For That

[Verse 1] Before terrorism had arisen to fight I'd stay up for The Wake Up Show and I'd listen at night Just to know what was officially tight, get it cassetted Made my fat tapes while classmates sweated for extra credit But me, son? Forget it, I achieved under Now suckers shit bricks whenever I breathe thunder But I wasn't always down with what cool cats were doing Couldn't cop Jordans, I rocked Patrick Ewings Damn, I was a shoe-in for the nerdiest Four-eyed geek who was the wordiest, but turned impervious When the cipher got open, assholes stopped provoking Quoting Soul Khan cause I was more than just a token Melanin deficient fellow with an eloquence and vision Feeling them hello kittens but they were so seldom licking Probably got you thinking, "damn, he's attached" But hip hop kept me afloat after the family collapsed The panic attacked, my father didn't plan to come back But the boom bap never let my sanity crack No the boom bap never let my sanity crack Yeah, the boom bap gets mad dap for that [Hook] If it wasn't for the records you gave me Don't know which way that life would take me The 1-2, 1-2 that raised me I'mma play you 'til they crossfade me I never thought I'd make song a for this But here I go with a jawn for that Here I go with a jawn for that End of the day, I did it all for that [Verse 2] So even though I'm the golden era's grandson It ain't fair to say we don't compare to that one I thought they called it the past, cause all of it passed (Can I kick it?) Damn, I shouldn't bother to ask If it's new, some of you won't put your hands up to it I love the old school, but I ain't handcuffed to it But I can't keep just rapping about rapping without Feeling a little vomit in the back of my mouth Too much to address and the youth's unimpressed It's hard enough today to speak to you in the flesh To the youngins that are plugged in the subject we're discussing Remember that it's more than just a mumble and percussion It's rats in the front room and roaches in the back It's two dope boyz steady posting in the 'lac It's Bonita Applebaum that we're hoping to attract And the boom bap gets mad dap for that [Hook] [Outro (Spoken)] Peace to my man Elaquent on the beat Peace to DJ Roc Raida Peace to Mr. Magic Peace to the incredible, inimitable James Yancey Peace to you, my good friend hip-hop