Dear Hip Hop Lyrics - Exit 13 - Ll Cool J

"You better stop foolin if you want to get along with me" 

True 

"We grew up on the block, and we know about poverty" 

Do you? 

Dear hip-hop, I apologize for how you've been treated 

I should've fought for my culture, instead I retreated 

The game is wounded, I stood and watched while they beat it 

My culture starved, I refused to feed it 

They sold you for a dollar like slaves in iron collars 

A*R's chase you with bloodhounds and rottweilers 

You went to the highest bidder, you was pissed on like kitty litter 

But far from a quitter, but there's somethin to consider 

Nah, after much deliberation 

I decided I'm the hottest cat to ever receive rotation 

I'm the foundation, one of the chief architects 

of this dream we're all chasin, I had to speak up 

Too much time was wastin WHOA! So here we go 

I'm tired of the money talk and the, bitches and hoes 

Everybody's always, soundin the same 

I have to walk on water 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" 

I remember your bar mitzvah, that burgundy label 

Me and Jam Master had the battle of the big cables 

Before the Serratos, real vinyls, real tables 

Skills was the motto, no hype, no fables 

You seemed so happy, you loved me so much 

You popped off and went platinum, at my slightest touch 

Oversized hoodies, Yukon trucks 

20 years later, it's like lightning struck 

They're worshipin the money, they're prayin to the bank 

They danced on slaveship, slept as it sank 

The devil made 'em do it, but only God do I thank 

Because we aren't done yet, there's still gas in the tank 

You look in a man's eyes, that's how you really tell his rank 

Not the size of his account, check him, he might bounce 

It's all on the line, this time it really counts 

I'll bleed for this one, on down to the last ounce 

[Chorus] 

They rent a crib they're frontin, they rent a car they're stuntin 

They rent a chain they're bluffin, that's why the culture's sufferin 

And even if you're a millionaire that don't mean nothin 

unless you build your community and encourage some unity 

Too much ego... too much posin 

If he's so hot then, why's the culture frozen? 

It's time for a change, the order needs to be rearranged 

And this song was pre-ordained 

After 2 long decades, LL still remains 

And you can blame it on my spirit, not on my brains 

Time to put on my armor, go to war for the game 

Cause it's on its last leg, and that's more than a shame 

This is a lifestyle homey, it's more than champagne 

But I will make a toast to Flash reachin the Hall of Fame 

I end it with a line, from the book of King James 

Let there be light when I write graffiti on the train 

[Chorus] 

[repeat 2X] 

Let us proclaim the mystery and fame 

I pray the Lord my culture be saved 

If hip-hop dies before I awake 

May Jam Master Jay cut a LL break