The Listening

[Produced by 9th Wonder]

[Verse 1]
Yo, I bought a brand new album today
Decide to take it home kick off my shoes relax and play
And spin it for the whole joint, 'cause I like to get the whole point
Music is everything to me and I refuse to rock the piece
Cause you're my favorite emcee
All I want is what you would ask of me; Hi Kwelity
And some Definition
Wonder why we bootleg like it's Prohibition
It's difficult it's dismissing
I got suspicions that your ears to the streets where we're whispering
Are you listening?
I took your LP to DC, where some youngins
Gave me the LD on how it should be
Make sure the beat knock 'til the trunk pop
And everybody pause when you cruise down the block
Roll down your window and they ask what you playin'
But don't nobody care what you're sayin'
That's what they told me, y'all

[Hook]
This is a message for our people chasing benjamins
With real rhymes and skills they believing in
Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelins
It don't matter, 'cause niggas ain't listening
They ain't listening, they thinkin' bout their Timberlands
They say the shit we talk about ain't interestin'
We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland
Holla if you hear it 'cause niggas ain't listening

[Verse 2]
Music was my sanctuary so I take a long listen
To hip hop living out my life in songs wishin'
My parents I could get along with them
So I would go inside my room and dig deep inside the strong rhythms
Back when fresh was the word, and "Raw" was on Prism
Marley on the boards, plus Kane was long livin'
G Rap and Ace spittin' murderous
Bought Long Live the Kane sat down and learned every word of it
Sneakin' my walkman in the homeroom playin' it
Listen for punchlines delivery and cadences
But nowadays it's like niggas wanna play with it
They hear some good shit but don't stop to savor it
Like one night we was out in my whip
With some broads just chillin' playin' demos and shit
Asked 'em how I sounded rockin' the mic
One chick told me all she listened to was beats, thank God for 9th
Trying to get pressed on vinyl
'Cause muh'fuckers buy your CD, but turn around don't even know your song titles
Like track 2 is hot, and track 6 is long
Ain't even listening, I'm hoping I get through to y'all

[Hook]
This is a message for our people chasing benjamins
With real rhymes and skills they believing in
Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelins
It don't matter, 'cause niggas ain't listening
They ain't listening, they thinkin' bout their Timberlands
They say the shit we talk about ain't interestin'
We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland
Holla if you hear it 'cause niggas ain't listening

[Interlude]

[Verse 3: Phonte & Rapper Big Pooh]
Fly Motorola diploma style ice niggas
Asparagus rosemary chips for all my nice niggas
We roll through niggas masked in vengeance
U-Haul emcees chasing Brown Sugars
And you thought that it would never happen
Thought that it would never happen
My clever rappin' keeps my celery growing
Judy Jetson up in Elroy's thought he was home
With the Gold Bond Armor-All fatigues on
Rosey in the pantry with Velma and Shaggy gettin' they lean on
He sweeter that a Willie Hutch track hittin' them high notes
And Alex Keaton always frontin' like he high post
Screaming on Justine when he flippin' the script
Tony Danza left a playa celibate
Rippin' rhymes for the hell of it
Check all these bitches on my Soul Glow city
Walkin' round with Madagascar titties
Imported for my Cole Train leaves ya elephant niggas
Yo peace, Jovan, the sky be purple and orange

[Interlude: Phonte & Rapper Big Pooh]
Yo what the--
Man, eh yo, eh what the fuck you doin' dog?
(I can't read this, this shit don't make sense)
Nigga that ain't the way we, man, you been kickin' that shit all god damn night, though
(I mean it don't make sense right now though)
Man that shit sound bad, man
(I mean your shit sound bad, too, nigga, I mean)
I know but I'm sayin', but niggas man, you know what niggas, niggas want that hot shit, nigga
Man, niggas don't give a fuck about no lyrics no more
...
Yea, word, we can make this shit hot
(Let's kick the muthafuckin' hook again)
Let's bring that hook back
(Make me hot Pete)

[Hook]
This is a message for our people chasing benjamins
With real rhymes and skills they believing in
Keeping them bad tapes rolling like Michelins
It don't matter, 'cause niggas ain't listening
They ain't listening, they thinkin' bout their Timberlands
They say the shit we talk about ain't interestin'
We got a better chance of blowing up in Switzerland
Holla if you hear it 'cause niggas ain't listening

[Outro]
"WJLR Bam! The future of hip hop music"
WJLR, Justus League Radio on your FM dial, what's goin' on
It's your truly, Tiggalo, the rap giggalo, holdin' it down on the graveyard shift straight three to six action for all y'all midnight maneuverers and marauders and all that, probably out creepin' on your girl at least cut that out. But yo, just keep it locked I'm 'bout to bounce. Stay tuned, comin' up next my man Chaundon, the Back Twista, holdin' it down for the morning drive, holdin' it down for y'all mornin' madness style so yo just stay in touch, stay up, peace. Keep listenin' WJLR we represent the real and not the fake
Peace

(I don't wanna go alone without ya
Wish I had someone to come and take me home
Like you)