Low End Theory

[phife dawg]
Yo, microphone check one two what is this
The five foot assassin with the ruffneck business
I float like gravity, never had a cavity
Got more rhymes than the winans got family
No need to sweat arsenio to gain some type of fame
No shame in my game cause i'll always be the same
Styles upon styles upon styles is what i have
You wanna diss the phifer but you still don't know the half
I sport new balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path
Messin round with this you catch ?the sizin of em?
I never half step cause i'm not a half stepper
Drink a lot of soda so they call me dr. pepper
Refuse to com-pete with bs competition
Your name ain't special ed so won't you seckle with the mission
I never walk the streets, think it's all about me
Even though deep in my heart, it really could be
I just try my best to like go all out
Some might even say yo shorty black you're buggin' out


[q-tip]
Uhhh, uhhh, uhhh, uh!
Zulu nation, brothers that's creation
Minds get flooded, ejaculation
Right on the two inch tape
The abstract poet incognito, runsss the cape
Not the best not the worst and occasionally i curse to get my
Point across, so bust, the floss
As i go in betweeen, the grit and the dirt
Listen to the mission listen miss as i do work, umm
As i crack the, monotone
Children of the jazz so, get your own
Smokin r&b cause they try to do me
Or the best of the pack but they can't do rap
For it's abstract, orig-inal
You can't get your own and that's, pitiful
I know i'd be the man if i cold yanked the plug
On r&b, but i can't and that's bugged

Buggin out, buggin out, buggin out you're buggin out (repeat 8x)

[phife dawg]
Yo when you bug out, you usually have a reason for the action
Sometimes you don't it's just for mere satisfaction
People be houndin, always surroundin
Pulsin, just like a migraine poundin
You don't really fret, you stay in your sense
?comafied? your feeling, of absolute tense
You soar off to another world, deep in your mind
But people seem to take that, as being unkind
"oh yo he's acting stank," really on a regal?
A man of the fame not a man of the people
Believe that if you wanna but i tell you this much
Riding on the train with no dough, sucks
Once again a case of your feet in my nike's
If a crowd is in my realm i'm saying -- mic please
Hip-hop is living, can't yank the plug
If you do the result, will end up kind of bugged

[q-tip]
Yo, i am not an invalid although i used to smoke the weed out
Ali shaheed muhammad used to say i had to be out
Schemin on the cookies with the crazy boomin back buns
Pushin on the real ?hardest? so we can have the big fun
When i left for rosie i was boulevard status
Battling a mc was when tip was at his baddest
It was one mc after one mc
What the world could they be wanting see from little old me
Do i have the formula to save the world?
Or was it just because i used to swipe the women and all the girls
I'm the type of brother with the crazy extended hand kid
Dissed by all my brothers i was all up what my man did
Supposed to be my man but now i wonder cause you're feeble
I go out with the strongest and i seperate the evils
It's your brain against my mind, for those about to boot out
All you nasty critters even though you see i bug out

Buggin out, buggin out, buggin out you're buggin out (repeat 8x)

Verse one: phife dawg

1988 senior year, garvey high
Where all the guys were corny but the girls were mad fly
Loungin with the tipster, coolin with sha
Scopin out the honeys - they know who they are
I was the b-ball playin fly rhyme sayin
Fly girl gettin but never was i sweatin
Cause when it came to honeys i would go on a stroll
Until i met my match - her name was flo
Yeah - i messed around with the one called flo
All the troopers round the way used to call her a ho
But deep down in my heart i knew that flo was good to go
Cause i thought it was me - like bell biv devoe
But little did i know that she was playin' with my mind
The only thing i learned is, good girls are hard to find
I feel like heavy d i need somebody for me
Not someone who's mind is blank and tryin' to juice me for my bank
Swingin' with my main man lucky behind my back
What type of crap is that - yo, hows about a smack?
Word life, i can't front - thought i was all that
But now it seems, i met my match
Was a stone cold lover, you couldn't tell me jack
Settlin' down with one girl, wasn't tryin' to hear that
I had tonya, tamika, sharon, karen
Tina, stacy, julie, tracy
Used ta love 'em, leave 'em, skeeze 'em, tease 'em
Find 'em, lose 'em - also abuse 'em
My whole attitude was new day, next hon
And believe it or not, they all got done
Well here comes flo, with the crazy whip appeal
And i'm all true man, like alexander o'neal
Is this really love, then again, how would i know
After all this time tryin' to be a superhoe
She finally played me, but yo, i'd find another
Cause i got the crazy game and yo, i'm smooth like butter

