connecting*the*dots

Artist: Momus
Song: The Age Of Information

==========

This is a public service announcement

Ladies and gentlemen, we are now entering
The age of information
It’s perfectly safe
If we all take a few basic precautions
May I make some observations?

Axiom 1 for the world we’ve begun:

Your reputation used to depend on
What you concealed
Now it depends on what you reveal

The age of secretive mandarins who creep on heels of tact is dead:
We are all players now in the great game of fact instead
So since you can’t keep your cards to your chest
I’d suggest you think a few moves ahead
As one does when playing a game of chess

Axiom 2 to make the world new:

Paranoia’s simply a word for seeing things as they are
Act as you wish to be seen to act
Or leave for some other star

Somebody is prying through your files, probably
Somebody’s hand is in your tin of Netscape magic cookies
But relax: if you’re an interesting person
Morally good in your acts
You have nothing to fear from facts

Axiom 3 for transparency:

In the age of information the only way to hide facts
Is with interpretations, there is no way to stop the free exchange
Of idle speculations

In the days before communication privacy meant staying at home
Sitting in the dark with the curtains shut unsure whether to answer the phone
But these are different times, now the bottom line
Is that everyone should prepare to be known
Most of your friends will still like you fine

X said to Y what A said to B
B wrote an E-mail and sent it to me
I showed C and C wrote to A:
Flaming world war three

Cut, paste, forward, copy
CC, go with the flow
Our ambition should be to love what we finally know
Or, if it proves unloveable, simply to go

Axiom 4 for this world I adore:

Our loyalties should shift in view
According to what we know
And who we are speaking to

Once I was loyal to you, and prepared to be against information
Now I am loyal to information, maybe I’m disloyal to you
My loyalty becomes more complex and cubist with every new fact I learn
It depends who I’m speaking to
And who they speak to in turn

Axiom 5 for information workers who wish to stay alive:

Supply, never withhold, the information requested
With total disregard for interests
Personal and vested

Chinese whispers was an analogue game
Where the signal degraded between brain and brain
Digital whispers is the same in reverse
The word we spread gets better, not worse
Better, not worse

X said to Y what A said to B
B wrote an E-mail and sent it to me
I showed C and C wrote to A:
Flaming world war three

Cut, paste, forward, copy
CC, go with the flow
Our ambition should be to love what we finally know
Or, if it proves unloveable, simply to go

(from courtney)

Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: The Times They Are A-Changin’

==========

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

Artist: Lou Reed
Song: I’ll Be Your Mirror

==========

I’ll be your mirror,
Reflect what you are
In case you don’t know.
I’ll be the wind,
The rain and the sunset,
The light on your door
To show that you’re home.

When you think the night has seen your mind,
That inside you’re twisted and unkind,
Let me stand to show that you are blind.
Please put down your hands ’cause I see you.

I find it hard
To believe you don’t know
The beauty you are,
But if you don’t
Let me be your eyes,
The hand to your darkness
So you won’t be afraid.

When you think the night has seen your mind,
That inside you’re twisted and unkind,
Let me stand to show that you are blind.
Please put down your hands ’cause I see you.

I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are

Artist: De La Soul
Song: Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)

==========

DOVE:
I’m buggin’

POS:
E-ghostbusters

DOVE:
Mercy, mercy, (ego trip, ego trip)
Mercy! (ego trip, ego trip), Mercy!!!

MASE:
Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!!
Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!!
Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!!
Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!! Aaah!!!

