The Listening

[Produced by 9th Wonder]

[Verse 1]

Yo, I bought a brand new album today

Decide to take it home kick off my shoes relax and play

And spin it for the whole joint, 'cause I like to get the whole point

Music is everything to me and I refuse to rock the piece

Cause you're my favorite emcee

All I want is what you would ask of me; Hi Kwelity

And some Definition

Wonder why we bootleg like it's Prohibition

It's difficult it's dismissing

I got suspicions that your ears to the streets where we're whispering

Are you listening?

I took your LP to DC, where some youngins

Gave me the LD on how it should be

Make sure the beat knock 'til the trunk pop

And everybody pause when you cruise down the block

Roll down your window and they ask what you playin'

But don't nobody care what you're sayin'

That's what they told me, y'all

[Hook]

This is a message for our people chasing benjamins

With real rhymes and skills they believing in

Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelins

It don't matter, 'cause niggas ain't listening

They ain't listening, they thinkin' bout their Timberlands

They say the shit we talk about ain't interestin'

We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland

Holla if you hear it 'cause niggas ain't listening

[Verse 2]

Music was my sanctuary so I take a long listen

To hip hop living out my life in songs wishin'

My parents I could get along with them

So I would go inside my room and dig deep inside the strong rhythms

Back when fresh was the word, and "Raw" was on Prism

Marley on the boards, plus Kane was long livin'

G Rap and Ace spittin' murderous

Bought Long Live the Kane sat down and learned every word of it

Sneakin' my walkman in the homeroom playin' it

Listen for punchlines delivery and cadences

But nowadays it's like niggas wanna play with it

They hear some good shit but don't stop to savor it

Like one night we was out in my whip

With some broads just chillin' playin' demos and shit

Asked 'em how I sounded rockin' the mic

One chick told me all she listened to was beats, thank God for 9th

Trying to get pressed on vinyl

'Cause muh'fuckers buy your CD, but turn around don't even know your song titles

Like track 2 is hot, and track 6 is long

Ain't even listening, I'm hoping I get through to y'all

[Hook]

This is a message for our people chasing benjamins

With real rhymes and skills they believing in

Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelins

It don't matter, 'cause niggas ain't listening

They ain't listening, they thinkin' bout their Timberlands

They say the shit we talk about ain't interestin'

We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland

Holla if you hear it 'cause niggas ain't listening

[Interlude]

[Verse 3: Phonte & Rapper Big Pooh]

Fly Motorola diploma style ice niggas

Asparagus rosemary chips for all my nice niggas

We roll through niggas masked in vengeance

U-Haul emcees chasing Brown Sugars

And you thought that it would never happen

Thought that it would never happen

My clever rappin' keeps my celery growing

Judy Jetson up in Elroy's thought he was home

With the Gold Bond Armor-All fatigues on

Rosey in the pantry with Velma and Shaggy gettin' they lean on

He sweeter that a Willie Hutch track hittin' them high notes

And Alex Keaton always frontin' like he high post

Screaming on Justine when he flippin' the script

Tony Danza left a playa celibate

Rippin' rhymes for the hell of it

Check all these bitches on my Soul Glow city

Walkin' round with Madagascar titties

Imported for my Cole Train leaves ya elephant niggas

Yo peace, Jovan, the sky be purple and orange

[Interlude: Phonte & Rapper Big Pooh]

Yo what the--

Man, eh yo, eh what the fuck you doin' dog?

(I can't read this, this shit don't make sense)

Nigga that ain't the way we, man, you been kickin' that shit all god damn night, though

(I mean it don't make sense right now though)

Man that shit sound bad, man

(I mean your shit sound bad, too, nigga, I mean)

I know but I'm sayin', but niggas man, you know what niggas, niggas want that hot shit, nigga

Man, niggas don't give a fuck about no lyrics no more

...

Yea, word, we can make this shit hot

(Let's kick the muthafuckin' hook again)

Let's bring that hook back

(Make me hot Pete)

[Hook]

This is a message for our people chasing benjamins

With real rhymes and skills they believing in

Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelins

It don't matter, 'cause niggas ain't listening

They ain't listening, they thinkin' bout their Timberlands

They say the shit we talk about ain't interestin'

We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland

Holla if you hear it 'cause niggas ain't listening

[Outro]

"WJLR Bam! The future of hip hop music"

WJLR, Justus League Radio on your FM dial, what's goin' on

It's your truly, Tiggalo, the rap giggalo, holdin' it down on the graveyard shift straight three to six action for all y'all midnight maneuverers and marauders and all that, probably out creepin' on your girl at least cut that out. But yo, just keep it locked I'm 'bout to bounce. Stay tuned, comin' up next my man Chaundon, the Back Twista, holdin' it down for the morning drive, holdin' it down for y'all mornin' madness style so yo just stay in touch, stay up, peace. Keep listenin' WJLR we represent the real and not the fake

Peace

(I don't wanna go alone without ya

Wish I had someone to come and take me home

Like you)