I'm an old school/true school cat, no holds barred. I was too young to be in the park with deejays that jacked electricity from street lamps, but old enough to remember and feel envy for that. Flashbacks was my respect due to those memories, a piece of my life story living with hip-hop, and a special shout to those I knew that died, that also cared in their heart for this art form that most, if not all of these fake cats couldn't even look at before it made dough in advertising and attracted listeners of many races.

I’m Old School like the refrigerator box I used to rehearse windmills on
and get my skills on
Before the Red Dawn and Whispers in the Dark
it was Jay-Ice out in the park
Enjoyin’ block parties in the [heat]
Breakers and Rock Steady clash in the [street]
Me and my man Melvin set back-spinnin’ every time we meet
In a few months time, I was quick on my feet
Still I had my old tape of Superrhymes, [Ha!...]
The one with the fly girl Lois Line [Hunh!...]
By then I had a dream I would be on TV
with the M-I-C rockin’ viciously
[Flash one time] – Shell-Toes and Stan Smiths with fat laces
Giggin’ on cats that had braces
and Dismasters
blew up the spots of part-time hustlers from Ghetto Blasters
Speakin’ of spots
where were you when you first saw Beat Street or Graffiti Rock?
Yeah – mad heat
Zulu and Boom-Bash clash in the [street]
and I just wanted to be down with giving hickeys at the hooky get-togethers
Chasin’ Charlmaine who had the best tetas
[Flash two times]
to BK Tech lunchroom [beat box] where I worked to perfect the rhymes
It was right around that time Decepticons started,
walkin’ G trains like an ill supermarket
[I played it cool, so them cats] played it cool with me
[and when I wasn’t in class], streets were schoolin’ me
Runnin’ with m’man Joe, West 4th and beyond
He’s on the higher level, but he’ll never be gone
If you can’t flashback, it’s a memory leak
‘cause to me all of that shit was just last week

To the beat y’all, and you don’t stop
This one right here’s the sureshot
Throw your hands up high to the rooftop
Remind the cats on the wall this is hip-hop
To the beat y’all, and you don’t stop
This one right here’s the sureshot
Throw your hands up high to the rooftop
Remind the chicks on the wall this is hip-hop

I can remember when Scott LaRock caught a stray bullet
but not whether they figured who pulled it
and even though I didn’t know the man, I felt pain, son
whether pain came from me or KRS-ONE
and many passed on like Buff and Cowboy
From MC Trouble to Trouble T-Roy
Peace to Subrock, Matt from Dooable Arts
I knew you from my start when cats rhymed with heart
Flashback to people makin’ art
Today a majority of fake fucks playin’ a part
For the glitter, but my soul stays underground
[Authentic] like the birthplace of the sound
[Classic] like Funk Flex playin’ Homebase
and LL versus Moe Dee across tapes
[Classic] like DTs drivin’ Gran Furies
[Less gats] bein’ pulled, [less cats] being buried
More battles people lose without broken bottles bein’ used
‘cause they want record deals to be abused
Less hip-hop shows that erupt in gunshots
‘cause we’re too into the lyrics that make the spot hot
Back then you just used rhymes to maintain
Now even the lame jump on stage with ice chains
If you can’t tell ‘em apart, you’re already caught
look past the ill suit, check who’s gotta recoup
‘cause while some shit’s better, some shit’s worse
and if rap gets tired, some cats are outta work
I made money before rap became a game
so I don’t compromise by scramblin’ for fame
I just live in it, many call me a playa
that remains the rhyme-spitter on a skilled layer
The Third-Eye Beam Conveyor
Peace to all that remember hip-hop and continue the flavor

To the beat y’all, and you don’t stop
This one right here’s the sureshot
Throw your hands up high to the rooftop
Remind the cats on the wall this is hip-hop
To the beat y’all, and you don’t stop
This one right here’s the sureshot
Throw your hands up high to the rooftop
Remind the chicks on the wall this is hip-hop

Credits

Lyrics and Production by Omega Johnson for The Nunayufake Project
Additional Programming by Alan Scott Plotkin for Virgo Studios, New York
Published by Nunayufake Music (BMI)
Recorded in the Savage Land and Virgo Studios, New York
Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Alan Scott Plotkin at Virgo Studios, New York
©2004 Omega Johnson. All Rights Reserved.

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