DOVE:
Yep, yep big trucker man’s rollin’ in town
How ya do, how ya do
I got the joints to make ya…(JUMP!)
Because I’m headin’ eastbound
Tired of the merry go round and around
And everybody’s talkin’ bout you’re so funny
But they still tellin’ lies to me
I got the trees in my backyard
And it’s hard for them to tell a lie to me
And who’s the foot, I’m the foot but who’s steppin’
(Ain’t no half steppin’)
You know where I’m steppin’
Skirts play wit it cause I’m slick like that
I’m the greatest MC in the world!!
You gots to gimme gimme mine cause I’m heavy when I weigh it
Watch the way I say it (ego trip)
Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up
I never did it
The flavor’s bein’ butt but brothers ain’t gettin’ it
Get it; or else you’re a goner
When I rolls over ya gonna have to wanna lamp
Cause it’s the chattanooga champ
Takin’ a train…Takin’ a train…Takin’ a train…Takin’ a train…

POS:
Now I’m somethin’ like a phenomenon
I’m somethin’ like a phenomenon
Well I’m the hourglass cat
Drug it out of jack

DOVE:
For jill

POS:
Cause I spilled the phenomenon
Pack the holes in my lawn
The girls in my saun[a]
Word is born I’m a livin’ phenomenon
Well I’m a better brand cause I’m a superman
I run the block with my circle cause I’m nubian
I got the platinum rust, so don’t even fuss
Cause DJ Paul, he’s down wit us
Now people stop takin’ my stylin’ for a joke
I don’t sassafrass I put the foot up the ass
Sometimes I’m fast, blow off like a seal

SHORTIE NO MAS:
When they reminisce over you

POS:
For real
Mase chopped the record down to the bone
And now Renee King is on my telephone
But I got the Ring Ring Ha Ha Hey Hey

SHORTIE NO MAS:
Cause this type of shit it happens everyday

POS:
I got to make me a connection so my imports stuff
(WORD!) Wo, word ‘em up
Cause I’m so fly…

DOVE:
Yes on and on
I’m ins like (?) go buy my yacht
I got Gills like Johnny
Sail at 7 elf (well good for ya)
Bigger than bigs, dig it (I dug it)
Ways that amazes popes
I am the is equals is cause it’s caught up
When the tides taught me the ropes
No weights for the baits (man I’ll give you four)
For a verb unheard of (man gimme one more)
Alright you got it if you’re special
With a dapper toe tapper when a lot’s goin’ on
(And ain’t a damn thing happenin’)
The answer to the riddle is me and here’s the question
Who can be (fresh)
Who can be (dope)
Who can be (nice)
Who can be (beautiful)
Who can be (word)
Who can be….

POS:
Me be the Jericho turnpike bandit
Yes competition try to troupe my way
I sing the song you never heard before
I feed the famine in your mind
So mind ya manners baby
I run a line on ya
Lay ya on the springs then sway ya
All this and a condom cause I be a taxpayer
Promotin’ of a moccasin I skin like Danny Boone
When I swallow hear the (gulp)
So give me room just give me room back the hell up

SHORTY NO MAS:
Back the hell up
Know what I’m sayin’

POS:
Or when I run the mic there won’t be no delayin’
Pressure 40 does it like a Easy Bake oven

DOVE:
Blues got the muffin

SHORTY NO MAS:
Eat it

DOVE:
Blues got the muffin

SHORTY NO MAS:
Eat it!!

POS:
Intoxicate many wit my talk without intoxicatin’ myself low
So I gots to walk slow but…..

DOVE:
Don’t you get too hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh
(Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip,
Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip,
Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip,
Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip,
Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip,
Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip, Ego trip,)

(Aaah!! Aaah!! Aahh!! Aahh!! Aahh!!
Aaah!! Aaah!! Aahh!! Aahh!! Aahh!!
Aaah!! Aaah!! Aahh!! Aahh!! Aahh!!
Aaah!! Aaah!! Aahh!! Aahh!! Aahh!!
Aaah!! Aaah!! Aahh!! Aahh!! Aahh!!)

PRINCE PAUL:
Somebody’s cryin’?
I know somebody’s cryin’.
Who’s cryin’?
Yo, somebody’s cryin’ here.

(Trippin’ down the fuckin stairs)
(YEEAAAHHH!)

