Ll Cool J - Dear Hip Hop lyrics

"You better stop foolin' if you want to get along with me" True "We grew up on the block, and we know about poverty" Do you? Dear hip-hop, I apologize for how you've been treated I should've fought for my culture, instead I retreated The game is wounded, I stood and watched while they beat it My culture starved, I refused to feed it They sold you for a dollar like slaves in iron collars A*R's chase you with bloodhounds and rottweilers You went to the highest bidder, you was pissed on like kitty litter But far from a quitter, but there's somethin' to consider Nah, after much deliberation I decided I'm the hottest cat to ever receive rotation I'm the foundation, one of the chief architects Of this dream we're all chasin', I had to speak up Too much time was wastin' whoa! So here we go I'm tired of the money talk and the, b**hes and hoes Everybody's always, soundin' the same I have to walk on water I can't, drown in the game [Chorus: x2] "Hip-Hop, was set out in the dark" "Hip-Hop, was set out in the dark" "Hip-Hop, was set out in the dark" "They used to do it out in the park" I remember your bar mitzvah, that burgundy label Me and Jam Master had the battle of the big cables Before the Serratos, real vinyls, real tables Sk**s was the motto, no hype, no fables You seemed so happy, you loved me so much You popped off and went platinum, at my slightest touch Over sized hoodies, Yukon trucks 20 years later, it's like lightning struck They're worshipin' the money, they're prayin' to the bank They danced on slave ship, slept as it sank The devil made 'em do it, but only God do I thank Because we aren't done yet, there's still gas in the tank You look in a man's eyes, that's how you really tell his rank Not the size of his account, check him, he might bounce It's all on the line, this time it really counts I'll bleed for this one, on down to the last ounce [Chorus] They rent a crib they're frontin', they rent a car they're stuntin' They rent a chain they're bluffin', that's why the culture's sufferin' And even if you're a millionaire that don't mean nothin' Unless you build your community and encourage some unity Too much ego, too much posin' If he's so hot then, why's the culture frozen? It's time for a change, the order needs to be rearranged And this song was pre-ordained After 2 long decades, LL still remains And you can blame it on my spirit, not on my brains Time to put on my armor, go to war for the game Cause it's on its last leg, and that's more than a shame This is a lifestyle homey, it's more than champagne But I will make a toast to Flash reachin' the Hall of Fame I end it with a line, from the book of King James Let there be light when I write graffiti on the train [Chorus] [Repeat: x2] Let us proclaim the mystery and fame I pray the Lord my culture be saved If hip-hop dies before I awake May Jam Master Jay cut a LL break