with creative visualization
Givin libation for this ancient information

I will make it
I will make it
They can fake it
()
Time that I state it
I can create it
I create it
No one can make it

For me
I will make it cause you're gonna make it
I will make it cause you're gonna make it
I will make it cause you're gonna make it

We krush them and they click
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to get
You supposed to get free and intelligent
Not a platinum plaque that's irrelevant

We krush them and they crew
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to do
While they floss with the chi-ching and all the rings
You stay focused, keep doin' your thing

You cannot get the diamond ring if you can't really sing
Or if you haven't got a skill that you ready to fling
What you bringin' to the table if you not really able
Tryin' to get to the top like the Tower of Babel

Back in the days, remember all the old gold cables
Where they at now? Sold when they dropped from the label
All the money they gave you, made you very unstable
They really enslaved but you wasn't able with the coke in your nasal

To see you up in the crib but they rockin' your cradle
You a joke and you fatal, they made you an MC
Meaning, most confused
Not E M C E E, that's what I use

Many people really wanna know from me
When I'm a drop and they can go cop, the next LP
Or CD or T A P E you see
It's about word of mouth for me

We krush them and they click
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to get
You supposed to get free and intelligent
Not a platinum plaque that's irrelevant

We krush them and they rap
Yo, they don't really know where the money is at
And what's funny is that, is if you'd just stay focused
They'd be the one to be the brokest

I'm from the inner city, that's right, flashy asses and titties
That's right, no pity mad graffiti, that's right
Broken gang treaties, that's real
I speak complete broken slang freely at will

I spit what I'm about to spit, get what I'm about to get
Never no counterfeit, movin' about a bit
'Knowledge Reigns Supreme', only a few like the sound of it
Others can't get down with it

So why did I have to come off my sabbatical? Battle you?
My metachromatical will splatter you
I got another track to do, I can't mack witchu
Your rhymes are fictional, mine are factual

I'll embarrass you, I'm glad to do
I'm the teacher but in the streets it can be bad for you
I feel sad for you, 'cause you frontin' like you gettin' ahead
But you really on E instead

I've come to show these people, you're not my equal
All you want is the cash and a hoe in a see-through
Yeah, KRS-One comin' through with the breeze team
You know how we do

We krush them and they click
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to get
You supposed to get free and intelligent
Not a platinum plaque that's irrelevant

Yo, we krush them and they squad
Let me tell you right now that it's all about God
You can walk around the streets like you livin' it hard
But a real teacher know when you scarred

I refuse to be bought, I refuse to snooze
I refuse to come up short, I refuse to lose
I refuse to be caught in the court
I refuse to refuse bein' taught, I refuse evil thoughts

'Cause they whole shit's wack, trap's wack
You're wack, you're pack's wack, in fact I jab-slap that
Cap at that, now, retract that crap, wherever I'm in or at
You better go back and sip that crap

Bring your gat, I'm lovin' that
Like football, you'll be, runnin' back
Blazin' 'em, merely dazin' 'em, barely playin' 'em out
These are God's lyrics, I'm just sayin' 'em out

We krush them and they click
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to get
You supposed to get free and intelligent
Not a platinum plaque that's irrelevant

We krush them and they crew
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to do
You supposed to be buttoned up right to your neck
If you a woman, you'll get respect

Let me tell you we krush them and they crew
Let me tell you right now what you supposed to be
You supposed to be a man of integrity
Above the law, you effect destiny

We krush them and they lie
This is conscious rap, we not hypnotized
Anywhere the action's at, we rappin' at
Takin it home and unpackin' that, that, that

Yeah, whassup? Whassamatta you?
(You)
Why you lookin' so sad?
(So sad)
KRS is back, but you don't look so glad
(He's back)

Ahh, shutupayouface, look at this place
Why was I chosen to pick up the race?
And carry the flame, the torch, the name?
Millennium games, it's all the same
Sinners repent, many for fear
End of the year, everyone cheers
Only a few hear my voice in they ears

Everyone else well they really don't care
But what if I told you I could read the future
And in the future, they the losers
We the winners, cause they the sinners
Well it's all mathematics, can I eat my dinner

And think why was I made to link
(Think)
Between them and the universe, battle, who the first?
I don't really care 'cause I'm really not here
I'm showin' you skill, but you still sayin', "Where?"

