Way of Life
4th Disciple & Hell Razah Lyrics

Hip hop is a way of life, it's in my breath
Hip hop is an essential part of my existence, it permeates my very being

The way I, breathe and step, not the way I dress
My authenticity lies in my actions and movements, not in my appearance

East to west, throw your arms right to left
Regardless of location, express yourself by moving your arms from right to left

Give me a mic and a crowd, and a turntable set
All I need is a microphone, an audience, and a DJ setup to immerse myself in hip hop

Alotta niggaz turned thugs, after 2Pac died
Many individuals transformed into tough individuals following the death of 2Pac

Puttin' dust in they weed, after they heard How High
They started lacing their marijuana with illicit substances after discovering the song How High

KRS was the main one, I heard Stay Wise
KRS-One stood out as the prominent figure urging individuals to remain wise

Before, N.W.A., you never thought of drive-by's
Prior to the emergence of N.W.A., the concept of drive-by shootings never crossed your mind

Slick Rick was the kingpin of all fly guys
Slick Rick was the epitome of stylish and charismatic individuals

Rakim kept it civilized, now it be Nas
Rakim maintained a cultured approach to hip hop, and now Nas carries the torch

cool G. Rap made rhymes for the organized crimes
Kool G. Rap crafted verses that resonated with the world of organized crime

On the Road to they Riches, sellin' nickels and dimes
While striving for wealth, they engaged in low-level drug dealing

Cypress Hill made you feel, How Can I Just Kill a Man
Cypress Hill's music evoked emotions and made you ponder the question of taking someone's life

Niggaz turned killers after Wu-Tang Clan
Individuals transformed into ruthless murderers influenced by the Wu-Tang Clan

Startin' formin' into groups, so they can put on they fam
They created collectives to not only showcase their talent but also provide support for their families

Puff Daddy had you samplin' old records to dance
Puff Daddy popularized the use of samples from old records to create dance-worthy music

Biggie Smalls made you ball after One More Chance
Biggie Smalls made you feel lavish and extravagant after listening to One More Chance

The radio promotin' death, until there's no more fans
Radio stations excessively broadcasted songs glorifying violence until their audience diminished

Alotta playas want to play, but the game is advanced
Many individuals desire to participate, but the hip hop industry has become more intricate

The true culture of this hip hop, let's spread it to France
Let's disseminate the genuine essence of hip hop to France

M.O.P., kept it hardcore, from Onyx to DMX
M.O.P. maintained their raw and intense style, similar to Onyx and DMX

Now it's on Soundscan sells and BDS
Currently, success in the hip hop industry is measured by Soundscan sales and BDS charts

When the Fat Boys, to Big Punisher and Fat Joe
From the Fat Boys to Big Punisher and Fat Joe

EPMD, to me was, the best duo
From my perspective, EPMD was the most exceptional duo

Nah, Run-DMC, still be number uno
No, Run-DMC will always remain the number one

Now every artist that you know, want to drop solos
Nowadays, every artist you are familiar with aims to release solo projects

Half naked to sell records, in magazine photo's
To boost album sales, artists resort to appearing semi-nude in magazine photoshoots

Back to '83, the era of the Treacherous Three
Let's rewind to 1983, the period dominated by the Treacherous Three

When the Cold Crush, bumrushed the Force MD's
Recall the moment when the Cold Crush crew assertively disrupted the Force MD's performance

Now the pussy is free, but the crack cost money, oh yeah
Nowadays, sexual encounters are readily available, but obtaining crack cocaine requires monetary exchange

Melle Mel, brought the mentals, but we couldn't digest it
Melle Mel brought forth insightful lyrics, but many struggled to fully comprehend their significance

Cause all the niggaz in the eighties started gettin' arrested
Due to the heightened law enforcement activities, numerous individuals in the 1980s faced arrests

Sugar Hill caught an ill deal, Rapper's Delight
Sugar Hill Records signed a detrimental contract for the song Rapper's Delight

Back when artists got signed just for grabbin' the mic
During that era, artists were signed solely based on their ability to captivate audiences with their microphone skills

Kangols and rope chains, this when LL came
During this time, Kangol hats and thick rope chains were in fashion, which coincided with LL Cool J's rise

Ain't nobody had a metaphor like Big Daddy Kane
No one possessed the metaphorical prowess exhibited by Big Daddy Kane

Public Enemy was deep before Do the Right Thing
Public Enemy had a profound impact even before the release of Do the Right Thing

MC Shan had Queensbridge under his wing
MC Shan played a significant role in shaping the music scene in Queensbridge

Marley Marl did The Symphony, it blew instantly
Marley Marl produced The Symphony, which became an instant hit

Made hip hop history, now it's industry
The Symphony became a pivotal moment in hip hop, but now the genre has morphed into a commercialized industry

Everybody either look alike, or sound gimmicky
Most artists either have a similar appearance or employ gimmicks to differentiate themselves

Not noticin' the energy was hid' in Tennessee
Unaware, the true essence of hip hop was suppressed in Tennessee

Never thought they ever see a young black Master P
No one expected the emergence of a young black artist like Master P

Go to France and see a white boy blacker than me
It's astonishing to witness a white individual in France who embodies a more authentic hip hop persona than myself

Suge Knight or Eazy-E, had black labels
Suge Knight or Eazy-E established successful record labels primarily dedicated to African-American artists

Why the rest eat the crumbs off the master's tables
While others settle for minimal rewards, Suge Knight or Eazy-E enjoyed the full benefits of their endeavors