TRIBE Lyrics

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In this American metropolis filled with MC's
A Tribe Called Quest came to drop jewels wit' ease
Plus make you party, we do this music thing for everybody
Black, White, Latino and Asian, we cold raisin'
The stakes of hip-hop to a new plateau
To bridge gaps in generations for future plantations
A god-fearin' folk 'cause we all from the yolk
Of one breed, one seed, to good goals we proceed

Nowadays I strive to be a very good influence
Even though not too long ago I was a truant
Now I'm droppin' it on this and many broad topics
From man's obsession with money to holy prophets
Like Mohamed, yo, you know the scene is so freaky
Enemies they denounce me and my own try to sweep me
Now I got hip-hop acts posin' like fat cats
Lex and a Rolex, Moet and a top hat
But what about your contract, slick? Is you proper?
It's time we turned the tables of this hip-hop fable
I be striving yo', tryna bang these joints out my skillet
And fulfill it, think about these kids, we can't kill it

Now every dog has his day, but eff that, it's my year
All you gat pullin' MC's could never come near
All that bogus type chatter, please put it to rest
It's the Phifer from Quest leavin' venues a mess
So I even start to (Rap) when you know you have no (Haps)
Wit' your simpleton (Lyrics), your light-hearted (Act)
Step back, me no have no time for that
I'm blowin' up the spot for all you ras clot idi-ots
In a world where you have like a zillion MC's
Ninety percent of all you suckers have filthy LPs
Bitch this, trick that, come on, act like you know
I be that up north MC who never chose to play the down-low
(His name is Phife Dawg) I label myself as The Boss (True that)
Same height as Little Vicious, yet I'm shorter than Kriss Kross
Queens representation, son, you know how we do
While Light' and Sha, they represent BK to the fullest
I be the sidekick to The Abstract, so get ready for combat
Yo, what about about them biters? Me not like that
My motto is to wreck shop, I do it on the non-stop
Come on party people, you must give me my props
Cause y'all know good and damn well that the style has been mastered
So head for the border you peasy-haired bastards
Before I start to put it on ya, come on now, must I warn ya?
Queens is in the house so all MC's go hold their corner

We feelin' pressures in here
You know we feelin' pressures
Feelin' pressures in here
You know we feelin' pressures
We gotta stand clear
Jus' gotta stand clear

Gotta gotta stand clear of the pressure
The what?

Overall Meaning

The song "Pressure" by WILD//TRIBE is a powerful and insightful message about the state of hip-hop music and culture. It showcases the group's ability to drop jewels with ease while simultaneously making you want to party. The lyrics emphasize the importance of using hip-hop music to bridge gaps between generations and different ethnic groups. The group believes that they can raise the stakes of hip-hop to a new level by using it as a means of bringing people together for a common purpose.

The song also addresses negative aspects of the hip-hop industry, such as the obsession with money and prestige. The lyrics challenge artists to focus on their contracts and artistic integrity rather than material possessions. The group encourages positive change in the industry and believes that hip-hop music can be a force for good, inspiring young people and promoting unity.

Throughout the song, WILD//TRIBE emphasizes their commitment to using their music to positively impact their community. They discuss their personal struggles and growth, acknowledging that they were once truants but now strive to be good influences. The song's powerful message is emphasized by a catchy beat and driving rhythm, making it an impactful addition to the hip-hop genre.

Line by Line Meaning

In this American metropolis filled with MC's
We are in a city filled with rappers.

A Tribe Called Quest came to drop jewels wit' ease
Our group is here to share our insights with ease.

Plus make you party, we do this music thing for everybody
We make music for everyone to enjoy and have fun with.

Black, White, Latino and Asian, we cold raisin'
We have fans of all races and backgrounds.

The stakes of hip-hop to a new plateau
We are taking hip-hop to a higher level.

To bridge gaps in generations for future plantations
Our music connects different generations and paves the way for the future.

A god-fearin' folk 'cause we all from the yolk
We are united and guided by a higher power.

Of one breed, one seed, to good goals we proceed
We all come from the same origin and aim for good things.

Nowadays I strive to be a very good influence
I am trying to be a positive role model.

Even though not too long ago I was a truant
Despite my past mistakes, I am working hard to be a better person.

Now I'm droppin' it on this and many broad topics
My music covers a wide range of important issues.

From man's obsession with money to holy prophets
I discuss everything from materialism to spirituality.

Now I got hip-hop acts posin' like fat cats
Some rappers act like they have a lot of money and power.

Lex and a Rolex, Moet and a top hat
They flaunt expensive brands like Lexus and Rolex.

But what about your contract, slick? Is you proper?
Do they really have a good record deal or are they being exploited?

It's time we turned the tables of this hip-hop fable
We need to challenge the stereotypes and myths of hip-hop culture.

I be striving yo', tryna bang these joints out my skillet
I am working hard to create great music.

All you gat pullin' MC's could never come near
Other rappers can't match my skills and talent.

Ninety percent of all you suckers have filthy LPs
Most rappers have poor quality records.

Queens representation, son, you know how we do
I represent Queens, and you know we do it well.

While Light' and Sha, they represent BK to the fullest
My friends represent Brooklyn and do it even better.

Queens is in the house so all MC's go hold their corner
I am warning other rappers to stay out of our territory.

We feelin' pressures in here
We are feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

You know we feelin' pressures
We are experiencing pressure and stress.

Feelin' pressures in here
We are feeling stressed and anxious in this situation.

You know we feelin' pressures
We are definitely feeling the pressure.

We gotta stand clear
We need to step back from the situation.

Jus' gotta stand clear
We just need to take a step back.

Gotta gotta stand clear of the pressure
We need to avoid getting overwhelmed by the pressure.

The what?
This is a rhetorical question, asking what kind of pressure we are feeling.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, GEORGE JR. CLINTON, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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