If It Ain't Ruff

(album: Straight Outta Compton - 1988)

[MC Ren:]
Ren is the villain and you're just an hostage
So whenever I'm stepping cover your head like an ostrich
Groupies been waiting for this, suckers been hatin for this
You know why? Because so many are relating to this
Jealous is how they feel it intentionally
But they start to love it because I made it eventually
Pumping the music I keep the music like pumping
Cause Ren ain't in here for nothing, I keep the average crowd jumping
Yo, you know the color, the villain's in black
Always down to make noise, and attack
So you better get back unless you wanna come with it
And make your face like a target and close your eyes when I hit it
You're screaming with fear but it's with fear that you're screaming
You're wakin up in a sweat cause Ren is giving bad dreams and
I'm not scheming, I'm just tellin the facts
That's how it is when N.W.A. starts to jack
So brothers that wanna scrap with me
That sweezing and sneezing will have to lap with me
Especially begging to write some lyrics with me
I just snatch your girl to take a nap with me
Cause when it comes to Ren there's no comparison
And if you try to be me, it's quite embarrassing
But I understand cause you're mentally slow
Cause I can tell from the jump you're too nervous to go

If it ain't' ruff, it ain't me [scratch]
(The gangsta's black and he's about to attack)
If it ain't ruff, it ain't me [scratch]
Lemme bust a freestyle there (Alright then)

I can tell that you're afraid to fight me
Simple because you lost the crowd and they had to invite me
Because your sweat is a puddle but there's a puddle o' sweat
I'm a threat, so get a cold rag and wipe your neck
And clean the dirt off your face that causes acne
It's ridiculous thinking that you can jack me
This is the round where the punch will go
Into your H-E-A-D; that's known as a blow
I'm makin a point but it's a point that I'm makin
Like, see, I'm hating the faking I keep the suckers like shaking
Scared to speak with a thought when they're chosen
The sound of my voice in their ear and they're frozen
This is a battle to the death, it's like the same ol'
Against a brother on a tip, with a Kangol
Giving a pain but it's with pain that I'm givin
But I'm comparing and tearing em but I'm makin a living
With the hype of a nine volt battery
And the odds for me to conquer is averagely good
Meaning I'mma flow
I'm from the streets so, yo, I'm ready to go

If it ain't ruff, it ain't me (Yo Ren)
[Tha gangsta's black and he's about to attack]
If it ain't ruff, it ain't me
(Man whatcha gonna do now?) Get funky

The 'do not disturb' sign is in effect
While I'm thinkin of a fool to select
To give the victim the verdict so for the verdict a victim
Slamming my vocals on a dance with the rest then I kick them
Tell 'em they're guilty, and peep out the bailer
And get a new track o' drums so I can play with
Percussion, pumping it loud when I perform
Yo, you wanna play in my game, put on a uniform
It ain't a rule in the book you have to go by
Hey, cause when it comes to cheating, yo, you should know I
For fear in the hearts cause it's the hearts full of fear
Coz what you hear in your ear is something funky and clear
The Hulk was incredible yo but Ren he was super
But now I'm ruthless, a civilian and not a trooper
But a soldier with a top rankin
Giving dope material, the hell with the ganking
So play like an airplane and just jet
And keep your blood pressure low cause I'm a threat, if not
I'm afraid of the show
That you're a sucker and you're too nervous to go

If it ain't ruff, it ain't me (Yo Ren)
[The gangsta's black and he's about to attack]
If it ain't ruff, it ain't me (Yo Ren)
(The gangsta's black) If it ain't, if it ain't
[scratching]