Ego
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics

Ego, ego
The concept of one's self-importance and self-confidence

Skippin', trippin' in my mind
The way in which the ego can affect one's thoughts and behavior

I got one, you got one, and now we equal
Everyone has an ego which can impact their thoughts and actions

Sometimes it makes you trip out on your people
The ego can cause one to react negatively to others around them

Sometimes it has connotations of evil
The ego can be seen as a negative aspect of one's personality

Sometimes n****s call on it when they need to
Some people may rely on their ego to assert themselves

Ay, it's hard to really make the subject positively stated
The ego is a complex concept that can be difficult to describe in a positive light

Some may hate it and some may overrate it
Opinions on the ego can be divisive

It's a top story and you rarely see a trend
The ego is a commonly discussed topic but trends in its understanding are rare

So all you psychoanalysts, pull out your pad and pen, it's called the ego
Psychologists often study the ego in order to better understand human behavior

Come up with an idea, and no one seems to get it
The ego can make one feel misunderstood and unrecognized

Then every time you mention it, they stare like you're two-headed
Others may view one's ego as strange or foreign

But one day in your cubicle your idea really comes to view
When one's ego allows them to be creative or assertive they can find success

Your boss is walking by, he sees it too and he takes it from you
Others may try to take credit for one's ideas or work

She put you on the aces of all the stripper places
Success can allow one to gain wealth and status

And has the kinda clientele where n****s trick off very well
Successful people may attract others who are willing to spend money on them

You beg her and you plead her and you tuck away your ego
Sometimes one may need to put their ego aside in order to achieve their goals

She knows you need the chicken and she knows that she's your people
Others may understand the role that the ego plays in one's life

They call you fat and lazy, your commentary crazy
The ego can be negatively impacted by others' opinions and ideas

They photoshop your face on a box of McCormick gravy
Others may try to tear down one's ego by ridiculing or mocking them

And now that inner voice, the ego, making you get wavy
The ego can alter one's perception of themselves and the world around them

Change your diet, hit the gym and say "What were you saying to me?"
The ego can motivate one to take self-improvement measures and assert themselves

The ego makes you do it, it makes you face the music
One's ego can be a driving force behind their actions and decisions

Or run away from life so fast that you'll outsprint Carl Lewis
The ego can also be a destructive force, causing one to flee from their problems or responsibilities

It has you think your deceptive ways of being are the truest
The ego can cause one to lose sight of their true identity and values

Had the prettiest brown eyes but you change them shits to the bluest
The ego can drive one to change or hide aspects of themselves in order to fit in or be accepted

Ooh, Jack White

A celebrated genius, my dick game's the meanest
The ego can cause one to become overly confident or boastful, often leading to negative consequences

I'll take the girl that's augmented, new me is invented
The ego can drive one to seek external validation and approval

I'll take the biggest house in Calabases
The ego can lead one to pursue material possessions in order to boost their self-worth

Anyone for Michael Phelps swimming classes?
The ego can make one believe they are capable of achieving things they are not qualified for

You need it when you're balling, equally when you're falling
The ego can be a driving force behind one's success, but can also be detrimental when one is experiencing failure or hardship

Or when those kids in school on your locker they get to scrawling
The ego can be damaged by bullying or teasing

Epithets that's racist and stupid and mean in nature
The ego can cause one to internalize and respond negatively to the negative opinions of others

Something that can make you feel stronger when people hate ya
However, the ego can also be a source of strength when faced with adversity or criticism

Ego make you violent, or govern like a tyrant
The ego can lead one to become aggressive or authoritarian

Or switch ya dictionary's word from vibrant to vivrant
The ego can cause one to manipulate language to fit their own narrative or self-perception

Fool the thirsty people, selling tap water in bottles
The ego can drive one to deceive or manipulate others in order to further their own interests

Fool a girl with NYU scholarship and now she models
The ego can lead one to exploit others for their own gain

Ego has no ending, has people pretending
The ego can be an endless cycle of self-centered behavior and delusion

Religious zealots get perilous 'cause God's will they're defending
Even those who claim to be devoutly religious can fall victim to the ego's self-aggrandizing tendencies

This is the last Tribe and our ego hopes that you felt us
For the artists, the ego may be what drives them to create, but they hope their message was clear

And closing for our ego, we know only God can help us
Ultimately, the ego may be a destructive force in one's life and true help can only come from a higher power