Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962 in Queens, New York City), better known as Marley Marl, is an influential hip-hop producer. He was the house producer of the Juice Crew, which included (in addition to him): Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Kool G Rap, MC Shan (his cousin) and Masta Ace, and produced songs for outside artists including King Tee and LL Cool J. He was also an important figure in the careers of Eric B. & Rakim, producing their first hits "My Melody" and "Eric B Is President", mixing James Brown samples and synthetic beats in a fashion previously unheard of.
Hip-Hop Lives is a collaborative album from MC KRS-One and producer Marley Marl that was released on May 22, 2007. The album is sometimes consdered a bench mark in the history of hip-hop, in the sense that 20 years ago, KRS and Marl were once bitter rivals involved in the legendary Bridge Wars.
"It all happened with one phone call," Marley Marl told AllHipHop.com during a March 2006 interview.[1] "They called me and he jumped on the phone and told me it would be spectacular for Hip-Hop...My reason for doing this is to show these kids that [Hip-Hop beefs] are not that serious."
Album sampler has premier on HipHopGame.com
This album was ranked #1 Top Hip-Hop releases for May on About.com
This Is What It Is
KRS-One & Marley Marl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
A man once said that the streets are watchin' us
If this be the truth we must keep hip-hop in us
They'll never topple us, you done heard them thugs
Now, it's time to hear from the philosophers
Buildings fallin', employment stallin' us
Now, it's time, the future is callin' us
Television is boring us, radio is whorin' us
Lurin' us with a chorus plus, you can't even trust
The church, the synagogue, they all deceivin' us
It's time to believe in us
To believe in a hip-hop lifestyle that agrees with us
No squeeze or bust, bo, bo, you find ease with us
The DJ's, the MC's is us
The ice we've seen enough
It's time for hip-hop and this is what it is
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is
You know we lead a movement
It's called 'I am hip-hop'
Cats debate about it, but I am hip-hop
Cats wanna talk about but I am hip-hop
My cats in New York like "I am hip-hop"
My cats in Atlanta like "I am hip-hop"
Cats in Miami like "I am hip-hop"
Chi-Town like "I am hip-hop"
All over L.A., "I am hip-hop"
Keep the rawness, the gutter the real
The movement's growin' like corn in the field
KRS-One was born with the steel
I'm on top of my game like Shaquille O'Neal
No surprises, hip-hop come in all sizes
Now, watch as KRS rises up, up, up, up and away
Now, you critics mouth shut, got nothin' to say
And that's good for the kids, 'cause hip-hop
This is what it is
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is
Stay focused, focused
Stay focused oh, oh
Yeah, uh-huh, focused
Yo, look, look, this is what it is
y'all need to stop confusin' the kids
Makin' 'em think you gotta do a bid to be hip-hop
Man that ain't it
Rob a nigga, kill a nigga, man that ain't shit
How you figure, how murder make you hip?
You need to hop to the bookstore and look for Kris
Anything by KRS-One
Will lead you to peace, to love, to unity and havin' fun
y'all know but some of y'all don't
And some of y'all won't that's why only some of y'all dope
The rest of y'all, food for the Gods
I eat everything but Pop's 'cause I don't eat lard
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
This is what it is
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
This is what it is, is
KRS-One & Marley Marl's song "This Is What It Is" is a powerful message about the importance of hip-hop culture and its impact on society. The lyrics begin with a call to action, to keep showing and flowing with hip-hop, as it is a true representation of their lives. The song then moves on to address some of the challenges that hip-hop faces in a society that is at times hostile to its culture. The idea of being watched by the streets is introduced, and with it, the need to keep hip-hop alive.
The song then addresses the societal challenges that hip-hop culture faces, from buildings falling and employment stalling, to the boring and often-deceptive media. It calls for a belief in a hip-hop lifestyle that agrees with the people and a mistrust of those who seek to deceive them. The lyrics go on to describe the importance of the DJ's and MC's, and how they represent the movement. The song concludes with a challenge to stay focused and to not confuse the next generation on what hip-hop is truly about.
Overall, "This Is What It Is" is a compelling commentary on hip-hop culture, its importance in contemporary society, and the challenges it faces.
