Party people, rock to this...
And all my deejays cut to this...
And all my b-boys break to this...
And all my fly girls shake to this...
Last Emperor's back and you know upon hearing me
Emcees are scared so prepare for Rap Tyranny
There's no comparin' me
Most men?
Fearin' me
(Broke no it's a rarity???)
Mics I hold dear to me
Cool and sincere one
People wanna hear from
Words penetrate eardrums like spearguns
Run home
Unknown places I appear from
It ain't none of that jumpin' off over here son
I clocked you
Beat you
Had to stop you
Greet you
I write rhymes in Hebrew, Arabic and Greek too
I get so high, the slightest drop is lethal
Like the South American city of Macchu Picchu
Ladies say I do my thing with a passion
Brother like the way I swing into action
When I'm not coolin' in the crib, just relaxin'
I'm out in the streets with the Red Army faction
I specialize In microphone vandalism
Surround sound, or better yet panoramic vision
People of Earth know and understand the wisdom from
Monotheism to third-world animism
I get the best of men as the record spins
I stretch my limbs and rhyme till the session ends
No matter if, we enemies or the best of friends
Against the Emp you can never expect to win...
[chorus]
Subjects and predicates
Proper mic etiquette
All beef, I'm deadin' it
Hip-Hop confederate
Face me, you better get
High priest and Jesuits
Against the Emp your attempts will seem effortless
I make the girls wanna kick their heels up
Klingon warships throw their shields up
Rippin' the reels up
Wounds never heal up
Mad Soul controls the razor-sharp steel cuts
High Tech or digital
Audio or Visual
Man or Machine can't defeat the Aboriginal
Rippin' through
My words are poisonous and medicinal
With the power to heal and at the same time, cripple you
You don't get a chance to rhyme
This is battle time
Even the brolic get silent like a pandomime
The nicest point guard couldn't even handle mine
With more magical music than Rogers and Hammerstien
I made it to the top with a crew of born losers
They told me the game was locked till I tore through it
I get more props than a movie by George Lucas
In two-thou look out for the Storm Troopers
Don't sweat mine
Learn to respect mine
I bring womb to the REC Room when it's rep time
Blast like nine shots
Travel like TimeCops
[Verse One]
Being righteous is my career and conflict is just a job risk
No stoppin this when I build rhymes like an Egyptian obelisk
Watch me get down in your Province, town, or populace
Cause in my life: rhyme is Prime, posses the matrix like Optimus
Now you'll get framed like a diploma in your spiritual coma
I'ma black Moore like Othello, but I won't die for Desdemona
Own a diamond-studded mic, walk on a stage of solid marble
Leave the flyest MC's startled and yell "Shazam" like Captain Marvel Are you no comma even though he pauses aware of the fact that I left mankind devastated?
And they still look for the blueprints
of the monuments that I've created
See the Gods live, don't compare my hard drive to your floppy disk
Chicago to Gotham City, New York to Metropolis
From city streets to Athens, Greece from the pyramids to the Acropolis
My final resting place will be a solid gold sarcophagus
But what I can't understand is how these foolish humans
use the mic to their advantage
And get lost like the City of Atlantis
Your a long way from Kansas, and this is more than just black chrome
You gotta be fresh, yes, and never talk in no wack tone
Cause once I got you in my attack zone
You could click your heels three times like Dorothy
and couldn't get back home
So, drop the mic and save those wack rhymes for later
Cause my battles leave more Broken Arrows than Christian Slater
"May the no comma force be with you"
It's true nothing in life is coincidental
The Emperor is monumental
[Chorus x2 :]
"Monumental" For mortal men who pretend they never knew me
"Monumental" For these MC's, thinkin that they can do me
"Monumental" For the simple things in life that *soothe* me
The dead ancestors that speak through me "Monumental"
[repeat]
[Verse Two]
Breaker one-niner, it's the democratic socialist rhymer
On stage I keep out invaders like the Great Wall of China
My style transcends where the divine starts and man ends
Understand friends, colleagues, comrades, companions
Los campaneros who erect stone temples like pharaohs
Such an American Zapatista, rough
The empire builders must construct societies
Thats the difference between my spirit and the man that deceives
The imperial to the masses, imperialistic fashions
Titaniums and plastics, alkalies and acids
From the cradle to the casket fantastic stories are told
Stolen maps are sold leading to hidden cities of gold
Hold your ancient art form sacred, let not the 85 forsake it
Hitler's armies saw it in 1945 and tried to take it
Infiltrate it and break it, no substitutes nor replacements
I've got a Stargate leading to other dimensions in my basement
Harness the energies of the mind, designed to empower spaceships
My crew builds on political science and international relations
Feed off sunlight when the Earth grows void of vegetation
Attack the U.N. like the Klingons did the United Federation
Fully operational, mobile, global and intercontinental
The Emperor is truly monumental
[Chorus x2 ]
[Verse Three]
When worlds collide and are destroyed by earthquakes and tremors
What I build serves as a culture for generations to remember
From the cold-hearted to the tender, any ethnicity or gender
Slaves to a higher power, you gave freedom when you surrender
Bend your steelo ), save that gangster talk for Quentin Tarantino
I gets deeper than those 20,000 Leagues on Captain Nemo
So, abort the mission or get played out of position
Never let technology override this oral tradition
I'ma rather odd man, here to carry out the God's plan
While you try to be larger, I stay camouflaged like Zartan
I don't rhyme just to cash checks, but to create new aspects
Blacks and Latinos are really, Kemites and Aztecs
Some voices got treble, some voices got base
The Emperor's got the voice that be all up in your face
Now some MC's drop one single and vanish without a trace
Call me Lord Vader, the baddest black man in outer space
Mechanically rhyme prone, any MC or time zone
Hard rocks get broken up into small pieces of limestone
To put it plainly modern forms of psychology can't explain me
There's no man-made religion that can't contain me
See I realized that in the mind is where each man
must build his holy temple
Now thats the true meaning of monumental
[Verse 1]
Broadcasting live from Ice Station Zebra
I break over beats made to blow out your speaker
The Jim Morrison of hip hop nice to meet ya
But where the hell are Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger
The tricks of the trade get rich and get paid
Launch your career but your flights been delayed
I slaughter ballers, send players to their grave
And I'm takin' out all you bloodsuckers like Blade (aghh!)
I'm from the city that left the Liberty Bell cracked
The Constitution's release party was held at
Matter of fact, tell your crew to get the hell back
Or I'ma eat these cats like at alien from Mel Mac (hah!)
To all my backpackers, mallrats and slackers
Cyber trackers, players, poets and actors
You wanna know what it's like to be down with my team?
Like the Centurians, "now we're extreme!"
[chorus]
Echo Leader One to Echo Leader Two!
We have an intruder and he's right in front of you!
Echo Leader Two to Echo Leader One!
I got him in my sights the meltdown has begun!
Freedom fighters in the street, rock rock on,
If you rockin' to this beat, rock rock on,
Bring the fire and the heat, rock rock on,
In the face of defeat rock what?! Rock ON!
[Verse 2]
(Hmm) I've got a suspicious intuition
A new day is dawning, so come on and get with it
Find a more tactical, practical position
For these emcees who try to sabotage the mission
While some lay it down I carry the sound with me
I might play the ground and study who's down with me
In order for this joint right here to sound gritty
We did pre-production in an underground city (yes!)
Wearing post apocalyptic underground gear
'Cause we haven't seen natural sunlight in twelve years
I gotta sound astronauts can't wait to hear
So I speak loud enough to reach Space Station Mir
We can take it there in fact, I might order ya
The direction of rap has gotten cornier
It's time to replace the pain with euphoria
Make the crowd jump high like Masai Warriors
I kick back, relax, unwind my true nature
Catch wreck like James Bond in Moonraker
Whether flora, fauna, marsupial or mammalia
Test the Last Emp and end up a complete failure
[chorus]
[Verse 3]
Echo Leader One I'm goin' in cover me
So we can make the world bounce like it's rubbery
I got ivy league college lovin' me
Every rhyme I write is like assignment discovery
Let me take a few seconds in order to relish
The good vibrations from the moment that I felt it
I knew I'd break mics that are well bolted and welded
'Cause I'm hard like takin' off the Juggernaut's helmet (Hooah!)
I may not be the most muscular of men
But my songs are strong with the power to pretend
My job to defend against any man who enters
The stage that I call my urban command center
I made it consolidated, with just four bars
Place your bets and get out your score card
My mother always told me to reach for the stars
Now I got the first black owned business on Mars
From lasers and photons to dragons and giants (yeah)
The Ackbar, the Dogon, the Aztecs, the Mayans (yeah)
If obedience is just as old as defiance
Be an Echo Leader for this Rebel Alliance!
[chorus]
Echo Leader One, Echo Leader Two
intruder alert and he's right in front of you.
Echo Leader Two to Echo Leader One
I got him in my sights the meltdown has begun.
