Check it, check it [Grand Puba] "First batter up, first-first batter up" Now, entering the batter's box Is a guy who wears Champion socks and likes rings with rocks Throw up my middle finger to the umpire Cause n***as just choosin the new talent just, need to retire Check the signals from my manager, the first base coach He's throwin signs, tellin me the label's just, playin cutthroat Yo, I hit em with a tape or should I say I take a check swing I hear the crowd sing, go meet Plug and the telephone ring He says I need more beats, wait a minute, no doubt My temper runs out, three pitches later, I strike the f** out Yo, sh** like this happens to the real MC's Because the labels wanna sign up the commercial wannabes And if, it ain't that, it's just a little bit more, sayin "Umm, can you put on a screwface and scream lyrics that's hardcore?" I adore, this whole rap persona, but some of you A&R's Must be mixin coke witcha marijuana, talkin *sniff* "Oooh, he got the new sh** I'm on his dick but that's an MC that come out with one baby hit" I split atoms, blow up as if I was atomic Labels talk so much sh** yo I laugh at them like they was comics Check the scoreboard, we're up by one Two more hitters to go, and the song ain't even done, Baseball.. [Grand Puba] "First batter up well here's the pitch that's a curve Second batter up because the first got served" [x2] [What What] From the kids in the batting cages to the pro players (What What) To the labels and the mob and the beaches making waves (What What) Looking at the pitcher like, "Man what gives?" They got one-arm fugitives throwin with prosthetic limbs ("Ewwww!") ? look from the team to the umpire means that the Man got demoted from stadiums to refereein gyms Synonyms from big cheese to the independent label couldn't Pay up they debt so they got cut like unpaid cable B.. E.. I.. S.. B-O-L, accent on the 'O', GOALLLL! Feel the sweat trickling down the back of my neck Tighten my grip on the bat, take a swing And it's a technical foul... (wait a minute) Nah... that's... basketball... whatever, good call How come when black men hit the field, they were throwin bottles Now they throwin million dollar deals When I steal bases I do it with pride For Jackie Robinson certified, forerunner for us Homeruns we must, hit em straight out the ballpark I'm not patriotic, so I won't sing the National Underlying stipulations playing underhanded ways It pays to have your representative stay Or you'll have, top executives gettin all possesive Of your money, and it's not funny But when uhh loot is involved all problems get solved Umm, maybe because you supply they c**aine fetish? To finish this, this business ain't nothin but corrupt Forget all this garbage, I'd rather play tennis [Grand Puba] "First batter up well here's the pitch that's a curve Second batter up because the first got served" [x2] Baseball was never for blacks (what?) It used to be a pasttime for whites (That's true) Now it has mad Puerto Ricans But that's not the point of the song (A-ight) The point of the song and I make it mad simple When I be flippin this script Is that the industry is all over the mound Pitchin but nobody's makin any hits, hmm Baseball is not just a sport It's the verbal, mental, physical, spiritual Emotional level that we are on It's about time that all you devils was gone ? like charm, I said it and meant it If you can not handle it then for your ears it's not intended You can play the documented, all athletes quoted Cause when you speak to be exploited then your spot will get exploded Bases are loaded, but there is no RBI's in the stadium Where players try, to be hard as titanium I got your cranium movin, when I be showin and provin Now you fear, that your career, is goin down the tubes And it'll be, along industry, that's withering And was left oceans, about to blow to smithereens I bring, lyrical formats that you'll admire And to the Hall of Fame I'm going when I retire They'll set your world afire, there is nobody to fear When every umpire and A&R is screamin that YOU'RE OUTTA HERE And to your amazement, a tax writeoff is your replacement You gotta face it, there is no other crew adjacent With sounds from the basement, we rise We energize, to take up the whole enterprise By now you realize, that when we're in the place That we will come fat, over piano and the ba** If you're lookin for security then you can end your chase Come home, to Negro League, and you'll be safe.. Baseball No doubt, Negro League is in the house No doubt, no doubt, knockin runs outs Cause we do it like this, we do it like that [?]I was rockin stage just like to a bat[?] [?]Sent to home back when umm, be doing my thing[?] Hit a homerun, with the Negro League theme Do it like this, do it like that [?]I was rockin stage just like to a bat[?] [?]Sent to home back when umm, be doing my thing[?] Hit the homerun with the Negro League swin