Long Time
Bunny Sigler Peedi Peedi & The Roots Lyrics

Oh
Expression of nostalgia and longing

It's been a long time
It has been a while since returning to the area

Since I been back around the way
Since the last time I visited this place

Let it spin let spin let it spin
Allow the music to play and continue

Since I been back around your way
Since the last time I visited your location

Long time long time
A repetitive emphasis on the amount of time passed

Struck by the luck of the draw
Fortunate to be alive

Real-life preservation
Goal to survive and thrive in reality

What I'm hustling for
Reason for working hard

My name black thought
Rapper's name is Black Thought

The definition of raw
Referring to the unique rawness of his music style and talent

I had nothing at all
Rapper had nothing to start with

Had to knuckle and brawl
Had to fight to survive

They swore I'd fall
People thought he would fail

Be another brick in the wall
Blend into the background like everyone else

Another life full of love that lost, that's silly
Mocking the idea of a life of loving and losing and considering it foolish

This Philly y'all really ain't stoppin'
Referring to the determination of Philadelphia citizens

The boy with the pen like Willie on top of the hall
Like Willie, a famous musician, Black Thought uses his pen to create music that is heard throughout the community

Pure soul is what the city most popular for
Philadelphia is known for its soulful music

Hear the tones that will ease you smooth as Bunny Sigler's soundtrack, keeping your head boppin' and all
The music produced will be easy on the ears and Bunny Sigler's music will inspire head-bopping

It's something in the water where I come from
Reference to the unique atmosphere and culture of Philadelphia

They used to sing it on the corner where I come from
Street performers used to sing in public spaces where Black Thought comes from

Making somethin' outta nothing because everybody fifty cents from a quarter
People in the community had to make the most of limited resources

Yeah the streets ain't timid but I feel at home in it
Although the streets can be tough, Black Thought feels comfortable and connected to his home

Gotta see a couple people I ain't got at in a minute
There are people he needs to catch up with again

You can take a brother outta South Philly. Can't take it outta him really.
Although he may leave his hometown, his experiences and identity remain a part of him

I forever represent it and it's
He will always represent South Philly and its culture

Live and drive the I don't need no mic check
Peedi Peedi is confident in his ability to perform without needing to test his microphone beforehand

Remember mommy told me you ain't write that
Peedi Peedi was accused of not writing his own lyrics and his mother defended his writing abilities

It started in the bathroom taking a dump listening to Ultramagnetic Ego tripping you won't pressure my word
He was inspired to write his music and rhymes while listening to Ultramagnetic and won't let anyone question the authenticity of his words

I'm the urban vision of you chump
He's the improved version of his haters

Stomped on a different ground sound second to none
His unique sound is unmatched and he's successful in unknown places

Synthesizers tweet to improvise your feet
The music produced is catchy and can be danced to

I calculated every lyric to arrive on a beat
Every rhyme is strategically planned and fits the beat perfectly

It's free come get high on me
The music is available for all to listen and enjoy

Before a nine-millimeter shell hit my Pelle Pelle in the P
Before violence and guns became an issue in his life

Yo where I come from it's just a natural reaction for crack to make it happen
In his hometown, it's common for people to turn to selling drugs to make a living

Let the pen ink sink into the paper of the pad
Peedi Peedi writes his lyrics and allows them to take hold on the paper

Think back when I was younger ghetto could have took me under young Peedi can't mess with North Philly never had
As a child, he was at risk of getting involved in criminal activity, but always stayed away from the negative influences of North Philadelphia

You don't know about me you ain't stroll my streets
Only those familiar with his neighborhood truly understand him

Look familiar I feel YA long time no see
Seeing familiar faces from the past after a long time

Clap somethin' but whatever you clap clap to the record spinnin'
Encourages the listener to clap to the music

While I'm takin' you back to the top paper era baby big on that
The music is reminiscent of earlier times and references the popular music of the era

Picture the pool room where the money getters was at and street people with feather in the cap or their Bossolino pullin' paper as if it's a small casino
Painting a picture of the luxurious pool room where gangsters traded large sums of money

I was a young boy sweepin' the floors and runnin' to stores but all those old heads would talk to me about the way to clutch the eagle on a buck and truck and if I'm down how to get back up
He learned valuable lessons from the older men and gangsters who frequented the pool room

Just survival kid and it's a struggle worldwide I'm positive shit the ghetto might as well be the Gaza Strip
Life is a struggle, and it's especially challenging to survive in areas like the ghetto

You know where all the monsters is street walkers you don't see no consciousness I'm coming back to where the core of the problem is we on the job again y'all know what time it is
Returning to the place where the issues began and working to solve the problems that plague the community