Hip-Hop Lives
KRS-One & Marley Marl Lyrics

I come back, every year I get newer
I am an ever-evolving force, always changing and improving.

I'm the dust on the moon, I'm the trash in the sewer
I am omnipresent, present in both the highest and lowest places.

Let's go, I come back, every year I get brighter
I am constantly growing and shining brighter with each passing year.

If you thinkin' hip hop is alive, hold up your lighter
If you believe that hip hop is still thriving, show your support by holding up your lighter.

Let's go, I come back, every year I'm expandin'
I am always expanding my reach and influence through conversations with other movers and shakers.

Talkin' to developers about this city we plannin'
I am having discussions with those who create and shape our cities, to ensure hip hop culture is always present and represented.

I come back through any endeavor
I am not bound by any particular industry or trend, I come back and remain relevant in any field or endeavor.

This is hip hop, we gon' last forever
Hip hop is eternal and will never die out, regardless of any challenges or changes faced.

Hip means to know, it's a form of intelligence
Hip is a form of intelligence, staying up to date and relevant with current events and trends.

To be hip is to be update and relevant
Being hip means you are relevant and connected to those around you.

Hop is a form of movement
Hop is more than just a genre of music, it is a form of dynamic movement.

You can't just observe a hop, you gotta hop up and do it
To understand and fully appreciate hop, you must actively participate in it and contribute your own movement.

Hip and hop is more than music
Hip and hop encompass more than just musical sound, they include knowledge and movement as well.

Hip is the knowledge, hop is the movement
Hip and hop are two separate but interconnected elements of the cultural phenomenon, with hip being the knowledge and hop being the movement.

Hip and Hop is intelligent movement
Intelligence and awareness are the driving forces behind hop's movement and growth.

Or relevant movement we sellin' the music
Through the relevance of our movement, the music we produce remains meaningful and impactful.

Hip hop culture is eternal
Hip hop culture will continue on forever, impacting and influencing all those who come into contact with it.

Run and tell all your friends
Spread the word about hip hop culture and its endless potential and impact.

An ancient civilization has bee born again, it's a fact
Hip hop culture, with all its knowledge and multifaceted elements, can be seen as an ancient civilization reborn and continuing on.

I come back, every year I'm the strongest
With every passing year, I become ever stronger and more influential.

KRS-One, Marley Marl, yup, we last the longest
As two influential figures in the world of hip hop, we will continue on and persist long after others have faltered or faded away.

I come back 'cause I'm not in the physical
My presence is not tied to the physical realm, I exist on a spiritual level that transcends physical boundaries.

I create myself, man, I live in the spiritual
My being and existence are self-created and derived from the spiritual realm.

I come back through the cycles of life
I exist throughout all the cycles of life and death, always returning to continue my work and influence.

If you been here once you gon' be here twice
Once you experience the culture of hip hop, you are forever bound to it and will return time and time again.

So I tell you, I come back 'cause you must learn too
I continue to return in order to teach others, to pass on the knowledge and culture of hip hop to new generations.

Hip hop, her infinite power
The power of hip hop is endlessly vast and influential.

Helpin' oppressed people, we are unique and unequaled
Through hip hop culture, we can provide support and a voice for oppressed and marginalized people in society.

Hip hop, holy integrated people
Hip hop is a unifying force, bringing together individuals from all backgrounds and cultures.

Havin' omnipresent power, the watchman's in the tower of
Hip hop provides us with an omnipresent power and influence, with its watchful presence always watching over and guiding us.

Hip hop, hydrogen iodine phosphorous
Through hip hop, we can educate and spread awareness, reaching people on a molecular level as well as a cultural one.

Hydrogen oxygen phosphorous, that's called
By breaking down hip hop's components, we can see the elemental building blocks that make it so powerful and influential.

Hip hop, the response of cosmic consciousness
Hip hop can be seen as a response to the wider, cosmic level of consciousness and awareness present in our world.

To our condition as hip hop
Hip hop is both a reflection of and reaction to our current social and cultural condition.

We gotta think about the children we bringin' up
We must keep in mind the impact that hip hop culture has on future generations, and strive to make it a positive and uplifting influence on them.

When hip and hop means intelligence springin' up
Hip and hop culture should always be tied to intelligence and awareness, to ensure their growth and sustainability over time.

We singin' what? Sickness, hatred, ignorance and poverty
Hip hop music and culture should never glorify negative and detrimental values such as sickness, hatred, ignorance, and poverty.

Or health, love, awareness and health, follow me
Instead, hip hop culture should promote positive values such as health, love, and awareness, leading the way forward for all to follow.

We will be here forever
Hip hop culture and its influence will never die out or fade away, persisting and thriving for all time.

We will still be here forever
Hip hop culture will continue on long after its creators and pioneers have passed on, still making an impact and being felt throughout the world.

Get what I'm sayin' forever
The power and significance of hip hop culture cannot be understated, and will continue on for all eternity.

That's that, that's that
The message of hip hop culture and its eternal influence is clear and definitive.