Artist: The Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy
Song: Television, the Drug Of A Nation

==========

One Nation under God has turned into
One Nation under the influence of one drug

Television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

T.V., I.T. satellite links our United States of unconciousness
Apathetic, therapeutic and extremely addictive,
the methadone metronome pumping out 150 channels
24 hours a day
You can flip through all of them
And still there’s nothing worth watching

T.V. is the reason why less than ten percent of our Nation reads books daily
why most people think Central America means Kansas
Socialism means unAmerican
and Apartheid is a new headache remedy

Absorbed in its world it’s so hard to find us
It shapes our minds the most
Maybe the mother of our Nation should remind us
that we’re sitting to close to. . .

Television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

T.V. is the stomping ground for political candidates
Where bears in the woods are chased by Grecian Formula’d bald eagles

T.V. is mechanized politic’s remote control over the masses
co-sponsered by environmentally safe gases
watch for the PBS special

It’s the perpetuation of the two party system
where image takes precedence over wisdom
Where sound bite politics are served to the fastfood culture

Where straight teeth in your mouth
are more important than the words that come out of it
Race baiting is the way to get selected
Willie Horton or Will he not get elected on . . .

Television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

T.V. is it the reflector or the director?
Does it imitate us or do we imitate it?
Because a child watches 1500 murders before he’s twelve years old
and we wonder how we’ve created a Jason generation
that learns to laugh rather than abhor the horror

T.V. is the place where armchair generals and quarterbacks
can experience first hand the excitement of video warfare
as the theme song is sung in the background

Sugar sweet sitcoms that leave us with a bad actor taste
while pop stars metamorphosize into soda pop stars
You saw the video
You heard the soundtrack
Well now go buy the soft drink
Well, the only cola that I support
would be a union C.O.L.A. (Cost of Living Allowance)

On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

Back again, “New and Improved”,
we return to our irregularly programmed schedule
hidden cleverly between heavy breasted beer and car commericals

CNN, ESPN, ABC, TNT… but mostly B.S.
Where oxymoronic language like “virtually spotless”
“fresh frozen” “light yet filling” and “military intelligence”
have become standard

T.V. is the place where phrases are redefined
like “recession” to “necessary downturn”
“crude oil” on a beach to “mousse”
“Civilian death” to “collateral damages”
and being killed by your own Army is now called “friendly fire”

T.V. is the place where the pursuit of happiness has become the pursuit of trivia
Where toothpaste and cars have become sex objects
Where imagination is sucked out of children by a cathode ray nipple
T.V. is the only wet nurse that would create a cripple

Television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation
On television, the drug of the Nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

Artist: Ben Folds Five
Song: Regrets

==========

I thought about sitting on the floor in second grade
I couldn’t keep the pace
I thought I was the only one moving in slow motion
While the other kids knew something I did not
But if I acted like a clown
I thought it would get me through, it did
But that don’t work no more
You’re not a kid no more
I thought I’d do some traveling
Never did

Regrets, regrets

I thought about the hours wasted
Watching TV, drinking beer
I thought about the things I thought about
Until immobilized with fear
And all the great ideas I had
And how we just made fun
Of those who had the guts to try and fail
And then I ended up in jail

Regrets, regrets
Regrets, regrets

… but just for a day
Seems the police had made a computer mistake
Said there must be thousands like me with the
Same name
Anyway, I thought about the things I settled for
Or never tried
I never visited my grandma even once
When she was sick before she died
So I don’t blame you if you never come to see me
Here again

Regrets, regrets
Regrets, regrets

Artist: De La Soul
Song: Stakes Is High

==========

(sounds of a craps game…)

Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high, when you talkin’ about…
Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high, we be talkin’ about…
Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high…

[POS]
The instamatic focal point bringing damage to your borough
Be some brothers from the east with some beats that be thorough
Got the solar gravitation so I’m bound to pull it
I gets down like brothers are found ducking from bullets
Gun control means using both hands in my land
Where it’s all about the cautious livin’
Migrating to a higher form of consequence
Compliments
Of strugglin’ that shouldn’t be notable,
Man every word I say should be a hip hop quotable.

