For Example
KRS-One Lyrics


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[Chorus: sample from a live performance of "The Bridge is Over"]
Here's another example of the KRS-One (BO!)
Here's another example of the KRS-One (BO!)
They wish to battle BDP but they cannot
They must be on the jock of WHO? (DJ Scott LaRock!)

[KRS-One]
Yeah, one-two, what? What?
Grab any tape that you think is hard
Put it in your tape deck and press record
Get this - what's a real hip-hop emcee?
Is it MTV? Is it BET?
Is it five M-I-C's so the people can see?
I mean, how you think you free when you act like property?
Tell me, how can you judge an MC when he's rockin
I mean, rockin it live, not pickin his cotton
I mean, adjustin his clothes I mean, how do you know
before you come to the show, and you're not gettin cheated
That you're not gettin heated, that you ain't come to the club
thinkin, "Uh-uh - I must have been weeded!"
You got to be a educated consumer
Spend your money on MC's cause these rappers'll do ya
All they want is your cash, ass, glass, gas and a flick
When you ask for that autograph, they ass dash quick
Beware of the rapper, he talks like it don't matter
He pulls his gat while we BUST OFF the gatler
He's more of an actor, someone, into theater
Not an upright MC with styles who speaks clearer!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
MC's have no time for the bar
Unless we politickin a tape to some drunk A&R
We grab the mic and say who we are, KRS
And start takin it to the chest of the best
This is not a test or a demo
This is when you let go of the limo, like many can't do
They may wanna amp you and chant new, record sellin
But movin the crowd is somethin that they can't do!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
C'mon!
You got to be mistaken, I am not your boy
You fake what you creatin, playin wit'cha toys
G'wan with all that bullshit bout you bringin noise
Time for somethin more than PO-PO-POI-POI
All of hip-hop ain't seventeen
Some of us still go back to "Microphone Fiend"
Back when it was just MC's and DJ's
No video that come on and just replay

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
Uhhh... uh-huh, uh-huh uh-huh
We can never stop, forever we rock, take a listen
The t'cha is back, cause rap's whack when I'm missin
Me, I would never want the future to believe
that when they trust to look back on us there was no dope MC's
There was, all these rappers grabbin more and more money
And now that I'm A&R they look more and more funny




They rap for platinum plaques without buildin
a cultural strategy worthy of our children!

Overall Meaning

In KRS-One's song "For Example," the rapper questions what it means to be a true hip-hop emcee. He challenges the notion that popular music channels like MTV and BET accurately represent the genre, arguing that they only showcase a limited scope of talent. He also cautions against blindly following popular rappers, some of whom he accuses of only being interested in money, sex, and drugs. Instead, KRS-One encourages fans to be "educated consumers" and to seek out MCs who are talented and genuine.


The song is framed by a sample of a live performance of "The Bridge is Over," a classic hip-hop diss track by KRS-One's bygone group Boogie Down Productions. Through this sample, KRS-One asserts that he is a powerful force in the hip-hop world and that other rappers would be foolish to try to battle him. The structure of the song consists of a refrain that repeats "Here's another example of the KRS-One" followed by verses that explore various aspects of the rapper's perspective on hip-hop.


Overall, "For Example" is a thought-provoking track that showcases KRS-One's lyrical prowess and his deep commitment to the art form of hip-hop.


Line by Line Meaning

Here's another example of the KRS-One (BO!)
KRS-One presents himself as an example of true hip-hop.


They wish to battle BDP but they cannot
Other rappers want to compete with KRS-One's BDP crew, but they're not good enough.


They must be on the jock of WHO? (DJ Scott LaRock!)
Those rappers must be trying to copy DJ Scott LaRock's style, the original BDP DJ.


Grab any tape that you think is hard
Pick up any album you think is good, but listen with an open mind.


Put it in your tape deck and press record
Record it, but pay attention to what makes it good.


Get this - what's a real hip-hop emcee?
KRS-One challenges listeners to question what makes a genuine rapper.


Is it MTV? Is it BET?
Is it what the mainstream media tells us is good?


Is it five M-I-C's so the people can see?
Or is it about performing live and showing off skills?


I mean, how you think you free when you act like property?
KRS-One questions rappers who exploit themselves for fame and money.


