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"What does it take" |
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"to be a great" |
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"MC?" |
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If you ask me, it's much more than Master of Ceremonies |
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Because a lot of Masquerading Cornballs |
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Don't realize it also means Mad Creativity |
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In this day and age of mediocrity |
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There's two types of rappers that you'll recognize and hear |
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But I prefer the ones with the lyrics of the year |
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Than the gimmick with the gear and the right puppeteer |
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Now you can be the next Rakim, Shakespeare |
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you're still 10 steps away from having a career |
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You step up the plate to earn respect from your peers |
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And end up on deck for the remainder of your years |
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I suppose this means greatness takes blood, sweat, and tears |
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It also takes an industry that doesn't breed fear |
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Or pumping all this mindless crap up in your ears |
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And limiting the contrast of what you get to hear |
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You got to recognize it's a determined idea |
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A righteous young mind is a devil's worst fear |
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But when you wanna give the people peace and satisfaction |
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Everybody's mama wants a piece of the action |
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So now I fall victim to supply and demand |
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Immaculate conceptions, born illegitimate |
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Destined to be the greatest story ever missed |
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Which means its meant to be for whoever's hearing this |
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[Chorus 2x] |
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When it's all said and done it should be heard and seen |
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'Til this cold-hearted game forces us to change teams |
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While the lust for the loot spreads out like gangrene |
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So the haves chase their tails while the nots chase their dreams |
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As the years chase the days, past the futures, meet fate |
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Like your firstborn, waiting for pop's release date |
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Postpone, meanwhile, I accumulate means |
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To revise and renew what was just heard and seen |
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It's been stated that I rhyme like God and I build like a poet |
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One hand wash the other like Lady Macbeth |
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Flip styles like Bela Karolyi |
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Warm hearted, cold blooded |
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I write like opposite left |
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I left opposites right what they left off |
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My rights left right-wingers left to right beside me |
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Left my right hand man 'cause he left what's right |
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And I reserve the right to write 'til I'm free |
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'Cause I free styles with my pen, |
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That ya'll couldn't if you freestyled all day long |
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Literally, this literature designed for one orator |
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Stays on the head |
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Emcee's emcee, that I be the emcee's emcee |
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'Cause I am saying what I am thinking |
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Except when my mind's blinking |
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My eyes open even when my eyes' drinking |
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I's a socializer, but more so with those wiser |
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Ask yourself why's a music so misused it's self contained |
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And not self sustained |
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I myself contemplate this 'til I make myself complain |
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Shall my raps stay maintained, wrapped in cellophane |
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'Til they're unwrapped by human consumers? |
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Emphatically no, so I rap wherever I go |
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And let it grow up in your brain like a tumor |
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[Chorus 2x] |
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Aiiyo, ya think ya really know me well |
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There's more to me than ya mind got room for |
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And much much more than a clever verse or two |
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That's all you know about me, you ain't even knowing that |
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You think I give a fuck whether or not my record sells? |
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You're damn right but you see that ain't the way I'm keeping score |
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If one million people said it does that make it true |
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You judge my music by whether or not my pocket's fat? |
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Well, fuck you |
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When the cash cow you're milking |
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It ain't yours but the job pays well, don't it? |
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And if you're lucky you can even get to taste a drop |
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We'll see who's happy when you're old but you're not grown |
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You see me? Now, yeah, you'll see me later too |
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Fucking you up when the vantage point change, don't it? |
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I know what's hip, but you determine if it's hop or pop |
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You're just a man without a voice, pass the microphone |
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I know the difference between written rhymes and freestyles |
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You see, for me, it's like having sex or making love |
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And you should know by now I'm married to the pad and pen |
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But I'm entitled to cheat on her every now and then |
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Will your children know the hip hop history? |
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Will the songs you hate be shrouded in mystery? |
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Don't step to me with your stats and your date smarts |
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You know your neighborhood by street signs or landmarks? |
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I'm not talking 'bout the first record ever made |
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I'm talking 'bout the first one that ever made you |
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The first records that I played never played me |
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And I can still play 'em today 'cause they stay true |
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You know this time I'm only speaking on the timeless |
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It makes sense now and then, yeah, now and then |
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'Cause now it's making picture perfect sense and then |
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It's making picture perfect sense like it did now |
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[Chorus 4x] |