[DOVE]
I’m sick of bitches shakin’ asses
I’m sick of talkin’ about blunts,
Sick of Versace glasses,
Sick of slang,
Sick of half-ass awards shows,
Sick of name brand clothes (word)
Sick of R&B bitches over bullshit tracks,
Cocaine and crack
Which brings sickness to blacks,
Sick of swoll’ head rappers
With their sicker-than raps
Clappers and gats
Makin’ the whole sick world collapse
The facts are gettin’ sick
Even sicker perhaps
Stickabush to make a bundle to escape this synapse

[POS]
Man life can get all up in your ass baby you betta work it out
Let me tell you what it’s all about
A skin not considered equal
A meteor has more right than my people
Who be wastin’ time screaming who they’ve hated
That’s why the Native Tongues have officially been re-instated

(Vibes…. vibrations)
Stakes is high (Higher than high)
You know them stakes is high (Higher than high)
When we talkin’ ’bout the (Vibes….vibrations)
Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high
When we dealin’ with the (Vibes….vibrations)
Stakes is high (Hey yo, what about that love?)

[POS]
Yo, it’s about love for cars, love for funds
Loving to love mad sex, loving to love guns
Love for opposite, love for fame and wealth
Love for the fact of no longer loving yourself, kid
We living in them days of the man-made ways
Where every aspect is vivid, these brothers no longer talk shit
Hey yo, these niggas live it
‘Bout to give it to you 24/7 on the microphone
Plug One translating the zone
No offense to a player, but yo, I don’t play
And if you take offense, fuck it, got to be that way
J.D. Dove, show your love, what you got to say?

[DOVE]
I say G’s are making figures at a high regard
And niggas dying for it nowadays ain’t odd
Investing in fantasies and not God
Welcome to reality, see times is hard
People try to snatch the credit, but can’t claim the card
Showing out in videos, saying they cold stars
See, shit like that will make your mama cry
Better watch the way you spend it
‘Cause the stakes is high
Y’all know them stakes is high
When we dealin’ with the (Vibes….vibrations)
Stakes is high
I think that smiling in public is against the law
‘Cause love don’t get you through life no more
It’s who you know and “How you, son?”
And how you gettin’ in, and who the man holding
Hey yo, and how was the scams and how high
Yo what up, huh? I heard you caught a body
Seem like every man and woman shared a life with John Gotti

[POS]
But they ain’t organized!

[DOVE]
Mixing crimes with life enzymes
Taking the big scout route
And niggas know doubt better
Than they know their daughters
And their sons
(Oh boy)

[POS]
Yo, people go through pain and still don’t gain
Positive contact just like my main man
Who got others cleaning up his physical influence
His mind got congested
He got the nine and blew it
Neighborhoods are now hoods cause nobody’s neighbors
Just animals surviving with that animal behavior
Under I who be rhyming from dark to light sky
Experiments when needles and skin connect
No wonder where we live is called the projects
When them stakes is high you damn sure try to do
Anything to get the piece of the pie
Electrify
Even die for the cash
But at last I be out even though you wantin’ more
This issue is closed like an elevator door
But soon re-opened once we get to the next floor where the
(Vibes….vibrations) Stakes is high
Y’all know them stakes is high
When we desalin’ with the (Vibes….vibrations)
Stakes is high
Stakes is high
Come on…

Artist: The Roots
Song: False Media

==========

(Gore Vidal??)
We’ll weaken ourselves to what is really the issue
And then behind that all lies a very personal and human appeal
That I don’t think old men ought to promote war so that young men can fight

(Wadud Ahmad)
America’s lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children all on Ritalin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media
We don’t need it do we
Pilgrim Slaves Indian Mexican
It looks real fucked up
For your next of kin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media

