[Verse 1]
First off, f** all the bullsh** in the mainstream
They watered down, these rappers fishy, n***a f** they stream
Cause all they talk about is hoes, drug, and faking c.r.e.a.m
Remember used to be real rapping 'bout our ghetto dreams
Back when the legends use to talk about their ghetto scenes
On how they made it out the hood committing crimes and sins
"Illmatic" realest story album that you've ever seen
Break dancing on the basement back to days when we were teens
B-Boyin', MC, Graffiti, wondering where the f** all this things?
KR3Wmatic brought it right back, goals' to make the crowd scream
To give you hits, i got the heat, i make the mic steams
Doing it for the culture keeping it real for my team
It's "STRICTLY FOR MY N.I.G.G.A.Z." is all about my ghetto theme
It was all a dream like B.I.G, now living ghetto dreams
Gon' do it big, gon' move the crowd, gon' do it like Rakim
Cause all these fake rappers s** on the mic like they're Kim
[Refrain]
Can't leave rap alone, the game needs me
[Verse 2]
Listen
f** all the corny rappers giving rap a bad name
(R)hythm (A)nd (P)oetry, "Hip-Hop Culture" is our tribe name
"Hip-hop" is genre, anything to do with Rap game
"Hip-hoppas" those who rep it, folks who live the tribe name
"Hip Hop" you live it, "Rap" you do it, so they not the same
Hip-hop will never ever die but f** what it became
Understand why you said is dead, went from glory to shame
It's time to take care of the game since nothing was the same
But y'all can thank me later, who k**ed it? who is to blame?
These rappers corny, lazy, when they rap their bars is lame
They flow the same, they say the same, commercialize the game
Remember when it was real, when it wasn't bout the fame
But y'all can have the Grammys, got Pac & BIG in a frame
KR3Wmatic melt the mics cause when i flow you feel the flame
The Grammys don't define me, i got dope bars no one can claim
Hip-hop will never ever die but f** what it became
[Refrain]
[Verse 3]
Matic
Real music gets no airplay n***a f** the radio
Promoting d** and violence, no more substance in their videos
I never heard Immortal Technique but they playing "stupid ho"
They stupid yo! You never know, one of the realest ever known
KR3Wmatic keepin' it real when i'm in the studio
Not for the radio, just bump me through your stereo
Hip-hop is Juliet and I'm Romeo
Gon' ride till end like rodeo
Hip-hop should die, we die together, now you know
So f** y'all stabbin' her heart with your corny beats and flow
There's more to hip-hop everything ain't 'bout smoking weed and blow
Let's teach the children, if the truth is told, the youth can grow
Pimpin' her to the mainstream just to get your fame and dough
But y'all can't f**in' k** her been surviving long ago
I grew up with this culture and won't ever let it go
When Common used to love H.E.R, before Nasty said she's ghost
I rose her from the dead lyrically, no Holy Ghost
[Refrain]