Rock Is Dead
Presence Lyrics

Enter my Delorean time machine
Let's travel back in time to the golden age of rock music

Back to the future we go
Taking a journey to the past to explore the roots of rock music

To explore the rock scene
Learn more about the impact of rock music on society

All the while
During the journey to the past

My style’s McFly
I have a unique style that combines the past with the present

Even when I die
My music will live on forever

Big props to L.I.
Giving a shout-out to Long Island, where the artist is from

South Bronx
Acknowledging the birthplace of hip-hop

Bedstuy
Reference to Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, a renowned hip-hop neighborhood

Bacdaf*cup
A playful alteration of a curse word, indicating the artist's carefree attitude

This ain’t Onyx
This is not the aggressive style characteristic of Onyx, but something else

Pave the way for Dr. Dre and his Chronic
This artist's brand of music had an influence on many others who followed

The Gravediggaz ebonically demonic
Referencing a horrorcore hip-hop group that had a unique style

Nasty Nas and his supersonic phonic
Acknowledging the lyrical mastery of rapper Nas

K-R-S-One Attack
Reference to the aggressive style of rapper KRS-One

With the Boom Bap
A reference to the classic hip-hop beat

On the scene in Queens with Kool G Rap
Acknowledging Kool G Rap's contribution to hip-hop in Queens

LA back in the day
A nod to the West Coast hip-hop scene in the past

A Hundred Miles And Runnin
Referencing a classic NWA album

Forever gunnin with NWA
Acknowledging the impact of NWA on hip-hop music

Chorus
The main point of the song: that rock music is alive and well

Who says rock is dead
Questioning those who believe that rock music is no longer relevant

Are you ready to bang your head
Asking if the listener is ready to enjoy some good rock music

C’mon yeah
Encouraging the listener to join in the fun

Enough said
That's all that needs to be said on the topic

Imagination is the key to be
Stressing the importance of imagination in the creative process

I let my mind fly free
Encouraging free thinking and creativity

The second coming of the white emcee
Claiming to be the next great white rapper

Settin forth a prerequisite
Establishing a requirement for success

I know you’re tryin to get with this
Acknowledging that others want to follow in the artist's footsteps

Amazin caucasian persuasion
A clever play on words, highlighting the artist's skills

Always on some next shit
Stating that the artist is always one step ahead

Perpetual rhyme delivery
Consistently coming up with great rhymes

An enigmatic mystery
Maintaining an air of mystery around the artist

You know I’m fit to be
The artist is destined for success and greatness

Goin down in history
The artist's music will become legendary

Biggie Smalls and Tupac we mourn
Remembering the tragic deaths of two great rappers

Now behold Jay Slim
Introducing the artist as the next great rapper

Another legend is born
Stating that the artist is destined for greatness

Headbangin and slangin as I enter the Wu-Tang
Entering the scene with attitude and style, influenced by the Wu-Tang Clan

Hoo-Bangin with the Westside Connect gang
Acknowledging the West Coast rap scene

Respect is Hard To Earn like my paycheck
Just like respect, one must work hard to earn a paycheck

Protect Ya Neck
Referencing a classic Wu-Tang Clan song

From the blast of the Tek & Steele
Avoiding trouble from rappers Tek & Steele

Bucktown
Another reference to hip-hop culture

Duck Down
Referring to the record label named after a song by Boogie Down Productions

Just tryin to B-Real like Cypress Hill
Trying to be authentic and true to oneself like the rap group Cypress Hill

With my License To Ill
A reference to the classic Beastie Boys album

I Kill At Will
I am unstoppable in my music

Word to Rakim
Respecting the legendary rapper Rakim

Yo it’s Time To Build
Saying that it's time to create something new and fresh

I flow about what I know
Rapping about personal experiences and knowledge

In the process try to grow
Using music as a means of self-expression and personal development

No I’ve never been to the ghetto
Acknowledging that the artist has not lived through the same experiences as some others

And I’ll probably never go
Accepting that some experiences are just out of reach

The wrath of an intelligent white kid with a mic gripped tight
Boasting about the artist's intelligence and skills on the mic

A lyrical fight ensues
A battle of words between rappers

You lose
The artist will always come out on top

Gave ya brain blacks & blues
The artist's lyrics are so powerful that they can hurt your brain

Knocked ya out
The artist has won the battle

Stole ya shoes
A reference to the hip-hop battle tradition of stealing each other's sneakers

Hit a spliff and took another sip of the booze
Taking a break to enjoy some marijuana and alcohol

Shut yer yapper
Telling someone to be quiet

I’m the cracker rapper that’s makin all the rules
The artist is setting new trends in hip-hop even though he is white

Refuse and I’ll prepare your moms for the bad news
Warning those who try to resist the artist's music that there will be consequences

Some call it a fad
Recognizing that some people believe that hip-hop is just a passing trend

It’s a natural evolution of music
Rejecting the notion that hip-hop is just a fad and emphasizing that it is a valid form of musical expression

A few abuse it
Admitting that there are some aspects of hip-hop culture that are negative

I refuse to lose it
The artist will not let the negative aspects of hip-hop ruin the positive ones

It’s part of my heart
Hip-hop culture is deeply ingrained in the artist's life and identity

It’s for the kids
Hip-hop culture is something that young people can enjoy and identify with

Not the music critics to tear it apart
The artist does not care about negative reviews or criticism

I’m calling it the Peter Pan Theory
Comparing hip-hop culture to the story of Peter Pan, where one never has to grow old and go through the struggles of adulthood

You can keep that lo-fi throwback crap ‘cause I don’t want it near me
Rejecting the idea of retro-style music

And if ya can’t hear me/start a band with “t-h-e” and you too can be a flash in the pan … can’t forget the Outkast
Making a sarcastic remark about starting a band with a simple name like 'The' to achieve success, referencing the success of Outkast

Goodie Mo-B
A reference to the Atlanta-based hip-hop group Goodie Mob

The D-O-double-G
A playful reference to rapper Snoop Dogg

So shall I Proceed
The artist is ready to continue with a new idea or concept

To rock the mic like MOP
To perform with energy and passion, like the hip-hop group MOP

Run-DMC
A reference to the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC

A Tribe called Hip-Hop will always run through me
Hip-hop will always be a part of the artist's life and identity