[Intro: Talib Kweli] 3X We do not (under no circumstances) live for Hip-Hop (Hip-Hop) It lives for us We don't live for Hip-Hop (Hip-Hop), it lives for us
[Verse 1: Talib Kweli] It's the eternalist, y'all burn to this, blaze da dro' Soul rebels trap up, we got a long way to go Before this here blow like a volcano We get eternal, this is what you waitin' for You try to front and play the role When you more like a pimp who pay the ho With my name up in your mouth like fellatio I lace the flow on purpose even up the ratio Of Hip-Hop to that shit they drop on the radio Underground classics is what they used to say before Now we break the surface quiet like an alligator nose They hate it, cuz they know if they don't get it, then they may be slow We still gonna blow like the horn played by Horatio The stakes is three feet high and risin' like De La Soul So I got Wonder Why, my man Dave and Maseo We all got babies so we embrace the taste of dough But y'all already know so I ain't gotta say no mo'
[Hook: Maseo] (De La) is whatcha need, (Reflection) is whatcha need We got the masters of the ceremonies Blessin' emcees (lip professin' emcees) From LI to Brooklyn to Cinncinnati, Hi-Tek and Kweli got this on lock D (Let me hear you scream out loud) if you're somebody Party to party, body to body When we come into the jam we do it wildstyle
[Verse 2: Posdnous] Yo! I'm homegrown for the bain, once I rock the mic plain It's the extravaganza we glad you came Made only for them heads, it's infra-red Aim For such a world figure, we got figures to gain (don't sleep on a nigga) I ain't Icabod Crane get that ass cooked hard cuz we raw like Kane Been known to mic spit, infinite per frame While these girls throw me plenty like jenny to jane Ain't some old school G poppin' memory lane, been on it future robotic Since the day I came If you don't know Plug Wonder Why is my name Most recognized leo with my size in mane Matter a fact track is simple and Plain Cuz the complexities I freeze is too deep to detain Reflect, Kwa-Tone Tek eternally in the game (and De La) oh fo' sho' We be shinin' the same
[Hook]
[Verse 3: Dave] Y'all think these challengers is here to make a man fold Shoot I've been holdin' these joints since I was day old Came to confirm the fact that I've been on the payroll Stay cold til one day make it hot and fade old Continue til I'm dyin, rottin' out gray and old I told them fool before they pass they have to pay toll While I've been sittin' at the table eatin' steak whole, side of greens Baby yams you know it stay soul, pre-natal But they want to come spit your way so So was I supposed to go and say no Right emcees some walking straight, some take the gay stroll I get my man to clamp they asses like they staples I'm from LI we take it far as out as naples And scrape hoes who'll be willing to take clothes off (off) See once you bet it all against reflects eternal You lose every rapper on a dept Y'all need to pay ya dues