Way Of Life
Sunz Of Man Presents Hell Razah & 4th Disciple Lyrics

G.G.O., Ghetto Government Official
Introducing the rap group Sunz of Man Presents Hell Razah & 4th Disciple as part of G.G.O., the collective known as Ghetto Government Official.

Hip hop is a way of life, it's in my breath
Hip hop is not just music, but a way of living that is deeply ingrained in the artist's being.

The way I, breathe and step, not the way I dress
The artist's essence of hip hop is demonstrated in their actions and body language, not necessarily in their fashion choices.

East to west, throw your arms right to left
Hip hop culture spreads from coast to coast, and is recognized by the act of moving one's arms from side to side, often in unison with others.

Give me a mic and a crowd, and a turntable set
The simplest elements of hip hop culture - a microphone, an audience, and a turntable - are all the artist needs to express themselves and embody the culture.

Alotta niggaz turned thugs, after 2Pac died
Many people began to emulate the persona of rapper 2Pac after his death, adopting a tougher, more aggressive stance both in their music and in their personal lives.

Puttin' dust in they weed, after they heard How High
After seeing the movie 'How High,' many rap fans began to add PCP or another drug to their marijuana, a trend known as 'dusting.'

KRS was the main one, I heard Stay Wise
Rapper KRS-One was a mainstay in the hip hop community, often promoting messages of social and political awareness through his music.

Before, N.W.A., you never thought of drive-by's
The controversial rap group N.W.A. was one of the first to talk about drive-by shootings in their music, a subject that was previously not part of mainstream hip hop conversation.

Slick Rick was the kingpin of all fly guys
Rapper Slick Rick was known for his flashy style, and was seen as the top representative of the 'fly guy' persona in the 1980s hip hop scene.

Rakim kept it civilized, now it be Nas
Rapper Rakim was known for his smooth and intellectual lyricism, and paved the way for artists like Nas to use their music to discuss complex social issues.

cool G. Rap made rhymes for the organized crimes
Rapper Kool G Rap's music often focused on organized crime and the illegal drug trade, becoming a prominent voice in the gangsta rap movement.

On the Road to they Riches, selllin' nickels and dimes
The title of Kool G Rap's debut album, 'Road to the Riches,' suggests that success can come from criminal activity like selling small amounts of drugs.

Cypress Hill made you feel, How Can I Just Kill a Man
The rap group Cypress Hill's music often focused on violent themes, such as the song 'How I Can Just Kill a Man,' which glorifies murder.

Niggaz turned killers after Wu-Tang Clan
After the emergence of the Wu-Tang Clan, a group known for their violent lyrics and personas, many rap fans began to adopt a more aggressive and dangerous mindset.

Startin' formin' into groups, so they can put on they fam
Rap groups became popular as a way for artists to band together and support each other, often financially.

Puff Daddy had you samplin' old records to dance
Rapper and producer Puff Daddy was known for his extensive use of samples from older songs, often creating beats that were designed to make people dance in clubs.

Biggie Smalls made you ball after One More Chance
Rapper Biggie Smalls became known for his luxurious lifestyle, and his hit 'One More Chance' was often played in clubs for people to dance to.

The radio promotin' death, until there's no more fans
Many radio stations played songs with violent or dark themes, often promoting death and destruction, until the point where it became unpopular with some fans.

Alotta playas want to play, but the game is advanced
Many people want to become successful in the hip hop industry, but the level of competition and skill required has become increasingly difficult to achieve.

The true culture of this hip hop, let's spread it to France
The artists suggest that the essence of hip hop culture, beyond just the music and fashion, should be shared and promoted to people in other countries, such as France.

M.O.P., kept it hardcore, from Onyx to DMX
Rap groups M.O.P., Onyx, and DMX were all known for their aggressive and violent music, often referred to as 'hardcore' rap.

Now it's on Soundscan sells and BDS
In the modern era, record sales are tracked by companies like Soundscan and BDS, which compile data on the most popular artists and albums.

When the Fat Boys, to Big Punisher and Fat Joe
The Fat Boys, Big Punisher, and Fat Joe were all notable rap artists who were known for being overweight, often incorporating humor and self-awareness into their music.

