Getting Up Anthem: Part I

[Intro: Talib Kweli & TagYerit sample]

Subway, subway surfing (New York City)

No fair to hold on (Hold on)

Some talk of sun and sand and surf that pounds

Now meet the Kid Kahuna of the underground

(Yeah, yo)

[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]

I come from a two fare zone it seem like just yesterday

I had to take the two and the five to the Junction and walk the rest of the way

You can catch a bus with a transfer

But waiting for that surface transit is a bitch I avoid it like a cancer

I’m heavy in the streets like crack in New York in ‘86

I was riding the A with the R in my walk man

With thieves and ‘lo-lifes, I can tell you stories of

Fighting for my glory on the subway like the Warriors

Young mans rights of passage through the belly of the beast

With the working classes, homeless and the purse snatchers

We used to hop and never drop a token

Over the turnstiles Edward Moses

And run from the cops like Jesse Owens

Tracks stars riding in between the cars

The Bronx and Queens don’t seem that far

Looking at the map cause every single Ave we rep’

The people don’t look at each other

They starin’ straight ahead on this…

[Chorus: TagYerit sample]

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

[Verse 2: Rakim]

I used to roll through the hood, a good ride keep my mental entertained

And find higher thoughts past levels never seen

Any cost through New York’s five boroughs on the train

Subway—iron horse, slash ghetto limousine

Back when Hip-Hop was just bubblin’ in 3-D

That’s when a metropolis was covered in graffiti

More color than TV, just watchin’ while ridin’

Through the metropolitan rock and came to a brother easy

Bucktown to Uptown, under and above ground

To my words feel like we off surface

Rap flow like the trains give you sidewalk service

Ride the track to the 3rd rail soft-circuit

Strong Isle the LIR, Ozone Park

A Train, BK, East New York

MTA Harlem 1-2-5th to get off

Then take the 4, 5 or the 6 to the streets of the Bronx

Come on

[Chorus: TagYerit sample]

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

[Verse 3: Rakim]

We call it subway surfing a thug stay swerving

To the earth end through the suburbs it’s straight urban

B boy with the ghetto appeal it’s workin’

Ladies lookin’ lovely in the subway flirtin’

Money makin' Manhattan Do or Die Bed Sty

Brownsville never ran never will—let’s ride

The strong island or the isle’s of Shaolin

Or the boogie down Bronx NY

[Verse 4: Talib Kweli]

I put my finger to the wind to see if a train comin’ soon

It’s rush hour we pack ‘em in until there ain’t enough room

Or through the tombs riding under the surfaces

It’s a spray paint alternative it’s Getting Up

With Uni markers and permanent

I was more than your average straphanger

You gon’ know what my name is when I bang it

With a piece so ill that it’ll make the papers

Before the era of gaming these people did it for real

No controllers, riskin’ life and limb to get famous

[Outro: TagYerit sample]

Subway, subway, no fair to hold on

Subway, subway, no fair, subway surfing

Subway surfing, hold on

Subway surfing, hold on

Subway surfing, hold on

Subway surfing, no fair to hold on