In high school in the late 1970s, he met Special K and DJ Easy Lee. They formed the influential old school hip hop group The Treacherous Three. It is with The Treacherous Three that Kool Moe Dee performed his freestyle, on stage roast of old school party rapper Busy Bee Starski, a performance frequently cited as a pivotal moment in the development of the battle rap. In 1986, Kool Moe Dee went solo, releasing a self-titled album.
He is also well-known for his long-running feud with LL Cool J; he claims that LL Cool J stole his rapping style. The cover of Kool Moe Dee's 1987 album How Ya Like Me Now features a red Kangol hat (LL Cool J's trademark) being crushed under the wheel of a Jeep.
His song I Go To Work from the album Knowledge Is King is considered by some the pinnacle of his work, with high speed, high energy and intricate lyrics masterfully mixed in to the stacatto sounds of a marching band.
Kool Moe Dee also appeared on Will Smith's #1 pop hit "Wild Wild West" from Smith's 1999 motion picture, on which he re-performs the chorus to his 1987 single of the same name.
In 2003 he authored a book called "There's a God on the Mic" (ISBN 1560255331). The book breaks down his 50 favorite MCs in terms of originality, concepts, versatility, vocabulary, substance, flow, flavor, freestyle, vocal presence, live performance, poetic value, body of work, industry impact, social impact, longevity, lyrics and battle skills.
Good Time
Kool Moe Dee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(It's alright)
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
(It's alright)
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
(It's alright)
(I say yes-yes-y'all
To the beat, all)
(Going way, way back to the early days)
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
(It's alright)
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
(It's alright)
[Verse 1]
I said yes yes-y'all, got em off the wall
Teachers tried to teach em, but I got em in the hall
Learning funky lessons, testing, yes, I am the man
Suckers try to second-guess and question if I can
Flowing knowledge, wisdom, power, don't you understand?
I educate and radiate and motivate fam
Showing younger brothers what it is to be a man
By tearing up the party when the mic is in my hand
This is what you call a winter/spring/summer jam
Fall into the mood as the funky music slams
I know you got the rhythm, cause it runs in the fam
I gotta speak my piece, cause this ain't "Silence Of the Lambs"
I'm here to terrorize, energize, exercise, mesmerize
If some brothers say they beat me, them are lies
Whoever stepped to me and tried to do me got it fast
Homeboy was ancient history, a blast from the past
This is just a blast from the past
[Verse 2]
I said 'rock-rnock, y'all' and knocked-knocked all
The suckers out the box, as I dropped back-calls
For response they responded, the response was overwhelming
From brothers with cool tones, but rookies were yelling
They're selling records by the millions, I was selling tapes
Giving parties in the park, and we never made papes
Rhyming from dawn till dust till dawn
6 a.m. and we was just getting warm
Heating up and beating up on some dead wrong
Brother on the mic who thought he had it going on
Talk on the mic with no poetical style
He was dogging it like he's a pathetical child
To grab a microphone a brother had to have juice
If he couldn't produce, we said he couldn't get loose
Today we would say the brother just couldn't flow
And he would be like history, homeboy would have to go
[Verse 3]
I said peep-peep, y'all, a total recall
Drop the funky lyrics on ya like free-fall
Watch the 'Funky Drummer', dancing to the drummer's beat
Cutting up 'Apache' while they're dancing in the street
And 'More Bounce To the Ounce' for the Funkadelic
Tear the Roof Off the Muthasucker', let the party rip
The funky 'Breaking Bells' took you to the 'Mardi Gras'
A slice of 'Paradise', and it was off to 'Shangri-La'
A cut of 'Space Funk' made you come down to earth
And 'Life On Mars' was the beat that gave birth
Style I possess, the rhythm I test
The message that I stress, the topics I address
The yes to the yes to the y'all I profess
I'm more than a man, but never nothing less
Cause me and the mic is like Osiris and his calf
I'm dropping funky light with the blast from the past
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
(It's alright)
A blast from the past
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
(It's alright)
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
This just a blast from the past
(It's alright)
(I say yes-yes-y'all
To the beat, all)
(Remember Bronx River)
A blast from the past
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
This is just a blast from the past
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
A blast from the past
(I say yes-yes-y'all)
This is just a blast from the past
(Remember Bronx River)
In Kool Moe Dee's song "Good Time," the artist, through his lyrics, reminisces on the past and how things were different back then, specifically in relation to music, where it was about the flow, rhythm, and the melody rather than just sales and marketing. He acknowledges that while there have been changes with time, the beat remains the same, and he still has a message to convey, as he raps, "I'm here to terrorize, energize, exercise, mesmerize if some brothers say they beat me, them are lies." Kool Moe Dee also shows how old school hip-hop was a way to educate and motivate younger generations, to be better individuals and to show them how it is to be a man. He talks about how the music could bring different people together and make everyone feel good, with lines like "this is what you call a winter/spring/summer jam fall."
The artist also highlights how the old school style of hip-hop was about the music and the message, rather than the competition, money, or fame. He stresses that those who couldn't "produce" didn't deserve to be in the industry, and emphasizes the importance of a "poetical style." Kool Moe Dee is aware of how times have changed, with people selling records by the millions, but he still holds the old school philosophy where the art form is about the words, the beats, and the message it sends to the people. He closes the song with a reference to the Bronx River, which is where the old school hip-hop was born.
