| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| Critics and cynics complain that it’s a fallacy
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| Claiming rap music has a lack of musicality
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| But in reality none of the critics can rap
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| So they don’t know the facts but they’re always on the attack see
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| Rhythm and poetry that’s what a rap is
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| It takes musicality, focus and practice
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| The rhythm is rapid like the notes of a jazz lick
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| Or if it’s a triplet it slows down like traffic
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| You might point out that it lacks a melody
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| But rap can be melodic like Ella or Della Reese
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| I don’t care about your musical pedigrees
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| 'Cos I’m the half breed of a jazz funk legacy
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| You better be on point when you diss it
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| 'Cos we know the critics of rap are all bigots
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| So dig it, this is how I kick it and it’s beautiful
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| Don’t ever try to tell me that my rap isn’t musical
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| The same critics talking trash and dissing rap
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| Listen to jazz, rhythm and blues and classical gas
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| Maybe they never studied the past or just don’t mind
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| That jazz wasn’t considered a music at one time
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| They don’t want to admit that it might last
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| A very long time like jazz and it’s no fad
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| Rap tracks continue to pack kiddies knapsacks
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| So listen to the sax sayin' somethin' and that’s that
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| Now I can rap alone spontaneous like a saxophone solo
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| Without a chaperon or a stack of poems
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| I’m deep like a baritone singing in catacombs
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| Back in the days I used to freestyle for accolades
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| What other musical genre besides rap
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| Crafts lyric gems just as rhythmic as hi-hats
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| What other music improvises up wisecracks
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| To make the crowd happily clap and why is that?
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| See I grew up in Philly listening to the Roots
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| And Black Thought taught me the rules of this rap sport
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| And now I’m hip-hoppin' on planes taking it worldwide
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| To make the fellas clap and the beautiful girls sigh
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| And every now and then critics emerge
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| Telling me rap’s not a music and I think it’s absurd
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| 'Cos I transcribe the rhythms and I know that I’m right
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| And I show and prove my theory when I’m holding the mic
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| I know you might not respect what I do
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| But at least hear me out when I’m stepping to you
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| 'Cos I’m not your average cat waving a gat
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| When I rap I freestyle while I’m taking a nap
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| Making them clap to the music as I travel the globe
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| A representative with my pen
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| I give a sensitive consideration to my sentences that’s the concept
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| Take it to the hook let me put it in context
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music
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| That’s how it is, that’s how we do it
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| That’s why I love this hip hop music |