Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been) (DJ Premier Remix)

And now for my next number I'd like to return to the…
[Nas:] Classic
[Kanye West:] Uh, uh, – timeless
[Kool G Rap:] Live straight classic
[Nas:] Classic
[Kool G Rap:] Live, straight classic
[Kanye West:] Timeless
[Sample:] I'd like to return to the classic
[Rakim:] Kanye West
[Rakim Sample:] I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone

[Rakim:]
Uh yeah, is y'all ready for 20-07? It's now another drought
Everybody's a killer, wow, we bugging out
Since '86 showing the crowd what I'm about
And they still wanna know when the album coming out
Ask the teenagers, OG's and nasty kids
What their definition of "classic" is
Timeless, so age don't count in the booth
When your flow stay submerged in the fountain of youth
Ain't no doubting the truth, I'm off the meters
Everybody cosigning, even non-believers
Since I came in the door became one of y'alls leaders
In a fresh pair of Air Force One sneakers
Uptowns, we call 'em uppies when they're on divas
Probably worn when KRS-One teaches
Nas made you look before the heaters
I bet you Kan' had em on when he walked with Jesus

[Nas:] Classic
[Kanye West:] Uh, uh, – timeless
[Kool G Rap:] Live straight classic
[Nas:] Classic
[Kool G Rap:] Live, straight classic
[Kanye West:] Timeless
[Sample:] I'd like to return to the classic
[Rakim:] Kanye West
[Rakim Sample:] I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone

[Kanye West:]
You can't buy this Superfly-ness, like a shine is
Your Highness is performing; look how long the line is
It's what happens when you make shit that's timeless
It's what happens, these rappers is the pioneers
What do it take to be a legend like Nas is?
That's so novice, I'm so polished
I got a right to be a lil bit snobbish
I did a lil bit of college
Semesters, it took two, like Rob Base
To let me figure out this wasn't my place
The beat's slow, 'til you listen to my pace
'Cause I be killing shit, but that's evident
And y'all feeling it, but I expected it
If it's classic, it's gon' last forever then
I'm everywhere you never been, and better than I ever been

And now for my next number I'd like to return to the…
[Nas:] Classic
[Kanye West:] Uh, uh, – timeless
[Kool G Rap:] Live straight classic
[Nas:] Classic
[Kool G Rap:] Live, straight classic
[Kanye West:] Timeless
[Sample:] I'd like to return to the classic
[Rakim:] Kanye West
[Rakim Sample:] I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone

[Nas samples 'One Love' & 'It Ain't Hard To Tell':]
Hold the fort down, represent to the fullest
Nas'll rock well

[Nas:]
Perseverance, see the fake hustler rapper
To them, it hurts to hear this
Oh, you went platinum? Yeah, that's nice
Now let me see you do the same thing twice
Three times, four times, then a couple of mo' times
Please, you're Amateur Night, it's Showtime
It's one life to live, so live it the best you can
The world could use one less man
Not enough air, not enough car factories
To manufacture new vehicles, sedans and vans
When they do make the whip you like, your chips ain't right
By the time you could afford it, the car ain't important
In the streets I'm in, it's just iron
Cops keep firing in my environment
Leaving you slumped, then they drive home
Far from the hood, brothers they eager to jump on
I like to be the wall that they toast up on
I like to see them fall, guilty for doing wrong
I'm classic like the Air One's, the hustler shoe
That's what I'm accustomed to, yeah

And now for my next number I'd like to return to the…
[Nas:] Classic
[Kanye West:] Uh, uh, – timeless
[Kool G Rap:] Live straight classic
[Nas:] Classic
[Kool G Rap:] Live, straight classic
[Kanye West:] Timeless
[Sample:] I'd like to return to the classic
[Rakim:] Kanye West
[Rakim Sample:] I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone

[KRS-One Sample:]
Of course we have Blastmaster KRS-One

[KRS-One:]
How many of y'all got Criminal Minded?
You, you, you; y'all don't be blinded
Me, I got no jewels on my neck
Why? I don't need 'em, I got your respect
KRS-One, twenty years I rock
I do it for JMJ and Scott La Rock
This hip-hop and we's a nation
Don't you wanna hear more KRS-One on your radio station?
Instead of broadcasting how we smoke them trees
On the radio we need to hear more local emcees
Where you at? C'mon, where you at?
This is the difference between emceeing and rap
Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal
Emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people
Peace, Love, Unity, having fun
These are the lyrics of KRS-One

And now for my next number I'd like to return to the…
[Nas:] Classic
[Kanye West:] Uh, uh, – timeless
[Kool G Rap:] Live straight classic
[Nas:] Classic
[Kool G Rap:] Live, straight classic
[Kanye West:] Timeless
[Sample:] I'd like to return to the classic
[Rakim:] Kanye West
[Rakim Sample:] I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone