Lyrics
Wordsmiths Strata
When the pop rap charts make the art fade away
But that's the whole tragic point my friend
Goddamn props, shows get rocked
Ode to the greats, the tapes, the boombox
And to the bus stop, the bootlegs are hot
The days fade away, won't stay on the block
So true they do to get paid
The art that they made it skipped the airwaves
The labels just say we own you like slaves (put 'em on the shelf)
That thought they took to the graves (oh yes)
Fast forward, flow so historic
I claim the torch to cause the force with it
My leader bleed the hip-hop
I speak to the kids, the pop has gotta stop
Please research the birth of who's hot (who's hot)
Young crowd say Nelly built rap
And Changi Young Jock put it all on the map
And treat the pioneers like blacks who hit the back
What would the game be like?
What if there's never never been a Rakim?
What would the game be like?
What if Public Enemy never started the rap revolution?
What would the game be like?
What if Big Daddy Kane never touched a mic?
What would the game be like?
Imagine if I, wasn't willing to fight
So sad when a rapper get richer
Give them the fame, make money be the scripture
Love of the game fade like an old picture
You a boss, your boys call you mister?
Let me make it real clear for you cats
If the pioneers never rapped, y'all wouldn't make rap
All facts, even got jacked
When a label own it all from your name to your tracks
Listen here, hip-hop, my dear
The dough we dig deep too steep for them to care
Sit quiet in a studio setting
I start to flashback the tracks when I'm 11
LL had a girl around the way
I learned the kick step, I'm rapping Kid N' Play
I love to hear scratch from Jam Master Jay
Cop an attitude like NWA, hey
What would the game be like?
What if Slick Rick never mastered the art of storytelling?
What would the game be like?
What if Run-DMC never dropped Walk This Way?
What would the game be like?
What if EPMD wasn't all about they business?
What would the game be like?
I remember and I'll never forget
Round and round we go
(Hoping the art don't fade away)
Round and round we go
(Hoping the art don't fade away)
Round and round we go
(Hoping the art don't fade away)
Round and round we go
(Hoping the art don't fade away)
Spin vinyl, DJ behind you (hit me DJ)
Rock mics, forget who you signed to
This show is for all the greats
Rewind the time back to dancing with breaks
Free expression, that was rap all
Graffiti on a stall in a subway wall
And on the blacktop where the B-boys balled (let's go)
This culture lives on for years
And I'll keep spitting and owe the pioneers
What would the game be like?
What if Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth never
Gave us "Smackin' The Soul" brother?
What would the game be like?
What if BDP never dropped "Criminal Minded"?
What would the game be like?
What if Gang Starr never created that "Mass Appeal"?
What would the game be like?
So I keep it real
What would the game be like?
What if De La Soul never dropped "3 Feet High and Rising"?
What would the game be like?
What if Das EFX never dropped "They Wanna Bang"?
What would the game be like?
What if A Tribe Called Quest never dropped "The Love In Theory"?
What would the game be like?
So I hope you hear me
