Pad & Pen
A Tribe Called Quest feat. D‐Life Lyrics


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This is the master D-Life
As we set it off with my mans A Tribe Called Quest
We got to do it like this baby
We got to do it like that baby
We got the good shit not the bullshit, you know what I mean?
We bout to count it down, we bout to count it off
It goes a-one, two, three, ahh!
Malik we getting back into that shit again
And when we rhyme, brothers need to break they pens, uh-oh
It's The Love Movement never ends
The rap game'll never be the same again
(Phife Dawg where you at baby?) We came again

Here I come again, you feeling fine?
The Dawg is like a overflowing rhyme from mind
Usually mess with shorties whose a 8 or 9
Shorty bump around to the bass-line

F keeps a burner on the waist-line
That cat's tricking off, I ain't wasting mine
You feel the uniqueness, you seeking this?
And when we do it, we be freaking this

Don't even front, you know you feeling this
My shade is bordering around licorice (licorice)
Enjoying this tune, glad you playing it
(Hey yo Phife what's the hook?)
Here we saying it, saying it, saying it

My pad and my pen (ah ah, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (say word, you didn't go there)
The party won't end (you know, we got to be there)
Just keep your ends, building with friends, yo
My pad and my pen (ah ah, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (say word, you didn't go there)
The party won't end (you know, we got to be there)
Just keep your ends, building with friends, yo

We're down for life with one destiny
It seems that the devil keeps testing me
Got the illest part of the recipe
Yo tell your home girl to stop stressing me (stop it)
Undressin me is the part you really like
Brothers hold the cracks now they holding mics
The cusses you get, for letting steady rights
For writers, we did that shit at Mid-night, alright, alright

I love it when my honey dip be slobbing me
Don't take it personal it's just comedy
My comedy completely turned to tragedy
I sense some of these rappers still be mad at me
Sweating her because of her anatomy
When I bang you it'll be assault and battery
Don't make me discombobulate your microphone
Talking trash will only get you freaking head, flown

Buy em out the box, never faulty ones
Get in that ass like karate son
I act with the light, sometimes it's looking grim
We manage a smile, sometimes we slip it in

My Tribe be worldwide like the Nike swoosh
Emcees be sounding moist like vagina juice
The top of the world, we pursuing it
Don't worry about a thing, cause we doing it
Doing it, doing it

My pad and my pen (ah ah, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (say word, you didn't go there)
The party won't end (you know, we got to be there)
Just keep your ends, building with friends, yo
My pad and my pen (ah ah, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (say word, you didn't go there)
The party won't end (you know, we got to be there)
Just keep your ends, building with friends, yo

That's the way we do, c'mon, that's the way we do
It's the nigga D-Life, with T-see-Q
That's the way we are, and the beat won't stop




Got to blow it up for the top,
Didn't think you knew how we rock

Overall Meaning

In the beginning of the song, D-Life sets the stage, introducing A Tribe Called Quest and expressing their commitment to producing quality music. Phife Dawg and Malik (Q-Tip) take turns dropping verses about their lives as rappers and their approach to the game. Phife Dawg raps about women, weaponry, and his unique style, emphasizing that their music is like no other. Q-Tip reflects on the sense of unity within their group and their shared goals despite the difficulties of the industry. The chorus, "My pad and my pen, the beat and the blend, the party won't end, just keep your ends, building with friends," reinforces the importance of the creative process and collaboration in their work.


Line by Line Meaning

This is the master D-Life
D-Life is the leader of this group and is introducing them.


We got the good shit not the bullshit, you know what I mean?
We have quality music, not just anything. It's the real deal.


Malik we getting back into that shit again
We're getting back to making music with our friend Malik.


Shorty bump around to the bass-line
Women dance to the rhythm of the bass in our music.


F keeps a burner on the waist-line
F carries a gun for protection and won't hesitate to use it.


Don't even front, you know you feeling this
Don't pretend you don't like our music, because you do.


My pad and my pen (ah ah, you didn't go there)
I'm talking about my writing tools: my notebook and pen.


Just keep your ends, building with friends, yo
Keep making money, and continue building positive relationships.


Got the illest part of the recipe
I have the best part of the formula, I am the best rapper.


The cusses you get, for letting steady rights
People will criticize you for exercising your writing rights and speaking your mind.


My comedy completely turned to tragedy
My jokes and humor have changed to darker themes, becoming tragic.


Don't make me discombobulate your microphone
Don't make me harm or destroy your equipment or microphone.


Emcees be sounding moist like vagina juice
Some rappers sound weak or unimpressive like bodily fluids.


