My Kung Fu

[ INTRO: Mos Def ] Baba-baba-baba-baba-baba, you been so good to me When I was a little boy you were the only one I wanted to be To be like pa duke and ma duke How much I love the both of you I know all the strain we been through But it's of no consequence cause we're comin through [ VERSE 1: Mos Def ] Check it I first studied my kung fu in the Brakalak In the center of ( ? ) inside that old street shack This had to be about ten years back Before I ever even heard of a 24 track Talkin about you as an MC was not the move Cause if you said you had skill, well then you had to show and prove And if there ever was a party, son yo, I would set it And tell the DJ run the beat from (Ultra-magnetic) I grab the mic and then I leave the party buzzin Tellin all the honeys I was Slick Rick's cousin When they knew I wasn't, but I had no shame Pa, you know the name, the Mos always had game Back in the day of the Rap Attack When brothers knew how to act, before Glocks and crack And Vandy C was doin radio shows And 'crossover' meant that you wore your mom's clothes When Sweet G was talkin about the games that people play I used to sit back and say: yeah indeed, someday And as I grew older my kung fu grew better Instead of shootin the humbles I was shootin all nets And now my time has come And now hip-hop's an industry polluted by bums Posin with guns, they're puffin mad blunts Aiyo, brothers just started rhymin last month They gettin fat deals on any major label When they only seen other people hold the mic cable Five years ago when we was dancin house When the DJ played hip-hop, then you walked out But now you're hard, talkin about you paid mad dues I used to see your ass abused wearin platform shoes I ain't confused, who you think you're foolin with that get-up? You ain't genuine, so don't waste your time Riffin over here cause there ain't no chance That you could break the sound, son, you ain't that advanced Times are gettin critical across the land Don't provide the b-boy, introduce the b-man - understand? The M-o-s D is who I am, now check it out, y'all [ Hook ] My kung fu is the style you haven't mastered [ VERSE 2: DCQ ] At the age of 18 made a little money And I needed some advice on how to live my life Was goin through strife, people couldn't understand That I was comin into my own, becomin a man I had to have a plan cause I know what I'm here for So I can't waste time, y'all Gotta be on the ball and represent for my peeps (Where?) In the streets! I make beats and kick facts over fat tracks It's all of that from the Brakalak Goin through problems as a adolescent A lot of troubles and turmoils, there was persistence And I know that I stutter But it don't matter cause I'm a bad - I flip a verse either backwards, sideways I rocks my [edited] from here, Mondays, Fridays Saturdays and I get a weekend off My [edited] ain't soft (Well, excuse me, baby) You paid your dues cause I'm the boss So mother[edited] Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross Because they know what the time is I rock [edited] for the fly kids, b-men, bouncin bass bombastics Kick it drastic, you get tossed like an ash, kid Youknowmsayin? [ Hook ] [ VERSE 3: Ces ] Well, I'm sleek and I freak a beat For you and your peeps to bump inside your jeeps Your Acura, Honda or whatever Bump it in the Benzi and get your head together Strollin down the F.D.R Playin the microphone star Deep in your car With the thump-diddy-thump-da-thump-da-thump-thump Pop up the trunk and let the bass bump If you ain't got a ride, well, that's alright Let the U keep you company on your hike Trekin down the ave with your headphones on Take em off for a sec, you still feel gone You're pressin rewind, many, many times I must rock the mic cause it's only right Comin right up off of Eastern ground This is how you get down, I hope you like the sound Thermo offering number one There's more in store, there's more to come We far from done, no, the show ain't over So when we comin through, don't say I never told ya That [ Hook ]