Lowkey - The Essence lyrics

[Verse 1] I don't know exactly when it started going downhill Let's take it back to the days it was about sk** Before it was sweet boys parading as tough geeza's Educated men naming themselves after drug dealers When it was a way to vent a mans pain Before it became a tool for presidential campaigns Before the 50's, Lil' Wayne's and Rick Ross's I'm about to show you the essence of what Hip-Hop is Before it was about street credibility When it was he's alright but he's better lyrically Think about the zombies your bad words influence Before Hip-Hop became an advert for ignorance Before it became Kamikaze I'm half Gil Scott-Heron and half Talib Kwelli You think getting shot makes you the next best thing For every 50 cent there's at least 50 MF Grimms And that's grim [Verse 2] I know you think that this is easier But don't believe the flippin' media Or what you read on Wikipedia It used to be all for the love Now pricks are greedier This business is sicker than an infant with leucemia I live Hip-Hop, don't disrespect my household I'm about to k** these rappers sales like internet downloads We've come a long way from the old timers Now it's all 360, deals and f**ing ghost writers Am I controversial 'cause I'm not commercial? Or 'cause I don't rap like a rapper that wants to hurt you? Every man's bragging, making anthems with gang-banging I'm like a man standing, over the Grand Canyon Hip-Hop broke down barriers like skin tone Hip-Hop 2008 is selling ring tones Hip-Hop even had your son dressing up in pink clothes Is Hip-Hop responsible for your kids soul? I think so!