Freedom fighters in the streets, rock rock on,
If you rockin' to this beat, rock rock on,
Bring the fire and the heat, rock rock on,
[Verse 1:]
It's like one for the microphone, two for the camera
Three for deadbeats, vagabonds, panhandlers
Street scramblers, alleyway managers
Substance abusers, born losers, mic damagers
Everybody screamin', representin', keep it real
But I'm still a worthless bum tryin' to get a record deal
Peep my lingo, and every wise word the man speaks
I've been living on the streets, and haven't showered for weeks
But time moves forward, there's no looking back
I'm homeless in pursuit of a record contract
I wish my whole crew was paid in full like Rakim's
But instead we're malnourished with skeleton-like limbs
Instead of a land cruiser with BBS rims
I got a busted pair of boots, and they're not even Tims
See most mc's claim their pockets stay knotted
Puttin' money in the bank, but point blank, I ain't got it
I used to pump chums, for money in lump sums
But now I snatch crumbs with a thousand young bums
I'm the everfresh, what I still possess remains measureless
My brain contains jewels and gems like a treasure chest
Raw deal, no lie, that's the real
And I can't remember the last time I had a hot meal
Society labels me a bum, and that's right
My crew keeps it tight, bums of the world let's unite
[Chorus:]
This one's for all the neighborhood bums
To all my brothers in the gutters, in the slums
In every city, no matter where you're from
To all my boys, make noise if your bum
[Repeat]
[Verse 2:]
Allow me to explain the mission, the pain infliction
I entertain so listen, my style rocks like Jane's Addiction
Mc's don't impress me, they know not to test me
We'll be at each other's throats like Mr. Belvedere and Wesley
Especially, when wack rappers open up their mouse traps
They know not to tangle with these bums from the outback
You see you can't miss what you've never had
The life of a bum really isn't half bad
We're never alone, cause bums travel in packs
We combine fine lyrics with underground tracks
We rock the best shows, placin' mc's on stress mode
You can tell a fellow bum from his raggedy dress code
We rock raggedy kicks, and wear raggedy pants
We rock raggedy mics, and sing raggedy jams
like,
[Group of bums]
The bums have the right to lay the down the law
The bum train is leavin' from track number four
The bummy engineer is the Last Emperor
Hard rock like The Thing from the Fantastic Four
While most mc's rhyme about guns and shootin'
I drop science on their domes just like Sir Isaac Newton
Big up to Q in Brownsville, that never runs
Lift up your fist and shout, long live the bums
[Chorus]
[Verse 3:]
Crack your brew, light your spliff, it doesn't make a dif
Creamy light peanut butter, choosy mothers choose Jif
Overlord of the poor, man not a myth
It's the Last Emperor that you don't want to flex with
I'll place mental lacerations and allesions
On mc's and domestic and foreign legions
I might be flambeau, but read a book of allesions
The emperor switches up styles every season
In the spring, I do my thing, relaxin' and that's it
In the summer, just like a pirate, I attack ships
But winter maybe, my favorite, one of all, but Jamal
Is a Legend of the Fall, just like Brad Pitt
I'm known to lyrically black shots on behalf of have nots
Lock it down with the sound, equipped with chains and padlocks
No gadgets, no gimmicks, no tricks up my sleeve
And I won't play the Superman role like Christopher Reeve
See you can learn a lot from a dummy
Keep it real, better yet in '98, let's keep it bummy
Bein' broke is no prob, you don't have to rob
But if you're frustrated cause you can't find a job
Have no fear the emperor is here to help ya
Dig this and dig it deep
What if I had the power to gather all of my favorite emcees
With the illest comic book characters and they became arch enemies?
Inconcievable? Unbelievable? Yet as wild as it seems
The Emperor and Stan Lee would coach the two opposing teams
Keep it clean no bats no gats guns no interfearance
Comic book characters would go head up with raw lyrics
Now I take, whoever might be on break from doin tours
And have them signed up for the Last Emperor's Secret Wars
Sure, for that kind of capacity, you need a crazy large arena
that might stretch from west Philadelphia to east Medina
If I'm able, I'd put it on pay-per-view through my label
And give free tickets to my neighborhood bums with no cable
Yeah, that sounds phat, now that we've squared away the propositions
Let's begin with the ultimate toughman competion
"Let the games begin!" Set it off, it's the fight of the century
KRS and Professor X would battle each other mentally
With rhymes, these two team captains waste no time
Charles Xavier tried to invade Kris Parker's mind
He shot a cerebral probe at Kris's mind, but he missed it
Professor X taken out by the Blastmaster's metaphysics
Round two, new fight, word to life, you gotta see this
Locked in mortal combat is Dr. Strange and The Genius
Here son, he's no match, let that grafted wizard have it
'My Liquid Sword slashes straight through Dr. Strange's Magic'
Another hero down, and now the score is two to zero
Gy words from the Genius, and he's still my rhymin hero
Now the next fight was conducted in a rough like manner
Specifically between Reggie Noble and Dr. David Banner
Or should I say the Incredible Hulk when he's amped off the gamma?
But Reggie Noble soon became the Incredilbe Redman and slammed him
You know how Redman gets when his adrenaline starts pumpin
Started schitzin in the ring, so then the Thing tired jump in
Ben Grimm leaps into the ring, and after Redman he lunges
'But Reggie Noble dropped him with two Brick City punches!'
Rhymes by the bunches, bums get dirtier than Middle Eastern dugeouns
Ready to set this like Detective Columbo and his hunches
While the ref's clean out the ring, cause the last fight was so intense
Let's do a live interview with the brother named Common Sense
'Yeah, yeah it's Common Sense, and Iceman tried to freeze me,
So I took him to Chicago and told him to take it easy
He couldn't see me with my applejack hat and hightops
Colussus and Cyclops, I got No I.D. and Y Not'
Good lookin Common Sense, that last album was tight
Let me get back to the ring and evaluate the next fight
Now the next fight had to be the craziest of all times
We got Dr. Octapus 'versus the mighty Busta Rhymes!'
Doc Oct versus Busta? Man that stuff is dead
He'll get his eight arms ripped off, goin up agaisnt the dreads
'Ha, ha! Now Dr. Octapus, who you think you grabbin?
The god can never lose, so you know it will never happen
Lyrically making you sleepy, you'll need a nap when
I slap you with my dreads, lights out, you'll kiss the canvas'
Before my eyes, I see the demise of another superhero
Next up is Ras Kass versus Magneto
Now anything goes when Magneto battles foes
Ras Kass had him shivering, delivering ultramagnetic blows
Magneto was now deceased, and a wise man said it best
"The sun rises in the east, but they can still set it the west"
Now with all these heroes down, Stan Lee refuses to surrender
He got Storm from the X-Men, as if I couldn't match the gender
Stan Lee shouts 'Excelsior!' Yo, Stan you best to chill
'There's no match for Storm,' I guess he's never heard of Lauryn Hill
Now we all kow Storm controls the temperature and weather
Started runnin' off at the lip, and L-Boog was like 'Whatever'
See she just got home fom tours, she's a bit to tired to spar
So she clocked Storm over the head with my man Wyclef's guitar
All silence is ceased, out of nowhere comes the Beast
Versus Jeru the Damaja, the Black Prophet from the east
Releasing rhymes that will pound you into the ground, there'll be no
round two
Another victory for hip-hop from the Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
Now the underground sewer system that lies deep below the ring
Is where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Das EFX do their thing
Leonardo and Donatello, they both know we can do this
'So kiggedty crazy Drayze hit them both with raw sewage'
Now Rafeal and Michaelangelo, those two others who are brothers
Brooks smacked 'em with the Das EFX logo, the manhole cover
Whether you're plant or animal, vegitable or miggety-mineral
Before you step to Das EFX you best be hard like a criminal
Taking you back to ringside, just when you thought it was over
The last battle was brought forth by G.I.Joe and Cobra
Mercenaries and soldiers, G.I. Joe was rollin' thick
But I'll get the military of hip-hop, a.k.a. The Boot Camp Click
World War Three for '98 in the wake of all these troops
I could see general Buckshot goin toe to toe with Duke
Salute the captain, for rappin, cause now we know who's hard,
Catchin wreck like Steele and Tek going up against the Crimson Gaurd
Charging after you, smashin' you metaphorically smashin' through
The entire Joe team is O.G.C. and Ruck the Irrational
Then all of a sudden I hear this real loud crack!
'The military punisher Big Rock just broke Roadblock's back!'
Adding insult to injury to Stan Lee and his team
We've got Weapon X from Canada, a.k.a. Wolverine
You know the routine, his claws can rip rappers for days
But here comes the Method Man, a.k.a. Johnny Blaze!
Wolverine you can't hang, when Tical does his thang
Paralize you with the venom from the Method Man's fang!
This is the final battle as the stratosphere gets darker
We got Nasir Jones versus Peter Parker
Nasty Nas at halftime, headringer versus the webslinger
Illmatic versus radioactive in the rotten apple where the dead linger
He cursed the day that spider ever bit him
And gave him a copy of the second LP, It Was Written
For all up and coming emcees, I've got a question,
If I made a Secret Wars Part Two, would your name even be mentioned?
Would you make the final cut?
I make even the nicest give their titles up
Writing rhymes slash fighting crimes like the Blue Falcoln and Dynomutt
Stick around for the next battle slash adventure,
And if you see Stan Lee, tell him that the Last Emperor sent ya *echoes*
[Verse 1]
If you gonna do it till it hurts, then say oww
You about putting in work, then say oww
Y'all gonna catch it when the words are sprayed out
Rap style perfected, verses laid out
A verse like the deadliest curse I place out
To any rapper that happen to think I fade out
Or any rapper that happen to think I play out
The house that rap built, I'm coming to raid out
The only thing left after the check is made out
Stand around and count how many suckers is laid out
[Chorus]
Who's That?
Emp with the rugged flow
Y'all let the public know
Y'all shouldn't touch it though
Rock That!
Rock with the rugged sound
Aim for a different crowd
Who came to get it down?
Last Emp!
More than a champion
Fight till the battles won
Read all about it son
Rock That!
I came to give you more
Wild out with your boys
Girls wanna hit the floor
Winter, spring, summer, fall
Everybody hit the floor
Every last one of y'all
Tell them who they waiting for
Last Emp!
[Verse 2]
Some call me mandible
Over power, devour emcees like a cannibal
You know my steez, please read the manual
If the ladies shake it then that's understandable
See, I write raps for all occasions
And I excite fans of all persuasions
With lyrics that are sharp like claws and razors
I leave the mic with cuts and small abrasions
You ain't got the patience to do what I'm doing
The raw type of sound the rough type of unit
I rock the crowd, keep the club booming
So underground, I feel like I'm sub-human
Mainstream love me, I'll love it right back
Streets wanna hug me, I'll hug it right back
It ain't no telling how the public might act
I can thug it like that cuz I'm rugged like that
I'm so rugged I'm running through rap teams
I'm so rugged in Tims and black jeans
I'm so rugged I carry a canteen
In this urban jungle like a malaria vaccine
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Vocabulary dropper
My rap book, magic like Harry Potter
Rough writer much like a magician
I'm kicking magic spells that put the females in position
And when they ask what my rapping is under
Tell them to use words like magic and wonder
Tell them to use words like passion and hunger
Tell them I got an album that will crack through the summer
And when it hits the pitch at a certain rate
You got to admit, I don't spit, I regurgitate
Over beats that will increase the verbal murder rate
Beats that will make you dislocate your vertebrae
The ground shakes when I hear that drum
Here I come, tell them where I'm from
I'm from West Philadelphia, Transylvania
Body slamming rappers like Wrestlemania
Rocking your stadium, I'm out on tour
Turn it out, when the Emp is in the house, I'm raw
Down at the record store, who the checking for
Y'all better hit the floor, all hail the Emperor
[Chorus]
We get it on, in the place; let them have it they can't wait
They get ghost, we give chase, can't run now there's no escape
Last Emp, why you tearing it down?
Why you make them put they ear to the ground?
Why they hearing it now?
