Dear Hip Hop-LL Cool J

[00:00.00] " You better stop foolin if you want to get along with me" [00:04.98]True " We grew up on the block, and we know about poverty" [00:10.14]Do you?Dear hip-hop, [00:11.85]I apologize for how you've been treated [00:14.01]I should've fought for my culture, instead [00:16.08]I retreated [00:17.07]The game is wounded, [00:18.27]I stood and watched while they beat it [00:19.98]My culture starved, [00:21.33]I refused to feed it [00:22.77]They sold you for a dollar like slaves in iron collars [00:25.98]AR's chase you with bloodhounds and rottweilers [00:28.89]You went to the highest bidder, you was pissed on like kitty litter [00:32.52]But far from a quitter, but there's somethin to consider [00:35.28]Nah, after much deliberation [00:37.50]I decided [00:38.25]I'm the hottest cat to ever receive rotation [00:40.65]I'm the foundation, one of the chief architectsof this dream we're all chasin, [00:44.91]I had to speak up [00:46.20]Too much time was wastin [00:47.79]WHOA! So here we go [00:49.38]I'm tired of the money talk and the, bitches and hoes [00:52.35]Everybody's always, soundin the same [00:54.87]I have to walk on water [01:18.81]I can't, drown in the game[Chorus 2X: scratched samples]"Hip-Hop, was set out in the dark" [3X]"They used to do it out in the park" [01:21.84]I remember your bar mitzvah, that burgundy label [01:24.39]Me and Jam [01:25.17]Master had the battle of the big cables [01:27.42]Before the [01:27.99]Serratos, real vinyls, real tables [01:30.33]Skills was the motto, no hype, no fables [01:33.24]You seemed so happy, you loved me so much [01:36.09]You popped off and went platinum, at my slightest touch [01:39.21]Oversized hoodies, [01:40.59]Yukon trucks20 years later, it's like lightning struck [01:44.79]They're wors*ipin the money, they're prayin to the bank [01:47.82]They danced on slaves*ip, slept as it sank [01:50.55]The devil made 'em do it, but only [01:52.50]God do I thank [01:53.49]Because we aren't done yet, there's still gas in the tank [01:56.61]You look in a man's eyes, that's how you really tell his rank [01:59.49]Not the size of his account, check him, he might bounce [02:02.61]It's all on the line, this time it really counts [02:05.37]I'll bleed for this one, on down to the last ounce[ Chorus ] [02:31.59]They rent a crib they're frontin, they rent a car they're stuntin [02:34.59]They rent a chain they're bluffin, that's why the culture's sufferin [02:37.65]And even if you're a millionaire that don't mean nothinunless you build your community and encourage some unity [02:43.56]Too much ego... too much posin [02:46.44]If he's so hot then, why's the culture frozen? [02:49.38]It's time for a change, the order needs to be rearranged [02:52.77]And this song was pre-ordained [02:55.02]After 2 long decades, [02:56.73]LL still remains [02:58.08]And you can blame it on my spirit, not on my brains [03:01.08]Time to put on my armor, go to war for the game [03:03.78]Cause it's on its last leg, and that's more than a shame [03:06.78]This is a lifestyle homey, it's more than champagne [03:09.72]But I will make a toast to [03:10.95]Flash reachin the [03:11.73]Hall of Fame [03:12.81]I end it with a line, from the book of [03:14.70]King James [03:15.72]Let there be light when [03:16.71]I write graffiti on the train [ Chorus] [ repeat 2X ] [03:42.36]Let us proclaim the mystery and fame [03:45.15]I pray the [03:45.87]Lord my culture be saved [03:48.09]If hip-hop dies before [03:49.80]I awakeMay [03:50.79]Jam Master [03:51.54]Jay cut a [03:52.38]LL break