Chorus: q-tip

Butter, like butter baby . . . [repeat 2x]
Not no parkay, not no margarine,
Strickly butter baby, strictly butter


Verse two: phife dawg

I remember when,
Girls were goodie two shoes, but now they turned to freaks
Allofasudden "we love you phife" - ease of ho, my name's malik
Phife this, phife that, where you goin', where you at
These girls don't know me from jack, yet i feel like the mack
You didn't want me then, so hon, don't want me now
Here, here - take the towel, wipe off your brow
And take the ccontact out your eye, you're far from lookin' fly
You get an e for effort, and t for nice try
Now tell me what's the reason, for dyin' your hair
Slum village gold still danglin in your ear
You barely have a neck but still sportin' a rope
Four-finger ring just so phifer can scope
You looked in the mirror, didn't know what to do
Yesterday your eyes were brown but today they are blue
Your whole appearance is a lie and it could never be true
And if you really loved yourself then you would try and be you
If your hair and eyes were real, i wouldn't have dissed ya
But since it was bought, i had to dismiss ya
If you can't achieve it, then why not try and weave it
If you can't extend it then you might as well suspend it
If you can't braid it, best thing to do is fade it
I asked who did your hair and you tell me "diane made it"
If you were you and just you, talk to you, maybe
But i can't stand, no bionic lady
Tryin' hard to look fly, but yo, you're lookin' dumber
If i wanted someone like you i woulda swung with jamie summers
You wanna be treated right, see father mc
Or check ralph tresvant, for sens-a-tiv-i-ty
See i am not the one, i got more game than parker brothers
Phife dog is on the mic and i'm smooth like butter . . .

Verse 1

[q-tip]

Let me tell you 'bout the snakes, the fakes, the lies
The highs at all of these industry shing-dings
Where you see the pretty girls
In the high animated world
Checkin' for a rapper with all the dough
If you take a shit they want to know
And if you're gonna fall, they won't be around, y'all
So you still wanna do the show business?
And you think that you got what it takes?
I mean you really gotta rap and be all that
And prepare yourself for the breaks
Check it out!

Do you wanna be in the business? (the business)
The ups and downs with the hoes (the business)
Always gettin' fronted on at shows (the business)
People gotta stick their nose (in the business)

Verse 2

[q-tip]

Yo, i gotta speak on the cesspool
It's the rap industry and it ain't that cool
Only if you're on stage or if you're speakin' to your people
Ain't no-one your equal
Especially on the industry side
Don't let the games just glide
Right through your fingers, you gotta know the deal
So lord jamar speak, because you're real...

[lord jamar]

They're givin' you the business and puttin' on a show
You're a million dollar man that ain't got no dough
But you got a ho tickets backstage to a show
Sedated and at that fact they elated
Time pass and your ass say "where's my loot?"
The reply is a kick in the ass from a leg and a boot
All you wanna do is taste the fruit
But in the back they're makin' fruit juice
You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label
Not able cos you signed at the table
For a pretty cash advance, now they got a song and dance
That you didn't recoup, more soup wit' ya meal?
Cos this is the real when you get a record deal
And i say...

[phife]

Aw....shucks, look what the cat hauled in
It's phife dawg from a tribe called quest, let me begin
Like chuck d, i got so much trouble on my mind
'bout these no-talent artists gettin' signed, they can't rhyme
And if that ain't bad, you got bootleggers
Goin' out like suckers, motherfuckers
Feel it's time that i let loose the lion
And if not that then i'll commence to head flyin'
Seems in '91 everybody want a rhyme
And then you go and sell my tape for only $5.99?
Please nigga, i've worked too hard for this
No more will i take the booty end of the stick
Bogus brothers makin' albums when they know they can't hack it
Cos they lyrics is played like 8-ball jackets
Now tell me i can't tear it up
Go get yourself some toilet paper cos your lyrics is butt

Do you wanna be in the business? (the business)
People can't walk a straight line in (the business)
Some of these brothers can't rhyme in (the business)
A-yo, i'm tryna get mine (the business)

Verse 3

[sadat x]

The party scene is cool, but then again it's all the same
You see the same faces, but at different places
When you're up and ridin' high everything is palsy-palsy
Get a million pounds and all the skins give you hugs
Well that's cool, i can dig it, it really ain't my bag
Prefer to max on the side and let my pants sag
"oh, he's a cutie", yeah, real cute
But i wasn't that cute when i didn't have no loot
Although i hit a pound of herbs i'm still nice with the verbs
So fuck what you heard
The born cipher, cipher master makes me think much faster
But critics still continue to plaster
My name and discredit my fame
All that shit is game
And i don't really give a damn
Eat from the tree of life and throw away the verbal ham

