In The Parks
Ghostface Killah Lyrics

Yeah, niggas don't know about Fatback
Many people are unaware of the old-school group known as Fatback

With the different color records they had back in the days
They had vinyl records in various vibrant colors back in the day

You know what I mean, the belt-driven turntables
I'm referring to the turntables that were operated by belts

With Technics joints (with the slipmats!)
Specifically, I'm talking about the Technics brand turntables with slipmats

Put nickels on the needles so the motherfucking record won't jump
We used to place nickels on the needles to prevent the records from skipping while playing

The needle won't skip and shit
It ensured that the needle would stay on track and not skip

Getting juice from the fucking light poles
We used to tap into the electricity from street light poles

Shout out to the Bronx, nigga!
I want to give a shout out to the Bronx, my friend!

Aye yo, this shit go way back like a Uni marker, kid
Let me tell you, this goes way back like a Uni marker

Bombing the D train and hit the Bronx up
We used to graffiti the D train and hit up the Bronx

Krylon bandits attack, Planet Rock, Bambaataa
We were the Krylon bandits, spraying graffiti and listening to Planet Rock by Bambaataa

Peace to Pylon discovering rap
Shout out to Pylon, the pioneer who discovered rap music

And the DJ that made the first scratch
I'm paying homage to the DJ who invented scratching

Paved the way for Flex, Mister Cee, 'nuff of them cats
Those DJs paved the way for legends like Flex and Mister Cee

See, this rap shit came at a time that was accurate
Rap music emerged during a time that was perfect for its growth

Twenty-something years later, I mastered it
Now, after decades, I have become a master of this craft

Seen light poles get used for power
I've witnessed light poles being utilized for electricity

I was a little nigga
I was just a young kid

Couldn't stay out late I was sour
I couldn't stay out late and it made me feel frustrated

So I sat by the window, heard the DJ cut
I used to sit by the window and listen to the DJ scratching records

Impeach the Pres, Apache, and just begun
I remember playing tracks like 'Impeach the President,' 'Apache,' and 'Just Begun'

Otis Redding, 'Tramp' the music stopped
Once, while playing 'Tramp' by Otis Redding, the music suddenly stopped

Guess the system blew out one of his amps
I suppose the sound system blew out one of its amplifiers

It'd take a little while, then it come back on
After a brief pause, the music would come back on

Somebody stepped on the wire and shit, that's all
It turned out that somebody accidentally stepped on a wire, causing the disruption

Now everybody's back in the groove, echo chamber
Once the issue was resolved, everyone got back into the rhythm of the music, experiencing the echo chamber effect

'Check one two, one two' that's my favorite
'Check one two, one two' is my favorite phrase that the DJ would say

Strobe lights is live, Pink Champale
There were vibrant strobe lights, and people were enjoying Pink Champale

Little pink joints being lit up on the side
People were lighting up small pink joints on the side

Couple niggas had two fives
A few guys had two dollar bills

Other than that, cleared a circle in the park and shoot 5
Apart from that, we made space in the park and played a game of shooting 5

Girls wore they Lees and jellies
The girls were wearing their Lees jeans and jelly sandals

Jordache and Lees, (TF Lords fit the fellys)
Some people wore Jordache and Lees jeans, while others preferred the TF Lords brand

Sams and Kangol buckets, B.V.D's
People were wearing Sams and Kangol bucket hats with B.V.D. underwear

Go to Sergio's like, fuck it
We would casually go to Sergio's without a care

Seen the stamp on that Crazy Eddie
I noticed the price tag on that Crazy Eddie store item

Niggas coming back from the Funhouse dusted
Some guys would return from the Funhouse drug-addled

Throwing bubbles on the wall
They were amusing themselves by blowing bubbles onto the wall

