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.
The Avenue
Kool Moe Dee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Driving down the boulevard
Turn the corner
Like I want to be chilin' hard
The screen is set
For me to get wet
Cause it wouldn't be right
If the ladies didn't sweat
To make contact
Eye to eye
You know I ain't living like that
I wear shades
I get paid
And when it comes to girls
And cops I can't get played
Fly girls that
Used to ignore me
I pull up
And let the car speak for me
(beep beep)
Enough said
Better hop in while the light's still red
Homeboys scatter
What's the matter
("Here come the cops")
Oh yeah that again
Rather than
Beating them down
I just talk to the men
They don't understand how I've got so much cash
Then I get mad and tell them to ask
Their daughter
I bet she bought a
cool Moe Dee tape
For her recorder
We're not always
Thieves and thugs
And what law says
We gotta sell drugs
I get paid
And I'm making a killin'
But when I come home
I just like chillin'
On the
Avenue, a-avenue (4x)
Action
That's where the stars go
On the weekend
It's like a car show
Ladies flock to jock
Cars go by them
If I'm walking and talking
They ask what ya driving
When I peep that
Same old weak rap
Ask her her language
Tell her I don't speak that
Pull out a "G"
A car key and a Visa
Walk her to the car
Leave her there "see ya"
She didn't want
Nothin' else but a payday
Now she's sinking
Hollering Mayday
I knew her card
Cause two days ago
I saw that same slick girl
In a broken-down Yugo
With a hustler
Layin' low
Couldn't drive his Benz
Cause the cops said so
Your homeboy got shot
In front of your crack spot
You move cause it got to hot
But not on that block
The cops are watching
Baiting and plotting
Setting you up
For the raid in the block and
When they come
You all got to go
But not cool Moe
Cause they all know
The knot I got
Is way over their knot
But I'm working
That's why they're not
After me
They're after you
Cause I'm just chillin'
On the
Avenue, a-avenue (4x)
Homeboys want to get paid
We can do this
the right way
You'll get money and respect
Livin' large and correct
Then come back through the neighborhood
When you look good
We all look good
Cause it's all for one
And one for all
It's got to be a better way
To get the money y'all
The lyrics of Kool Moe Dee's "The Avenue" describe the rapper's experience cruising down the street in his brand new car, enjoying the attention from the ladies and the respect from the cops. He emphasizes his success and financial status, citing the purchase of the car, the support from the neighborhood, and his refusal to engage in illegal activities to earn money. However, he also acknowledges the challenges faced by his community, such as violence, drug dealing, and police surveillance, and suggests that there must be a better way to achieve success without sacrificing integrity and unity.
The overall message of the song is one of pride, defiance, and hope. Kool Moe Dee portrays himself as a role model for his peers, demonstrating that it is possible to make a living through talent, hard work, and positivity. He also challenges the negative stereotypes of inner-city youth as criminals and gang members, arguing that they are capable of greatness and deserve respect and opportunities. Through his use of rhyme, rhythm, and humor, Kool Moe Dee creates a catchy and uplifting anthem that celebrates black culture and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Bought a brand new car
I purchased a new vehicle
Driving down the boulevard
I am driving down a major street
Turn the corner
I make a turn
Like I want to be chilin' hard
I drive casually, enjoying myself
The screen is set
I am prepared for attention
For me to get wet
I am prepared to be desired
Cause it wouldn't be right
It is appropriate
If the ladies didn't sweat
If women didn't show interest in me
Pull the seat back
I adjust the position of my seat
To make contact
To make eye contact with women
Eye to eye
We make direct eye contact
You know I ain't living like that
I don't live a simple life
I wear shades
I wear sunglasses
I get paid
I make a lot of money
And when it comes to girls
With regards to women
And cops I can't get played
I am not intimidated by cops
Fly girls that
Attractive women who
Used to ignore me
Used to not pay attention to me
I pull up
I arrive in my car
And let the car speak for me
I use my car to impress the women
(beep beep)
My car makes a honking noise
Enough said
That should be sufficient
Better hop in while the light's still red
Hurry up and get in the car
Homeboys scatter
My friends leave quickly
What's the matter
What is the issue
("Here come the cops")
(Police officers are approaching)
Oh yeah that again
That happens frequently
Rather than
Instead of
Beating them down
Fighting the police
I just talk to the men
I speak with the officers
They don't understand how I've got so much cash
The officers are curious about my wealth
Then I get mad and tell them to ask
I become angry and tell them to ask someone else
Their daughter
Their child
I bet she bought a
I am sure she purchased
cool Moe Dee tape
My own music
For her recorder
To listen to at a later time
We're not always
We're not constantly
Thieves and thugs
Criminals
And what law says
What legal code mandates
We gotta sell drugs
We are required to sell illegal substances
And I'm making a killin'
I am making a lot of money
But when I come home
However, when I return to my residence
I just like chillin'
I enjoy relaxing
On the
In the neighborhood
Avenue, a-avenue (4x)
The streets where I grew up
Action
Excitement
That's where the stars go
That's where famous and popular people go
On the weekend
On Saturdays and Sundays
It's like a car show
People show off their cars
Ladies flock to jock
Women are attracted to the men
Cars go by them
Cars drive past them
If I'm walking and talking
If I am walking and conversing
They ask what ya driving
They inquire about my car
When I peep that
When I notice
Same old weak rap
The usual substandard conversation
Ask her her language
Inquire as to her dialect
Tell her I don't speak that
Inform her I have a different vernacular
Pull out a "G"
Show her $1000
A car key and a Visa
My car key and credit card
Walk her to the car
Escort her to my automobile
Leave her there "see ya"
Leave her at the car and depart
She didn't want
She did not desire
Nothin' else but a payday
Only money
Now she's sinking
She is having issues
Hollering Mayday
Seeking help
I knew her card
I recognized her situation
Cause two days ago
Because I saw her recently
I saw that same slick girl
I noticed that same attractive woman
In a broken-down Yugo
In a dilapidated Eastern European car
With a hustler
With a swindler
Layin' low
Hiding
Couldn't drive his Benz
Could not operate his Mercedes-Benz
Cause the cops said so
Because he was in trouble with the authorities
Your homeboy got shot
Your friend was shot
In front of your crack spot
At your drug-selling location
You move cause it got to hot
You relocated due to increased scrutiny
But not on that block
But not in that particular area
The cops are watching
The police are observing
Baiting and plotting
Trying to catch criminals
Setting you up
Attempting to lure you into a trap
For the raid in the block and
For the impending raid
When they come
When the police officers arrive
You all got to go
You must depart
But not cool Moe
But I am exempt from that
Cause they all know
Because they are aware
The knot I got
The amount of money I possess
Is way over their knot
Is much more than they have
But I'm working
But I am working hard
That's why they're not
That is why they are not targeting me
After me
Focus on me
They're after you
They are targeting you
Cause I'm just chillin'
Because I am relaxing
On the
In the neighborhood
Homeboys want to get paid
My friends want to make money
We can do this
We can accomplish this
the right way
In an appropriate manner
You'll get money and respect
You will receive money and admiration
Livin' large and correct
Living well and properly
Then come back through the neighborhood
Return to the area
When you look good
When you are prosperous
We all look good
We all appear successful
Cause it's all for one
Because we are all in this together
And one for all
We support one another
It's got to be a better way
There must be a more positive solution
To get the money y'all
To obtain financial stability
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind