The Dialogue
Ill Bill Lyrics

One night, backstage at Irving Plaza at a Madball show
The song starts with Ill Bill narrating a conversation that he had with Lars. They met at a Madball show, backstage.

Lars: Hey yo Ill Bill – will you sign this for me?
Lars asks Ill Bill to sign his Green CD which he found at Amoeba.

Bill: No doubt kid, what's your name?
Ill Bill agrees to sign Lars' CD and asks for his name.

Lars: It's MC Lars
Lars introduces himself to Ill Bill as MC Lars.

Bill: Word, Howie Abrams is a mutual friend of ours He played me your joint
Ill Bill recalls that Howie Abrams, a mutual friend of both Ill Bill and Lars, played Ill Bill a song by Lars.

Lars: What'd you think of it?
Lars asks Ill Bill for his thoughts on the song that Howie played for him.

Bill: I think it's bugged out, it's hot
Ill Bill tells Lars that he enjoyed the song and found it unique and interesting.

Lars: Thanks, I like your last record a lot. Your lyrics are Graphic, much like your brother Necro, is he psycho?
Lars compliments Ill Bill's lyrics and compares them to those of his brother Necro. He asks Ill Bill if Necro is crazy.

Bill: I don't know, it really depends though He's Psychological, half psycho, half logical, Half businessman, half put-them-in-the-hospital
Ill Bill responds that he doesn't know if his brother Necro is crazy, but he is a mix of being logical and being mentally unstable. He also mentions that Necro is half businessman and half violent.

Lars: Business and art, there's a very fine line There's the person that you are And the person when you rhyme But the best MC's bring both intertwined
Lars comments on the delicate balance between business and art and how it can be difficult to maintain your true self as an artist. He believes that the best rappers bring both their true selves and their artistry together.

Bill: I agree, that's when the best of both worlds collide When the realness pops off one time for your mind, And your words cause the people in the crowd to riot
Ill Bill agrees with Lars and says that the best rappers are able to bring both their true selves and their artistry to their music which causes their audiences to go wild and connect with them.

CHORUS As many places I've been. As many people I've met As many haters I've dissed. There's people that I respect As many times as I've failed. As many times as I've won As many lives as I touch. The dialogue has begun
The chorus talks about the many experiences and people that both rappers have encountered throughout their careers, both good and bad, but despite this, the dialogue between them and with others is ongoing.

Bill: I grew up on heavy metal and hip-hop The energy was the same to me, it was insane to me It made me want to rage against the machine Pick up a guitar and scream into the mic like Run-DMC
Ill Bill tells Lars that he grew up listening to both heavy metal and hip-hop and found that both genres had a similar energy that resonated with him. He was inspired to pick up a guitar and start making music.

Lars: Nine Inch Nails, Primus, “Weird Al,” and King Missile Influenced me like a postmodern epistle Geeked out on my Performa looping digital drums Playing rock guitar in punk bands just for fun
Lars mentions some of his musical influences, including Nine Inch Nails, Primus, “Weird Al,” and King Missile. He also talks about how he experimented with creating music on his computer and playing guitar in punk bands for fun.

Bill: Rakim, G Rap and Kane KRS, EPMD, NWA, Public Enemy, Shante and LL Cool J I could keep naming MC's all day, What type of metal stuff you listen to?
Ill Bill lists some of his favorite rappers, including Rakim, G Rap, KRS, EPMD, NWA, Public Enemy, Shante and LL Cool J. He asks Lars about his favorite heavy metal bands.

Lars: Old school Slayer CD's, Biohazard and Bile were the bands for me The first time that I ever heard Chuck D Was the Anthrax CD, “Attack of the Killer B's”… chorus!
Lars tells Ill Bill that his favorite heavy metal bands include old school Slayer CDs, Biohazard and Bile. He also mentions that he first heard Chuck D on the Anthrax CD, “Attack of the Killer B's” and they repeat the chorus.

Bill: I speaks my mind while kids I went to high school with Bleed on the sands of Kabul hit, it's bullshit, Lars what you think of it?
Ill Bill talks about the ongoing war in Afghanistan and how he speaks his mind about it. He asks Lars for his opinion.

Lars: Out in Iraq, a lack of dialogue Between the people is whack!
Lars makes a comment on the lack of communication between people in Iraq and how it needs to be improved.

Bill: In fact I speak militant like Black Panthers These gas prices got my people With seeds having to gank pampers
Ill Bill talks about his militant views like that of the Black Panthers and how the high gas prices are affecting people, even causing them to steal to provide for their children.

Lars: The answer is not plutocracy. The answers is not hypocrisy, The answers is true democracy Bill: The answer is the dialogue constantly
Lars speaks about the flaws with plutocracy and hypocrisy in modern society and suggests true democracy as the solution. Ill Bill agrees and says that constant dialogue is the key to progress.

REPEAT CHORUS
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the dialogue between people, even in the face of adversity.

Lars: Hey yo Bill, we should do a track together Bill: Word, word, let's do that Lars: Wait, we just did
Lars suggests collaborating with Ill Bill and Ill Bill agrees, only to be reminded that they just collaborated on this very song.