9th Wonder - Spirit of '94 lyrics

[Verse One: Kaze] I've been fluent in ebonics since Snoop smoked chronic When life was a b**h and Sally tricked on Stetsasonic I was rocking jumpers, one flat down with summer tonic Little n***a with a vision to bust, flows bionic Stay paid, rock my hightop fade, dipped a rayon My starter culture has to match the colors of the crayons I found role models off of beat street and breaking Cuz my pops stayed drunk but still he brought home the bacon Now my momma taught me manners Better reading or writing To counter act all of my dads drinking, smoking and fighting Some people ain't like him So I walked and talked like that Used my words like weapons, Kaze talk like gats Because the fact is hip hop grabbed my head and took control of me When I was all alone and nobody was holding me I pop in the ca**ette, freestyle, my flow was wet Hit the floor dripping sweat spinning bout to break my neck But sh**, way before the helicopter The boombox up in my high school locker Was known for blasting tracks that's hella proper All these teachers ripping acting mad as f** Cuz I'm getting straight A's with D's in conduct Kevy Kev was my name Hip hop was my game But then crack hit the street then the sh** had all changed Everybody busting guns, dealing d** or faking claims But on the real buck a soldier and his culture remains, n***a A throwback running up these walls like Bo Jacks' You nothing without knowledge of self, player know that You nothing without knowledge of self, player know that Player know that [Hook: Kaze] I wish that I could go back To them days when respect was earned And everybody wrote their own raps To all my heads lets switch this fiction with fact Then rock this track like a throwback (Blaow) Tell 'em hold that There's four elements that keep it intact Before you rap you gotta know that Man this the throwback So pay your dues Respect your pioneers North cack we bringing hip hop back this year [Verse 2: Kaze] I love this hip hop sh** Just like a redneck love a rebel flag Catch me with my pants sagged Dippin' out a twenty bag Aiming for that black wall street type of salary Don't let the liquor and the weed f** up your mentality The game is smash mouth When you dealing with the cash route You get one shot, you either in or a**ed out 'Cause these companies be thinkin' black folks are all the same Dress us up, have us cool rapping, f**ing up the game Ain't no more art forms, rhyme sk**s, rocking medallions Now it's twenty inch, ice, coke, k** a ho', violence But still, to each his own I'mma just live my life Before you pull the burner out your coat, just think twice This is the sound of the culture it's my job to insult the Biggie, Pac wannabes and all executive vultures Cuz just like alot of heads, sh** I was raised on this Hoodied up in a cypher rhyming, pumping my fist And I ain't never have no corny tunes or pop no Crys' 2003 you front and you will get dissed And that's some MC sh** for those that don't know Drink milk but if your mind locked down you won't grow I'mma rep it like the forefathers So baby holla if you hold down your hood stay fly and stack dollars With the mind state of '88 Spirit of the '94 If knowledge ain't your power, what the f** is you rhyming for? [Hook: Kaze] I wish that I could go back To them days when respect was earned And everybody wrote their own raps To all my heads lets switch this fiction with fact Then rock this track like a throwback (Blaow) Tell 'em hold that There's four elements that keep it intact Before you rap you gotta know that Man this the throwback So pay your dues Respect your pioneers North Cack we bringing hip hop back this year [Outro: Kaze]