[diamond d]

Well, excuse me, i gotta add my two cents in
Don't be alarmed, the rhyme was condensed in
A matter of minutes so it must be told
All that glitters' not gold
Everybody wants a deal, help me make a demo
See my name in bright lights, ride around in a limo
My moms keeps beefin' ("boy, get a job")
But i wanna make jams, damn, i know i'll slam
Huh, well it's not that easy
You gotta get a label that's willin' and able
To market and promote, and you better hope
(for what?) that the product is dope
Take it from diamond, it's like mountain climbin'
When it comes to rhymin' you gotta put your time in
Get a good lawyer so problems won't pile
You don't wanna make a pitch that's wild.

q: back in the days on the boulevard of linden,
We used to kick routines and presence was fittin'.
It was i the abstract
P: and me the five footer.
I kicks the mad style so step off the frankfurter.
Q: yo, phife, you remember that routine
That we used to make spiffy like mister clean?
P: um um, a tidbit, um, a smidgen.
I don~t get the message so you gots to run the pigeon.
Q: you on point phife?
P: all the time, tip.
Q: you on point phife?
P: all the time, tip.
Q: you on point phife?
P: all the time, tip.
Q: well, then grab the microphone and let your words rip.
P: now here's a funky introduction of how nice i am.
Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram.
I'm like an energizer 'cause, you see, i last long.
My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong.
Now if you say my style is wack that's where you're dead wrong.
I slayed that body in el segundo then push it along.
You'd be a fool to reply that phife is not the man
'cause you know and i know that you know who i am.
A special shot of peace goes out to all my pals, you see.
And a middle finger goes for all you punk mc's.
'cause i love it when you wack mc's despise me.
They get vexed, i roll next, can~t none contest me.
I'm just a fly mc who's five foot three and very brave.
On job remaining, no i'm chaining cause i misbehave.
I come correct in full effect have all my hoes in check.
And before i get the butt the jim must be erect.
You see, my aura~s positive i don't promote no junk.
See, i'm far from a bully and i ain't a punk.
Extremity in rhythm, yeah that's what you heard.
So just clean out your ears and just check the word.

Q: check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Play tapes y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check the rhyme y'all.
Check it out.
Check it out.

P: back in days on the boulevard of linden,
We used to kick routines and the presence was fittin'
It was i the phifer,
Q: and me, the abstract.
The rhymes were so rumpin' that the brothers rode the 'zack.
P: yo, tip you recall when we used to rock
Those fly routines on your cousin~s block.
Q: um, let me see, damn i can't remember.
I receive the message and you will play the sender.
P: you on point tip?
Q: all the time phife.
P: you on point tip?
Q: yeah, all the time phife.
P: you on point tip?
Q: yo, all the time phife.
P: so play the resurrector and give the dead some life.
Q: okay, if knowledge is the key then just show me the lock.
Got the scrawny legs but i move just like lou brock,
With speed. i'm agile plus i'm worth your while.
One hundred percent intelligent black child.
My optic presentation sizzles the retina.
How far must i go to gain respect? um.
Well, it's kind of simple, just remain your own
Or you'll be crazy sad and alone.
Industry rule number four thousand and eighty,
Record company people are shady.
So kids watch your back 'cause i think they smoke crack,
I don't doubt it. look at how they act.
Off to better things like a hip-hop forum.
Pass me the rock and i'll storm with the crew and ...
Proper. what you say hammer? proper.
Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop.

Nc, y'all check the rhyme y'all.
Sc, y'all check it out y'all.
Virginia, check the rhyme y'all.
Check it out. out.
In london, check the rhyme, y'all.

Uh, check it out now
Uh, no doubt now
Uh, yo, check it out now
Uh, no doubt, yo

Special girl, real good girl
Biggest thing in my itty bitty world
Called her up and she made me feel right
Wish the bliss could never take flight
Sittin back with this mic in my hand
Spittin hot shit tryin to see grand
Imprinted on my mind every minute
Make my plans and you always in it, yo

[chorus]
You're such a vivrant thing,
Vivrant thing, a vivrant thing

And even though we both fly
Give each other space and not the evil eye
Actin like grownups
Don't even try to hide cause the spot blown up
Girlfriend tellin you she wanna see
I say 'i dunno' but you say 'gladly'
And when we both do hemp
We go on and on and on and on and on and
Sweeter than ben & jerry
Can i rhyme? well you know i gets mine
Sittin round in my abstract part
This abstract thing goin abstract far, yo

