Hip hop, a way of life Chosen by the ghetto youth out of necessity It involves graffiti, deejaying, breakdancing and emceeing Which all rely on raw, artistic skill You know, they used to tell me that this music would never last Now look at it now, it influences all music here today So either you respect it we gon' take it back ============================= Hip hop, the voice of the street, the voice of the youth The voice that you hear, the voice that only we produce The way that we salute that makes the wildest niggas start to shoot The voice that recoupes only 12% of the loot The voice of the groups, like OutKast, LOX and The Roots The voice of the truth, that no society can ever mute The voice of the men and women who gave their lives defendin The God-given rights, they had no choice but to fight The voice of the black, latino and the white The voice of the club that makes the freaks come out at night The voice of the thugs who pop champagne and rock ice The voice of the shorties who wear tight shirts and talk sheist The voice of the shook who look one time but not twice The voice of the crooks at gambling spot with hot dice The voice of the church, mosque, synagogue and temple The voice of your soul, your body and your mental The voice that says "rap!" when I hear a instrumental The voice that don't stop and it's just that simple The voice that don't stop and it's just that simple The voice that don't, d-d-don't, d-don't... ============================= Yo, we live that life that you call hip hop From the bottom straight to the tip top Hey Rawls, we got em while them others did not So if you with the LC, nigga, lick shot If you live that life they call hip hop Worldwide everyday tic-toc This life is like nothin to play with, ock That's why when I say "shit" you say "shit hot" That's why when I say "shit" you say "shit hot" That's why when I say "shit" you say "shit hot" That's why when I say "shit" you say "shit hot" That's why when I say "shit" - ============================= ( *excerpt from the movie _Wildstyle_* ) [ Double Trouble ] Cause here's a little story that must be told About two cool brothers that were put on hold Tried to hold us back from fortune and fame They destroyed the crew and they killed our name They tried to step on the ego and walk on the pride But true blue brothers stand side by side Through thick and thin, from beginning to end This battle we lost, but the war we'll win =============================
