Old School
Danger Doom 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 lyrics of Danger Doom w/ Talib Kweli’s “Old School” are an ode to the past, the nostalgia of being a kid watching cartoons and dreaming of becoming a rapper. Talib Kweli starts by talking about his youth, describing how he used to watch cartoons on Saturdays and how this was the time when he started developing his own flow. He then identifies himself as gangster, referencing an old cartoon called “Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse” where the frog was a gangster. Furthermore, he argues that cartoons are realer than reality TV, and they inspire him to be creative. This line exemplifies how cartoons and imagination are part of his creative process, which starts with drawing on anything that gives him inspiration.


The first verse also touches on the importance of breaking bread and having a good conversation with friends. Kweli describes how rich the conversation can be and how it depends on what people consider broke. In other words, their financial stability doesn't define what's truly rich in life. He ends the verse saying that inspiration can come from anything, even a wall in a subway station. On the second verse, he goes into what the “old school” means to him. He describes his childhood and how he learned how to breakdance on the corner, rhyming in the rain with a runny nose, and imitating Hong Kong Phooey kicks. He goes on to explain how no one brought guns to settle things with a fight, and how rappers didn’t need to boast about their criminal past to be considered good.


Overall, the song is a nostalgic and insightful take on how childhood, imagination, and friendship can influence the creative process of an artist. It reflects how the past can be a source of inspiration and how some values, such as humility and respect, never go out of style.


Line by Line Meaning

One two three, in the place to be!
We are the ones in the spotlight and we are ready to perform.


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
When I was younger, I loved watching cartoons on Saturday mornings and would switch to a music program in the afternoon. I would sing and rap over the beats I heard on the radio while eating cereal for breakfast.


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
My rhymes are so powerful and strong, just like Popeye. I feel like a gangster and get excited when I see a cartoon character like the frog in Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse. Though you might find these things trivial, I was deeply influenced by them and get chills when I recognize a cartoon character in a song.


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
To me, cartoons seem more authentic than reality TV, and they help me be more receptive to the world around me. But some people misunderstand my love for cartoons and judge me without understanding my perspective.


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
My friends and I share food and enjoy smoking together while having deep conversations. The richness of our discussions depends on each person's definition of poverty. I find inspiration in anything, from my past experiences to the physical world around me.


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
I stick to the traditional style of hip-hop that relies on soulful samples as the basis for my rhymes.


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
Men hold onto their genitals, while women hold onto their breasts. Despite our adult age, some things are still silly, like going to the store with colorful 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!
Since a young age, I have had excellent rap skills, even when my nose was running in the rain. I only had ten cents and didn't look very fashionable, but I still breakdanced to impress Subroc with my Arabian handspring move.


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
I use clever and impressive rhymes, like a famous kung-fu move or a popular martial arts movie. Despite disturbances outside, I slept soundly because of the secure environment provided by Woody, who kept to himself and didn't share information with the 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?
People used to fight fair without resorting to firearms, and bragging about shooting someone wasn't seen as cool. Why do people think that being a good rapper has to do with killing someone? That's absurd!


The Super Villain as the bat, hide your tonic Whoever willin to ride, provide raw chronic
As a super villain, I am demanding that you hide your tonic. Whoever is willing to come along should prepare for a wild, fun ride with plenty of weed.


Yeah!
I am hyped up and can't wait to continue performing!




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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