Tell them now while you wearing the crown
If you afraid, leave your fear in the house, cuz we letting them out
[Verse 1]
I prowl like a tiger, growl like a tiger
Let a nigga come around, pounce like a tiger
Deadly rhymes I announce and pounce when I write them
Wild out in my own house when I write them
I mean, he's way cool, he breaks rules
Gets cash in bundles, but he's paid dues
Wild type of dudes, wild type of crews
Run wild in jungles, caged up in zoos
Most niggaz feel it, some niggaz fear it
Eye of the tiger, come, come, catch the spirit
Any man come near it, track down and kill it
He attacked the village, ransacked and pillage
Scarp for your life, strap on your knife
Bring a gat if you like, just earn your stripes
When attacking the mic, sike, you can't get close
I kidnap bitch ass rappers and slash they throats
Cold rip through your tissue, crack open bones
Go grab your rifles and pack your toast
Don't blast and run, let's have some fun
Your man pass his gun, your ass is done
[Chorus: w/variation]
[Verse 2]
I used to be a quiet type cat, silent type cat
Nigga fuck with me, wouldn't even fight back
Now I'm straight out the jungle cuz I got it like that
Now this dude's on the loose, tiger strike back
I be the wild, no caring, stingy note sharing
Fuck us up, knuckle up, known for throat tearing
Now I'm quite thuggish, now I'm quite rugged
Ghost In The Darkness, too hard for Mike Douglas
Ghost that might haunt ya, Tim's that might stomp ya
Scar any face, many places he conquered
Animal slash author, man but yet monster
Bangladesh, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Sumatra
How the hell can you catch a nigga that's just too fresh?
Tiger that's this ruthless, try to track the movement
Y'all niggaz is clueless, y'all weapons is useless
In this urban jungle we rumble across the U.S
Do this!
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
My tiger squad came to tear it down, y'all better beware it now
Coming through, hear the sound, pack it up, clear it out
Run and take the nearest route, we all up in your house
You see the tiger crouch, yeah you know what I'm about
Live a man, tiger man, every time I write a jam
I excite the tiger land, play me close I bite a fan
Rip it, tear it up and shred it, slash, slice, behead it
All y'all suckers in get debted, tell them how we came to set it
[Chorus]
We get it on, in the place; let them have it they can't wait
They get ghost, we give chase, can't run now there's no escape
Flow like water, some may say, water from an ancient lake
We came off beats that jump, tell us if we tore it up
To all my brothers who be putting it down
In the underground
For all my soldiers for protecting our crown
In the underground
Where all the wickedest lyricist found
In the underground
Who got the beats and the rhythms that pound?
It's the underground
Come here me now, feel me now
[Verse 1]
This is hardcore music, God's war music
The heart of hip hop, the blood that flows through it
Made for the chosen people that have been deprived
Though they sentence us to death, we still keep it live
Who bring the heat to these streets where we dropping these rhymes?
With a power that's refined and them cowards can't find
Who reveals God's design, cause its finally time
To speak out for those who live below the poverty line
See...
[Chorus]
Underground is the defying thing
Well protected from the tyrant king
There is a message that we try and bring
Underground is where we cry and sing
Some, they kill for fun, but we not run
Cause we got guns, in the face of oppression
We fire back and ask without no question
Nooo
[Verse 2]
Who got that underground sound that you rocking with? (Who?)
Who keep it real and still appeal to a lot of chicks? (Who?)
I'm from a block that stays hot like the Gaza Strip
On the corner between hip hop and politics
See all my underground followers rocking with me
Where all my underground rhyme slayers keep it witty
And all my underground beat makers keep it gritty
Cause we provide the soundtrack for the inner city
Where the high price of rent ain't fair
Little dudes rock the same suits that inmates wear
Bullshit politicians pretend they care
And if the party ain't jumping then the Emp ain't there
I run with crooks and read books but utilize both gifts
Born and raised in West Philly but I ain't Will Smith
And you can catch me on the O, I'm controlling the spliff
Around the way they call me Maul, the Dark Lord of the Sith
In this...
[Verse 1]
[Steele]
Brace yourself for the awesomest pair
when cocoa b's palm deck, put the trees in the air
this time we came to represent the place we from
bucktown, new york take it, never, and run
now, take a sec to respect this pedigree
steps up pioneers in the industry
generail S-T double E-L-E
and the B, smokey, my pee, you see
last emp, big print, nino storm
we roll up a dub sack right before we have to perform
me and the band that I just mentioned
we get it on in these brooknam trenches
[Teck]
We regulate when you tell jake I struck ya (Here We Go!)
pay a cake, send 'bout eight, though the toucher (Here We Go!)
funk-layin' popo, you gotta go-go (Here We Go!)
you felt the fo-fo, we skate out on flow-low (Here We Go!)
we move out with two's, thugs and drugs
low slugs twist up and I spread my love
that's the B.K. way, the only way I know how to be
see me in the scunnel brooklyn on the side of me
Break!
Go!, Go!
[x8]
[Last Emperor]
Let the world bear witness as hip-hop spreads
from America, the U.K. and even tibet
some fake politicians label it as a threat
with the attack of the last emp, steele and teck
I went from west Philadelphia to Bucktown
Day-O said hit 'em with the rough sound (hit 'em with it)
Bobby Simmons cold beef the drums down
or go emperor to shut the whole club down (murda!)
Prince Paul brings the cuts and scratches and
attacking it, man, you know where the action is
back and forth as the D.J. spins
we attempt to make history once again
Break!
Go Emperor!
[x8]
[Verse 2]
[Teck]
Brooklyn best Isl is our hometown
shrowm gown that's how we get down
spit rounds, hit clowns with thick pounds
stuff grams up mounts for the greyhounds
with that butter shit, off white color shit
find a town, smother it, on some gutter shit
like spider webs, i hang in the hood
that's what separates the rapper do's, you can, and i could
ya'll the type that smoke dirt, easy to be merked
run around with broke, unloaded guns that don't work
deserved to be hurt, kidnapped in the store
gun-butted with the eighty and beat up in the public
Break!
Go Brooklyn!
[x7]
[Last Emperor]
Last Emp found the way with the rhymes I say
to straight mutulate mic's and fight urban decay
I make the crowd sway in a dangerous way
point blank, this ain't a game, mutha fuckas don't play!
I create fresh rhymes with the lava method
I put it out, a few rappers try to catch it
the type of emcee that they don't invite to sessions
I come real, and they're just composite sketches
we brought the band back for a lob track
it ain't a DAT man, ya'll niggaz can't rewind that
who got the heat, now ya'll know where to find that
and you can catch me out back with a dime sack
[Steele]
It ain't nothing like Bucktown music
when u smoking on a nine-five cruisin'
or when you with a dime chic getting booted
in the big truck, system up, boomin'
you like it cuz you choose it
many commercial emcees miss-use it
but the name of the game is rapture
now you rap actors meet you rap masters
Break!
Go Emperor!
[RZA]
Turn my FUCKIN headphones up!
Aiyyo nurse, bring the patient in, strap him down
Inject the serum into the tip of his cerebelum
70 cc's of denji should brain-accel him
Nurse, increase the IV
(But doc that may kill him!)
Word, we got technology, we can rebuild him
Strength of the ox, slickness of the fox
Electrical brain waves being charged by the dreadlocks
Audio dynamic vocal box
Inside the black oval, won't be a beat that my son couldn't flow to
Call Prince Paul to inject De La Soulful
(Doc, his heart is beating too fast!)
Nurse I told you!
Decrease the brain battery, more gamma to the chest cavity
Put the DNA code in every farrel inhis anatomy
Heart of the conquerers, fighting force like Joe Blanca
Interscope will never be the same, we just created a MONSTER!
[Last Emperor]
A mysterious man with a mysterious past
Who came back from the dead to kick some serious ass
I clearance a path, blast glocks, raps whatever
RZA put my DNA blocks back together
And conducted, something interpenetrable by heaters
Made from the world's great Ancient leaders
Rzarector, I wanna thank you for giving me
A second chance at life, you've uprisen me
To separate the wise art from the wizardry
And take revenge on those who imprison me
In the East, the location was well-hidden
My corpse was torn, rotted, bullet-ridden
There's still an after tast from the poison I was given
(Last Emperor)
Yes master, what is thy bidding?
