[Intro - 2Pac]
Here we go; we gonna send this one out to the old school
All these motherf**ers in the Bronx, and Brooklyn, and Staten Island
Queens, and all the motherf**ers that laid it down, the foundation
Ya know what I'm saying? Nothing but love for the old school
That's who were going do this one for, ya feel me?
BVD's and sh**
Ain't nothin' like the motherf**in' old school, n***a
And I know you kinda like reminiscin' when I just freak it to ya like that
So why don't you flip that sh** for these motherf**ers and like, you know
Really just let them see how you picture the old school
Cause it ain't the same for every motherf**er, you feel me?
So, uh, take us back, n***a
[Verse 1 - K. Jayz]
I remember back when I was younger
I mean back when a n***a was still wearin' Pampers
I would listen to Nas and Lauryn Hill
“If I Ruled the World”, that sh** was so surreal
“Keep Ya Head Up” wasn't really advice I would listen to
Cause n***as would talk about me
And I was so misconstrued about what I'm supposed to do
Everyday, makin' so many mistakes
Cruisin' down that ride, listen to mixtapes
I remember Christmas Day, my first boombox
A li'l kid blastin' loud music
Boondocks
I listened to 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre
And n***as my age wasn't doin' the same thing
They steady listenin' to new millennium music
They were good, but now they all just abusin' hip-hop
And I just won't stand for it
That's why I make real music to pamper it
[Hook x2 - 2Pac]
Come with me
Hail Mary, n***a, run quick see
What do we have here now?
Do you wanna ride or die?
La da da da, la la la la
[Verse 2 - 2Pac]
I remember Mr. Magic, Flash, Grandmaster Caz
LL raising hell but, that didn't last
Eric B. & Rakim was, the sh** to me
I flip to see a Doug E. Fresh show, with Ricky D
And Red Alert was puttin in work, with Chuck Chill
Had my homies on the hill getting ill, when sh** was real
Went out to steal, remember Raw, with Daddy Kane
When De La Soul was puttin Potholes in the game
I can't explain how it was, Whodini
Had me puffin on that buddha gettin buzzed, cause there I was
Them block parties in the projects, and on my block
You diggy don't stop, sippin on that Private Stock
Through my speaker Queen Latifah, and MC Lyte
Listen to Treach, KRS to get me through the night
With T La Rock and Mantronix, to Stetsasonic
Remember "Push It" was the bomb sh**, nuttin like the old school
Remember popping and locking to Kurtis Blow, the name belts
And Scott LaRock the Super Ho back in Latin Quarters
When Slick Rick was spittin La Di Da Di
Gaming the hoochies at the neighborhood block parties, I remember
Breakdancing to Melle Mel
Jekyll and Hyde, LL when he Rocks the Bells
Forget the TV, about to hit the streets and do graffiti
Be careful don't let the transit cops see me
It ain't nothing like the old school!
[Outro - 2Pac]
Aye, on the real though, ain't nothin' like the old school
Aye, I was at Latin Quarters, n***a, when Eric B. and Rakim did “I Ain't No Joke” for the first time
Aye, remember motherf**ers used to get they gold chain snatched? Remember that sh**?
Remember seeing Brooklyn go crazy up in the motherf**ing party?
Remember how f**ers used to go, "Is Brooklyn in the house?"
And motherf**ers would lose they God Damn Mind!
That's the old school to me; that's what I'm sayin'
I remember goin' places that motherf**ers was scared to say
They was from anywhere but Brooklyn; that sh** was the bomb
Back in the motherf**ing old school, n***a
Remember skelly, n***a? Knocking n***as out the box, popping boxes?
Remember stickball? Member n***as to run that sh** like that?
Remember the block? Remember screaming up at your moms from the window?
The ice cream truck, remember all the mother-
Member the italian icey's yo?
Yo remember the italian icey's the spanish n***as comin down
With the coconut icey's and sh**?