Pump Me Up
Grandmaster Melle Mel Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five Lyrics


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Come on, I said come on, I said come on

Rappers might be willin but they ain't able
Cause I was their king straight from my cradle
I screamed and hollered and shook my rattle
And dreamt of defeating them all in battle

There was no food in my silver spoon
So I grew up hard and I grew up soon
I'm a righteous king but I'm hungry too
And I eat up chumps that rap like you

Then I met this shark and his name was Jaws
He was biting my rhymes like y'all bite yours
I starting writing my rhymes the shark grew and grew
But I was writing more rhymes than the shark could chew

The shark got sick and then he exploded
Cause he didn't realize that my rhymes was loaded
They flew in the air and into the sea
And the whole universe knew that the king was me

Come on, I said come on, I said come on

I'm not a laser beam or a diamond mine
Or a platinum watch or some vintage wine
Not a pocket full of pearls I'm a oil well
Like black gold baby I'm Melle Mel

And to all the fly girls I come off hard
The slightest wink or nod makes me your god
All my problems are small so my pockets are large
When I walk in the door Oh baby I'm in charge

Treat ladies like jewels and diamond rings
On my fingers on my arms on everything
On the streets oh my Jesus! I can't be beat
So don't ask where's the beef baby here is the meat

I'm gonna give you some soap a towel and a cup
Cause the bum emcees are all washed up
Put your women on the line with the rest of my crew
So I can make love to her and annihilate you

Pump, pump ( me up!) me what? (me up!)
Pump, pump, pump, pump me up!

I'm like the genie in your lamp
A face on your stamp
The hip hop rocker
The microphone champ

Got a knock out voice
Like a Rolls Royce
Gotta rank as number one
To be the people's choice

Cause you can hum a ding then you can hum a dong
Its just like the friendly game of ping pong
When you hitting the ball upside the paddle
It's just like cowboy riding on a saddle

Up above your head is the flash of light
Cause I can rock to the beat on any God given night
Like to rock like to roll like to entertain
While my car's outside you're waiting for the train

The train to the bus the bus to whatever
And I'm the type of MC to rock in any type of weather
I'm the bow legged brother there'll never be another
I bought a mansion for my mother

Come on, I said come on, I said come on

I got a certain cool that breaks the rules
That get me paid and a lot of jewels
And the women I'm calling day and night
That's proof I'm getting mine like a thief in the night

Because Scorp is known as the singer
The quiet storm that lover didn't linger
I will not change cause its in my blood
I'm like dynamite and you a rappin dud

And if the future is here in the making
Then why I can't be part of the taking
Cause you know I like cars and fancy women
That give me good love in the beginning

Bubble bath and candle lights
And girls saying Scorp you alright?
So stop standing there
I'm not a laser beam or a diamond mine
Or a platinum watch or some vintage wine
Not a pocket full of pearls I'm a oil well
Like black gold baby I'm Melle Mel

And to all the fly girls I come off hard
The slightest wink or nod makes me your god
All my problems are small so my pockets are large
When I walk in the door Oh baby I'm in charge

Treat ladies like jewels and diamond rings
On my fingers on my arms on everything
On the streets oh my Jesus! I can't be beat
So don't ask where's the beef baby here is the meat

I'm gonna give you some soap a towel and a cup
Cut the bum emcees are all washed up
Put your women on the line with the rest of my crew
So I can make love to her and annihilate you





Pump, pump ( me up!) me what? (me up!)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's song "Pump Me Up" is a boastful account of the rapper's greatness and how he rose to fame despite his humble beginnings. In the first verse, he describes how he was born to be a king and dreamed of defeating all his opponents. He also mentions that he grew up poor and hard, but still managed to become a powerful figure in the rap scene.


He then goes on to describe his skills and how he surpassed his competitors, likening himself to an oil well that produces great wealth. He also boasts of his ability to charm women and dominate the rap game, all while maintaining his cool and breaking the rules.


The chorus contains the catchy phrase, "Pump me up!" which is a call for the audience to get hyped up and dance along to the beat of the song. The song is a classic example of the early hip-hop sound, with its smooth rhymes and funky beat.


Line by Line Meaning

Rappers might be willin but they ain't able
Although some rappers may have the desire, they lack the skills to match the grandeur of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's abilities in the rap game.


Cause I was their king straight from my cradle
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five were born to rule the rap game, representing the true essence of legendary kings of hip-hop.


And dreamt of defeating them all in battle
From a young age, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five had a vision of dominating the rap scene and emerging victorious from any lyrical skirmish.


So I grew up hard and I grew up soon
Growing up without silver spoons, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five had to face harsh realities of life ahead of their time, which undoubtedly helped them hone their lyrical prowess.


And I eat up chumps that rap like you
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five take great pride in their lyrical superiority and consider it a privilege to consume the subpar rap of lesser artists in the game.


But I was writing more rhymes than the shark could chew
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's rhymes were so powerful that even a 'shark' as talented as their counterpart couldn't digest them all fast enough.


Cause he didn't realize that my rhymes was loaded
The shark made the fatal mistake of underestimating the lyrical firepower of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, which ultimately led to his downfall.


And to all the fly girls I come off hard
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five enjoy an irresistible charm that's hard for the fly girls to ignore, making them a force to reckon with in the industry.


When I walk in the door Oh baby I'm in charge
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five have a commanding presence that demands respect and attention from others, especially when they walk into the room.


So I can make love to her and annihilate you
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's sexual prowess is matched only by their lyrical domination, and they enjoy the satisfaction of defeating opponents both in the bedroom and in the rap game.


Got a knock out voice Like a Rolls Royce
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's voice is so effective and enchanting, like a Rolls Royce that drives with finesse and control.


When you hitting the ball upside the paddle
Like a friendly game of ping pong, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's rap style is calculated, calculated enough to hit the ball upside the paddle or surprise their audience with a bold, unorthodox flow.


I'm the bow-legged brother there will never be another
There is only one Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, and they are poised to rule the rap game forever, enjoying a unique identity with a one-of-a-kind cool factor.


On my fingers on my arms on everything
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five adorn themselves with the best jewels and accessories that money can buy, reflecting their rightful status as rap royalty.


So don't ask where's the beef baby here is the meat
There is no need to question Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's lyrical meat as it speaks for itself and is more than satisfying for their audience.


Cut the bum emcees are all washed up
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five have no time for the mediocre emcees who only bring subpar rhymes and are an embarrassment in the rap industry.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAM GRIFFIN, EMMET NIXON, ROBERT REED, JAMES AVERY, TONY FISHER, ERIC BARRIER, DOUG DAVIS, WILLARD C SMITH, J SPICER, RICK WALTERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@alexsessoms6507

One of my favorite hip hop songs..amazing energy 👏

@shawnwhite10007

Me too. Salute.

@prangasreviews376

This is exactly what it sounded like to me as a 6yo kid hearing my cousin playing cool sounding rap music !❤🎉

@Dub-C

This was the first record I can remember buying (I was 9)
And the vinyl had a picture of the muscle woman on it 😂

@TheLightShow2

That first verse is still Dope and the first 8 bars of the 2nd .🔥🔥🔥

@leeberry689

First time I saw this video was on New York Hot Tracks. And to be honest, I still have my VHS cassette with this on it.

@Rebel_Soul

Hiphop at its purest #80s #classic

@Omrie69

Man remember my older cousins playing this when I was a kid and the chic 💪🏽 flexing haha awesome!

@henkdelange3107

The first rapper is Melle Mel. What a funky beat! Brings back memories.

@lunupe83

It's not them! It's a sample of the DC GO GO band Trouble Funk Pump Me Up

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