Oh No
Mos Def ft. Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg Lyrics

Yeah, one for the treble, two for the bass
Acknowledging the importance of both high and low frequencies in music

Welcome to the great incredible paper chase
Embracing the pursuit of financial success and prosperity

Keep your boots laced if you wanna keep pace
Stay prepared and motivated to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the industry

Oh no
Expressing surprise or concern about a situation

Niggas ain't scared to hustle
People are not afraid of putting in hard work and dedication

It's been seven days, the same clothes
Highlighting the relentless grind and lack of rest in their lives

Ask them originals 'cause they know
Seek advice and guidance from those who have been in the industry for a long time

Mos Def, Nate Dogg, and Pharoahe
Referring to themselves as talented artists and influential figures in the music industry

Step away from the mic, they too cold
Their skills and talent are so impressive that others should step back and give them space

The funk might fracture your nose
The intensity and quality of their music can have a powerful impact on listeners

Say my name, say my name
Demanding recognition and acknowledgement for their talents and contributions

Observe how I stake my claim
Demonstrating their confidence and claiming their place in the music industry

I independently laid down and paved my game
Establishing their own unique style and approach to music without relying on others

My own two raise my flame, 'cause dickridin' ain't my thing
They rely on their own efforts to uplift themselves and refuse to engage in sycophantic behavior

I earned what they said I wouldn't
Proving their doubters wrong and achieving success despite criticism

I got it the way they said I couldn't
Achieving success in a manner that others deemed impossible

But now I'm gettin' it and they whole grill is crooked
Others are envious and resentful of their success, causing their attitudes to become distorted

Mad 'cause I'm gettin' caked out from my bookings
Others are jealous because they are earning a significant amount of money from their shows and appearances

When y'all was askin' permission, I just stepped up and took it
While others hesitated and sought permission, they boldly seized opportunities and took what they wanted

What? The kid's better buy my rookie card now
Urging people to recognize their potential and invest in their early stages of success

'Cause after this year, the price ain't comin' down
Warning that their value and demand will only increase with time

And if you got a joint bubblin', then get money now
Encouraging artists to capitalize on their current success and maximize their earnings

'Cause in a minute, there's gonna be some real trouble comin' out
Warning that competition and challenges will arise in the future

Just a warnin', as usual, some cats won't heed it
Advising that some individuals will ignore the warning and suffer the consequences

The hard-headed always gotta feel it to believe it
Stubborn individuals need to experience the negative consequences firsthand before accepting the reality

It's a shame they jealous gaze is too short to see it
Expressing pity for those who are too envious to recognize their own shortcomings

But when they face hit the cement, they nod in agreement
Only when they experience failure or hardship do they acknowledge their mistakes

We could play nice and decent, or dirty like the 7-1 precinct
They can choose to cooperate and collaborate peacefully, or resort to aggressive tactics

Call it a day, or make it a long evenin'
Deciding whether to peacefully resolve conflicts or escalate them into prolonged confrontations

You keep on schemin', and give me some more reason
Continuously plotting against them only adds fuel to their motivation to succeed

To have the women in your mama's church screamin', 'Lord Jesus'
Causing such a commotion and admiration from women that even the religious community reacts strongly

Harder than y'all 'cause I'm smarter than y'all
Asserting that they are more successful and talented than others due to their intelligence and strategic thinking

I know that deep down, it's gotta be botherin' y'all
Recognizing that their success may create envy and unease in others

Pay attention, watch Flaco get larger than y'all
Indicating that their influence and popularity will only continue to grow

Pour your pride on the rocks, make you swallow it all
Challenging others to let go of their pride and admit defeat

The mathematic problem for y'all, it just get harder to solve
The challenge and difficulty of competing against them consistently increases

Every day that the saga evolve
Their story and journey in the music industry keeps progressing and evolving

The do-or-die stay rumblin' and bubblin' hard
They continue to work relentlessly and face difficulties head-on

And when we move, we ain't got no discussion at all
They take decisive action without wasting time on unnecessary debates