[RZA]
Go barbarian like thunder
I'll wrap these niggas up like mummra
Off of guitar samples of Prince Paul mixed with Sun-Ra
Scatter to the four corners
Make these bitch rappers MOURNERS
Let em know son, they time of God is upon us
And if they try to form a challenge throw em off balance
[Last Emperor]
I snatch the mic with my talons
Prepare to meet this challenge
Break the sacred seal and release these ancient talents
I ride the track and leave MC's fully damaged
Like Hannibal on the back of a black wooly mammoth
I was banished, they panicked that the words that I said
I split backs wit the war axe of Eric the Red
Until I get tax exemption, redemption from cruel people
The Last Emperor but I'm not Hiro Hitu
More like Manson Musa
You don't get the chance to use a
Primative weapon on this microphone stand abuser
Should you choose ta whip out the banger
This archaic warrior responds with anger
I stop fighter planes before they even leave their hangars
And I'm sick enough to pull a con/Kahn job like Genghis
I weave tales of war, legend and folklore
Things will never be as they were once before
Witness the second coming of the Last Emperor
[Intro: sample]
It has been said that man can create anything he can imagine
[Last Emperor]
Every now and then, when I'm home alone
In my modern day hut made of iron and stone
I pull out my imaginary microphone
And weave tales of adventure that are on my own
This is you're opportunity to listen in
If ya coolin' by yourself or maybe with some friends
From the young bucks up to senior citizens
I make 'em get up and feel like kids again
But if you don't wanna stand then take a seat
As I take you to the land of make belief
Mr Gray has come to display his greatest feats
You wanna snap, well relax cause your in for a treat
What I write comes to life so people can get busy
And live on well after these same people forget me
Your attentions surrendered by The Great Pretender
Come on and say it with me
Y'all better stop playin' with me
[Last Emperor]
Check it, check out the number one style
From a small town where imaginations run wild
And if this is a race I should pick up the pace
So the line between reality and myth is erased
Like a Grand Prix driver or a traffic cop
Or a deep sea diver or an astronaut
More than a player, I'm like the ultimate team mate
For girls that care, I'm the ultimate dream date
Who goes by the name of The Great Pretender
I don't discriminate cause of race nor gender
A high siege pirate with the weary frame
And if I don't float ya boat I'll retire me name
Or play the roll of a politician and run for the senate
Fill a lifetime of rhymes into a couple of minutes
See, Prince Paul's taken on another apprentice
Who fights for hip hop better than a public defendant
Who got sick and tired of skits that the others were writing
I couldn't take it and replaced it with something exciting
With my own imagination I made it in show biz
It's The Great Pretender, y'all know what it is
[Last Emperor]
Outside the boundaries of time and space
Were the most bizarre things are now common place
Alongside the producer who provides the bass
Stands a lone pretender who's known to rock the place
And told great stories that you can take witcha
Remembered as an artist who painted great pictures
To be a great speaker as well as a great listener
So someday I hold the stories the angels might whisper
So tell the great Kings and peasants as well
From the mountains that they conquered to the valleys they dwell
Don't let life's greatest book be pulled from the shelves
I'm looking for Suzi Wong
Tell me have you seen her
I need her before I step inside the arena
We lost touch and let Philly come between us
Warrior princess, she's stronger than Xena
I know niggas that can't wait to get between her
But if you get cold with her it's more than a misdemeanor
My homeboy said she was more beautiful than Selena
So I let him hit it and he fell into a seizure
Caught amnesia from Suzi getting tossed up
Fives, tens, twenties it don't cost much
Compared to other chicks they all suck
We lost touch I heard lately she's dating this kid they call Dutch
They got off to an incredible start
She gave him wild ideas about blowing the charts
And when she broke up with Dutch it split 'em apart
I guess she captures a man's mind as well as his heart
[CHORUS]
Suzi gives me sanctuary
She's a place for me to hide
A place where we get high
What kind of man am I
Tell me the truth 'cause I just can't stand a lie
I can't find her but I'll still be a man and try
For Suzi's affection I'll punch out a samurai
Made for admiring, no woman's flyer than
She calms me down with a stroke of the violin
She brings peace to the streets filled with violence
Put down the guns and let the l's start firing
Words I speak send the weak into retirement
Evel Kanievel styles straight deaf defying men
Open the door before I let the empire in
Tell me where she is break the code of silence
Keeps me hungry she startles and stuns me
I went from clean cut to low down dirty and grungy
After one pull in some undiscovered country
No man could ever stop Suzi from speaking bluntly
[CHORUS]
They tell me time and time again that shit is real
The slightest touch gives Suzi the illest feel
Take one pull and watch her flesh turn into steel
I'm seeing red and the stage is like a killing field
She got my eyes so tight I can't open 'em
No matter how hard I try I can't focus 'em
Dangerous rhymes, minds I'll be blowing 'em
Far from addictive, ghetto version of opium
All my friends as well as my fans
Fell in love and gave Suzi total command
I tracked her down, I used an intelligent plan
That's why I keep my face hidden like the elephant man
I'm telling you damn
Twisted, but even when I'm sober
I hunt Suzi like Sean Connery in Red October
Sad to say this relationship is over (it's over)
'Cause when I found Suzi I had to smoke her
[Chorus: Last Emperor]
Now if I loved you would you love me back?
Would you confess that I was the best that you've ever had?
Would you allow me to hold you, show you exotic lands?
Well there's no need to look any further, you got your man
[The Last Emperor]
Turn off the lights, let me close the door
Two bodies, one common cause, a million ways to explore
Would you be willin' to be Emperor's tool and Emperor's raw
Stop frontin', come to something you've never felt before
Now I got it, never let another take it from me
You need it, I can see it, I can tell by the way you touch me
Long for me when I'm gone although while thinkin' of me
Allow me one moment in time, I'ma make you love me
[Chorus]
[The Last Emperor]
What is it you desire Your Highness? Ask, I'll listen
Someone above the average thug, a man, a vision
Let me be your knight in shinin' armour, a man with riches
Be the Genie of ya magic lamp, I'll grant your wishes
Play the starring roll, be the leading actor
Let me be the Mark Anthony to your Cleopatra
Your only protector, once I got ya, let me at ya
Quicken your pulse, have your heart beatin' faster
Be the master of your happiness to keep it all
Be the spouse, come and live in my house, it be your home
Would you accept as sacred or hate it, leave me alone
Or love it like Mike Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones
[Chorus]
[The Last Emperor]
Ya couldn't find another guy to satisfy ya every need
Every dimension inch of the earth and the Seven Seas
I'm that person, end your searchin' cause I got what you need
???????, ain't no problem just follow my lead
Come my direction, under my protection I'll take you there
No question, my loves perfected, yeah you can say it's rare
Love makin', we shares a moment that's frozen in time
I know how to treat my lady and baby I'm goin' for mines
Here to conquer, defend your honour and fight your bouts
Would you let me know the intimate things you think about
You gotta make me a father, come on and just have my child
Stop the procrastinatin' and waitin', lets it now
(Dig this and dig it deep)
What if I had the, power to gather, all of my favorite emcees
With the illest comic book characters, and they became arch enemies?
Inconcievable? Unbelievable? Yet as wild as it seems
The Emperor and Stan Lee would coach the two opposing teams
Keep it clean, no bats, no gats, guns, no interfearance
Comic book characters would go head up with raw lyrics
Now I take, whoever might be on break from doin tours
And have them signed up for the Last Emperor's Secret Wars
Sure, for that kind of capacity, you need a crazy large arena
that might stretch from west Philadelphia to east Medina
If I'm able, I'd put it on pay-per-view through my label
And give free tickets to my neighborhood bums with no cable
Yeah, that sounds phat, now that we've squared away the propositions
Let's begin with the ultimate toughman competion
"Let the games begin!" Set it off, it's the fight of the century
KRS and Professor X would battle each other mentally
With rhymes, these two team captains waste no time
Charles Xavier tried to invade Kris Parker's mind
He shot a cerebral probe at Kris's mind, but he missed it
Professor X taken out by the Blastmaster's metaphysics
Round two, new fight, word to life, you gotta see this
Locked in mortal combat is Dr. Strange and The Genius
Here son, he's no match, let that grafted wizard have it
'My Liquid Sword slashes straight through Dr. Strange's Magic'
Another hero down, and now the score is two to zero
Gy words from the Genius, and he's still my rhymin hero
Now the next fight was conducted in a rough like manner
Specifically between Reggie Noble and Dr. David Banner
Or should I say the Incredible Hulk when he's amped off the gamma?
But Reggie Noble soon became the Incredilbe Redman and slammed him
You know how Redman gets when his adrenaline starts pumpin
Started schitzin in the ring, so then the Thing tired jump in
Ben Grimm leaps into the ring, and after Redman he lunges
'But Reggie Noble dropped him with two Brick City punches!'
Rhymes by the bunches, bums get dirtier than Middle Eastern dugeouns
Ready to set this like Detective Columbo and his hunches
While the ref's clean out the ring, cause the last fight was so intense
Let's do a live interview with the brother named Common Sense
'Yeah, yeah it's Common Sense, and Iceman tried to freeze me,
So I took him to Chicago and told him to take it easy
He couldn't see me with my applejack hat and hightops
Colussus and Cyclops, I got No I.D. and Y Not'
Good lookin Common Sense, that last album was tight
Let me get back to the ring and evaluate the next fight
Now the next fight had to be the craziest of all times
We got Dr. Octapus 'versus the mighty Busta Rhymes!'
Doc Oct versus Busta? Man that stuff is dead
He'll get his eight arms ripped off, goin up agaisnt the dreads
'Ha, ha! Now Dr. Octapus, who you think you grabbin?
The god can never lose, so you know it will never happen
Lyrically making you sleepy, you'll need a nap when
I slap you with my dreads, lights out, you'll kiss the canvas'
Before my eyes, I see the demise of another superhero
Next up is Ras Kass versus Magneto
Now anything goes when Magneto battles foes
Ras Kass had him shivering, delivering ultramagnetic blows
Magneto was now deceased, and a wise man said it best
"The sun rises in the east, but they can still set it the west"
Now with all these heroes down, Stan Lee refuses to surrender
He got Storm from the X-Men, as if I couldn't match the gender
Stan Lee shouts 'Excelsior!' Yo, Stan you best to chill
'There's no match for Storm,' I guess he's never heard of Lauryn Hill
Now we all kow Storm controls the temperature and weather
Started runnin' off at the lip, and L-Boog was like 'Whatever'
See she just got home fom tours, she's a bit to tired to spar
So she clocked Storm over the head with my man Wyclef's guitar
All silence is ceased, out of nowhere comes the Beast
Versus Jeru the Damaja, the Black Prophet from the east
Releasing rhymes that will pound you into the ground, there'll be no
round two
Another victory for hip-hop from the Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
Now the underground sewer system that lies deep below the ring
Is where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Das EFX do their thing
Leonardo and Donatello, they both know we can do this
'So kiggedty crazy Drayze hit them both with raw sewage'
Now Rafeal and Michaelangelo, those two others who are brothers
Brooks smacked 'em with the Das EFX logo, the manhole cover
Whether you're plant or animal, vegitable or miggety-mineral
Before you step to Das EFX you best be hard like a criminal
Taking you back to ringside, just when you thought it was over
The last battle was brought forth by G.I.Joe and Cobra
Mercenaries and soldiers, G.I. Joe was rollin' thick
But I'll get the military of hip-hop, a.k.a. The Boot Camp Click
World War Three for '98 in the wake of all these troops
I could see general Buckshot goin toe to toe with Duke
Salute the captain, for rappin, cause now we know who's hard,
Catchin wreck like Steele and Tek going up against the Crimson Gaurd
Charging after you, smashin' you metaphorically smashin' through
The entire Joe team is O.G.C. and Ruck the Irrational
Then all of a sudden I hear this real loud crack!
'The military punisher Big Rock just broke Roadblock's back!'
Adding insult to injury to Stan Lee and his team
We've got Weapon X from Canada, a.k.a. Wolverine
You know the routine, his claws can rip rappers for days
But here comes the Method Man, a.k.a. Johnny Blaze!
Wolverine you can't hang, when Tical does his thang
Paralize you with the venom from the Method Man's fang!
This is the final battle as the stratosphere gets darker
We got Nasir Jones versus Peter Parker
Nasty Nas at halftime, headringer versus the webslinger
Illmatic versus radioactive in the rotten apple where the dead linger
He cursed the day that spider ever bit him
And gave him a copy of the second LP, It Was Written
For all up and coming emcees, I've got a question,
If I made a Secret Wars Part Two, would your name even be mentioned?
Would you make the final cut?
I make even the nicest give their titles up
Writing rhymes slash fighting crimes like the Blue Falcoln and Dynomutt
Stick around for the next battle slash adventure,
What if I had the power to gather all of my favorite MCs
With the illest comic book characters and make them arch enemies?