(Black Thought)
If I can’t work to make it
I’ll rob and take it
Either that or
Me and my children are starving and naked
Rather be a criminal pro
Than to follow the matrix
Hey it’s me a monster
Y’all done created
I’ve been inaugurated
Keep the bright lights out of our faces
You can’t shake it
It ain’t no way
To swallow the hatred
Aim fire
Holla bout a dollar
Nothin is sacred
We gone pimp
The shit out of nature
Send our troops
To get my paper
Tell ‘em stay away
From them skyscrapers
Ain’t long for
You get y’all acres
I’mma show ‘em
Who’s the global gangster
Sentence me to
Four more years thank you
I’mma make you feel
A little bit safer
Because it ain’t over
See that’s how we get
Your fear to control you
But ain’t nobody
Under more control
Than a soldier
And how could you
Expect a kid
To keep his composure
When all sorts of thoughts
Fought for exposure again

(Wadud Ahmad)
America’s lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children all on the Ritalin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media
We don’t need it do we
Pilgrim Slaves Indian Mexican
It looks real fucked up
For your next of kin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media
We don’t need it do we
America’s lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children all on the Ritalin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media
We don’t need it do we
Pilgrim Slaves Indian Mexican
It looks real fucked up
For your next of kin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media
We don’t need it do we
America’s lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children all on the Ritalin
That’s why I don’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’
False media
We don’t need it do we
False media
We don’t need it do we
False media
We don’t need it do we
False media
We don’t need it do we

Artists: DJ Arty Fufkin mashing up Gnarls Barkley, Supertramp, The Who & Rockwell
Songs: Crazy Logic, as a mashup of Crazy, Logical Song, Go To The Mirror Boy & Somebody’s Watching Me

==========

When I was young
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle
Oh it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees
They’d be singing so happily
Oh joyfully
Oh playfully watching me

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that’s my only advice
Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you’re in control

Well, I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
Just like me

I always feel like somebody’s watching me
I always feel like somebody’s watching me

Then they send me away
Teach me how to be sensible
Logical
Oh responsible, practical
And they showed me a world
I could be so dependable,
Oh clinical
Oh intellectual, cynical

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it’s no coincidence I’ve come
And I can die when I’m done

Maybe I’m crazy
Maybe you’re crazy
Maybe we’re crazy
Probably

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

Artist: Dire Straits
Song: Brothers In Arms

==========

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you’ll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you’ll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
Ive watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

Theres so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the suns gone to hell
And the moons riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But its written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
Were fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Artist: Gil Scott-Heron
Song: Whitey On The Moon

==========

A rat done bit my sister Nell (with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell (and Whitey’s on the moon)
I can’t pay no doctor bills (but Whitey’s on the moon)
Ten years from now I’ll be payin’ still (while Whitey’s on the moon)
You know, the man jus’ upped my rent las’ night (’cause Whitey’s on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights (but Whitey’s on the moon)
I wonder why he’s uppin’ me? (’cause Whitey’s on the moon?)
I wuz already givin’ him fifty a week (with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
The junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that crap wuzn’t enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell (with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an’ arm began to swell (and Whitey’s on the moon)
Was all that money I made las’ year (for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain’t no money here? (Hmm! Whitey’s on the moon)
Y’know I jus’ ’bout had my fill (of Whitey on the moon)
I think I’ll sen’ these doctor bills, Airmail special… to Whitey on the moon

Artist: Morrissey
Song: Hairdresser On Fire

==========

Here is London, giddy of London
Is it home of the free -
Or what ?
Can you squeeze me
Into an empty page of your diary
And psychologically save me
I’ve got faith in you
I sense the power
Within the fingers
Within an hour the power
Could totally destroy me
(Or, it could save my life)
Oh, here is London
Home of the brash, outrageous and free
You are repressed
But you’re remarkably dressed
Is it Real ?
And you’re always busy
Really busy
Busy, busy
Oh, hairdresser on fire
All around Sloane Square
And you’re just so busy
Busy, busy
Busy scissors
Oh, hairdresser on fire
(Only the other day)
Was a client, over-cautious
He made you nervous
And when he said
I’m gonna sue you
Oh, I really felt for you …mmm…
So can you squeeze me
Into an empty page of your diary;
And supernaturally change me ?
Change me, change
Oh, here in London
Home of the brash, outrageous and free
You are repressed
But you’re remarkably dressed
Is it Real ?
And you’re always busy
Really busy
Busy clippers
Oh, hairdresser on fire
All around Sloane Square
And you’re just too busy
To see me
Busy clippers
Oh, hairdresser on fire
(Only the other day)

