The Lesson, Pt. 1 Lyrics - The Roots

Lyrically versatile 

My rap definition is wild 

I wrote graffiti as a juvenile 

Restin' on deuce trey 

And used to boost gray Kangols 

With 555 souls from the streets 

Of the Ill-a-delphiadaic insane 

For monetary gain 

Niggaz is slain on the train 

It's homicide for wealth 

Stealth missions for crack 

In the alleyways 

Where niggaz get grazed in the back 

From stray shots 

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Clips with hollow tips for your spine 

Or either remain calm 

Catch a rhyme, to your mind 

Niggaz, ya know my style 

I run a motherfuckin' rap muk 

With Malik in a U- Haul truck 

I stand, five foot seven in command of the party 

And scam like Uncle Sam 

I'm never caught up in the glass eye 

Of your action cam 

'Cause I'm down low 

Artistic exquisite rap pro 

That get the dough 

It's the Philly borough 

Dread thoroughbred for dolo 

I bag solo like a nigga that boost Polo 

Photos 

Steppin' through the corridor of metaphors 

Lookin' over 

My left shoulder the mic 

Still feel colder than before 

With this jazz shit 

I hit your jaw Dice Raw 

Get up on the mic 

My young poor 

I be the nigga blowin' up the spot on tour 

Surely real to the core, old school 

Like eighty-four, I'll never die 

Raps till my lungs collapse 

Then relax, until my knack for tracks 

Bring it back on time 

When I rhyme my rep remain 

Either go against the grain or your ass is found slain 

I overcome 

Niggaz want styles 

Then I throw you some 

Show you some, get on the mic 

And take it over, son 

Dice Raw, the motherfuckin' Wild Noid 

Get on the mic 

And perpetratin' is void 

Ya leave niggaz missin' in action 

Like their dads in the projects 

My style like an old mac 

Travel round and catch wreck 

I'm ill versatile 

With the skill no more 

Wack MC's wanna flex 

But their styles they bore 

Got to know the real meaning 

Of the ill shit, kid 

I do mad damage 

But never will catch a bid 

With my knapsack full of ill shit 

That I just boosted 

From the corner store 

When I let loose more 

Flavor that's me 

Rippin' heads off from the seams 

Niggaz didn't play 

Like Jeru and Come Clean 

I beat down on they heads 

Like drum machines 

Or 808's, 'cause my style flows out great 

And superspectac 

With all the raw rap 

Pull a metal chair out my knapsack 

Across your back ka crack 

Now, "Do you feel the pain?" 

"Of course 

I guess you're believin' 

That I'm insane" 

When I'm taggin' my name 

Upon the train, I got so much pride 

I got so much soul with lyrics high 

To make niggaz 

Stop drop and roll now 

Check me out one time 

For your ass fat styles equivalent of an 

AIDS infected Glock Blast 

Niggaz know my style 

Plus they know they want more 

Props from Mount Vernon 

To Mount Rushmore 

Okay kid, you know my style 

Is buck wild literature 

That you can never get 

When I'm thinkin' your particular 

Flavor that you want 

I sit back and smoke 

A fat blunt in class 

Teachers can kiss my ass 

I'm twice, Dice 

Nigga de Raw 

Never take a bad fall 

Smack your head up against the wall 

Like playin' handball 

My style's ill 

I slam like Hulk Hogan 

Dice Raw bettin' on my arm 

Niggaz know my slogan 

While I breathe your last breath 

Niggaz better watch they step 

Fat bull catch wreck 

Ill got's ta keep you in check 

With the hellified beats and hard rhymes 

Niggaz know my style, when I go the whole nine 

I beat down punks cut 'em up into fruit chunks 

Like fruit salad, my style's smooth like knowledge 

Blunts, so whatcha want 

If you got beef then come get it 

If ya don't well then forget it 

My rap style's exquisite 

I'm Raw Daddy 

Like niggaz with no Trojans 

On the stage when I rhyme 

I got's ta keep my composure 

Where I'm from it's like a whole different world 

Hoppin' a train honey dippin 

And I'ma snatch your squirrel 

Most corrupt motherfucker 

In the tenth grade 

Juvenile 'cause Jeff McKay 

Could not fade 

Don't ask me honey 

I'm not the one for stressin' 

If you wanna know 

Better ask Brother 'Cause he know the time 

Like I know the time 

When I grab the microphone 

It's like summertime 

Laid back to recline 

In my La-Z-Boy chair 

Dice Raw, the Wild Noid 

I'm the fuck up outta here