If the Papes Come
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Q-Tip]
The Lord give'th, and the Lord take'th away
But not Hip-Hop yo,
And let it be known, that we are on some
And this ain't on the pop tip yo!
Are y'all kids tucked in? (Yeah!)
Here we go
People in the audience, they cry out "hoe"
People with a gun, yo they'll cry out "bo!"
I don't like a cop, I don't sell a rock
But still the kanga's clock me, after a show
Standing on the stage and we're pouring with sweat
To people in the crowd I give what they get
Papers make paid, babies make laid
I don't really worry, nor do I fret
Waiting for the gimme and boy I got some
Sweat like a peach and tart like a plum
I thought what I think, I rock a bead-link
Legally I'll sip when I turn, twenty-one
A letter to the homeboy that freaked the head dome
The R man wants me to drop my microphone
Gotta be brief; no orders from a chief
Hot butter on what, say what, the popcorn
On the tour bus we hit the truck stop
A dollar for some chips, a quarter for some pop
We laugh and giggle some, Phife kiss the honey buns
Ali Shaheed Muhammad keeps talking that shop
The brothers cruise on as we Quest, for the check
Calling up Famous to see, if it's there yet
Not a bourgeoisie, hate the seminar
Ignorant flip, hey Miss you must jet
Flex for the funkiest but start to bounce
Measure Hip-Hop for weight, by the ounce
Bush on the tush, you're pulling while I push
Play me for the punk then puss, feel the pounce

It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)

If the papes come yo yo I won't riff
I just sit down and get, me a spliff
With mines I was born, a child of the corn
Molecules of the land they uplift
Levels is straight, in fact they're rectified
Adrenaline now is crazy multiplied
Four and four is eight, the fraction makes the plate
I make sure the Tribe is in
With the quickness you bare the witness
Flexing and pumping with the fitness
Moving it, doing it
Those who oppose must hit the ??s-list??
Doing it and doing it with the whole frame
Look what's in the mind and not, in the brain
On this you can quote, we on a diffy note
Quest for the future, 'stead of the fame
One ninety-one brothers grabbing they thingies
Forgot the name; oh, equivalent to Jimmy
Slip a little bit, you think I have to quit
Ali Shaheed Muhammad, with the singy-singy
Slamming with a slammy you front, on the case
Right or left nut Ali, plays the ace
Do what you do, flam for a crew
Bonita Applebum blows smoke in Sha's face
Slang for the King I must, if ya have
Dribble hops out giggle yo proper term is laugh
Brothers who are snakes, I label them as fakes
Instincts to Travel up the hood path, c'mon

It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
It's like that y'all (keep on)
Freak freak y'all (keep, on)

(Thank you,
As you all know, you just can't believe
Everything you see and hear, can you?




Now if you will excuse me
I must be on my way)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in A Tribe Called Quest's "If the Papes Come" paint a vivid picture of their experiences as hip hop artists, both on and off stage. The verses are filled with references to their performances, their audience's reactions, and their struggles as musicians trying to make a living in the industry.


The line "The Lord give'th, and the Lord take'th away / But not Hip-Hop yo," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Q-Tip proclaims that while the music industry can be fickle and unpredictable, hip hop will always remain a constant force. He also addresses the audience, asking if their kids are tucked in and suggesting that things are about to get wild.


Throughout the song, Q-Tip describes the highs and lows of touring, from the rush of performing onstage to the exhaustion of hitting up truck stops for a quick snack. He also touches on the themes of police brutality and drug use, commenting on how even those who don't commit crimes can still be targeted by law enforcement.


One interesting aspect of "If the Papes Come" is the way in which the lyrics seamlessly blend together, with Q-Tip's rhymes overlapping and interlocking with one another. This gives the song a sense of flow and unity, while also showcasing the group's tight technical skills as MCs.


Other notable themes in the song include the importance of staying true to oneself and not selling out for fame, as well as the value of community and friendship. Despite the challenges they face, the members of A Tribe Called Quest remain committed to their craft and to each other, and their music continues to inspire fans and artists alike to this day.


Line by Line Meaning

The Lord give'th, and the Lord take'th away
Everything in life is temporary and can be taken away at any moment, with the exception of the genre of Hip-Hop.


But not Hip-Hop yo,
Hip-Hop will always remain and never fade away.


And let it be known, that we are on some
We want people to understand that our intentions are pure.


And this ain't on the pop tip yo!
Our music is not like pop music.


Are y'all kids tucked in? (Yeah!)
Is everyone ready and paying attention?


People in the audience, they cry out "hoe"
People in the crowd often shout this word.


People with a gun, yo they'll cry out "bo!"
People with a gun will fire it, making the sound 'bo'.


I don't like a cop, I don't sell a rock
I don't have any involvement in illegal activities and I don't have a positive view of law enforcement.


But still the kanga's clock me, after a show
Police officers still pay attention to me even though I'm not causing any trouble.


Standing on the stage and we're pouring with sweat
Performing on stage is a physically demanding task.


To people in the crowd I give what they get
I try to match the energy of the crowd with my performance.


Papers make paid, babies make laid
Money can be made from writing and performing music, but it won't bring happiness like the joy of creating a family.


I don't really worry, nor do I fret
I don't stress out about things beyond my control.


Waiting for the gimme and boy I got some
I'm waiting for something to come my way and I am prepared for it.