Line by Line Meaning
We keep showin' you and showin' you and showin' you
We continue to demonstrate and prove to you
This is what it is
This is the truth and the essence of the matter
We gon' flow with you, you know it's true, hip-hop
We will accompany you and share with you the true nature of hip-hop
A man once said that the streets are watchin' us
Someone once said that we are being observed and scrutinized by the streets
If this be the truth we must keep hip-hop in us
If this is indeed the case, then it is important to maintain the essence of hip-hop within ourselves
They'll never topple us, you done heard them thugs
They will never defeat us, as we have already heard their threats
Now, it's time to hear from the philosophers
Now, it is the moment to listen to the wise thinkers and intellectuals
Buildings fallin', employment stallin' us
The crumbling of infrastructure and lack of job opportunities are hindering our progress
Now, it's time, the future is callin' us
Now is the moment, as the future is beckoning us forward
Television is boring us, radio is whorin' us
Television is uninteresting and radio programming is exploiting us
Lurin' us with a chorus plus, you can't even trust
Trying to entice us with catchy hooks, but we cannot even rely on them
The church, the synagogue, they all deceivin' us
Religious institutions are misleading us
It's time to believe in us
It is time to have faith in ourselves
To believe in a hip-hop lifestyle that agrees with us
To embrace a hip-hop way of life that is in harmony with our values
No squeeze or bust, bo, bo, you find ease with us
No weapons or violence, just peace, as you will feel comfortable with us
The DJ's, the MC's is us
The disc jockeys and emcees are part of us
The ice we've seen enough
We have had enough of flashy and expensive jewelry
It's time for hip-hop and this is what it is
It is time for hip-hop to take its rightful place and this is what it truly is
You know we lead a movement
You are aware that we are at the forefront of a cultural movement
It's called 'I am hip-hop'
It is called 'I am hip-hop'
Cats debate about it, but I am hip-hop
People may argue about it, but I know that I am hip-hop
Cats wanna talk about but I am hip-hop
People want to discuss it, but I already embody the essence of hip-hop
My cats in New York like 'I am hip-hop'
My colleagues in New York identify themselves as being hip-hop like me
My cats in Atlanta like 'I am hip-hop'
My peers in Atlanta also identify themselves as being part of hip-hop culture
Cats in Miami like 'I am hip-hop'
People from Miami also see themselves as being hip-hop like me
Chi-Town like 'I am hip-hop'
Folks from Chicago also identify themselves as being part of hip-hop culture
All over L.A., 'I am hip-hop'
People from all over Los Angeles also see themselves as being hip-hop like me
Keep the rawness, the gutter the real
Preserve and maintain the authenticity and down-to-earth nature of hip-hop
The movement's growin' like corn in the field
The movement is expanding rapidly, akin to corn growth in a field
KRS-One was born with the steel
KRS-One has always possessed the skills and talent for hip-hop
I'm on top of my game like Shaquille O'Neal
I am at the peak of my abilities, like Shaquille O'Neal in basketball
No surprises, hip-hop come in all sizes
No unexpected elements, hip-hop comes in many forms and shapes
Now, watch as KRS rises up, up, up, up and away
Observe as KRS-One ascends to new heights rapidly
Now, you critics mouth shut, got nothin' to say
Silence your criticisms, as you have nothing to contribute
And that's good for the kids, 'cause hip-hop
This is beneficial for the younger generation, as hip-hop culture is empowering and uplifting
Stay focused, focused
Remain concentrated and attentive
Stay focused oh, oh
Maintain your concentration and attention steadfastly
Yeah, uh-huh, focused
Affirmative, yes, remain focused
Yo, look, look, this is what it is
Hey, pay attention, this is the essence of what this is all about
y'all need to stop confusin' the kids
You all must cease from confusing the younger generation
Makin' 'em think you gotta do a bid to be hip-hop
Making them believe that one must be incarcerated to be a part of hip-hop culture
Man that ain't it
That is not the case
Rob a nigga, kill a nigga, man that ain't shit
Robbing or killing people is not something to be proud of or relevant to hip-hop culture
How you figure, how murder make you hip?
How do you justify that killing someone provides one with hip-hop status?
You need to hop to the bookstore and look for Kris
You should go to the bookstore and seek out KRS-One's literature
Anything by KRS-One
Any work or writings by KRS-One
Will lead you to peace, to love, to unity and havin' fun
Will guide you towards peace, love, unity, and enjoyment in life
y'all know but some of y'all don't
Some of you are already aware of this, but some of you are not
And some of y'all won't that's why only some of y'all dope
Some of you, however, refuse to acknowledge this, which is why only a few of you are truly exemplary
The rest of y'all, food for the Gods
The remaining individuals will eventually be consumed by the higher powers
I eat everything but Pop's 'cause I don't eat lard
I can partake in anything but pork, as I do not eat fatty foods like lard
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODNEY SHELTON, MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Michelle_Schu-blacka
My favourite MC of all time.
I remember first hearing Stop The Violence a depressingly long time ago on an album called Rap Attack, which was the first Hip-Hop tape I ever bought.
It introduced me to KOOL Moe See, Stetsasonic, Roxanne, Roxanne Shante, Big Daddy Kane and even DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
But Stop The Violence hit me the hardest AND was my introduction to politics. 'We fight inflation yet the president is still on vacation' was the line where I first really thought about the politicians I heard about on the news and realised politicians don't care about us or are completely incompetent.
I ended joining the Conservative Party, which I'm sure Kris wouldn't approve of, but I liked how they handled the economy. I have left though, since they've taken a weird jump to the far-right that I can't be part of.
@MBC1988.
Who else bumping this in 2024?🔥🔥🔥
@adalbertobeats
KRS One the master of masters of hip hop
I come Back to this classic hip hop never get old.
Who stilling listen it in 2020 ?
@supermcfly100
Me
@dom2664
me some guy said this guy is like a megalodon compared to Eminem and sent me a link ehhh it’s classic asf but not really
@ETwOneE21
✊🏾✊🏾
@PedroSanchez-mv5fh
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR BARS FROM DEEP UNDERGROUND CHECK OUT HYNT. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSRO9z5BWLwTmuMkWsOasdQ?view_as=subscriber
@alexandrelima1419
I am here from Brazil
@Mnyamhotep
He is saying hip hop is conscious expression better yet consciousness expressing itself ♾
@truthhitman7473
The definition of Hip Hop right here
@radu02008
And the anthem