[Intro: Mos Def]
Baba-baba-baba-baba-baba, you been so good to me
When I was a little boy you were the only one I wanted to be
To be like Pa Duke and Ma Duke
How much I love the both of you
I know all the strain we been through
But it's of no consequence cause we're comin through
[Verse 1: Mos Def]
Check it
I first studied my kung fu in the Brackalack
In the center of the shrine inside the grocery shack
This had to be about ten years back
Before I ever even heard of a 24 track (Right)
Talkin' about you was an MC was not the move
'Cause if you said you had skill, well then you had to show and prove
And if there ever was a party, son, yo, I would set it
And tell the DJ run the beat from ("Ultra Magnetic")
I grab the mic and then I leave the party buzzin'
Telling all the honeys I was Slick Rick's cousin
When I knew I wasn't, but I had no shame
Pa, you know the name, the Mos always had game (Ha, ha!)
Back in the day of the Rap Attack
When brothers knew how to act, before Glocks and crack
And Vandy C was doin' radio shows
And "crossover" meant that you wore your mom's clothes
When Sweet G was talkin' about the "Games" that "People Play"
I used to sit back and say, "Yeah, indeed, someday"
And as I grew older, my kung fu grew better
Instead of shootin' the humbles I was shootin' all nets
And now my time has come
And now Hip-Hop's an industry polluted by bums!
Posin' with guns and puffin' mad blunts
Aiyyo, brothers just started rhymin' last month (Ain't that somethin'?!)
They gettin' fat deals on any major label
When they only seen other people hold the mic cable
Five years ago when we was dancin' house
When the DJ played Hip-Hop, then you walked out
But now you're hard, talkin' about you paid mad dues
I used to see your ass abused, wearin' platform shoes
I ain't confused!
Who you think you're foolin with that get-up?
You ain't genuine, so don't waste your time (Heh)
Riffing over here, 'cause there ain't no chance
That you could break the sand, son, you ain't that advanced
Times are getting critical across the land
Don't revive the b-boy, introduce the b-man - understand?
The M-O-S D is who I am, now check it out, y'all
[Hook: Ces, DCQ, & Mos Def]
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
[Verse 2: DCQ (Mos Def)]
At the age of 18, made a little money
And I needed some advice on how to live my life
Was goin' through strife, people couldn't understand
That I was comin into my own, becomin' a man
I had to have a plan, 'cause I know what I'm here for
So I can't waste time, y'all
Gotta be on the ball and represent for my peeps
(Where?) In the streets!
I make beats and kick facts over fat tracks
It's all of that from the Brackalack (Uh-huh)
Going through problems as a adolescent (Right)
A lot of troubles and turmoils, there were persistent
And I know that I stutter
But it don't matter, 'cause I'm a bad –
I flip a verse either backwards, sideways (Uh-huh)
I rocks my sh** from here, Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays
And I get a weekend off
My sh** ain't soft
("Well, excuse me, baby")
You paid your dues, 'cause I'm the boss
The motherf****n' Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross (Ah)
Because they know what the time is
I rock my **** for the fly kids, b-men, bouncin' bass bombastics
Kick it drastic, you'll get tossed like an ash, kid (Haha!)
Youknowmsayin?
[Hook: Ces, DCQ, & Mos Def]
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered (Sing it, children)
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered (Yeah)
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 3: Ces, (Mos Def)]
Well, I'm sleek
And I freak a beat
For you and your peeps
To bump inside your jeeps
Your Acura, Honda, or whatever
Pump it in the Benzi and get your head together
Strolling down the F.D.R.
Playing the microphone star
Deep in your car
With the thump-diddy-thump-da-thump-da-thump-thump-thump
Pop up the trunk and let the bass bump
If you ain't got a ride, well, that's alright
Let the U. keep you company on your hike (True)
Trekking down the ave with your headphones on
Take 'em off for a sec, you'll still feel gone
You're pressin rewind, many, many times
I must rock the mic 'cause it's only right (Ha)
Comin' right up off of Eastern ground
This is how you get down, I hope you like the sound
Thermo offering number 1
There's more in store, there's more to come
We far from done, no, the show ain't over
So when we comin through, don't say I never told ya
That –
[Hook: Ces, DCQ, & Mos Def]
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered (Ah!)
"My kung fu!" is the style you haven't mastered (I like it, I love it!)
[Outro: Mos Def]
It's like that, don't stop
It's like that, and you don't stop
It's like that, ya, ya, dabba-doo-da-dabba-doo-da, yeah...
Yeah... (Clap your hands, y'all)
Yeah... yeah, yeah, yeah... (Everybody just clap your hands, y'all)
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