Line by Line Meaning
I say yes-yes-y'all
Affirming agreement and enthusiasm
It's alright
Everything is going well
Going way, way back to the early days
Remembering the past
I said yes yes-y'all, got em off the wall
I won over the audience and got them dancing
Teachers tried to teach em, but I got em in the hall
I educated people in my own way
Learning funky lessons, testing, yes, I am the man
Teaching valuable life lessons through music
Suckers try to second-guess and question if I can
Doubters question my skills and abilities
Flowing knowledge, wisdom, power, don't you understand?
Sharing deep and meaningful ideas
I educate and radiate and motivate fam
Inspiring and motivating people
Showing younger brothers what it is to be a man
Teaching valuable life lessons to younger generations
By tearing up the party when the mic is in my hand
Entertaining and energizing the crowd
This is what you call a winter/spring/summer jam
This is the perfect party music
Fall into the mood as the funky music slams
Getting lost in the rhythm of the music
I know you got the rhythm, cause it runs in the fam
Assuming that everyone has rhythm in their blood
I gotta speak my piece, cause this ain't 'Silence Of the Lambs'
Expressing my thoughts and ideas
I'm here to terrorize, energize, exercise, mesmerize
I'm here to stimulate, motivate, and inspire
If some brothers say they beat me, them are lies
Challenging anyone who claims to be better than me
Whoever stepped to me and tried to do me got it fast
Anyone who challenged me didn't stand a chance
Homeboy was ancient history, a blast from the past
Any competitor was quickly defeated and forgotten
I said 'rock-rnock, y'all' and knocked-knocked all
I brought excitement and energy to the party
The suckers out the box, as I dropped back-calls
I outperformed other entertainers
For response they responded, the response was overwhelming
The audience showed great enthusiasm
From brothers with cool tones, but rookies were yelling
Cool and experienced performers were appreciated, while new performers were inexperienced
They're selling records by the millions, I was selling tapes
The music industry is focused on record sales, while I sell my own mixtapes
Giving parties in the park, and we never made papes
Entertaining people without making a lot of money
Rhyming from dawn till dust till dawn
Performing for hours without stopping
6 a.m. and we was just getting warm
Still had a lot of energy even though it was early
Heating up and beating up on some dead wrong
Coming up with fresh ideas and being better than the competition
Brother on the mic who thought he had it going on
Confident performer who was not as skilled as he thought
Talk on the mic with no poetical style
Performing without poetic rhythm or rhyme
He was dogging it like he's a pathetical child
Performing without skill or enthusiasm
To grab a microphone a brother had to have juice
Only skilled and talented performers were allowed to perform
If he couldn't produce, we said he couldn't get loose
If he wasn't talented, he wouldn't be able to dance or enjoy himself
Today we would say the brother just couldn't flow
He wouldn't be a good rapper or performer
And he would be like history, homeboy would have to go
He would not be relevant or remembered
I said peep-peep, y'all, a total recall
Calling everyone's attention to my performance
Drop the funky lyrics on ya like free-fall
Performing with great rhythm and rhyme
Watch the 'Funky Drummer', dancing to the drummer's beat
Performing with great rhythm and energy
Cutting up 'Apache' while they're dancing in the street
Performing with enthusiasm and creativity
And 'More Bounce To the Ounce' for the Funkadelic
Performing with energy and skill
Tear the Roof Off the Muthasucker', let the party rip
Performing with great enthusiasm and energy
The funky 'Breaking Bells' took you to the 'Mardi Gras'
Entertaining the audience with creative mixes of different songs
A slice of 'Paradise', and it was off to 'Shangri-La'
Performing with great creativity and enthusiasm
A cut of 'Space Funk' made you come down to earth
Bringing the audience back to reality with a different style
And 'Life On Mars' was the beat that gave birth
Performing with great creativity and skill
Style I possess, the rhythm I test
Having a unique and creative style of performance
The message that I stress, the topics I address
Emphasizing important messages and ideas through music
The yes to the yes to the y'all I profess
Expressing agreement and enthusiasm
I'm more than a man, but never nothing less
Having a powerful and impactful style of performance
Cause me and the mic is like Osiris and his calf
Having a powerful and symbiotic relationship with the microphone
I'm dropping funky light with the blast from the past
Performing with great energy and creativity, bringing the audience back to the past
Remember Bronx River
A call to remember the origins of hip-hop music
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PUFF EWANYA JOHNSON, LEELA JAMES, COMMISSIONER GORDON, KENTON NIX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
black sultan
love this track!
Thatiam8
This is my favorite Kool Moe track.
Eli Cordero
🔥🔥🔥
Peter Palmer
OMG...He so used this same flow pattern on one of his songs on FUNKY FUNKY WISDOM....but i still love it. IM THE BIGGEST KOOL MOE DEE FAN EVER...and for some DOPE BEATS..Check out CHILL MOE DEE whom got his name obviously from his respect for KOOL MOE DEE, just like EASY MO BEE did.
Eli Cordero
Rhyme schemes 🔥
elee313
nice track
Onassis mc
Rap flava , the best style
stevewatto
About time someone uploaded this! thanks for the post!
Catiethe _SAVAGE
stevewatto yeah dope
Royce Covington
This was my ISH!