Music Video

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Keith Elam
Keith Elam
Composer
Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Producer
The Guru
The Guru
Producer
Lisle Leete
Lisle Leete
Engineer

Lyrics

Now what you hear is not a test
Now what you hear is not a test
Now what, what, you, you hear is not a test
Now what you hear is not a test
Well, goodness, gracious, let me just take this
Time out to pull a rhyme out and update this
For you and yours, simply because some MCs have luck, but suck
So I pluck 'em like feathers on the back of a chicken
'Cause I'm mad like a pit when my man says sick 'em
Positive is the mind-state, but it could still mean that
I will kick a ill, malicious like mean rap
Suckers, they force me to knock 'em all out and
They think they know things, like what I'm about and
They try to analyze, criticize, scandalize
The outcome is death, don't ask me to sympathize
Realize that I'm not to be played with
I'll flip so fast, you won't know I'm the same kid
I'm tired and fed with all the weak stuff said
All the phony baloney that went out like Pro-Keds
You've got no leads, so you shoot blanks
It's me the crowd thanks as I step to the top ranks
Banking my money and investing it wisely
Snatchin' up chumps when they try to sneak by me
I'm the dominant one, call me the prominent one
And as I'm speakin', I'll be bombin' the dumb
Deaf and blind, 'cause I was born with a sharp mind
Eatin' MCs with ease like it's lunch time
Or crunch time, when they get done without warning
I'll bust that butt from nighttime till morning
Your song's boring and so I'm scoring
Much points, 'cause when it's time to throw joints
I cause havoc, the mic I grab is like savage
I invade the stage and make you get off
The force is like a .38 blowin' your head off
And that's just in case you might be wearin' a vest
'Cause you're simply a pest in this mess, I suggest you
Take a rest
If this meaning doesn't manifest, put it to rest
If this meaning doesn't manifest, put it to rest
Don't ever sleep, son, peep one or two of these lines here
Arranged by a great brain delivering rhymes clear
And concise with a nice, dope voice and
Killin' the fakes like a taste of some poison
Punks are thinkin' they're all of that, their voices are all flat
They're finding their names in a wack rapper's almanac
Me follow that hollow crap? No way, Jose
I'll seek out a better sound till something premiere plays
Days will go by and soon you'll know why
MCs like me will rise like the Enterprise
Starship heading straight for the target
Destination, a place where no perpetration is permitted
The Guru's with it to explain
How some MCs are scared to ride on the 4 train
Or any other train in the city for that matter
Playin' a role that they stole like a batter
But I know they ain't, so I'll paint the real picture
My vocals go solo and like a bolo, I'll hit ya
Square in your face, I'll crack the ribs in your chest
'Cause you thought your off-brand jam was the best
You fessed 'cause you guessed people would be impressed
I'm gonna bust that bubble on the double
Take a rest
Take a rest
Take a rest
Sit back and reflect, ponder, and chill out
Rhymes, like daggers, make blood spill out
But you can't blame me for bringin' disaster
With all these ducks claiming that they're the masters
Only thing they mastered is how to get wacker
As I roll uphill, they roll downhill faster
Now they're wondering how they lost their touch
Wanna buy my rhymes but mine cost too much
I'm the innovative one, call me the creative one
And I won't stop till the job is done
All the slobs just run when I come to get some
'Cause they know better than to challenge this go-getter
They get bust, you can trust 'cause I won't let a
Booty-ass rapper get wins against me
I guarantee that I won't act friendly
'Cause crabs have a nerve and deserve to get whipped on
Their girls get kissed on while they get flipped on
I slaughter and slay or slap 'em up quick
'Cause the lyrics they kick make me seriously sick
No substance, no value, but nevertheless
They're getting daytime play but I still say they should
Take a rest
Take a rest
Take a rest
Written by: Chris Martin, Keith Elam
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