Got to blow it up for the top
We have to succeed and rise to the top of the music industry.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, OLIVER SCOTT, RONALD WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Limits98

Lyrics

[Intro: D-Life]
This is the willy master D-Life as we set it off with my mans A Tribe Called Quest
And, uh, we got to do it like this, baby
We got to do it like that, baby
We got the good shit not the bullshit, you know what I mean?
Haha, we 'bout to count it down, we 'bout to count it off
It goes a-one, two, three, and...

[Verse 1: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg & D-Life]
Malik, we getting back into that shit again
And when we rhyme, brothers need to break they pens, uh-oh
It's The Love Movement, never ends
The rap game'll never be the same again
(Phife Dawg where you at baby?), we came again
Here I come again, you feeling fine?
The Dawg is like a overflowing rhyme from mind
Usually mess with shorties whose a eight, nine (Eight, nine)
Shorty bump around to the bassline (Bassline)
F keeps a burner on the waistline
Y'all cat's trick it off, I ain't wasting mine
You feel the uniqueness, you seeking this?
And when we do it, we be freaking this (Freak this, freak this)
Don't even front, you know you feeling this
My shade is bordering around licorice (Licorice)
Enjoying this tune, glad you playing it
Ayo, Phife, what's the hook? Here, we saying it, saying it, saying it (Here we go)

[Chorus: Q-Tip & Phife Dawg, D-Life]
My pad and my pen (Uh-uh, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (Say word, you didn't go there)
The party won't end (You know, we got to be there)
Just keep getting ends, building with friends, yo
My pad and my pen (Uh-uh, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (Say word, you got to go there)
The party won't end (Uh-uh, we will be there)
Just keep getting ends, building with friends, yo

[Verse 2: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg & D-Life]
One love, one life and one destiny
It seems that the devil keeps testing me (Uh-huh)
Got the illest part of the recipe
Yo, tell your homegirl to stop stressing me (Stop it)
Undressing me is the part you really like
Brothers hold the cracks, now they holding mics
Concussions you get, filling up the steady rights
Marauders, we did that shit at Midnight, a-aight (Aight)
I love it when my honey dip be slobbing me
Don't take it personal, it's just comedy (Comedy)
My comedy completely turned to tragedy (Tragedy)
I sense some of these rappers still be mad at me (Got to be mad)
Sweating her because of her anatomy
When I bang you, it'll be assault and battery (Battery)
Don't make me discombobulate your microphone
Talking trash will only get you freaking head flown (Uh)
Buy 'em out the box, never batty ones (Uh-huh)
Get in that ass like karate, son (Uh-huh)
My outlook on life, sometimes it's looking grim (Uh-huh)
We manage a smile, sometimes we slip it in (Say word)
My Tribe be worldwide like the Nike swoosh
Emcees be sounding moist like vagina juice
The top of the world, we pursuing it
Don't worry about a thing, cause we doing it, doing it, doing it

[Chorus: Q-Tip & Phife Dawg, D-Life]
My pad and my pen (Uh-uh, you didn't go there)
The beat and the blend (Say word, did you go there?)
The party won't end (Uh-uh, we got to be there)
Just keep getting ends, building with friends, yo
My pad and my pen (Uh-uh, did you go there?)
The beat and the blend (Say word, why did you go there?)
The party won't end (Uh uh, we got to be there)
Just keep getting ends, building with friends, yo
My pad and my pen (Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh)
The beat and the blend (Say word, say word, say word)
The party won't end (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Just keep getting ends, building with friends, yo
My pad and my pen (I got my pad and my pen)
The beat and the blend (So the beats and the blend)
The party won't end (And the party never ends)
Just keep getting ends, building with friends, yo

[Outro: D-Life]
That's the way we do, come on
That's the way we do
It's the nigga D-Life
With T-C-Q
That's the way we ride
And the beat won't stop
Got to blow it up for the top
Didn't think you know how we rock
Word



All comments from YouTube:

Brina V land

you can never compare tribe to anyone...they stand alone to me always have

shawn jarmon

illestpirahna B indeed

Darrynistheking

One of their best beats. Brings back nostalgia. Makes me reminisce on all the good times I’ve had and great people I’ve met. Means a lot because you can’t bring it back. Stay healthy for 2020 everyone!

Trap Bandicoot

Greatest rap group of all time!!!

raiders7528

+Mark Lemley Wu than Tribe.

Dee Jaee

+raiders7528 Everything Tribe dropped was good, Wu on dropped 2 good albums as group

raiders7528

+MisterInfinity Every Artist from Wutang went solo. And some are considered the GOAT and had Amazing Solo carers for a reason. I love Tribe But wutang Methodman,Inspetach Deck,Ghostface,ODB etc...

1974cfjl

+Mark Lemley On par with EPMD and Eric B & Rakim.

Raiders7528

+1974cfjl they were duo's not groups.

10 More Replies...

Michael Gray

Beautiful song filled with the spirit of life and Love.

More Comments