Artist: Boogie Down Productions
Song: Poetry

==========

[KRS-One]

Well now you’re forced to listen to the teacher and the lesson
Class is in session so you can stop guessin’
If this is a tape or a written down memo
See I am a professional, this is not a demo
In fact call it a lecture, a visual picture
Sort of a poetic and rhythm-like mixture
Listen, I’m not dissin’ but there’s somethin’ that you’re missin’
Maybe you should touch reality, stop wishin’
For beats with plenty bass and lyrics said in haste
If this meaning doesn’t manifest put it to rest
I am a poet, you try to show it, yet blow it
It takes concentration for fresh communication
Observation, that is to see without speaking
Take off your coat, take notes, I am teachin
a class, or rather school, cause you need schooling
I am not a king or queen, I’m not ruling
This is an introduction to poetry
A small dedication to those that might know of me
They might know of you and maybe your gang
But one thing’s for sure, neither one of y’all can hang
Cause yo I’m like a arrow, and Scott is the crossbow
Say something now … thought so
You seem to be the type that only understand
The annihilation and destruction of the next man
That’s not poetry, that is insanity
It’s simply fantasy far from reality
Poetry is the language of imagination
Poetry is a form of positive creation
Difficult, isn’t it? The point? You’re missin it
Your face is in front of my hand so I’m dissin it

[KRS-One]

Scott LaRock is innovating, decorating hip-hop
The beat may drop but not like all the others
They just cover while I just smother
Every single stupid mutha — wait wait brotha
KRS-One will have to show another
MC or self-proclaimed king or queen
Or gang or crew or solo or team
That I mean
Business
So tell me what is this?
See I come from the Bronx so just kiss this
Boogie Down Productions is somewhat an experiment
The antidote for sucka MC’s and they’re fearin it
It’s self-explanatory, no one’s writin for me
The poetry I’m rattlin is really not for battlin
But if you want I will simply change the program
So when I’m done you will simply say “damn”
So this conversation is somewhat hypothetical
Boogie Down Productions attempts to prove somethin
I say hypothetical because it’s only theory
My theory, so take a minute now to hear me

[KRS-One]

So what’s your problem?
It seems you want to be KRS-Two
From my point of view, backtrack, stop the attack
Cos KRS-One means simply one KRS
That’s it, that’s all, solo, single, no more, no less
I’ve built up my credential financially and mental
Anytime I rhyme I request the instrumental
I speak clearly and that’s merely
Or should I say a mere, help to my career
I’m really not into fashion or craze
Just the one who pays and how soon I get a raise
You’re probably in a daze, acting out of sympathy
Wrote a couple of rhymes and think that you can get with me
But what a pity, I’m rockin New York City
And everywhere else, you put the jams on the shelf
You as an amateur is outspoken
I’m looking at your face, you seem to be hopin
That I might stutter, stop, or just mess up
But everything’s live that’s why I don’t dress up
“Blastmaster KRS” a synonym for “fresh”
I’m the teacher of the class, I do not pass no test
Got DJ Scott LaRock by my side, not in back of me
Cos we make up the Boogie Down Productions crew faculty
Get it right, or train yourself not to bite
Cos when you bite you have bitten, when I hear it, that’s it
I do not contemplate a battle cause it really ain’t worth it
I’d rather point a pistol at your head and try to burst it

I’m teaching poetry
I’m teaching poetry
We’re teaching po-e-try

Artist: Public Enemy (Featuring Paris)
Song: Coinsequences

==========

[Intro/Chorus: Paris]
Is it a, coincidence that we ain’t taught truth
A, coincidence that they target the youth
A, coincidence everything is the same
That a message in the music ain’t a part of the game
A, coincidence that we livin a lie
A, coincidence that we only get by
A, coincidence that so many are lost
And do prison time ‘fore we notice the cost