Tell me, how can you judge an MC when he's rockin
How can you criticize a rapper's performance if you haven't seen them live?


I mean, rockin it live, not pickin his cotton
Watching them perform live is more valuable than just hearing their recorded work.


I mean, adjustin his clothes I mean, how do you know
KRS-One points out how trivial things can distract from what matters - the music.


before you come to the show, and you're not gettin cheated
Make sure you're getting your money's worth when you see a concert.


That you're not gettin heated, that you ain't come to the club
Don't get so drunk or high that you don't remember the show.


thinkin, "Uh-uh - I must have been weeded!"
Don't make excuses for a poor performance - truly evaluate it.


You got to be a educated consumer
Take responsibility for consuming music mindfully.


Spend your money on MC's cause these rappers'll do ya
Invest in real rappers who care about their craft and their audience.


All they want is your cash, ass, glass, gas and a flick
Many rappers just want to exploit their fame for personal gain.


When you ask for that autograph, they ass dash quick
They're more concerned with running away than signing autographs for fans.


Beware of the rapper, he talks like it don't matter
Don't trust rappers who don't care about their message or their audience.


He pulls his gat while we BUST OFF the gatler
He's more concerned with violence and aggression than true hip-hop values.


He's more of an actor, someone, into theater
Many rappers are only interested in putting on a show and playing a role.


Not an upright MC with styles who speaks clearer!
True rappers are authentic, genuine, and speak clearly about what matters to them.


MC's have no time for the bar
Rappers are more interested in making music than partying and drinking.


Unless we politickin a tape to some drunk A&R
Unless they're trying to negotiate a record deal with a record label representative who's drinking.


We grab the mic and say who we are, KRS
When KRS-One performs, he makes sure the audience knows who he is and what he stands for.


And start takin it to the chest of the best
He's not afraid to challenge the best rappers in the industry.


This is not a test or a demo
He's serious about his music and not just experimenting.


This is when you let go of the limo, like many can't do
Some rappers are too obsessed with fame and luxury to care about their music.


They may wanna amp you and chant new, record sellin
They may try to hype you up with talk of record sales and new releases, but that's not what matters.


But movin the crowd is somethin that they can't do!
A true rapper can engage and excite an audience unlike anyone else.


You got to be mistaken, I am not your boy
KRS-One doesn't want to be on anyone's side - he's his own master.


You fake what you creatin, playin wit'cha toys
Other rappers aren't genuine or authentic in their artistic expression - it's just a game to them.


G'wan with all that bullshit bout you bringin noise
They're not really changing the industry or introducing anything new.


Time for somethin more than PO-PO-POI-POI
True hip-hop is about more than just loud, violent gun sounds.


All of hip-hop ain't seventeen
Hip-hop isn't just for teenagers - it's a genre that has grown and developed over time.


Some of us still go back to "Microphone Fiend"
Some rappers still appreciate and respect the classics of hip-hop.


Back when it was just MC's and DJ's
Hip-hop was originally just about two elements - a rapper and a DJ, not all the glitz and glamour of the modern industry.


No video that come on and just replay
There weren't music videos yet - just live shows and recorded music.


We can never stop, forever we rock, take a listen
Hip-hop will always be a powerful genre that continues to innovate and evolve.


The t'cha is back, cause rap's whack when I'm missin
KRS-One is one of the best rappers out there, and hip-hop needs him to continue innovating.


Me, I would never want the future to believe
KRS-One cares about the legacy of hip-hop and doesn't want future generations to miss out on great music.


that when they trust to look back on us there was no dope MC's
He wants hip-hop to continue producing amazing rappers and music for years to come.


There was, all these rappers grabbin more and more money
Unfortunately, many modern rappers are more focused on making money than making great music.


And now that I'm A&R they look more and more funny
Now that KRS-One is an A&R (artist and repertoire) executive, he can see through the hype and reveal the truth behind mediocre music.


They rap for platinum plaques without buildin
Many rappers aim for commercial success without trying to build something meaningful or authentic.


a cultural strategy worthy of our children!
KRS-One wants rap to have a cultural legacy that extends beyond just financial success and popularity.




Contributed by Dylan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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