Whassamatta you? Why you lookin' so sad?
(You)
(So sad)
KRS is back but you don't look so glad
(He's back)
Ahh, shutupayouface

Every race, walkin' around with they head up in space
They cannot see that we all really one
In any battle I already won
Thank the creator, it's already done
KRS-One? Leavin' 'em stunned

Dunn duh-duh dunn dunn done it again
Me and Will and my brother named Ken
Now let me tell you
The bass in your face, the highs in your eyes
Will make you realize
If you down with the temple of Hip-Hop

You not no average guy, or girl
C'mon take a critical look in my world
See the metaphysical books that I twirl and twist
Forces the ventriloquist
I'm just a dummy gettin' money at this name Kris

Whassamatta you? Why you lookin' so sad
(You)
(So sad)
KRS is back, but you don't look so glad
(He's back)
Ahh shutupayouface

KRS-One, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone
Look, I be chillin' readin' a book
While the hip-hop nation repeats my hooks
All I wanna see is y'all healthy and wealthy
Yeah, we already did it, really what can they tell me
About the pimps and the hoes, players and the clothes

You gets no money if you got no flow, no skill
C'mon y'all it's time to build
If you got no skill, how you gon' build?
Build, c'mon y'all it's time to build
If you got no skill, how you gon' build?

Whassamatta you? Why you lookin' so sad
(You)
(So sad)
KRS is back, but you don't look so glad
(He's back)
Ahh shutupayouface, negative ass
We bring the light

North Carolina, they got me
Florida, they got me
Texas, yeah, they rock me
In New York City they got me

L.A., ha hah, they got me
Canada, up North they rock me
D.C. Atlanta, they got me
Ha hah, none of y'all can't stop me

Whassamatta you? Why you lookin' so sad
(You)
(So sad)
KRS is back, but you don't look so glad
(He's back)
Ahh shutupayouface! Give it to 'em

Yeah, uh huh, underground, never stop y'all
Underground, K.P. y'all come on

Ain't no stoppin' what we've done
Don't give up this fight is won
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Take that stand, realize the truth
Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

B R O N X
See these cars, see these checks, intellect
See these thugs, ain't no sweat, intellect
A thousand miles, how do you do it? One step

Now check out this flow, they wanna be down, but they can't
Original criminal minded flow, they just ain't
Ready for the real, ready to peel off the paint
Your style is fake, the teacher returns to debate

You the best? That's bull, you questionable
Highly flexible, wasn't you sexual?
Now you hardcore? You need to see God more
I sit on the faculty you, you sophomore

Ain't no stoppin' what we've done
Don't give up this fight is won
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Take that stand, realize the truth
Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Time to get it, now you did it, tryin' to spit it
You don't fit it, ask the critics, already did it, skipped the gimmicks
I don't mimic, metaphysics, you'll admit it, better to live it
Better to give it, so I spit it every minute so you get it

My lyric is wicked an' full of culture y'all
Huh? Battle, nah, get back in your car
Either you never heard of me or you really wanna get with me
But as your teacher let me test you for a learning disability

You feeling me? 'Cause you can't, get it through your head
This is, suicide, you're better off dead
Let me not amp you up 'cause this style you can't do what
My stomach can take it and your stomach it'll cramp you up

This is, breath control, breath control stylee
I get up all in that ass that [Incomprehensible] toxic heinie
Try me, back in the days you woulda had sorrow
Try the teacher today, and you won't see tomorrow 'cause

Ain't no stoppin' what we've done
Don't give up this fight is won
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Take that stand, realize the truth
Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Like a piss on the streets I exist
Not the meat but the fish
Complete the feat when I'm speakin' the heat into this
Witness Kris rippin' this

Don't trip on this, skip ahead if you're ready
My show medley is deadly
I'm about a hundred million mic years away
These players I don't hate, but I'm not here to play

I hit it all day, all night, all afternoon
Rock all mics from the days of sassoon
Where the hell was you? On the corner with rats
When we was at the LQ, lockin' it down and that was that

Divine speaker, mind keeper, time teacher, time leader
I'll be sittin' in the club by the speaker
Waitin' for you rappers to choke up then I eat ya
Like some prehistoric winged creature, ah
On your neck, like the American eagle facin' East and West
I be the best, Blastmaster KRS 'cause

Ain't no stoppin' what we've done
Don't give up this fight is won
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Take that stand, realize the truth
Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Get them up, get them up
Get them up, get them up
Get them up, get them up
Get them up, get them up

Ain't no stoppin' what we've done
Don't give up this fight is won
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Take that stand, realize the truth
Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew
There's no way they can hold us down
'Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now

Attention all true hip-hoppers
Let us come together, for the unity of hip-hop culture
Every third week in May, is hip-hop appreciation week, celebrate with us
Then, join us in November, for hip-hop history month
Big up, to the Zulu Nation, hey

Teacher, yes who's that?
It's the authorities, they're at the door
Chill the authority is here