Chorus (4x)

Gettin back to my mc status
All the willy that i kick make the other niggaz maddest
Movin, to your town and situation
Shorty thought she subtle but she really was blatant when she
Shook her thing and violated
Now these wolf-like thoughts are formulated
I'm sayin, "yo is this some heartfelt shit here?
Am i strong-backed nigga? well shit yeah"
Plus we can hold a convo'
Or go to the movies, my crib, whatever yo
Just wanna see you by my side
We on 95, know the stash is in the ride
A rappin nigga for real
You would find me in a cypher if i didn't cop a deal
Rap slate like big grate
You buy, i sell, we split big cake
Uh uh, just move your little thing
Move it around and shake your little thing
Uh uhh yo

Chorus (3x)

Intro/chorus

We got the jazz [x4]

Verse one: q-tip

Stern firm and young with a laid-back tongue
The aim is to succeed and achieve at 21
Just like ringling brothers, i'll daze and astound
Captivate the mass, cause the prose is profound

Do it for the strong, we do it for the meek
Boom it in your boom it in your boom it in your jeep
Or your honda or your beemer or your legend or your benz
The rave of the town to your foes and your friends

So push it, along, trails, we blaze
Don't deserve the gong, don't deserve the praise
The tranquility will make ya unball your fist
For we put hip-hop on a brand new twist

A brand new twist with the homie-alistic
So low-key that ya probably missed it
And yet it's so loud that it stands in the crowd
When the guy takes the beat, they bowed

So raise up squire, address your attire
We have no time to wallow in the mire
If you're on a foreign path, then let me do the lead
Join in the essence of the cool-out breed

Then cool out to the music cuz it makes ya feel serene
Like the birds and the bees and all those groovy things
Like getting stomach aches when ya gotta go to work
Or staring into space when you're feeling berserk

I don't really mind if it's over your head
Cuz the job of resurrectors is to wake up the dead
So pay attention, it's not hard to decipher
And after the horns, you can check out the phifer

Chorus


Verse two: phife dawg

Competition, dem phifer come sideway
But competition, dey mus' me come straightway
Competition, dem phifer come sideway
But competition, dey mus' come straightway

Hows about that, it seems like it's my turn again
All through the years my mike has been my best friend
I know some brothers wonder, can phifer really kick it?
Some even wanna dis me, but why sweat it?

I'm all into my music cuz it's how i make papes
Tryin' to make hits, like kid capri makes tapes
Me sweat another? i do my own thing
Strictly hardcore tracks, not a new jack swing

I grew up as a christian so to jah i give thanks
Collect my banks, listen to shabba ranks
I sing, and chat, i do all of that
It's 1991 and i refuse to come wack

I take off my hat to other crews that intend to rock
But the low end theory's here, it's time to wreck shop
I got tip and shah, so whom shall i fear
Stop look and listen, but please don't stare

So jet to the store, and buy the lp
On jive/rca, cassettes and cd's
Produced and arranged by the four-man crew
And oh shit, skiff anselm, he gets props too

Make sure you have a system with some phat house speakers
So the new shit can rock, from mars to massapequa
Cuz where i come from quality is job one
And everybody up on linden know we get the job done

So peace to that crew, and peace to this crew
Bring on the tour, we'll see you at a theatre nearest you


Verse three: q-tip

Hey yo but wait, back it up, hup, easy back it up
Please let the abstract embellish on the cut

Back and forth just like a cameo song
If you dig this joint then please come dance along
To the music cuz it's done just for the rhyme
Now i gotta scat and get mine, underline

The jazz, the what? the jazz can move that ass
Cuz the tribe originates that feelin' of pizzazz
It's the universal sound, best to brothers underground
In the one-six below, ya didn't have to go

Some say that i'm a sinner cuz i once had an orgy
And sometimes for breakfast i eat grits and porgies
If this is a stinker, then call me a stink, i ask
"what? what? what?" - now check it out

All my peoples in queens ya don't stop
Now all my peoples in brooklyn ya don't stop
And all my peoples uptown ya don't stop
That includes the bronx a' harlem ya don't stop

Now to that girl ramelle ya don't stop
I say because ladies first ya don't stop
And to the jb's, ya don't stop
And de la soul, ya don't stop

To my brand nubians ya don't stop
And to my leaders of the new ya don't stop
To my man large professor ya don't stop
Pete rock for the beat ya don't stop

Everybody in the place ya don't stop
Ya keep it on, to the rhythm, ya don't stop
And last but not least on the sure shot
It's the zulu nation