Yeah, shit The fuck you talkin' 'bout? Before hip-hop, niggas got shot Before hip-hop, niggas smoked rocks Before hip-hop, my uncle had a drop Before hip-hop, homies stood on the block Before hip-hop, people smoked weed Before hip-hop, I'll get you what you need Before hip-hop, pimpin' was goin' Before hip-hop, bitches was hoein' My style is hostile, your style is docile I pull them Glocks out, forgot to box out I grab the rebound, I claim to be down The guppy, he drown 'cause homie's thee clown My pronouns will throw rounds, heartbeats will slow down (yeah) Where's the showdown? Your hood is a ghost town I'm a Ghostbuster, hit you with the whole cluster Turn you into mustard, General Custer Chief Blackfoot kick a black rock 'Cause somehow they responsible for crack rock Somehow they wanna blame it on hip-hop Before I could talk, they used to Crip walk They used to roll dice, they used to flash ice Fuck with a chick, she'll cut your ass twice They used to pay the price, they used to go to jail Hip-hop ain't the reason why we catching hell Before hip-hop, girls got knocked Before hip-hop, that pussy used to pop Before hip-hop, they was on molly Before hip-hop, niggas caught a body Hm, shit Yeah, right (yeah) What you talkin' 'bout? They tell you and me it was lots of unity in the Black community That shit is lunacy They tried to ruin me, got me for my jewelry What they did to me, police got immunity Early '70s, got him for his leather piece Khakis hella creased, it was lots of jealousy Boys' bathroom was like a platoon The girls' bathroom was like a saloon Squabbles all year, September to June Niggas on weed, water and shrooms Niggas OD'd, had gangs and goons Down to send a coon (Zoom) straight to the moon Niggas would holler: Give me a dollar, nigga He wanted more than a dollar, didn't take no scholar Yeah, motherfuckers had the Chevy Impala And they crashed out like: Fuck you, your honor (fuck you, your honor) It all happened (Bitch) before they start rappin' If they say I'm lying, motherfuckers is cappin' Niggas be crying like they was the captain But I don't give a fuck, hand that bitch a napkin They mad at the mirror, but the mirror don't lie Before hip-hop, it was a drive-by Before hip-hop, niggas used to die Before hip-hop, mamas used to cry They mad at the mirror, but the mirror don't lie Before hip-hop, it was a drive-by Before hip-hop, niggas used to die Before hip-hop, mamas used to cry (Before Hip Hop) Martin, Medgar, Malcolm shot (Before Hip Hop) street profits with choppers and drug spots (Before Hip Hop) heroin flooded parks and back blocks (Before Hip Hop) cities burned and scorched, the world watched (Before Hip Hop) blood splashing, fascist, food smarts (Before Hip Hop) corporate bastards count cash, no heart (Before Hip Hop) Fred Hampton got blammed in his own spot (Before Hip Hop) that's why I don't give a damn if you understand me or not (Before Hip Hop) I used to dream of selling coke Sip of Pepsi on a jet ski, ice like Gretzky, big boats Slice 'em, food chain, chef it up, Wolfgang Got the recipe for your destiny, let me explain No little boy moves Don't let them toy with your food Don't play with your aims, like a Barbie you can lose Teach you how to read the room like literary heirlooms Reading hands like Braille Corporations for sale, short sighted, tall tales My people in private jails While these guppies and kitty guppies actin' like born whales In waters where LL, riptide, farewell Hard to stay current, only serpents and cartels Gotta dive deeper, learn to float Catch a reefer, spotting sharks After dark, it's an art, Mona Lisa (Before Hip Hop) Martin laid in Ebenezer You lucky I'm rocking parties Your body be in a freezer Listen here Before Hip Hop, brothers still reach for the trunk It wasn't just bass, it wasn't just funk Sideline for the sidewalks, talking all that junk Before Hip Hop, they funk you right on up (Before Hip Hop) we fought until we got taught The law putting both our black asses in court (Before Hip Hop) records still got bought 33s and 45s, before New York Crime news at 9, no neighborhood support (Before Hip Hop) we all still came up short Before Hip Hop, the cameras, we still got caught Drank, smoke, told mama jokes Before Hip Hop, cops, we still got choked (Before Hip Hop) we still was broke Before guns, money, and that goddamn coke But don't blame it on Hip Hop, 'cause we still got hope They mad at the mirror, but the mirror don't lie Before hip-hop, it was a drive-by Before hip-hop, niggas used to die Before hip-hop, mamas used to cry