Inconcievable? Unbelievable? Yet as wild as it seems
The Emperor and Stan Lee would coach the two opposing teams
What if I took my love for hip-hop and comics and made it equal
And gave the people Secret Wars Part Two the long awaited sequel
An animated hip-hop grudge match, I'll make it lethal
How would my favorite rappers perform in the face of evil?
I'd take the RZA from Wu-Tang, yes the Rzarector
Versus Captain America, our nation's oldest protector
Of homeland security, the top defender, top Avenger
He gets dropped and injured when raw hip-hop commences
Now it gets critical when Bobby Digital crosses Captain America
Perhaps the Red Skull would have to jump in it too
But the RZA was too nimble, the Red Skull licked off shots to hit him
RZA then launches the Wu symbol into the New York skyline
Timed the Red Skull, get blown apart by the Ghostface Killah alias Tony Starks
AKA Iron Man, Ghost Deini the scientist
The top contender what other Wu members could I enlist?
Who's next to die in this?
I would take Masta Killa and Golden Arms versus Power Man and Iron Fist
Imagine Blade the black hunter of vampires
goin after DMX the dog from the Ruff Ryders (RRRRR...)
I mean there's no tellin how they might react, I've seen how X can bite the track
Would Blade be afraid or fight and then leave with his life intact?
Yo Blade, I think you got me wrong, I ain't that type of cat
And if you're tryin' to step to the dog I'll have to bite you back
I saw DMX break him apart, take him apart
He played with the art, I saw X drive a stake through his heart
Another mission accomplished, X came, saw and he conquered
Buried Blade's body in a shallow graveyard in Yonkers
Imagine after seein X puttin in work
watch in the ring, you'll see the illest pitbull in a skirt
Reppin' the double R, the first lady from Philly, Eve y'all
Versus David Banner's amazon cousin called the She-Hulk
Jump in the ring and starts swingin I see punches, they're movin in and out
Two femme fatales engaged in a cage match, two woman bout
A lot of female rap is played but not Eve
They done got Eve knockin chickens out like Leila Ali
Then I see the She-Hulk hits the canvas, Stan Lee now gets embarrassed
So his plan is to summon Sub-Mariner from Atlantis
Far due to include ATL in this war
It's foolishness, I just get Ludacris to settle the score
In any bout or brawl you're about to fall
I spit alcohol, a drowned person named Moore
Actually he's no match for me I put him to sleep
you need to see and then came Thor
Ludacris and the mighty Thor, the battle I chose
Had Thor swingin' his hammer while Cris was throwin' 'em bones
He sent Thor back to Valhalla, made Sub-Mariner sea-sick
Scores a victory for hip-hop plus the DTP clique, uh
My battle-rappin is war, my raps is hardcore
Imagine the Roc-A-Fella camp versus the Fantastic Four
As I get deep with it, Marvel Comics street lyrics
As we proceed with it, Jay-Z versus Reed Richards
Imagine Mr Fantastic and Hova goin' at it, Jigga spits like an automatic
Click click click, it's over damn it
Any static from Human Torch, y'all know the procedure
Send a message to Young Memphis, he'll go and defeat him
Am easy, believe me Johnny callin' my name out, come with it
I spit it real cool and I'm puttin' your flame out, uh
Remember Memphis, Secret Wars is a critical world
Where rappers disappear like a meal in the invincible girl
But let's not forget Benjamin J. Grimm
now what kind of rapper could Roc-A-Fella get to slay him?
I mean, who would step inside the ring
who would have the right to swing
Enough muscle and might to bring? Beanie Sigel fights the Thing!
Imagine Beanie and Ben Grimm goin spit for spit
Beanie Sigel and The Thing going brick for brick
Now what I saw was the board get gully
He messed around and got knucked out by the Broad Street bully
But yo we got a slight problem as the Hobgoblin glides in
I see him droppin' bombs on the crowd
So I'll just have to get Freeway with the buckshot
he shot him, firing, knockin him down
Ow, Reppin the city of Philly back to the ring when I'm distracted by Joey Crack
Fat Joe knocks out the Kingpin
The Kingpin thought that he could extort Don Cartagena
But not in this terrordome, this is Terror Squad's arena
And there's a lot of room for these rappers that I produced
Keith Murray came home in a hurry to box Dr Doom
My miscellaneous instantaneous battle techniques will leave him scarred
Courtesy of the Death Squad and LOD
Let's see the crowd's reaction from action, turn up the lights
No doubt it's hype from all these rappers in my house tonight
But live via satellite look who's about to fight:
From the Brick City it's the Outsidaz versus Alpha Flight
The Jersey regulators, Young Zee versus Vindicator
Rah Digga took out Snowbird with words that she served and then she slayed her
And later Asis and Slangtongue with their pattern of rhymin'
Kick back to back freestyles that took out Puck and the Shaman
The Outs tore it down like they're doin' on tour
Pace1 punched out the Sasquatch and yelled "I declare war"
Now it seems World War 3 is in progress
Of course the Punisher would target the leader from Onyx
Yeah, Sticky Fingaz, I kill rappers while holdin' my gat
That means I slam the Punisher and put a hole in his back
You know how I act, what up, try and look, let's see
He's finished, I'm in it to win it for the USG
As you can see there's no casualties on my team
Me versus Stan Lee is more like "man vs machine"
I've seen Xzibit from the West flyin' in
Versus Colossus, X-Man with the iron skin
Xzibit suckerpunched the rushin' knocked the thing
There's no choice in my arena, it's either die or win, but then
This is all that happens if heroes target rappers
Then wouldn't Matt Murdoch be going after Marshal Mathers
Would Eminem then use the Daredevil for target practice
Slim Shady maybe Ben Affleck catch record then cause disaster
Somebody find a gurdy, I'm'a stretch then blind the turdy
Bury him alive and burn him, tell D12 he tried to earn me
Now this certainly serves as a hideous mixed win
I call D12 to fight the Insidious Six and
This fight music produces bumps and bruises as the
Scorpion and Rhino fight Kuniva and Proof
Swifty McVeigh slayed Mysterio on his illusions
Kon Artis gave the Chameleon some minor contusions
Then I heard this loud sound at first I thought was a bomb
No you idiot! It's just Bizarre versus the Blob
They went and took the belt from a battle I felt they insured
Back to the 8 Mile where it's wild and held it down for Detroit
Now as the time went out, Stan Lee is checkin' the clock
There's room for one last battle, let's see if y'all feel me or not
My ultimate tag-team would be like Biggie and Pac
Stan Lee would get the Black Panther to team up with Juggernaut
Biggie snatched off his helmet, threw it to a fan in the audience
Turned to the crowd (uh) and said: So all be sure give that man a warning
Cuz I'm'a fought'em this is real my performance
I'm the, weed smoke helps my endurance
Yeah Big, still reppin blocks in BK
I say one of the best who was ever destined to rock
Rhyme sayer and slayer of Xavier's brother Juggernaut
But now let's not forget the Black Panther and Pac
Holla if ya hear me, superheroes is tryin' to kill me
The son of a panther to slam ya, ride with me
It's Stan Lee, I'm sure you remember me, even in death my words leave a legacy
Two hip-hop titans and giants at war when they died
In the afterlife standin' together, fightin' side by side
From Marvel to DC to Dark Horse to Image
Bear witness the power of hip-hop, there are no limits
To all worthy opponents, heroes, challengers, contenders
[Chorus x3: w/ variations]
I'm just a prisoner, ohh noo
(I'm just)
[Verse 1]
Young man stepping off an uptown train
Ground still wet from the cold hard rain
Living in the city, know the streets by name
Take a walk with me, come and feel my pain
See what I see, come and get my glimpse
Dig a little deeper that the media clips
Underneath strugglers and the hardships
Two bit hustlers, big time pimps
Now look at little Mike, I heard he lost his dad
Drank a lot of liquor, made his liver turn bad
Now I see him out there serving that Yac
Will he even live to be a high school grad?
But see that lady named old Ms. Givens
Who used to serve lunch to the homeless children
Worked a lot of overtime, still got evicted
Spent her last dollar on a lottery ticket
I witness this from behind my gates
Totally determined to decide my fate
Food for thought when I'm saying my grace
I wonder if I ever will escape this place
[Chorus X2]
[Verse 2]
Now I done seen a lot of things in this town
Cry me a river like the tears of a clown
Made me familiar with the sites and sounds
To hit ya with the rhythm so you gotta get down
Shake off the blues to forget my past
Forget that I'm a prisoner but still I'm trapped
Stack a little cash, have a little stash
You either rich or poor, ain't no middle class
Man I'm trying to get it any way I choose
Come around the way and walk a day in my shoes
Same neighborhood where I paid my dues
And you can see the homies on the late night news
Why they out thugging trying to fire them guns
Don't the realize that they mama's need sons
Abusing their lives like it's gotta be done
Young black male that society shuns
If everything we do is so clean and so fresh
Then why have we become such a people oppressed
You say you don't care, hate it you I guess
It's a living nightmare, but its where I rest
[Chorus X2]
[Verse 3]
Now prison is a place full of cold hard facts
Where even the innocent might get trapped
Run down housing overcome by crack
The teachers can't even get a good contract
If it ain't the cats doing they hard bids
Or the mama's out working on the graveyard shifts
If it ain't the artists who display our gifts
Then tell me who the hell is gonna save our kids
Preacher man tell me, can it get any worse?
Don't the Lord love us, are we really just cursed?
With the hunger and thrist while I'm saying my grace
I pray for the day we can escape this place
Yeah
[Verse One: Last Emp]
1993, shortly before Thanksgiving
I got the call, she said Jamal Derek is not longer living
Softly she spoke, is this a joke? Man you gotta be kidding
As my question was raised this explanation was given
A meaningless death made me question the meaning of life
Does my body remain at rest like when I'm sleeping at night?
Will I burn in eternal hell or will I find paradise?
Be rejected or ressurected like the body of Christ?
Is it like purgatory, the story described by the Catholics?
Or Nirvana that Buddhists honor in both theory and practice?
Like I study in my college philosophy classes
Or do my molecules and atoms travel back to the gases?
I mean, what I like to know, is where my spirit goes?
After the curtains close, on my final show?
Is there a pain it brings? Enjoy my favorite things?
Visit ancient kings? Hear the angels sing?