[Paris]
It really ain’t difficult to break the mold
And take a close look at the lies we’re told
Wipe away the facade, see we got to know
See the plot to control and to rot the soul
You can make anybody that don’t read believe
anything that they see on the TV screen
That a lie is reality, the sky is green
That there’s weapons in Iraq, and the President’s clean
When it’s on, thinkin you can trust police
Every black is a beast and our women are cheap
And that brothers gettin murdered is the way of the streets
That it’s normal to die when we still in our teens
And that’s the way it is, what’s the use to try
That school is a motherfuckin waste of time
Slang yay, die young, maybe get rich rhymin
And prison if you black is just a part of life
And that all of America support the Pres’
Religion is the way, and we all full of sin
That it’s better after death if we suffer and pray
Even though they fuck us off in this life today
And that white Jesus hangin on the wall in church
ain’t a part of a lie to keep a brother subservient
And that the whole world need the word “Amen”
Got troops overseas gettin murdered for free
If you buy that shit, I got a bridge to sell
Like I said I’m a rebel, so I must re-bel
And lies be the truth now, war is peace
Like corporations don’t dictate the streets
Like brothers don’t die for the diamond or bling
Like brothers don’t die over songs we sing
Like patri-ots act like the Patriot Act
While we swing on this bitch ’til we break it in half

[Chorus: Paris]
Is it a, coincidence that we ain’t taught truth
A, coincidence that they target the youth
A, coincidence everything is the same
That a message in the music ain’t a part of the game
A, coincidence that we livin a lie
A, coincidence that we only get by
A, coincidence that so many are lost
And do prison time ‘fore we notice the cost

[Paris]
You guilty if arrested and niggaz are thugs
Only good for welfare, murder and drugs
The media is true, with no bias at all
And Fox News ain’t on the President’s balls
That Lacey and O.J. and Kobe and Mike
ain’t bullshit and really do matter in life
That you shouldn’t be insulted they give ‘em the time
but never talk about all this corporate crime
That they generatin news stay loose with facts
Relate fake views that’ll keep us attracted
like sheep so we don’t think, never react
Never question authority, never suspect
Never trip off of why what matters to us
always seem unimportant, and never get love
Why it’s never any money for the school support
But it’s fallin out the sky for these corporate wars

[Chorus: Paris]
Is it a, coincidence that we ain’t taught truth
A, coincidence that they target the youth
A, coincidence everything is the same
That a message in the music ain’t a part of the game
A, coincidence that we livin a lie
A, coincidence that we only get by
A, coincidence that so many are lost
And do prison time ‘fore we notice the cost

[Paris]
They never give real shit space to shine
Just donkey-ass niggaz on assembly line
Cookie cutter pop-slutter make music designed
to pedal Coca-Cola, Motorola and Sprite
No love for the Enemy with video play
But they give Flav a show to take the focus away
from the realest group ever made, whaddya say
when to them it’s Eminem that’s goin down as the greatest?
When the plan is a shame like we makin a choice
Understand it’s a scam who get handed a voice
And it’s only a few and they decide in advance
Like votin for the President and both of them fam
All that “God bless America, and nobody else”
But I can smell racism, however it’s dealt
Know the real shit never miss, see how it’s felt
All around the world, hear the people cryin for help

[Chorus: Paris]
Is it a, coincidence that we ain’t taught truth
A, coincidence that they target the youth
A, coincidence everything is the same
That a message in the music ain’t a part of the game
A, coincidence that we livin a lie
A, coincidence that we only get by
A, coincidence that so many are lost
And do prison time ‘fore we notice the cost

[Outro: Paris]
A, coincidence ex-cons can’t vote
A, coincidence they can’t get no work
A, coincidence that they can’t hold heat
Now they know that they enemy don’t look like me
A, coincidence that we shit out of luck
The consequence of coincidences all add up
When you never know the reason and you’re set up to suffer
The offense is coincidence is never the cause