East Coast's on your neck and you ain't shruggin' it off
They have a strong presence and influence on the East Coast, and others cannot ignore it

Try to bullyfoot and end up stumblin' off
Those who attempt to intimidate or overpower them will ultimately fail and face embarrassment

I'm Daddy Brooklyn, y'all niggas are the sons of New York
Asserting their dominance and authority as prominent figures hailing from Brooklyn

Gettin' spanked when there's too much trouble to talk
Others face the consequences and repercussions when they provoke unnecessary conflict

Respect mine
Demanding respect and recognition for their achievements

Look at who they let in the back door
Reflecting on the surprise and disbelief that they have gained acceptance and success in the music industry

From Long Beach to Brooklyn, they know
Their reputation and impact is recognized and respected across different locations

We rock from the East to West Coast
Their music and influence extend from the East Coast to the West Coast

Queens, salute to Pharoahe
Showing respect and admiration to Pharoahe Monch, who represents Queens

Very contagious raps should be trapped in cages
Their infectious and powerful lyrics should be confined and controlled

Through stages of wackness, Pharoahe's raps are blazin'
Pharoahe Monch's lyrics shine even amidst a sea of mediocre and uninspiring music

And it amazes me how you claim thug
Expressing disbelief and skepticism towards those who assert toughness

But go two-ways without Skytel pagers
Contrasting their claims of being involved in criminal activities with their use of modern technology

I'm intellectual, pass more esés
Highlighting their intelligence and ability to surpass others in a variety of areas

Than motorcade police parades through East L.A.
Emphasizing that their influence and impact is greater than that of police parades in East Los Angeles

More beef than deli's, thus, what I vent is just (uh)
They face more conflict and controversy than a deli, and what they express is genuine and authentic

What you lust to vent is irrele'
They dismiss and disregard the irrelevant grievances and complaints of others

Huh, hallelujah, Pharoahe Monch'll do ya
Celebrating and praising Pharoahe Monch's skills and ability to impress listeners

Maintain the same frame of mind, screw ya
They will not allow others' opinions or criticisms to sway their mindset and determination

Get the picture, sit ya, seat ya, greet ya with scriptures
They paint a clear picture and enlighten listeners with their powerful and meaningful lyrics

I'm equipped to rip ya, reach ya
They are fully prepared and skilled to tear apart their opponents and captivate their audience

Pharoahe and Mos is verbal osmosis
Their combination and collaboration results in a seamless and transformative exchange of ideas and creativity

Coast to coast, we boast to be the most explosive here
They confidently claim to be the most dynamic and impactful artists across different regions

Ferocious, the lyrical prognosis
Their rhymes and lyrics are powerful and intense, serving as a diagnosis of the current state of the industry

The dosage is leavin' you mentally unfocused here
Their music can overwhelm and distract listeners, leaving them mentally unsettled

MCs just come on 'round
Challenging other MCs to step up and face them

You're the next contestants on 'Catch-A-Beat-Down'
They are prepared to deliver a brutal and merciless defeat to their opponents in a rap battle

Don't be hesitant, sound cracks the sediment
Encouraging others not to hesitate or hold back, as their powerful sound can shake the foundations and awaken dormant energies

It's evident we medicine for your whole town
Their music serves as a healing and transformative force for the entire community

Sky's the limit, game's infinite when I'm in it
There are no boundaries to their potential and impact in the music industry

All windows is tinted, how you seein' me when I'm in it?
They are protected and shielded from external influences, making it difficult for others to understand their true nature and intentions

Rap, we got it on lock, man, stop that (gimme that)
Asserting their dominance and ownership of the rap genre, demanding that others recognize their authority

Put that mic back down, boy, drop that
Challenging others to give up their attempts at rap, as they cannot match their skill and talent

Pharoahe's flows blows shows like Afros
Pharoahe Monch's rapping style captivates and impresses audiences, just like afros were a popular hairstyle in the past

We hate y'all though, that's why Nate Dogg goes
They have disdain and resentment towards others, leading Nate Dogg to express his frustration and anger through his music