Who'll answer these said the great MCs
My man Gribbles battling a debilitating disease
He said you see a brother like me is willing to fight
And everytime I question death my only answer is life
[Chorus: Esthero]
One life, yeahhh
And my God will set me free
Am I living in this moment
Am I living righteously
It gets haaarrdddd
But I know I got to keep on
I'm trying so hard to be strooonnnggg
[Verse Two: Poetic]
Paralyzed on the bathroom floor by pain
Last month I endured, but now I can't ignore
Feels like railroad spikes being stuck in my liver
Am I dying? Eyes crying, body starting to shiver
Crawl upstair from the basement calling my sister
(Sniff) Dawn help me, I ain't feeling too healthy
Stomach walls burning, head spinning and turning
Waiting for the EMS; 3:10 in the morning
Rush me to the emergency screaming like a newborn
The pain's too strong maybe my soul's trying to move on
They hook me to the I.V., put me through some X-Rays
Gave me Demerol to kill the pain that was the next phase
Early the next day in the hospital room
Moms and pops in the room, three or four docs in the room
Test results suggest your colon and your liver
Is so cancerous you got three months left
Me and Death is playing chess ever since then
My strength is the most high, my fam and close friends
The Last Emp and Set Free blessed me with a verse
Staying healthy comes first
Look at me things could be worst
[Verse 1]
I stare into the face of death
and the fear that's so obvious
wordplay is the way that I conquer it
shivalry's not dead if the living honor it
i send a message to men on all continents
and this is my imperial decree
to who so ever steals material from me
the emcee who comes with new abilities
and the same man in king david luther's philistines
cuz when it comes to emcees they leave you
no choice but to destroy the embodiment of evil
deadly force against the source of upheavel, that seems to
oppress and bring death to my people
the way to defy this death
is to keep kicking rhymes until there's no rhymes left
the emperor takes the form of the giant dredd
with the body of a man, and a lion's head
and this dence urban jungle of great disorder
cd players, turntables and tape recorders
become the tools that I use to erase the borders
between me and the secret and ancient order
that I swore to protect and uphold
if you're looking for the bloodiest battle, you've struck gold
from young to old, ripe and then rotten
i came to drop bombs like osama bin laden
using poisonious chemicles to shower fools
ravenous animals devour fools
i build a giant robot to overpower crews
using pens and pencils like power tools
a fifty-foot metal man, named lyricore
will stand up to the bully and hit him in the jaw
cuz when I step in the door
it takes a minute for the emperor, senator, madator, minitor
kicking bitterness to show it ain't sweet
whether it's a dark cave, or the middle of the street
cuz the only thing happening the next time we meet
[Verse 1]
Deep concentration, mental penetration
Hits me off the paranormal psychic information
Imagine every b-boy and girl in third world nations
Unite become one through pure hip-hop meditation
Watch me closely, I separate the spiritual from the ghostly
Tap the Emperor get struck down like Obi Wan Kenobi
I am hip-hop so hold me, but no one had ever told me
That corporate America would attempt to over-throw me
Secretly plant and grow me, light me up and then smoke me
Got you thinking your the Godfather like Vito Corleone
As an underground artist my days and nights below me
Signing a contract like King Salo, now everybody knows me
Righteousness oppose me, wicked women don't approach me
I am a player-hater so ??? Nelson couldn't coach me
I flipped animalistic's, and the critics tried to poach me
Turned a crew of battle-cats into pussy-cats like Josie
Oh don't play me closely, it's the music that controls me
Hip-hop is mother earth and in my infancy she holds me
Single parent see single handily shape and hold me
When they tried to enslave me she train me how to set my soul free
Bounty Hunters capture me, in carbonate they froze me
I am the Dark Oder my two sons are Thor and Ockie
In the beginning there was the word and in the sentence hip-hop wrote me
If you're brave enough to meditate then come along and show me!
[Verse 2]
I'm an extra-terrestrial emcee, and I know some are doubting me
Like Han Solo fighting style, like awe Millennium Falcon me
I change shapes and mind states through the use of mental alchemy
I climbed the Tower of Babylon and through rappers of the balcony
My culture showers me, the microphone overpowers me
Separates me from rappers who use actions that are cowardly
That's how it be, hip-hop amazes me worships, praises me
Resembles favours me, allows me many ways to freak
Seven styles for seven days a week
Allows me to transform like soundwave and give up more tapes than Laser Beak
The things you see in life hip-hop provides you, over-rides you
Let the spirit of hip-hop get up inside you
There was a shoulder to lead on, but I had the one to cry to
Help me pick up the pieces made me hot enough to fly through
Tried to fly through, jacking me for my faculty
Half of these emcees get lost in space like Dr. Zachary
I jetted for the goal-line A and R's kept trying to tackle me
Sacked me and grappled me, I was the righteous of an athlete
At first I was alone now there's a 1000 kids that backing me
Finally got a deal and now the CIA are tracking me
I didn't mean to do it socialism just came naturally
I think it's time to meditate, my sentiments exactly
[Verse 3]
In the world filled with petulance and hatred
Some say we'll be rescued by spaceships
I stay away from crooks and study books by the ages
When the world gets to crazy hip-hop helps me escape it
No gravity I am weightless, broke from poverty to greatness
I create this and built this, kid rackets smelt the fragrance
One love, One blood I got rhymes buried in my platelage
You can state this, crease this, place this with emphasis
Now enter this, take shots like Islamic fundamentalists
Degenerate rappers I'm smashing attackin' with a passion
A-and-R-bashin', ripping lyrics built on fashion
Now imagine you just won a trip around my way
Full transportation all expenses paid
I've never been a player just the one who got played
Now my style kills more kids then Rouge versus Wade
Don't be afraid to join us on this hip-hop meditation
Where you encounter evil spirits, release hip-hop and let it chase them
And place them over here, forget the clothes that you be wearing
My style is matter free, I'm free but don't you go comparing
Your weekly shopping-sprees versus my bargain basement shopping
Your religion versus my black magic concoction
Tae-quando and boxing, moving soldiers to my locksmith
Your biodegradable rhymes to my lethal toxin
Rhyming is a gift and not an option
I gave birth to more styles then half you emcees got through adoption
Be careful of the lyrics and the rhymes that you be dropping
[Verse 1:]
It's been a long time comin', but the time has arrived
for the Emperor to get live
Now that I'm back outside, all the suckers should hide
as I give rap fans somethin' they can bump in their rides
I wanna thank all'a y'all for still rockin' wit' 'Mal
Through the trials, tribulations, roadblocks and pitfalls
Breakin' down brick walls
The wait is over, I came here to show ya this is finally it, y'all
My chance at last to advance and pass the average cats
Ya done son, it's a rap - you're finished
I smash and grab, and stash the cash in plastic bags
with raps that have pizzazz - admit it
[Hook:]
Would ya like it? UH!
Would ya knock it? UH!
If I put it out ya gonna cop it
Well it's here
A lot of emcee's is in trouble this year
[Verse 2:]
Well it's the incredible Last Emp'
and my story is fresh
with the spirit of rap I'm possessed
I signed my first deal with Dr. Dre and moved to the West
Many speculate but I'mma put the rumours to rest
It wasn't like he couldn't understand my vocals
He didn't understand that I was anti-social
I didn't come here to hang out
I came here to put in work
and put motherfuckers under the dirt
So when I let it be known I was a battle rapper first
They didn't invite me to studio sessions and it hurt
But as bad as it felt, instead of sit on the shelf
and wait for somebody else, I reinvented myself
So whassup, Doc'? Now that the young boy grew
Would ya, finish the album we intended to do?
Show 'em there's no animosity between me and you
Throw The Last a couple'a tracks for album two
[Hook:]
Now would ya like it? UH!
Would ya knock it? UH!
Now it's comin' out ya gonna cop it
Well it's here
A lotta emcee's is in trouble this year
[Verse 3:]
Well I'm back and it's real
and this time I feel
like a different person
I put in work like a civil servant
Instead'a makin' songs without purpose
A brother like The Last Emperor has worked wit'
people in the game, like The Rza from Wu-Tang
Even the Music Man - Masta Ace
KRS-One and the Cocoa B's
The Beatminerz and Diamond D
Among others, talented sisters and brothers
but all dedicated hip-hop lovers
I gotta thank y'all, for bringin' me back
and helpin' me map a new plan of attack
Cop the album and throw it on
You know The Emp' got it goin' on
[The Last Emperor]
Yo, when I got the mic in my hand and the camera's on
I make the crowd get hype, and wanna blast this ??
Turnin' up is all good nigga, that's my song
Coast out through ya hood like a master Don
My raps is long and strong like and elephant tusk
The intelligent, rough lyrics that the ample discuss
Crushed with the Elephant Man, can't you tell that it's us
Ain't no sittin' around now, then y'all better get up
East, West, North, South, yeah we callin' y'all out
Any opposition of this is just getttin' stomped out
We came to take it from the bottom to the top of the line
Party people, show me were you at one time
[Chorus: The Last Emperor]
From the front to the back, wherever you are
Rollin' tough in your truck, jumpin' out of ya car
Boastin' up in ya club or ya neighbourhood bar
Say "Here We Are", stomp it out y'all
"Here We Are", come on, stomp it out y'all
"Here We Are", oh-uh-ha, stomp it out y'all
"Here We Are", yeah, stomp it out y'all
"Here We Are", yeah
[The Last Emperor]
I hear the road call stomp out song, we need that
Come on, let's get it on and ease back
See the difference between me and these cats
My flow is strong, I spit creatine caps
Strong to the ladies, yeah they probably want me
I don't follow a blind lead, they follow me bluntly
Large appetite, my stomach is hollow, I'm hungry
I smack rappers like Solomon Grundi
As long as y'all want me I'ma come right back
And do what it takes to make a party bump like that
Uh, Mr. Martin Evil D on the track
Stomp it out y'all, show me where my people is at
[Chorus]
[The Last Emperor]
Uh, I yell it out, I can't say it too plain
This is my jungle sucker, top of the food chain
I don't know what y'all thought when 2002 came
But this is my court and I'm runnin' the new game
I smash and dent and crash ya band
The glass and rim, blast them in, this is where my compassion ends
And I'ma make it quite clear check the captions kids
"Here We Are", right here's where's the action is
Poetical pacoderm packin' them in
Hoe catcher, dope snatcher, put my back to the wind
These rappers is no match, feel the back of my Timb's
Stomp it out y'all, show them that we at it again
[Chorus]
[Verse 1]
If I could be invincible, I'd greet competition with rage
Do work and go berserk when I'm rip'n the stage
Ignite'n and write'n rhymes in so a ridiculous age
Lets 'face off' like Travolta verses Nicolas Cage
Ah shucks, y'all finally got me to talk'n tough
Ready to bust these suckers that constantly bother us
Oh yes, just when all you thought was hopeless
One man fights back on behalf of the oppressed
And I'm so fresh- many say like Timothy McVeigh I blow sects
Don't believe me now, you'll go test and get your flow stretched
Take'n all threats and bets- double or noth'n I can match that
And bast raps- turn your Land Cruiser into a hatchback
But that's just the start of it, a small part of it
My rhymes are known to crack bones- rip through your cartilage
You don't want no part to this
When I start charge'n and barge'n in the hard way
I bring the butter, the (parquet ?) and the margarine
Two minutes past disaster, argue'n with the master
What I spit is combined with the same climate of Alaska
After I drop Anchorage, my language is filled with anguish
Breaking kids with their own songs like Weird Al Yankovich
Spin a web of deception and the best can't untangle it
Bang'n like only the Mandu, like only I can do
I'd like to live but my homies don't live in Landview
After years of jam'n, they're cram'n to understand you
We're go'n to war 'coz poor people need a champ too
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
Invincible, we're genetically engineered
When I see emcees battle and expect me to interfere
Listen here- this rap game is child's play like hopscotch
Traveling at the slow speed of a fox-trot, on my block
We accelerate and celebrate when a cop's shot
For not give'n us the chance to (lamp like flave?) with a stopwatch
And block shots with just seconds on the shot clock
Send away for my album deal with three cereal box tops
I rock spots and never forfeit a battle on some (extortion?)
