Gotta Be A Leader

(album: The Future - 1990)

So, Teddy, what is your conclusion to the New Jack Swing GR Production situation?
Well, Chris, I think it was a great experience to our advantage. But a bad moment in our lives. But with the total control that we have today, that situation will never happen again. And the one thing we learned from our mistakes is you gotta be a leader
Uh
Come on, come on
Yo
Here we go
Come on, come on
Yo
Here we go
Yep, yep
Yo, yeah
Come on, come on, come on
Yo
Yeah
Yo
Yep, yep
Uh, yo

Gotta be a leader, everybody wanna follow
Biting my style, something that I can't swallow
Tryna make it swing, homeboy, it ain't swinging
Nothing but noise, you got my eardrums ringing
T to the E, double D to the Y
R-l-L-E-Y, must you try
To jump on the tip, no, I'm not bragging
Do your own thing, you get my tail pipe dragging
Wearing it out, but yo, it won't happen
Long live the New Jack Swing 'cause it's happening
Biting it quick, but I'm two steps ahead
And it can be said I was the one who led
And you tagged along, copying like a zerox
Left in the dust with a face full of teardrops
I'm making 'em hot as a healer
Get the gas face, cheater, you gotta be leader

Come on, yo
Come on, come on, come on
You gotta be a leader, yo
C'mon
You gotta be a leader
Yo
Come on, come on, come on
You gotta be a leader
Yo, Nasty Man, Crazy Legs, kick it

A leader, ready to take control of the mic
Followers bite, but they can't copyright
And those that could, be ready for the comeback
'Cause I'm chopping 'em like a lumberjack
Step aside and listen to the real thing (Uh)
A slight change, they took what you thought I would bring (Uh)
Cool, I could still swing it
Jake the fakes, let the Nasty Man sing it

Yo, tell 'em like it is, G
You gotta be a L-E-A-D-E-R, leader
As I get smooth, fakes play the background
Listen up 'cause I'm kicking you a fact now
Bow to the masters of fashion (Uh)
You get the change from the checks I'm cashing (Uh)
As I eliminate anybody biting me like a mosquito (Uh)
You gotta be a leader

Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo, G, you gotta be a leader
You gotta be a leader
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Aqil, B-Dog, party hard

First thing's first
Burst the bubble of the bald head trouble
Copycat and listen that I'm tryna make a double
'Cause all that swing is what I can't believe a thing about, shout
Jump off the jimmy now, Mr. Clean
You gotta be a leader, else you won't be seen
So slow down, low down
Before you getting knocked down
And hit you shiny crystal bald head on the ground
Kick you like a base drop, slap you like a snitch
Sticking, move quick 'til he starts growing hair
The basic move you made, was basically a waste
Why run a race just to come in second place?
Now here, have a taste of the real Jack Swing
A slice of phony errands in their ear so they can't sing
And maybe then, you kiss the fever to become a believer
Not a deceiver, you gotta be a leader

Yep, yep, yep, yep (You gotta be a leader)
Yep, yep, yep, yep (You gotta be a leader)
Aw yeah (You gotta)
Yo, G, you gotta be a leader
You gotta be a leader
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Yo (Let the leader lead)
Here we go (Let the, let the leader lead)

Now, take a look around, count up all the leaders
Do you think maybe you could be a leader?
Did peer pressure get ya?
Call you a punk until you said, "Uncle"
Made you do what you really wasn't sure about
A follower's life has no whereabouts
Just to wear it out
Tagging along and tail-gating
The next man, but fade him out
But for now, you're jammed
You gotta make a power move, gotta be the man
Taking a stand may lead you to a conflict
But just get what you got to get
It's time for you to rise, not fall
Further behind in line 'cause all
Nah, most people love to follow
Quit being a cheater, you gotta be a leader

(Let the leader lead)
(Let the, let the leader lead)
You gotta be a leader
(Let the, let the leader lead)
(Let the leader lead)
You gotta be a leader
(Let the, let the leader lead)
Ayo
(Let the leader lead)
You gotta be a leader
(Let the, let the leader lead)
(Let the leader lead)
You gotta be a leader
Yeah (Let the leader lead)
Scratch it up, scratch it up (Let the, let the leader lead)
Cut 'til you got to be a leader
(Let the, let the leader lead)
Yep, yep (Let the leader lead)
You gotta be a leader
(Let the leader lead)
Yo, world (Let the leader lead)
You gotta be a leader
(Let the leader lead)
Ayo, what's the name of this song? (Let the leader lead)
Uh