EPMD, to me was, the best duo
The rap group EPMD was particularly talented and successful, and are considered by the artist to be the best duo in hip hop history.

Nah, Run-DMC, still be number uno
Despite the praise for EPMD, Run-DMC remains the artist's top choice as the greatest duo in hip hop history.

Now every artist that you know, want to drop solos
Many rap artists who were previously part of groups or duos now want to launch solo careers in order to gain more recognition and success.

Half naked to sell records, in magazine photo's
Many female rap artists dress provocatively or pose suggestively in order to sell more records or gain more attention through magazine photo shoots.

[Chorus: x2]
The chorus repeats the sentiment that hip hop is a way of life that is deeply ingrained in the artist's being.

Back to '83, the era of the Treacherous Three
The artist references the year 1983, when the hip hop group Treacherous Three was particularly popular and influential.

When the Cold Crush, bumrushed the Force MD's
The Cold Crush Brothers, a popular rap group in the 1980s, performed a surprise performance on stage with another group, Force MDs.

Now the pussy is free, but the crack cost money, oh yeah
While the price of drugs like crack cocaine has remained high or increased over time, the availability of sexual content has greatly increased and become free through the internet and other media.

Melle Mel, brought the mentals, but we couldn't digest it
Rapper Melle Mel was known for his socially conscious and politically charged lyrics, but many hip hop fans were not yet ready to fully engage with these themes.

Cause all the niggaz in the eighties started gettin' arrested
Due to the rising rates of crime and drug use in the 1980s, many young men in the hip hop community were frequently arrested or incarcerated.

Sugar Hill caught an ill deal, Rapper's Delight
Sugar Hill Records signed a contract with its artists that was not favorable to the musicians and resulted in many legal battles. The label's biggest hit was 'Rapper's Delight.'

Back when artists got signed just for grabbin' the mic
In the early days of hip hop, record labels were eager to sign any artist who had a following and could bring in revenue, often with little regard for talent or skill.

Kangols and rope chains, this when LL came
The fashion of the late 1980s and early 1990s in hip hop included the popular Kangol hats and large, rope-like chains. Rapper LL Cool J became popular during this time.

Ain't nobody had a metaphor like Big Daddy Kane
Rapper Big Daddy Kane was known for his clever and complex rhymes, often incorporating intricate metaphors and wordplay into his music.

Public Enemy was deep before Do the Right Thing
The politically charged rap group Public Enemy had been making music with a strong social message before the release of Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing,' which featured the group's music.

MC Shan had Queensbridge under his wing
MC Shan, a rapper from Queensbridge, New York, was known for his influence over other artists from the same area, who looked up to him as a mentor or guiding force.

Marley Marl did The Symphony, it blew instantly
The producer Marley Marl created a hit song called 'The Symphony,' which featured some of the most talented and respected rappers of the time, and became an instant classic.

Made hip hop history, now it's industry
While hip hop originated as an organic and grassroots cultural movement, it has now become a multi-billion dollar industry with a significant impact on global culture.

Everybody either look alike, or sound gimmicky
Many rap artists have adopted similar styles or sounds in order to sell records or gain attention, resulting in a lack of originality and creativity in the industry.

Not noticin' the energy was hid' in Tennessee
The artist suggests that there is potent and powerful hip hop culture in the state of Tennessee that remains relatively unknown and untapped by the mainstream industry.

Never thought they ever see a young black Master P
Master P, an influential rap artist and businessman, was not initially taken seriously or viewed as a likely success due to his race and background.

Go to France and see a white boy blacker than me
The artist expresses surprise at seeing a white person in France who seems more authentically connected to hip hop culture than the artist themselves.

Suge Knight or Eazy-E, had black labels
The record labels owned or affiliated with rappers and entrepreneurs Suge Knight and Eazy-E were predominantly owned or operated by black people, representing a level of success and power within the industry.

Why the rest eat the crumbs off the master's tables
While some black artists and entrepreneurs achieve great success in the music industry, many others remain marginalized or oppressed, and must struggle to achieve even minimal levels of recognition or revenue.

[Chorus: x2]
The chorus repeats the sentiment that hip hop is a way of life that is deeply ingrained in the artist's being.