Brothas couldn't get the picture if they ran out and bought it
Its a small eight by ten, but I turn it into a portrait
Make it rough enough to force Timberland to endorse it
Kill it with no remorses, the original, the liver-race
Interfaced with the internet and even flip rhymes in cyberspace
Nightmare on emcee part 5, cut like sharp knives
You've got enough rhymes to fill books- I'm fill'n libraries and archives
Though art wise like (Celaste?) for try'n to gas me
I gets nasty on the mic and battle for fame like Bug's and Daffy
While you live trice- I give life to the dead and make the corpse bleed
Flip raps you couldn't catch if you had your engine set a warp speed
To hell with the money and the fame
Watch me take you out your game
Its the young Jedi that Yoda forgot to train
If I park it- its not turn'n, once I spark it- I leave it burn'n
[Verse 1]
Hush- so I can hear the adrenaline rush
Through my body, shock me with the most delicate touch
Oh, yes its precious like an elephant tusk
Fine-tuned machine equipped with a pedal and clutch
Fly motor bike with mad wheels, man I'm rolling right
My words are real and all others are prototypes
Sit home and write during the day or overnight
And stay well below the hype, I did it for your delight
I'm a wordsmith, lyrical metallurgist
Never nervous and I'm always down to serve kids
No mistake'n I got a way make'n my words fit
Crash'n, and even my accidents have a purpose
The ring master, treat the stage like a circus
Hip hop's my job and I'm careful with who I work with
From the deaf, the dumb, the blind, to the learn-ed,
Get it right 'coz tonight we might blow a circuit.
[Chorus]
The used to walk right by you (thats fo'rel)
But this year they can't deny you (thats fo'rel)
Finally, here's your chance to show skill
Say that's fo'rel
Made the proper sacrifices (thats fo'rel)
Now they all know whose the nicest (thats fo'rel)
Finally, here's your chance to show skill
Say that's fo'rel
[Verse 2]
I tear down stages without regrets
Show me one and if I haven't ousted yet
I'll come and blast it, but I'm not talk'n about the tech
I'll put words together in any alphabet
Now who dares to challenge me next
Please speak up, now out of respect
Before you decide to battle me next
Think twice and take a brief reality check
But yet, I'm like the coolest ruler you've ever met
With one hand in my pocket like Alanis Morissette
Pull'n out rhymes that will amaze you
Every line I write is a technological breakthrough
Hey you, are you will'n to pay dues?
Rock with the rhythm I'm give'n the fake blues
Now run out and tell everybody the great news
There's a new kid whose out with the power to slay crews
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Now if you like hot beats and do'n it in the streets
Right on, right on (right on, right on)
If you've ever been attacked and you ready to fight back
Fight on, fight on (fight on, fight on)
Keep it on, don't stop it- blast like a rocket
I rhyme for pleasure, not monetary profit
Watch the 'Emp drop it, that ill-type of logic
Lyrics larger than life- way beyond microscopic
You could smoke ten dimes, recite your best ten rhymes
And still couldn't manage to damage or even bend mine
So stop the upward motion I'm float'n on an incline
One thousand watts of hip hop in my molecules and enzymes
In time, you'll realize the end results
Do'n this I influence kids and adults
For bend'n foes without the latest trend in clothes
Best believe on me, you'll depend the most
To reveal it, when others try to conceal it
Kidnap it and steal it- after they hurt it, I heal it
And when it recovers from illness
Watch the guard pull out cards and deal with that fo'relness
[Verse 1:]
It was like a Kodak, moment, frozen in time
Say, lady, won't you show me a smile?
Now wait a minute girl, you know you look fly
The same way you did back in Overbrook High
Truly divine, now show me a sign
I want you to remember, but you won't even try
C'mon
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
Who woulda thought that our worlds would collide
on the corner of 'Hello' and 'Goodbye'?
But I won't deny, I'm lonely inside
I know your face is in the crowd and she overlooks mine
and though I've got pride, you know I won't lie
The memory of you is still etched in my mind
C'mon
[Chorus: sung]
I don't really think I know you
But it's nice to see you
Again, someone that I barely spoke to
Yet today we seem like old friends
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
I wonder if I told you
We could go away some weekend
Oh so many things to show you
Here we go, no wait, that depends
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
[Verse 2:]
Should I even try takin' a risk?
I see the years have been good to you, miss
This is a trip, I should see you like this
Downtown in the gallery, shoppin' for kits
Though you don't know I exist, I can never forget
Your perfect lips, and the curve of your hips
But, yo
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
So tell me, lady, what's been new in your life?
Is there another lover doin' ya right?
As for me, I've been around the world twice
Sunsets in Morroco, seen Paris at night
and many women for my every delight
but for life's eternal journey
You're the one I'd invite
C'mon
[Chorus: sung]
Can I be the one you're close to?
Would you tell me every secret?
Someone that you gave your heart to?
Baby, would you let me keep it?
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
I just wanna get to know you
Baby, now let down your defence
I would never try to control you
I'm the one you can feel free with
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
[Verse 3:]
I wanna be the only one that ya trust
I hope ya know that this is more than a crush
Now let me show you if you're not in a rush
Exactly how much, I long for your touch
You shoulda been the one that I took to the prom
and those should be my children that are callin' you 'Mom'
But, yo
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
We would've made an incredible pair
Now, if we can't enjoy a friendly affair
Then every memory is meant to be shared
From the length of ya hair, to the scent that ya wear
They make me realise the chance that I missed
For us to embrace and share a passionate kiss
I waited ten years before askin' you this
But, yo
[Chorus: sung]
Is there someone else you chose who
Breaks your heart? Well you must leave him
There is no more pain to go through
Here I am, now love's in season
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
Listen, if I were to hold you
Would you hold me back, or even
if we're not in love like old fools
Baby, then we at least pretend
Do you really care? (Yes, I really care)
[Verse 1]
If you in a quiet place turn your lights down low
Listen close to the voice on your radio show
Now you vocally, unknowingly chose to be invaded by a mystery man you don't know
I play the role, of the life rearranger
Mysterious style with a smile that hides anger
Women are attracted, despite the danger
The wanna play Madonna to this beautiful stranger
It's like that, coming right back in control again
Into my trap, the fly honey's fall again
I love kindle, you get swindled, by the Charlatan
Who brings romance like a Harlequin
Authorities hunting me down for years
From every city I leave a trail of tears
If you scared? You should be afraid my dears
Stay away from the magician who never reappears, cause yo
[Chorus]
Oh, oh no oh they got me on the run
Away from the sun, the sun the sun
[Verse 2]
I stroll into town like the high-blaze drifter
Mental weight lifter, animal shape-shifter
Old folks and young man, kids say: "Hey Mister"
Bumped into Ms. Fortune, had a date with her
We sang love songs and hiphop tunes
That night by the light of the silvery moon
To pass the time I kick rhymes, the sun came up soon
And gave rise to one of the warmest days in June
But ever since, my heart was gunned down
I swore I'd never settle myself in one town
So I patiently waiting for the sun to go down
To take to the street like Frankenstein unbound
And move too-and-fro, soft and slow
No matter how bad I wanna stay I gots to go
I turned a still life portrait to a picture show
And when I leave they be crying: "How I miss him so", and I know
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
For Him, love and hate are interwoven
The beast within there is no controling
Out on a limb got your heart stalling
You stood their crying and I kept on rolling
You alienated yourself from your family and friends
I skated and skipped town with all of your ends
So when the love commenced I broke down your defence
Overpowered, devoured by the beast called revenge
Yes revenge, is all that I want
Cause some foul woman broke my heart once
Until my wounds heal I'll feel that I'm cursed
To do the same thing to women all over this earth
I know some woman can't see what I'm after
Some woman even welcome this attacker
Try to escape but they even fell faster
Under the spell of the lonely heart jacker
[Chorus x2]
[Chorus]
Some love me, Some hate me
But it's the streets that raised me
Some curse me, Some praise me
It's like my life is crazy
From the shadow of the ghetto when the track is jumping
Stands a lone masked avenger who's actions rugged
A rap bounty hunter, I track down suckers
I only pack weapons of mast discussion
My raps is tough and they protect my peers
My words are like spears that will pierce your ears
Make the crowd want to shout chants and cheers
And let it all out like Tears for Fears
A lot of ways to get you
A lot of ways to hit you
If you're attacking, Jack, I even pack a laser pistol
T.L.E. is me, respect the three initials
Bang this one and make sure you take it with you
[Chorus]
Some love me, Some hate me
But it's the streets that raised me
Some curse me, Some praise me
It's like my life is crazy
[x2]
You know what the full core in the legend is
I'm much more than a force to be wrecking with
I'm hard core to the death of this
Every rap is like my last will and testimate
I, Last Emp being the the sound, mind, and body
Do solemnly swear to cool rock the party
Do solemnly swear to cock back the shotty
On all enemies who will seek to deprive me of my right frame, my mind, my zone
And my rightful place as Emp to the throne
Until I'm old and dusty like dinosaur bones
I'ma still rock the party till it's time to go home
[Chorus]
Some love me, Some hate me
But it's the streets that raised me
Some curse me, Some praise me
It's like my life is crazy
[x2]
Hype thing? Who got the hype thing?
Who makes the pengelime wicked when the mic swings?
