Nostalgia
Dan-e-o Lyrics

Just ride, feel that vibe
Let's ride and feel the energy

Y'all get live ladies, we gon' party now!
Ladies, get ready to party!

Y'all get live niggaz, we gon' party now!
Fellas, let's get live and party!

Man, I remember when hip-hop was all about partyin'
Dan-e-o recalls a time when hip-hop was all about having fun

And any place it played was a spot to move your body in
People would dance wherever hip-hop music was played

Started in the park and it had everybody droppin' in
Hip-hop culture started in the park and attracted everyone

Now brothers wanna squeeze it of its life and try to darken it
Some people are trying to take the life and energy out of hip-hop and make it negative

With boring ass raps, when nobody is hearing it
People make boring music that nobody wants to listen to

Soundin' like they the method for a science experiment
Some rappers sound like they are experimenting with their music

Y'all heads ain't been around to see what Dan has seen
You haven't experienced what Dan-e-o has experienced in hip-hop

After writing lyrics, we used to make dance routines
Dan-e-o and his crew used to choreograph dances after writing their lyrics

'Member the "House Party" scene when Kid 'N' Play was battlin'?
Dan-e-o remembers a scene from the movie 'House Party' where Kid 'N' Play had a rap battle

And after when the rappin' end, they gave each other dap again
Kid 'N' Play showed respect to each other after their battle ended

Then they started scatterin' cuz nothing really mattered then
After the battle, they all went their separate ways because it wasn't that serious

Except the jaw jabberin' with ladies just to dance with them
The only thing that mattered was talking to girls and dancing with them

Dudes with dap was based on who could rap
People judged others based on their ability to rap

And who could best imitate the moves of Scoob & Scrap
People also judged others based on how well they could imitate dance moves

So while you choose to chat about how much you were a baller
Some people talk about how great they were, but Dan-e-o and his crew were focused on hip-hop

We would argue over who's high top fade was taller
Dan-e-o and his crew would argue about who had the biggest hairstyle

When designs were in, on my head, I shaved a heart
Dan-e-o once shaved a heart into his hair when that style was popular

And told your girl, she's the reason for the way it was carved
Dan-e-o told girls that they inspired his hairstyle

If you miss the way hip-hop used to sound
If you miss the way hip-hop sounded in the past

Gather everyone you know, cuz yo...
Gather your friends

We gon' party now!
We're going to have a good time!

Man, I remember when hip-hop was all about the positive
Dan-e-o remembers a time when hip-hop music had positive messages

When topics of our songs were socially provocative
Hip-hop songs addressed social issues

Racism was targeted as something to discard but it
Racism was something that the hip-hop community wanted to get rid of

Seems today hatred is the way hip-hop is marketed
Today, some hip-hop is marketed towards hate and negativity

Too many rappers talkin' shit, what's they malfunction?
Some rappers talk negatively and Dan-e-o doesn't understand why

Over ten years later, we still headed for self-destruction
Dan-e-o believes that if hip-hop continues to promote negativity, it will lead to the destruction of the culture

Gangsta rap, not many MC's would try
Not many rappers today would try to make gangsta rap music

That's why, to this day, we say "peace" instead of "goodbye"
The hip-hop community prefers to say "peace" instead of "goodbye"

A tradition that's been conditioned from back in the days
This tradition has been around for a long time

When in school, for class projects I'd be rappin' for A's
Dan-e-o would rap for class projects and get good grades

Braggin' always how we could change the world with a tune
Dan-e-o and his crew believed that they could make a positive change with their music

But now I can't watch a video when mom's in the room
Dan-e-o can't watch some hip-hop videos with his mother because of the inappropriate content

I hope it's gone soon cuz everybody's shootin' and killin'
Dan-e-o hopes that the violence in hip-hop will stop soon

And braggin' about it, I swear rappers are the stupidest villains
Dan-e-o thinks that rappers who brag about violence are foolish

Dude, it was ill when cats like Rakim and Kane slammed
Dan-e-o likes rappers like Rakim and Big Daddy Kane

When the West Coast All-Stars were in the same gang
Dan-e-o remembers when West Coast rappers were friends

When X-Clan jams made a vex man dance
Dan-e-o liked X-Clan's music so much that he had to dance to it

Arms crossed, legs apart is how you'd check Dan's stance
Dan-e-o would stand with his arms crossed and legs apart when listening to hip-hop

If you hate the road hip-hop's going down
If you don't like the way hip-hop is headed

Join the Mono man dem because....
Join Dan-e-o's crew

We gon' party now!
We're still going to have a good time!

Man, I remember when hip-hop was all about battlin'
Dan-e-o remembers when hip-hop battles were common

Except it didn't involve the death of a rapper then
Hip-hop battles used to be non-violent

Ain't no need for scrappin' man, they was makin' classic jams
Rappers didn't need to fight because they were making great music

Wars of words to prove no one was in a class with them
Hip-hop battles were about proving who was better with words

To be mic champions' where real props stand
Winning battles was a way to earn respect

Or battlin' for a name like them two Roxannes
Some battles were about claiming a name or title

LL and Kool Moe Dee, Juice Crew and BDP
Hip-hop battles between these artists were legendary

But it seems today the battle is the world against me
Dan-e-o feels like the world is against him and he has to fight to succeed in hip-hop

Cuz nobody cares about lyrics, what used to be wack
Today, people don't care about good lyrics and will listen to bad music

Is what everybody seems to be pickin' up off the rack
People are buying bad music instead of good music

Rappers rhymin' so soft, they should be one of the Spices
Some rappers today have soft voices and should be in a pop group

Somehow people support the modern day Vanilla Ices
People like bad rappers like Vanilla Ice

Usin' devices like clothing seemingly priceless
Some rappers use expensive clothing as a device to seem important

The fame I might miss, but I must keep comin' with niceness
Dan-e-o may miss the fame, but he will always come correct and make good music

Cuz I ain't tryin' to be one of hip-hop's clowns
Dan-e-o doesn't want to be a joke in hip-hop

Keep it raw even when I roar...
Dan-e-o will always be true to himself

We gon' party now!
Even though hip-hop has changed, we're still going to have fun!

It's hip-hop y'all, to the top y'all
This is what hip-hop is all about

It don't stop y'all, it goes on and on...[x4]
The energy and spirit of hip-hop will never stop