We must remind you
It is our duty to remind you

Where this rap come from
The true origins of rap music

Yes my brother, my sister
Yes, my dear brother and sister

It's our duty, we must remind you
We have a responsibility to remind you

Hip hop was set out in the park
Hip hop culture was born in the parks

We used to do it out in the dark
We used to indulge in it during the nighttime

Yo, it all started at the After Midnight Philly, but walk with me
Let me take you on a journey that began at the After Midnight club in Philly

Mad niggas coming down from New York City
Many people were traveling from New York City for this experience

Prolly hit the skating rink USA
We probably went to the USA skating rink

Banging Schoolly, 'Gangster Boogie' and 'P.S.K.'
We were playing tracks like 'Gangster Boogie' and 'P.S.K.' by Schoolly D

I remember shells, Gazelles, top tens, and lottos
I recall wearing shell-toe sneakers, Gazelle glasses, and top ten sneakers

Mega design, reefer smoke, Coqui nine bottles
We were into flashy designs, smoking weed, and drinking Coqui 900 bottles

(Entire wore velours, call the boys with the Lucci wore)
People were rocking velour tracksuits, and we would call our friends who wore Lucci

84's from Atlantic City Gucci store
We would get 84-inch chains from the Gucci store in Atlantic City

Linoleum break dancing, Rust-Oleum cans
We used to break dance on linoleum floors and have Rust-Oleum spray cans with us

I put the writing on the wall signed, 'Truly yours'
I would leave my tag on the walls with a signature that said, 'Truly yours'

Philly smashed '87 Music Seminar
Philly represented strongly at the '87 Music Seminar

Out on the battlefield like Pat Benatar
We were out there on the streets, like warriors, just like Pat Benatar

Hit the borough with Krown Rulers out of Camden
We would venture into the borough with the Krown Rulers crew hailing from Camden

People Patty Duke-ing in the party, all cramped in
People were doing the Patty Duke dance in the packed party

Around the time Flav started cold lamping
It was around the time when Flavor Flav started showcasing his flamboyant style

'Rebel Without a Pause' was the street anthem
'Rebel Without a Pause' was the popular anthem that resonated on the streets

Old Memorex cassette, tape collections
We had old Memorex cassette tapes with our music collections

Bright spotlights on all the fights at the Spectrum
There were bright spotlights illuminating all the fights at the Spectrum arena

When the Fresh Fest come, leather bombers and sheepskins
During the Fresh Fest, people would wear leather bomber jackets and sheepskin coats

Brothers would bust they guns to get one
People would resort to violence to acquire those jackets

MC Breeze, Disco C, Jazzy Jeff
We had MC Breeze, Disco C, and Jazzy Jeff on the scene

Cash Money and Miz and Lady B
Cash Money, Miz, and Lady B were also prominent figures

Everybody banging 'Sucker MC's' in '83
Everyone was jamming to 'Sucker MC's' in the year 1983

I was South Philly like St. Charles and Crazy D
I represented South Philly, just like St. Charles and Crazy D

Them wild North Side Puerto Ricans would snuff you
The Puerto Ricans from the wild North Side would easily confront you

Twenty deep in a Ford Escort, pumping the Tuff Crew
There would be twenty of us packed in a Ford Escort, blasting the Tuff Crew

I used to follow my cousin, he was a buck too
I used to follow my cousin, who was also involved in the scene

'Y'all don't like how I'm living, well, fuck you!'
'If you don't like how I'm living, then screw you!

I been a G since a little kid
I've had a gangster mentality since I was young

Sticking my head up into somebody's dollar party, getting into shit
I would sneak into people's dollar parties and stir up trouble

And late nights, shoulda been in bed
I should have been in bed during those late nights

Instead, I was running 'round with them downtown lemonheads
Instead, I was hanging out with the mischievous downtown crew

A little man, hanging where them grown women is
As a young boy, I was hanging out with older women

Under thirteen, seeing real strong images
Despite being underage, I was exposed to mature and powerful experiences

And that's the reason for my real rap penmanship
Those experiences shaped my authentic rap style and lyrics

That's where I started it, and that's where I'mma finish it
That's where my journey began, and that's where it will conclude