I ascended from a peasant to a mic king
And some say that I'm pleasant, yet I'm frightening
Ripping these shows with hideous flows
What I write, dynamite, makes the city explode
From a sound that I found in a city of gold
The sound worthy of a crown, should be fitted in robes
In the crib, I practice 'til the brake of dawn
Anybody want to match wits? bring it on
Flip the switch make sure that this thing is on
1-2, 1-2, mic check, yeah the king is gone
[Chorus]
Some love me, Some hate me
But it's the streets that raised me
Some curse me, Some praise me
It's like my life is crazy
This is a single story, for every single one
On a single planet, under a single sun
In a single solar system some think it's odd
Entire galaxy created by a single god
With a single thought, and a single plan
Single earth fashioned by a single hand
7 continents separated from a single land
Many nations are created from a single man
A single nation taken to a single place
Where they simply aren't familiar with a single face
Yet this is not the story of a single struggle
A single symbolism, nor a single couple
A young couple, who raise a single seed
Sworn protectors of her every single need
Forming a single balance, under a single order
From a single act of love they have a single daughter
Along her way she put her faith in a single lover
And from a single lie she became a single mother
Of a single son, born to a single girl
Single home alone, in a single world
Though her kids felt her single pain
With a single kiss she makes everything okay
I wrote this record in a single way
So the radio will play it every single day
I dedicate this to every single mother
Just to let you know that were thinking of you
If you're a single mother too...
Hey lady, this ones for you
Dedicated to every single mother
Just to let you know that were thinking of you
If you're a single mother too...
Hey lady, this ones for you
You were my first teacher, my first friend
Gave me my first vision, and my first glimpse
Of a bigger world, given me my first look
Tuck me in my bed, and read my first book
And as I fell asleep, for the first time
Little did I know you were showing me my first rhyme
I want to thank you for showing me
How to be a man and turn my pain into poetry
Break my silence, express myself vocally
How to show the world what was once done locally
First one to take me on my quest for learning
First one to help me through life's stressful journey
And every single step, I'm coming with ya
Cause I belong to a strong single mother figure
You were the first one to tell me I was something bigger
I was an Emperor not just another nigger
First one to show me how I might be strong
The days seemed shorter and the night seemed long
Maybe that's the reason that I write these songs
To set the record straight and try to right these wrongs
This is the saga of a single mother
That's been provided by a single brother
I had to write it in a single way
So the radio will play it every single day
I dedicate this to every single mother
Just to let you know that were thinking of you
If you're a single mother too...
Hey lady, this ones for you
Another lonely day, another lonely night
I dedicate this to y'all yeah its only right
Another untold truth is now brought to light
Another lesson is learned cause you taught me right
When I lost my way and the road got lonely
Only you...you were the one who showed me
Only you...you were the one to hold me
Sometimes I feel like you're the only one who knows me
And if you gotta stay single, hey
You should know this, I wrote this in a single way
The only thing I can do is pray
That the radio will play it every single day
I dedicate this to every single mother
Just to let you know that were thinking of you
If you're a single mother too...
Hey lady, this ones for you
Dedicated to every single mother
Just to let you know that were thinking of you
If you're a single mother too...
[The Last Emperor]
Everybody come with me, lets take a ride
Turn the system up loud, let it amplify
Look around at the town and let the sounds lead you
Everywhere I see the remice of a proud people
Where little girls find their way in the world through mama
And little guys see the world through the eyes of fathers
Everybody wanna learn I to earn a dollar
We know there's more to the hood than urban squallor
Now, I don't need to take up ya time
But I just wanted to know what's on ya mind
Whether work is hard to find, unemployment line
Or got a job or ya blind doin' overtime
Don't be ashamed, you got ya pride
To maintain, after the rain, the sun will shine
There will be better whether for everyone
Though we all move to the beat of a different drum
Passin' the time in a popular way
Like Otis Redding sitting at the dock of the bay
I got a long way on this road but hey
I take pride in the fact that I'm alive today
[Chorus: The Last Emperor]
Everybody on the east side, c'mon, let me know that you got ya pride
Everybody on the west side, c'mon, let me know that you got ya pride
Everybody on the north side, c'mon y'all, show me you got ya pride
And everybody on the south side, c'mon, let me know that you got ya pride
[The Last Emperor]
Summertime the heat is hot, will I ever reach the top
Yo it's time to leave the block, finish my tequila shot
Mellow but sober when I'm in the car
So I can ride to the rhythm of the guitar
I hear the music I'm prepared to follow
The body overcomes the city of El Dorado
Mexican City that's paved of gold
Made sacred by the ancients in days of old
Brown pride, they got it down to a science
That's right, Old Metz, Aztecs and Rions
Combined with colours of a tapestry
Yeah I hear my brown brothers hollarin back of me
From freedom fighters, to the band deleroes
To the old man wearin' the tan sanbrero
From the food in the music that's la fiesta
To the afternoon nap thats la siesta
"Never venture out the hood" is what some people say
But I love it to much to ever keep away
Beautiful brown people in the streets today
Who show me love when I'm drivin' through Easter Lane
And they say..
[Chorus]
[The Last Emperor]
They got you to rock to a slower groove
I hope you like all the things that I'm showin' you
It's all good, every hood that I'm rollin' through
Ya might not notice me, but I notice you
Livin' your life through poverty, I see smiles for as long as the eye can see
I'm proud of y'all and I hope that your proud of me
God bless the child who runs wild and free
City to city and town to town
I can see alot of pride as I drive arouund
Hold ya heads up high when ya feelin' down
Remember y'all we gotta stand tall and proud
[Chorus: Last Emperor]
Over and over and over and over again now
Over and over and over and over again now
(Over again)
Over and over and over and over again now
(For all the women and men)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Here we go again)
[Verse 1]
He was a fly young cat, 23 to be exact
Ready to conquer the world fresh out of the pack
Comes from a small town, wrong side of the tracks
But somehow, he managed to slip through the cracks
He writes rhymes to escape what was awful and evil
Walks a fine line between lawful and legal
Seen a lot of bad times, there's a lot of good in him
Been around the world and still got the hood in him
If he carried a tech, would you call him a schemer?
If he sounds far fetched, would you call him a dreamer?
Stays true to himself, so he's not a deceiver
He found a lifetime job of making you a believer
Every now and then he would stare into space
And maybe think about if he had what it takes
He thinks about the hood and why he had to escape
And the family he left in that desolate place
It could be you or me or any man
Driving a sports car or a mini van
These are the aspirations of certain men
Who leave the neighborhood only to return again
Come on
[Chorus: Last Emperor]
Over and over and over and over again now
(I know life around the way is hard)
Over and over and over and over again now
(You got a family, they need you God)
Over and over and over and over again now
(The aspirations of certain men)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Leave the neighborhood only to return again)
[Verse 2]
She was a sweet young thing, tender age of 20
Comes from a poor family with no money
Two children of her own, she never let them go hungry
There she is, all right you go honey
Early in life she had a chance to win
But she chose to put her future in the hands of men
Ever since her first love she was sure she could handle it
But in the end all she got was abandonment
Over and over again they seem to use her
From jerk to creep and from creep to loser
Come on mami, who would treat you like a friend?
You need somebody, when will the cycle end?
Another break up, you don't really love him girl
You better wake up; you're in trouble girl
But in her dreams she's a queen in another world
Easy, breezy, beautiful, cover girl
On the runway to Mr. Lover Man's charms
She breaks away from Mr. Lover Man's arms
And just when she was sure she had enough of men
She turns around and falls in love again
Come on
[Chorus: Last Emperor]
Over and over and over and over again now
(Damn girl, why you got to go though this?)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I watch her stand there emotionless)
Over and over and over and over again now
(When nobody else noticed it)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Ooh, the sad songs from the vocalist)
Please embrace these stories
That have been placed before me
From hatred comes warring
From goodness must come glory
What is it I wonder
Some honor, some conquer
Different day, same drama
Remember it is karma
[Verse 3]
There's an old gray couple living right upstairs
Mid seventies, seemingly no cares
Always seem happy I can only guess why
Cause they barely getting by off the SSI (Hah)
Over the years their love affair grew
It was meant to be and some how they both knew
He said pray for me and I'll return to you
She waited faithfully during World War II
It was a hard time for a young couple just married
But they held on to the love they both carried
She read his letters telling her to stay strong
And on the phonograph played their favorite song (Yeah)
There were times they thought their love wouldn't make it
But like that old record, hard times couldn't break it
An old dusty record that they still hold sacred
And every anniversary I still here them play it
Yeah
[Chorus: Last Emperor]
Over and over and over and over again now
(It was an old love affair)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Stand strong and they take it there)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Yes yes y'all)
Over and over and over and over again now
(We turn around and one day it's gone, come on)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I see you staying there)
Over and over and over and over again now
At times, I feel old like I'm going out of style
So I turn down the music on my FM dial
I beg of you to come and listen for a while
And look at this wonderful world through the eyes of a child
This is my chance to escape today
And I don't want to see my dreams chased away
Inside the palace gates is where I stay
'Cause the world is no longer a safe place to play
Its like the story of the little wooden boy
Who wanted to live the life that every child should enjoy
I heard it once of twice before
The world is yours for you to explore
I heard my calling as a child and I answered it
When I grow up and finally get my chance to fit
I'll be the sort of man you can't forget
I used to stair up at the sky on my camping trips
In this quiet night of quiet stars
Of quiet chords on my guitar
Kids out there, I know it might be hard
But I realize how alive you are
[CHORUS]
One day I'll travel from the East to the West
And tap into the hidden strength that all men possess
I'll always be young, see a young mind is fresh
And its clear my memories will one day disappear unless
Do you remember?
Yes I remember
Do you remember?
Some say the price of life has a costly amount
When it comes to fights, I might've lost me a bout
But I've never lost my head 'cause that would cost me a scalp
So when my heart became cold like the Austrian Alps
I used to use my aggression, just to hurt mics
In '86 my whole crew was in to dirt bikes
Like the GT Predator or a Mongoose
Listen as I ride the rhythm and let the rhymes loose
This is what makes my life so real
I'll take my chances and spin the wheel
I can't wait to grow up so I'll know the deal
But right now I'm a child and this is how I feel
My younger days were sort of tragic despite
I learned to unify the pen and pad with the mic
I might need a little magic tonight
'Cause to me imagination is the fabric of life
My rhymes helped me many times grow'n up
Before keep'n it real, all the days are blow'n up
I put on shows in my room- nobody show'n up
I'm just a little guy now, but when I'm old enough
[CHORUS]
