Real Hip Hop
Joe Budden feat. Joell Ortiz Lyrics

Ha, listen homie, you don't know me like you think you know me, ha ha
You may think you know me, but you don't truly know me.

Big boy toys that clap like a dirty bitch box
Powerful weapons that fire like a gun do.

His ladder's attached with thirty six shots, insert it and cop (blap)
The gun has 36 rounds in the magazine, use it and buy more when you run out.

You ain't gotta take my word them shits pop
Don't believe me, ask others who have heard the gunshots.

Ask around how I circled these blocks before hip hop (yeah)
Before becoming a rapper, I had knowledge of the streets and knew how to move around.

Sandwich baggies drop it in and tie knots
The drugs were packaged in plastic bags and tied tightly.

And fight my favorite fiend over to come and try rocks
I competed with other drug dealers to sell to my regular customers.

Dope the only thing stamped inside my mailbox
I only received drugs in the mail, no other mail was received.

Folded money 'til the rubber bands pop before hip hop (woo)
I used rubber bands to keep my cash together and would fold it so tightly that the bands would snap.

Olde E, St. Ides, and Ballantine ale
Different brands of cheap beer I used to drink.

Dutch Masters, Phillies, and White Owl smells
Types of cigars used to roll and smoke marijuana.

L trainer lended in powder, to roll L's
The shoelace from my Adidas trainers was used to twist powdered drugs into a blunt.

Tokin' boots, nigga / No vocal booths nigga, before hip hop
I smoked drugs with friends and didn't need recording studios, prior to getting into hip hop.

Whole different dude, I'm rolling to you
I've changed a lot but I'm still coming to see you.

I got a dub that I don't fold it at Deuce
I have money that I won't fold twice, signifying that I have more than enough.

Everything good, even your nasty ass shoes
Everything is all right, even if you have dirty and unclean shoes.

Now here's my moment of truth (ha ha)
I'm about to speak honestly and reveal the truth about myself.

Yeah, that was life before hip hop
These experiences happened in my life before I started rapping.

Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
I sold drugs before making music.

Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
I created drug packages wrapped in plastic bags that resembled birds.

Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
Before getting arrested by federal agents, bullets were being shot.

No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)
Money was exchanged in cash with no bank accounts involved.

A bunch of candles in the lobby, who got laid to rest?
There is a funeral happening with candles in the lobby.

Empty bottles need a flix, I know the wakers next
Empty bottles need to be disposed of, and I know who is next to wake up.

I'm from a place people walk around with major stress
The people from my neighborhood suffer from significant problems.

Don't say somethin' you'll regret, before hip hop (uh)
Think before you speak, I learned this before I started rapping.

I was crazy fresh, trapping in my Avirex
I looked good while selling drugs in my Avirex jacket.

Blue Yankee fitted, 501's above the navy chest (yaow)
I wore a blue Yankee baseball cap with a matching blue jacket and light-colored denim pants.

I never had to beg for pussy, bitches gave me sex
Women gave me sexual favors without me having to ask.

I left all the drugs that they address, before hip hop
I stopped selling drugs before becoming a rapper.

Uh, shit, your boy was out there tryna survive
I was struggling to make ends meet while trying to stay alive.

Too lazy for a nine to five, I bought a 9 and got live 'til it jammed
I didn't want a regular job, so I bought a gun and used it until it malfunctioned.

Said goodbye, next day, went outside, brought that pretty .38
I got rid of one gun and replaced it with a more attractive one, a .38 revolver.

It wasn't always about these verses and words
My life wasn't always about lyrics and music.

It was being first to the curb from the first to the third
It was about being the first person to sell drugs on the street from the first to the third corner.

It was 'bout stayin' alert, see 'em lurking, you swerve
It was about remaining vigilant and avoiding anyone who looked like they would cause trouble.

To this day, I thank God, I ain't get locked before hip hop
I am grateful for not getting arrested before becoming a rapper.

Before hip hop, had that thing on my hip, don't let it hop off (ha ha ha)
Before getting into music, I carried a gun with me and would not let it fall or malfunction.

But nah though, just Joell Ortiz
I'm only Joell Ortiz, nothing more.

You think you know me, you don't really know me (nah)
You might have an idea of who I am, but you don't really know me.

Back in my hood, I'm still a one and only (yaow)
In my neighborhood, I am still unique and recognizable.

Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Before making music, I was still associated with and respected in the housing projects.

Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
You only see the current version of me, you don't know the previous version.