Sweat like a peach and tart like a plum
My sweat is like a peach in texture but has a sour taste like a plum.


I thought what I think, I rock a bead-link
I wear a beaded necklace that reflects my thoughts.


Legally I'll sip when I turn, twenty-one
I will wait until I am legally allowed to drink alcohol when I am 21 years of age.


A letter to the homeboy that freaked the head dome
A message to my friend who got aggressive.


The R man wants me to drop my microphone
The record label executive wants me to stop making music.


Gotta be brief; no orders from a chief
I need to be short and to the point, without any instructions from higher authorities.


Hot butter on what, say what, the popcorn
I don't understand what you are saying, it doesn't make sense.


On the tour bus we hit the truck stop
We stopped at a truck stop during our tour.


A dollar for some chips, a quarter for some pop
We bought some snacks and drinks for a cheap price.


We laugh and giggle some, Phife kiss the honey buns
We were having fun and Phife kissed some honey buns (a snack).


Ali Shaheed Muhammad keeps talking that shop
Ali Shaheed Muhammad is discussing important business matters.


The brothers cruise on as we Quest, for the check
We continue our journey in search of financial success.


Calling up Famous to see, if it's there yet
We are calling our financial advisor to check if we have received any money yet.


Not a bourgeoisie, hate the seminar
We aren't wealthy and we don't like educational meetings.


Ignorant flip, hey Miss you must jet
Disrespectful and vulgar language, asking someone to leave.


Flex for the funkiest but start to bounce
Showcasing our musical style while also moving in a lively manner.


Measure Hip-Hop for weight, by the ounce
Hip-Hop should be valued carefully and not expected to be present in large quantities.


Bush on the tush, you're pulling while I push
I'm trying to create positive change while you're focused on negative things.


Play me for the punk then puss, feel the pounce
Don't treat me like a coward or I'll take action and show my strength.


If the papes come yo yo I won't riff
If we get paid, I won't cause any trouble.


I just sit down and get, me a spliff
I'll relax and smoke a joint.


With mines I was born, a child of the corn
I naturally have wealth within me, like a child of the corn.


Molecules of the land they uplift
Natural elements can bring about positive energies.


Levels is straight, in fact they're rectified
Things are looking good and the situation has been corrected.


Adrenaline now is crazy multiplied
My adrenaline is pumping and I'm very excited.


Four and four is eight, the fraction makes the plate
Basic mathematical concepts bring satisfaction.


I make sure the Tribe is in
I make sure everyone is part of the group and has their place.


With the quickness you bare the witness
You'll see the truth quickly.


Flexing and pumping with the fitness
We are moving our muscles in a healthy manner related to music.


Moving it, doing it
Continuing to push ourselves to perform our best.


Those who oppose must hit the ??s-list??
Those who don't like our music must find something else to listen to.


Doing it and doing it with the whole frame
We are committed to producing music using our entire selves.


Look what's in the mind and not, in the brain
We should focus on things that our instincts tell us, rather than our intellectual thoughts.


On this you can quote, we on a diffy note
This is something we truly believe in and it sets us apart.


Quest for the future, 'stead of the fame
We are more invested in creating a successful future than becoming famous.


One ninety-one brothers grabbing they thingies
Group of people all grabbing at their belongings.


Forgot the name; oh, equivalent to Jimmy
Can't remember someone's name, comparing it to a generic name like Jimmy.


Slip a little bit, you think I have to quit
Making a mistake doesn't mean giving up entirely.


Ali Shaheed Muhammad, with the singy-singy
Ali Shaheed Muhammad is singing the chorus of the song.


Slamming with a slammy you front, on the case
We are confidently approaching a difficult situation.


Right or left nut Ali, plays the ace
Ali is a talented musician and regularly impresses with his skill.


Do what you do, flam for a crew
Continue performing well for the benefit of the group.


Bonita Applebum blows smoke in Sha's face
A female fan blows smoke at Ali Shaheed Muhammad.


Slang for the King I must, if ya have
I will use slang to refer to the best music artists.


Dribble hops out giggle yo proper term is laugh
Switching between different types of words is acceptable when making music.


Brothers who are snakes, I label them as fakes
People who pretend to be our friends but are actually disloyal and deceptive are fake.


Instincts to Travel up the hood path, c'mon
Our natural instincts lead us down the right path in our community.


It's like that y'all (keep on)
Encouragement to continue moving forward.


Freak freak y'all (keep, on)
Keep going and doing your thing.


Thank you,
Expression of gratitude.


As you all know, you just can't believe
Reminding people that they should always question what they see and hear.


Everything you see and hear, can you?
We need to be skeptical and discerning about everything we hear and see.


Now if you will excuse me
Ending the song.


I must be on my way
Leaving the audience and moving on to other things.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NATHANIEL HALL, ALI JONES-MUHAMMAD, KAMMAAL FAREED

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@crh7742

one of their finest. Still sounds fresh in 2022.

@jaymac6831

Still banging after all these years...

@NathanMcCabe88

First time hearing it in 2019!! 😂

@michaelprice3992

still one of my favorites by ATQC!!!

@jasonmorton2448

Wow still sounds incredible since I was In college in early 90s.

@tonybandanna4895

Love it

@Bogkchu

Personal favorite song from these guys.

@nitroedits2834

For real tho! This shit is dope!

@fakeezi51

Classic material.

@ebsuede

Still Banging In 2023 Native Tongues Forever 🔥🔥🔥

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