Genesis
De La Soul Feat. Jill Scott Lyrics


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Huh! I couldn't be nobody but myself, you know that
But then they all started talking
They were talking about love being gone
In my house
They said that there ain't much left to love
Well, there's always something to love if you're familiar enough to recognize it
I mean have you cried for anything lately?
And I don't mean for your friends or your bills or yourself
I mean, for this!
When do you think it's time to love something the most, child?
When it's successful? And have made everything easy for us, huh?
That ain't the time at all
It's when its reached it's lowest and you don't believe in it anymore
And the world done kicked it and its tail enough that its lost itself!




Yes, that's when, when nobody cares
That's right, nobody

Overall Meaning

cares


The lyrics to De La Soul's "Genesis" featuring Jill Scott are about the power of love and how it shouldn't be taken for granted. The verses express the idea that people tend to talk about how love is gone or how there's not much left to love. However, the singer argues that there's always something to love, and people need to recognize it. They ask if the listener has cried for anything lately and not just for friends, bills, or themselves, but for something that truly matters. The singer then goes on to question when is the right time to love something the most. They argue that it's not when it's successful and has made everything easy for us; instead, the right time is when it's reached its lowest point, and nobody cares about it. The song concludes with the singer reaffirming that love should be given to things in their darkest moments because that's when they need it the most.


Line by Line Meaning

Huh! I couldn't be nobody but myself, you know that
I am true to myself and my authentic identity, and it's a fact that cannot be denied.


But then they all started talking
Others started sharing their opinions and talking about a certain topic.


They were talking about love being gone
The topic of discussion was about how love seems to be disappearing or absent.


In my house
This conversation was taking place in a familiar setting, such as my own home.


They said that there ain't much left to love
The general consensus was that there isn't much left to love due to various reasons or situations.


Well, there's always something to love if you're familiar enough to recognize it
Despite the negative talk about love, there is always something or someone to love, but it requires familiarity and the ability to recognize it.


I mean have you cried for anything lately?
When was the last time you genuinely felt emotional and cried, not for others or obligations, but for something that truly touched your heart?


And I don't mean for your friends or your bills or yourself
Crying for friends, financial stress, or personal issues doesn't count because it's not about pure emotions or feelings.


I mean, for this!
I mean, for something that is truly deserving of your emotional response and love.


When do you think it's time to love something the most, child?
As a child, when do you think love is needed the most? When is it appropriate to give the most love?


When it's successful? And have made everything easy for us, huh?
Is love something that should only be given to those who are already successful or have made our lives easy?


That ain't the time at all
Absolutely not. The timing for loving something should not depend on external factors such as success or convenience.


It's when its reached it's lowest and you don't believe in it anymore
Love is needed the most when something has hit rock bottom and seems hopeless, even when we've lost faith in it.


And the world done kicked it and its tail enough that its lost itself!
When the world has inflicted enough damage and caused something to lose its identity and purpose completely.


Yes, that's when, when nobody cares
That's the time when nobody else cares, but it's important to show it love anyways.


That's right, nobody
Absolutely nobody else, but that's when our love and support can mean the most.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, INVERTED MUSIC UK LTD, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David J. Jolicoeur, David Nathaniel West, David Patrick Palmer, John David Chegwidden, Jordan Katz, Joshua Matthew Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar, Kelvin Mercer, Mark Ramos Nishita, Matthew Reynolds Demerritt, Vincent L. Mason

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@coolreem

With real hip hop like this, I will make sure I officially buy it - not stream it or rip it. Who is with me? Let's show this generation that we support real hip hop by the use of our money! Bring Hip Hop back.

@howardcho8426

I've bought over 5 copies, already.

@TheVioLox

Who are you to decide which album is real hip hop and which one isn't. You should just buy from the artist you like most out of principle and not out of some misguided sense of shaping the generation.

@coolreem

I can decide because I buy my own stuff. And also, I can say and judge Hip Hop because I am a Hip Hop enthusiast.

@TheVioLox

don't you think it"s a bit arrogant to decide for other people what's real hip hop and what's not. I mean so the millions that listen to for example kanye west are just people without music taste ?

@coolreem

I never called out any other rappers by name as not 'real Hip Hop'. Growing up in Brooklyn during the golden phase of Hip Hop has shaped my viewpoint. Much of the stuff on the radio is garbage filled with empty phrases and curses with no content. Not all of it, much of it. In order to get good Hip Hop back on the radio, it must be done through economic persuasion. Now, I am not deciding for anyone what is real hip hop, but that is my opinion. Real Hip Hop is defined differently by different generations, so whatever is real hip hop to you, then I have no problem with your opinion.

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@82lsin

I love this joint. It feel like it belongs in an Old School Spike Lee Move....

@Sylviala2009

Yes, is it from She's Gotta Have It', it sounds like it is from that film, does anybody know what the sample is?

@sonja4164

Yup!

@oyoyoyo7624

It also belongs in a NEW spike lee joint! It wouldn’t be outta place in the Netflix update of SHES GOTTA HAVE IT.

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