Before Hip-Hop

(album: Monday - 2019)

Ha, listen homie, you don't know me like you think you know me
Ah

Big boy toys that clap like a dirty bitch box
Ladders attached with 36 shots inserted and cocked
You ain't gotta take my word this shit pop
Ask around how I circled these blocks before Hip Hop

Sandwich baggies, drop it in, and tie knots
Invite my favorite fiend over to come and try rocks
Dope the only thing stamped inside my mailbox
Folded money 'til the rubber bands popped before Hip Hop

Old E, St Ides and Valentine Ale
Dutch masters, Phillys and White Owl smells
L train to Linden and Powell to roll L's
Token booths nigga, no vocal booths before Hip Hop...

Whole different dude... I'm rolling to you
I got a dub that I don't fold to that deuce
Eything good even yo nasty ass shoes now here's my moment of truth...
Yea, that was life before Hip Hop

You think you know me, you don't really know me
Back in my hood I'm still the one and only
Before these music projects, I'm the projects homie
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the the old me
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping
Before the fans was clapping, it was cans clapping
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions...

A bunch of candles in the lobby, who got laid to rest?
Empty bottles near the flicks, I know the wake is next
I'm from a place where people walk around with major stress...
Don't say something you'll regret before Hip Hop uhh

I was crazy fresh... Trapping in my Avirex
Blue Yankee fitted, 501s above the Navy checks
I never had to beg for pussy, bitches gave me sex
I left all the drugs at they address before Hip Hop

Shit ya boy was out there tryna survive
Too lazy for a 9 to 5 I bought a 9 and got live
Til it jammed... said goodbye next day went outside
And bought that pretty 38 it's on the lap in my ride right...

It wasn't all about these verses and words
It was being 1st to the curb from the 1st to the 3rd
It was 'bout staying alert, you see 'em lurking you swerve...
To this day, I thank God I ain't get locked before Hip Hop

You think you know me, you don't really know me
Back in my hood I'm still the one and only
Before these music projects, I'm the projects homie
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the the old me
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping
Before the fans was clapping, it was cans clapping
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions...

Before hip hop, had that thing on my hip, don't let it hop off (Ha ha ha)
But nah though, just Joell Ortiz