Old School
Asheru Featuring Talib Kweli Lyrics

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One two three, in the place to be!
MF Doom, Talib Kweli, ah here we go

On born days, I used to blow out the candles and every Saturday
Watch cartoons 'til noon and then I'd switch to Ralph McDaniels
I was, makin up a miracle flow, over a cereal bowl
And a paused beat from my stereo
Rhymes stronger than Popeye with the spinach

Yeah I'm gangster like the frog on Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Maybe I'm trippin' and it's just a cartoon to you
But I got chills when I heard how Doom flipped the Scooby Doo
And, I might be buggin' but it seem to me
That cartoons be realer than reality TV
They inspire my decision to be open and listen
But folks got it all twisted, like a yoga position
Like, in order to spit it dope, you gotta have a criminal past
That's similar to the cast of Different Strokes
Me and my people break bread, sit and smoke
The conversation rich, but that depend on what you consider broke
I draw on anything for inspiration
A fond memory, a piece of paper, walls in a train station

It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that

And we'll be right back after these messages
Fellas grab your nutsacs, chicks squeeze your breastesses
We ain't all that grown, it's still funny like
Goin' to the store on your own with rainbow money
Since then had an insane flow sonny
Walkin' to the corner rhymin in the rain, nose runny
Breakdanci'n maybe ten, bummy
Is when Subroc would run up handspring Arabian somee!
Ooh wee, like a Hong Kong Phooey kick
Or a weekend afternoon, karate movie flick
Slept good, no justice, no peace
Woody kept it hoody, never discussed it with police
Shot the fair one nobody ran to get the gat
Or felt they had to put it up in they raps to set it fat
And since when lyrical skills had to do with killin a cat?
What type of chitlins is that?
The Super Villain as the bat, hide your tonic
Whoever willin to ride, provide raw chronic

It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that

It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
Yeah!

Overall Meaning

The song "Old School" by Asheru featuring Talib Kweli is a tribute to the old school hip-hop culture and its influence on the artists. The song opens with the rappers acknowledging MF Doom and Talib Kweli's presence in the song, creating a sense of camaraderie between the artists. The lyrics then dive into the rappers' past, where they spent their born days watching cartoons until afternoon and switching to Ralph McDaniels. The song then proceeds to explain how cartoons were an inspiration for the rappers' creativity, a source of wonder and amazement that reality TV struggles to replicate. By drawing on cartoons, the rappers seek to emphasize the importance of listening and remaining open to any inspiration.

The rest of the lyrics focus on the rappers' past experiences, including childhood memories of walkin' to the corner rhyming in the rain, nose runny and heading to the store with rainbow money. The song highlights the innocence of those days, where young boys would breakdance and have a good time without the complications that come with adulthood. The song makes a point about the absurdity of modern rap, with its emphasis on criminal pasts and violence, something that was not a central feature of the old-school era of hip-hop. The lyrics remind the audience that rap was once pure and innocent, inspiring creativity and unity like nothing else.

Line by Line Meaning

One two three, in the place to be!
Introducing themselves and the start of the song

MF Doom, Talib Kweli, ah here we go
Listing the artists featured in the song

On born days, I used to blow out the candles and every Saturday
Recalling memories of childhood birthdays and weekends

Watch cartoons 'til noon and then I'd switch to Ralph McDaniels
Watching cartoons and a TV show as a child

I was, makin up a miracle flow, over a cereal bowl
Writing rhymes and rapping while eating cereal

And a paused beat from my stereo
Using a stopped music beat for the rhythm

Rhymes stronger than Popeye with the spinach
Saying his rapping is powerful like Popeye when eating spinach

Yeah I'm gangster like the frog on Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Comparing himself to a cartoon character to emphasize his toughness

Maybe I'm trippin' and it's just a cartoon to you
Recognizing that others may not see the same significance in cartoons

But I got chills when I heard how Doom flipped the Scooby Doo
Being impressed by how MF Doom rapped over a Scooby Doo sample

And, I might be buggin' but it seem to me
Acknowledging that this may be a personal opinion

That cartoons be realer than reality TV
Believing that cartoons can be more authentic than reality TV shows

They inspire my decision to be open and listen
Suggesting that cartoons have influenced his willingness to learn and be receptive to new ideas

But folks got it all twisted, like a yoga position
Saying that others don't understand his perspective

Like, in order to spit it dope, you gotta have a criminal past
Disagreeing with the idea that one needs a criminal background to be a good rapper

That's similar to the cast of Different Strokes
Comparing this attitude to the TV show's characters and themes

Me and my people break bread, sit and smoke
Describing a gathering with friends

The conversation rich, but that depend on what you consider broke
Noting that what's important in conversation varies depending on one's circumstances

I draw on anything for inspiration
Being open to finding ideas in unexpected places

A fond memory, a piece of paper, walls in a train station
Listing some examples of things that can inspire creativity

And we'll be right back after these messages
Using a TV show transition to signal a change in the song

Fellas grab your nutsacs, chicks squeeze your breastesses
Using mildly vulgar language for comedic effect

We ain't all that grown, it's still funny like
Acknowledging that this humor is immature but still enjoyable

Goin' to the store on your own with rainbow money
Remembering a childhood experience of shopping with colorful money

Since then had an insane flow sonny
Saying he's been a skilled rapper since his youth

Walkin' to the corner rhymin in the rain, nose runny
Rapping in difficult conditions as a young artist

Breakdanci'n maybe ten, bummy
Recalling early experiences with breakdancing

Is when Subroc would run up handspring Arabian somee!
Referencing an impressive gymnastics move an acquaintance used to do

Ooh wee, like a Hong Kong Phooey kick
Using another cartoon reference to describe something impressive

Or a weekend afternoon, karate movie flick
Referencing martial arts movies in the context of a lazy weekend afternoon

Slept good, no justice, no peace
Sleeping well despite the problems in the world

Woody kept it hoody, never discussed it with police
Emphasizing the importance of keeping quiet when necessary

Shot the fair one nobody ran to get the gat
Describing a situation where friends had an argument but didn't resort to violence

Or felt they had to put it up in they raps to set it fat
Suggesting that some rappers exaggerate or lie to make themselves sound tough

And since when lyrical skills had to do with killin a cat?
Questioning the assumption that being a skilled rapper means one is involved in criminal activity

What type of chitlins is that?
Using a metaphor to suggest this idea makes no sense

The Super Villain as the bat, hide your tonic
Referencing MF Doom as a villainous character who inspires fear

Whoever willin to ride, provide raw chronic
Offering to provide marijuana to those willing to go along with his style

It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that
Declaring an affinity for classic hip-hop styles

Yeah!
Affirming the song's main message

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Dumile Thompson, Brian Joseph Burton, Talib Kweli, Keith Mansfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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