I Want It Back
Madlib & The Professionals Lyrics
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Our time is growing small, the writing's on the wall
Take this how you have to or don't take it at all
Our time is growing small, the writing's on the wall
Take this how you have to or don't take it at all
Our time is growing small, the writing's on the wall
It's the next termination
Raise the price like petrol
Take yo ass back like retro clothes
Tag you like Marc Eckos
Debut in the game console, but this ain't a game
Calm yourself down and honor the motherfucking vet though
I been kept low, now I'm out like escrow
And y'all don't get jumped, y'all get quantum leaped
That's an out of body experience
Faking peoples they is not
Shape, I am in tip top
These phonies, that's what y'all niggas call hip-hop?
Then I'm gonna change it to hop hips
They hold on the heat hot, and then they get fucked like loose lips
That's over and over again, yo fuck this
This shit is played out like some porno shit
It's like every other city I go
I see some new niggas walk
Same nigga Oh on some swishers and the cash flow
More blunts, more games, more dames, more dimes
More courts than signs, we don't play
Get smoked like the chronic, ate from the Cali state of mind
Is, I gots to get mines anyway
Back down, Oh's background with Madlib
The new sound plus Kaliwild and that's it
Blaw
Please believe me, we do it easy
Hip hop it needs me, I want it back (back, back, back, back, back)
I want it back (back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back)
Please believe me, we do it easy
Hip hop it needs me, I want it back (back, back, back, back)
I want it back (back, back, back, back)
Uh
Theoretically speaking
It was stoled and duplicated, but the new generations don't know the old
Only a few, I raised off the realest
They had them chains back then, but didn't talk about it in every sentence
And that's when them songs had meaning
Either it was that or it was raw ridiculous deliveries that we was all fiending
Nowadays, the odds a million to one
Still cold chillin' like 88
Fast forward to 91, '92 I learned that it was Hard to Earn
So I midnight marauded me some mics til I passed out at my mom's work
Mad LPs got jerked
But that don't stop the hustle, still got a lot of work to tussle
Shows ain't packed for the vets, disgusted
Fans mad cause it ain't oacked enough to get more people to bumpin'
'96, niggas had started disruption
2006, the world got more corrupted and ain't nobody saying nothing
Hook: Oh No
Please believe me, we do it easy
Hip hop it needs me, I want it back (back, back, back, back, back)
I want it back (back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back)
Please believe me, we do it easy
Hip hop it needs me, I want it back (back, back, back, back)
I want it back (back, back, back, back)
The lyrics of "I Want It Back" by Madlib & The Professionals convey a sense of urgency and nostalgia about the state of hip-hop music. The repeated lines "Take this how you have to or don't take it at all, Our time is growing small, the writing's on the wall" emphasize the importance of acknowledging the current situation and the need for action. The repetition of these lines serves as a warning that time is running out and changes need to be made.
The song delves into the theme of reclaiming the essence of hip-hop that seems to have been lost or diluted over time. The verses talk about raising the bar in terms of lyrical content and creativity, calling out the trend of superficiality and commercialization in the music industry. There is a call for authenticity and substance in the art form, highlighting the need to honor the legacy of hip-hop and its pioneers.
The lyrics also touch upon the struggles and challenges faced by artists in the hip-hop community, referencing issues like lack of recognition for veterans in the industry and the constant need to prove oneself in a competitive landscape. There is a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the direction that hip-hop has taken, with a longing for the golden era of the genre when music had deeper meaning and significance.
Ultimately, the song serves as a rallying cry for artists to reclaim the spirit of hip-hop and bring back the rawness and authenticity that defined the genre in its early days. It speaks to a desire to see a revival of the true essence of hip-hop, rooted in storytelling, social commentary, and artistic integrity. The lyrics express a love for the culture of hip-hop and a determination to preserve its core values in the face of commercialization and commodification.
Line by Line Meaning
Take this how you have to or don't take it at all
Understand this message in your own way, or simply ignore it completely
Our time is growing small, the writing's on the wall
We must act quickly, as the signs of change are becoming more evident
Raise the price like petrol
Increase the value like the cost of gasoline
Take yo ass back like retro clothes
Go back to your roots like wearing vintage clothing
Tag you like Marc Eckos
Mark you or label you similar to the fashion brand Marc Ecko
Debut in the game console, but this ain't a game
Enter the music scene, but recognize it's not a game or trivial matter
Calm yourself down and honor the motherfucking vet though
Stay composed and show respect to the experienced professionals
I been kept low, now I'm out like escrow
I've been overlooked, but now I'm emerging like a financial transaction
And y'all don't get jumped, y'all get quantum leaped
You're not just advancing slightly, but making huge strides forward
That's over and over again, yo fuck this
This repetitive cycle is frustrating, I've had enough
It's like every other city I go
No matter where I travel, the situation remains the same
I see some new niggas walk
I encounter new faces entering the music scene
I want it back (back, back, back, back)
I desire a return to the authentic essence of hip-hop
Only a few, I raised off the realest
There are only a handful of artists who were influenced by genuine hip-hop
Nowadays, the odds a million to one
The likelihood of success is extremely rare in the current music landscape
Still cold chillin' like 88
Remaining cool and relaxed like the late 1980s
Fast forward to 91, '92 I learned that it was Hard to Earn
By the early 90s, I understood the challenges of making a living in this industry
Shows ain't packed for the vets, disgusted
Veteran artists are disappointed by the lack of audience at their performances
'96, niggas had started disruption
In 1996, artists began to create a stir and challenge the status quo
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Woodrow Jackson, Otis Lee Jackson Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind