HIP HOP
Royce Da 5"9' Lyrics

I know my streets, I know my sounds
I am familiar with where I come from and the music that defines my culture

y'all know my beats, how I get down
My music style and production techniques are well-known by those who follow hip hop

I take my steps, and leaps and bounds
I am constantly pushing boundaries and taking risks in my music career

Nigga it's, hip hop!
I am affirming that the genre of music I belong to is hip hop

Yeah, yeah, we started from nothing a couple MC's
We began our journey as struggling artists with nothing but a passion for hip hop

Beat-boxin, the crowd in the lunch room (yeah)
Our first audience was our peers in school, where we would perform using just our voices as instruments

Me and Prem', both names go together
My collaborator DJ Premier and I are inseparable in the world of hip hop

Like they ain't supposed to be separate, like "D" in the D
Our names blend together so well that it's like they were never meant to be apart, much like Detroit's "D"

I said it before, I rep in records beats
I have previously declared that I represent hip hop music through the beats and productions I make

At the headquarters, rest in peace
I pay tribute to fallen pioneers of hip hop who have passed away but made significant contributions to the genre

Nigga I'ma hold shotty, and knock you out
I am not afraid to use force to defend myself and my music

And I ain't gotta know Karate like Afu-ra
I don't need martial arts skills to assert my dominance in hip hop

This is rap basketball, stats all you got
Hip hop is like a sport where statistics and track records matter

Long as you hot, and your flow could hold up
As long as you are popular and have a good flow, you can succeed in hip hop

To knowin all of your short goals is long shots!
Hip hop artists should not be deterred by unlikely odds and should aim high to achieve success

Ninety percent of you niggaz ain't hard
Most hip hop artists lack the toughness and grit required to make it in the industry

Here +Just to Get a Rep+, you're not +Gangstarrs+
Merely building a reputation in hip hop is not enough to reach the legendary status of a group like Gang Starr

The finest flow will amaze, rap without me
Incredible rap flow can still exist without my presence, but I am still an important figure in hip hop

Minus The Source, minus the Quotable page
Hip hop as an art form can still exist without major publications like The Source or being recognized on a notable page

Hip hop! is everything around you
Hip hop is an integral part of urban culture and affects a wide range of aspects in society

"No competition"
There is no other genre that can compare to hip hop's unique influence and significance

"It's real in the field"
Hip hop is an authentic expression of life in the streets and the struggles of the people who inhabit them

What's realer than, hip hop! (yeah)
There is no other form of music that can match the raw authenticity and realness of hip hop

Rythmic, league c'mon wit it, I'm long winded
I am skilled in rapping and can maintain a long flow of verses without losing rhythm

I will diss you, from long distances
I am not afraid to engage in rap battles or verbal sparring even if I am far away from my opponent

You will not get the chance, like Choppa
I will not give my opponents the opportunity to attack me, similar to how Choppa City was unable to defend himself in a recent altercation

Ness and Dylan, to dis-respect, who you don't listen to
Nes and Dylan are rappers who disrespect other artists even if they don't actually listen to their music

Egg in the skillet brain, nigga, diss is you
My insults and disses will fry your brain similar to an egg in a hot skillet

Smarten up, every person in the earth, be harden up
People need to become wiser and tougher to face the harsh realities of life

But the only target is us
Hip hop artists are often the target of violence, discrimination, and criticism

Cars and trucks, I be dreaming about shit
Hip hop artists often dream of living a luxurious lifestyle with fancy cars and other extravagant possessions

Like having a hard time swinging on a nigga, or squeezing a trigger or falling
Hip hop artists are often confronted with difficult situations where they need to fight, use a weapon, or avoid danger

If I land, I won't wake up (yeah)
If I end up in a bad situation, it could be fatal and I might not survive

My six shot model, ya crew
I carry a six-shooter gun to protect myself and deal with any potential threats from other artists or people in general

I'm leaving ya mommy faces blue, just like a Hypnotic bottle
I am capable of inflicting physical harm on others, leaving their mothers grief-stricken and distressed, similar to the blue Hypnotic liquor bottle

They feel you the realer, you spit
Other people can detect and appreciate the genuine emotions that come through in your music

This killer shit is hearing us
The violent and aggressive nature of hip hop is being heard and received by audiences

Healing you if you ill or you sick mentally
Hip hop can also provide emotional and mental healing for those who are struggling with mental illness or other health issues

More venom, 5'9 is like a G5
I am a powerful figure in hip hop who has a lot of passion and intensity to offer

Illest lyrics is stored in him
I possess some of the most impressive and memorable lyrics that are stored within me

Chorus is killing, any warrior feeling
The chorus of my songs is powerful enough to defeat and intimidate any opponent or perceived threat in the industry

That I ain't God, Lord willing
While I may be a respected and admired figure in hip hop, I am still not almighty or infallible

Trust me, after I crush ya building
I am confident in my abilities to completely destroy and dismantle any competition or opposition in the industry

You will just hush, you won't restore the village
After I am done defeating you, you will not have anything left to say or offer, and the landscape of hip hop will be changed

We look toward wit killing, real
Hip hop often glorifies violence and aggression as a way to assert dominance and control over competition

Though this album is morbidly feeling to steel
Even though this album may contain dark and heavy themes, it is still powerful and emotional enough to resonate with fans and listeners

Hip hop! Fuck your feeling's
Hip hop is a genre that often disregards sensitivity or emotional pain and is focused more on brute strength and toughness

More rappers dying, much more killing
In the world of hip hop, there is a lot of violence and death that occurs, both metaphorically in rap battles and literally in real life

It's no feeling, realer than gambling ya life
Hip hop artists often risk their lives and livelihoods to achieve success and fame in the industry

Everyday, and waking up to more dealing's
The life of a hip hop artist is full of constant battles and struggles to stay on top and maintain their status

Fourteen killing's, compared to offshore millions
Even though there are many examples of hip hop violence and death, there are also huge sums of money that can be gained and made through the industry

Equals, I got a lot more villains
Because there is so much money and power involved in hip hop, there are also a lot of people who are willing to betray or harm others in order to get ahead

You know that you easily lose, you be on MTV News
If you are not careful or skilled enough in hip hop, you can easily become the subject of negative news and attention

For the first time, because you died over
Your death or downfall in hip hop will be the first time that people start paying attention to you or recognize your name