Stetsasonic was an American hip hop group formed in 1981 in Brooklyn, New Y… Read Full Bio ↴Stetsasonic was an American hip hop group formed in 1981 in Brooklyn, New York. They are remembered as one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band, and their positive, uplifting lyrics have made the group forerunners of alternative hip hop and jazz rap. The members are Prince Paul, Wise, DBC (the Devastating Beat Creator), Daddy-O, Delite, Bobby Simmons, and Fruitkwan aka Frukwan.
Originally, the group was known as the Stetson Brothers, but they changed their name to Stetsasonic for their debut, On Fire, due to their preference of Stetson hats. The album received mixed reviews, though the follow-ups, In Full Gear and Blood, Sweat & No Tears were critically acclaimed.

The group broke up soon after the release of Blood, Sweat & No Tears. Frukwan and Prince Paul worked with the Gravediggaz, while the latter also became a well-respected record producer, as did Daddy O, who worked for Mary J. Blige and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others.

Stet Troop '88!
Stetsasonic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

STET
TROOP
'88

'88

'88

I buy my clothes at the Gap, I really know how to rap
I like root beer on tap and I'm a shorty strapped
And like Run once said I'm proud to be black
And if I sat on a bus, it wouldn't be in the back
And I reside in the East and all the Gods say peace
And every since I started rappin' I've been Ebony Chief
And if I took the Pepsi Challenge, I'd choose Dr. Brown
Yo Wise, let me hear that Stet Troop sound

Some people call me Kareem, at work they call me Glen
I was on tour last year, this year I'll do it again
And though I'm not a politician I know all my rights
I had a fight with a cop just last night
Address my girl 'my dear', been shootin' guns for years
And I never been a sucker givin' in to my peers
The Stet says a rhyme, I'm always on time
Wait a minute - let me think of my next line
Ehm
Ehm
Ehm
Okay
I eat at BBQ, meat-eatin' days are through
I like it in Lake Charles, I like Miami too
When I was in San Diego had to visit the zoo
And I don't like used cars, so I'ma buy one new
I'm readin' Stephen King, Joan Collins ain't my thing
Whenever I got beef, I give [Name] a ring
I cool with Walter and Lumumba in an Aero Star
Yo Wise, a little bit of that human guitar

Thank you
And in karate class love when it's time to spar
I tape the daytime soaps on a VCR
I drink low-fat milk to give my tummy a rest
I use ??? in the shower cause I don't like ???
I eat my ice creams slow, call Puerto-Ricans bro
And when I had a yoyo, I had the one that glowed
I used to make go-karts, now rappin' is my art
Scott La Rock still lives inside my heart

Now I'm a lover of hats, I make money in stracks
Love to watch The Box, music video tracks
Always stayed in school, my mother raised no fool
And if I broke any rules, then my pops got rude
Call me MC Delite a/k/a Shaheed
Here to teach and lead by my rhymin' spree
Make the crowd yell 'ho' when I go solo
Yo Wise, give me a taste of what you gave Daddy-O

I love to cool and relax with a girl that's real
She will chill at my place and I will cook the meal
I've been so many places and saw many faces
One city I remember was the city of Vegas
Other night never quits, prostitution's legit
And the crowd only cheered at the end of a skit
Oh, one other fact, I lost 300 smack
But soon I got the bets and I won it all back

All my sneakers are gold, on the mic I'm bold
Don't play me like I'm a kid, I'm 24 years old
I like to fly in a plane, call a woman a dame
Like the Empire State it's recognition I gain
Stet Troop and a beat, the world of Stet is complete
A lotta records are weak, but this one is unique
Like they were just grapes, crushin' suckers we hate
Yo Wise, come in on time, but not too late

On weekdays I build, the weekends I chill
And the closer you listen, you detect the skill
Then you think in your head about the lyric I said
You kick beats in the bed, I be creatin' instead
People booge in crowds, we can boogie alone
Though the music is loud you're in a 3D zone
Stet appearance react like a deck that's stacked
And like Radio Shack we're all over the damn map

We like cordless mics, we ride ninja bikes
We don't sing heavy metal and we don't wear spikes
We're classified as a fam, we operate six man
And if you call us a group, you get a body slam
Fruitkwan tailors clothes, Delite waxes foes
And we both rock house with Daddy-O
Paul's on the Technics, Wise kicks the beats
And DBC is on the keys with the drum machine

STET
TROOP
'88

'88

'88

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stetsasonic's song Stet Troop '88 are a series of autobiographical statements about the different members of the group. Each member takes a turn to rap about their individual characteristics and experiences, giving the listeners a glimpse into their lives. They talk about their fashion choices, favorite drinks, and favorite cities. They also touch on more serious issues like racism, their rights, and run-ins with the law. The song paints a picture of the group as a tight-knit, multi-talented collective, with each member's specific talents and interests contributing to the overall success of the group. The catchy chorus of "Stet Troop '88" serves as a rallying cry for the group and a reminder of their unity.

Line by Line Meaning

I buy my clothes at the Gap, I really know how to rap
I may dress mainstream, but don't underestimate my rap skills

And like Run once said I'm proud to be black
I'm proud of my African-American heritage

And if I sat on a bus, it wouldn't be in the back
I won't let racism push me to the back of the bus

And every since I started rappin' I've been Ebony Chief
I'm an expert in my craft, akin to a chief in my field

I had a fight with a cop just last night
I had a dispute with a police officer recently

And I never been a sucker givin' in to my peers
I won't let peer pressure control my actions

I use ??? in the shower cause I don't like ???
I use a particular product in the shower to avoid discomfort

And when I had a yoyo, I had the one that glowed
I had a unique and notable yoyo as a child

Scott La Rock still lives inside my heart
I still carry the memory of my late friend and collaborator

And the crowd only cheered at the end of a skit
The audience was unresponsive until the end of the performance

Oh, one other fact, I lost 300 smack
I lost $300 at one point

On weekdays I build, the weekends I chill
I balance work and leisure time

Then you think in your head about the lyric I said
My words are meant to provoke thought and reflection

And like Radio Shack we're all over the damn map
We're diverse and widespread, similar to a Radio Shack store

And we both rock house with Daddy-O
We perform together with Daddy-O

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARNOLD E. HAMILTON, GLENN K. BOLTON, LEONARDO ROMAN, MARTIN P. NEMLEY, PAUL HUSTON, PAUL E. HUSTON, SHAHID WRIGHT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS