Bring It Back
KRS-One Lyrics

Ha hahaha! ("Bring it back that old New York rap Bring it bring it back that old New York rap") repeats in background
The song aims to bring back the original New York rap flava that was once the soul of the city's youth culture.

The only reality Is now... Yo!
The present moment is the only truth, as per the Zen principle of living in the moment.

I rock slow and easy like soul The New York flow is strictly for the pro Hip hop! Ladies and gents So you can know every word yo of the sentence Hey la like De La I got Common Sense Save the compliments for after I commence to evidence of MC's, rockin under false pretense
I rap with a groove and ease, but the traditional New York style is reserved only for the experts. Every word of my rap is clear as a day. De La Soul's 'Me, Myself and I' is my inspiration. I don't need flattery and prefer to show evidence of false and pretentious MCs.

Yes they get burned like incense Myrrh and frankencense, you know the consequence When you rock with KRS and don't make sense Kris represents all MC's, that rock with ease
I roast fake rappers like incense and burn them down with my frankness. If you rap sensibly and effortlessly, you represent my brand of skilled MCs.

I'm not conceited, I got confidence in my abilities Agility's my credibility Oratorical artillery in all facilities It Takes a Village like Hillary when killin me, KRS has wide range capabilities
I am not vain, but I am confident in my talents. My agility and quickness as a rapper is my credibility. Any platform or setting is where I can display my oratory skills. Like the famous Hillary Clinton book, I believe it takes a village to achieve great things. Even if someone tries to kill me, I have a diverse array of skills to overcome the odds just like Hillary.

On the microphone, in the combat zone MC's get eaten like the ozone layer Hey ya, I'm not a playa I'm a teacher But if I wanted your girl You'd be Living Single like Latifah Action Uptown like Monifah I hit like a beeper, and hot like the bunny on Easter Lyrically let me freak ya With moves like Scoob and Scrap Rock Stready, Stretch, Al and Kiko I warm up any room like a heater Bringin a New Balance to the speaker like a sneaker Still a teacher, prove it, like medicine squared This Garden of Eden, keeps the party movin
I may be a teacher, but on the microphone, every MC who tries to compete with me falls apart like the ozone layer. I'm not playing, I'm teaching the hard way. If I choose to steal your girl, you'd end up alone like the singer in 'Living Single'. I'm a powerful and sultry lover like Monifah. My rapping is like a beep or alarm and is hot enough to melt like the Easter bunny's chocolate. I dance like Scoob and Scrap and rock hard like the DJs Stready, Stretch, Al, and Kiko. I heat up any occasion, like a heater, and my brand of rapping is like a comfortable pair of sneakers with a new look or style. Although I'm always teaching, I prove it like medicine with scientific accuracy. This euphoric and utopian place that I am creating with my music keeps the dance floor lively and kicking.

I'm interested in skill and how we build as a culture I don't eat off old material like a vulture Repeatin myself for wealth is bad for my health Everyday I express myself with a dope lyric From my inner spirit, then I share it with others As they hear me, enhancin East and West, overseas, brothers and sisters Sons and daughters transcended all borders I deal with mind expansion
I am interested in how we build and strengthen our culture through the artists' skills. I don't exploit old content, unlike vultures who feed on carcasses. Repetition is stale and unhealthy for me, so I try to create original and fresh lyrics every day. My ideas come from my inner creative spirit, which I then propagate and share with my listeners. People are getting enhanced as they listen to my music, and it transcends cultural and geographical barriers. I aspire to broaden your minds with my ideas.

Anytime you aimlessly dancin, and romancin It's your life that you be chancin Not that I wanna sound gloomy But I don't rhyme about Judy Judy, cutie and shake your booty When you gonna grow up and be GOD? Instead of making a rap a full time job Yeah, it's a job and not an art They only rhyme to get money; cause true self-expression takes heart, and guts Rhymes, and cuts Tight minds and not tight butts Reach your goal, like a puck I wish you good skill and not good luck Cause only skills put you up out the gutter so I utter
Whenever you dance or romantically pursue anyone without a direction or purpose, you are exposing yourself to chance. Although it may appear gloomy, I don't talk about petty things like infatuation, objectification or meaningless shaking. Instead, I urge people to aspire to become something bigger, like a deity or a superior version of themselves than being trapped in a job that they hate. Rapping is an art, and many people mistake it for a job that earns money. True self-expression requires courage, talent, and skill. Tight minds and lyrical skills are important, rather than tight attire or fleshy butts. Always work hard to achieve your goals like a hockey puck, and rely on your skills more than good luck. Skills are the only way to move up and out of the lowest places, so I exhort you to put in the effort.

That old New York flow means wrote for fun And if the money come, THEN THE MONEY COME But today and everyday, KRS speaks the truth We dealing with unemployment in the city black youth usin rap, to put clothes on they back No culture, or disciplined, way to act But soon yo, we'll take care of alla that We're huntin fi de power help supress people tracks That keep the culture intact, and soon you will see In the black community, black unity Not black nudity, after black puberty For every crew to see, to breakin down the black community The only one to blame is you and me For not takin responsiblity for our artillery Verbally, you heard of me, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nubians Everywhere, I kick it cause I care The end isn't near, it's way over there BLAOW! The only reality is now But when I say bring back the old flava That means bring back the ORIGINAL MC behavior
The classic New York rapping style is meant to be fun and joyous, and if it brings in money, then good for the rappers. However, currently, KRS-One speaks the truth and sheds light on the unemployment problem among Black youth in the city. Many of them have no culture to boast of, and no discipline to act accordingly. But soon, everyone will see a new dawn where the black culture is one of unity and prosperity, rather than one of nudity and drugs. Every crew should have this vision and work together to foster the black community's growth. We are responsible for claiming our artillery and fighting back against suppression with our powerful art. My brand of rapping is supreme because it is filled with knowledge and meant for everyone. The future isn't bleak, but it's waiting for us just beyond. This is not a catchphrase for the present, but the only reality that matters. By bringing back the old-school flavor, I mean to bring about the original MC behavior where rapping is an art form that uplifts and empowers people everywhere and breaks the monopoly of the music industry.

Now I got to show you how the BX rocks MC's, are jumpin out shoes and socks Body body rock body body rock I'm the king of rock'n'roll, ahh yeah Throw your guns in the air! Glocks down Who the hell is, pagin me at 5 o'clock in the mornin Where you gonna be, because... Fresh is the word, many money missin many Jenifa, oh Jenny We make up all these rhymes inside our head! Yo, let's connect politic ditto
Witness how the Bronx rocks with style and swagger, enough to make other rappers jump out of their shoes, and socks with excitement or shock. Body rock is the quintessential dance move to groove to, and as the King of Rock and Roll, I urge everyone to let loose and dodge violence by chucking away their firearms. Who the hell is paging me so early in the morning, and where do you plan to be? The buzzword is freshness and not just money. The names 'Jenifa' and 'Jenny' are placeholders for generic names rather than specific people. All the rhymes are unique to us individually and originate in our thoughts/minds/head. Let's connect together on a political level and voice our opinions and concerns to make a change.