.
we had Kool Herc, Melle Mel and many others,
crews got Rawkus and Wu brought the ruckus,
it spread from the boroughs through europe to london,
youthes made breaks and new improved structures.
Nas debateably changed the way the game functioned,
fame hunters straight up putting in work and paid bundles.
expressing the struggle, finding their own way
so Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po' were both 'O.K'.
then Souls met Del, Heiroglyphics crew's renowned.
Nate Dogg's gone on to cipher with anubis now.
I've repped rap from cassette tracks to vestax and I do it proud.
not in it for image.. I'm focussed on how music sounds.
rap didn't die young, it's a sleepy scene,
sick since president's aides caught Eazy-e.
we lost 2pac and Biggie, hiphop got older.
we lost TooPoetic and Big Lamont Coleman.
limitless potential, worth their weight in empty space.
everyday.. I'm still living with lyrics, like MCA.
locally Chester P and Jehst brought the raw goods,
too few of you know about that. more should.
bumping beats like the neighbour's on vacation,
the lesser known acts made some major innovations,
labels didnt claim them for the same assimilation,
hungry and preying on the faithful imitators.
accepted, the past's just part of the parcel,
it was new when Dre played Parliament samples.
some kept freying the same tired strands.
minor plans. wasting paper- inspired by cash.
they say that rap's developed from tribal chanting,
crews can't develop past feuds with rival artists.
violent hardships, bloods and crips, israel and palestine,
clashing sides planet-wide, I'm stacking rhymes as my battlecry.
I'll never be satisfied or sacrifice my appetite.
the bad blood keeps feeding industry parasites.
I heard some chat that rapping died, that's a lie, rap's alive.
it's just sick and the classic passion's back in time.
I still dig Jurassic 5, I find underground gems,
there's silver lining the thundercloud's edge.
the mainstream's a gravely grey scene, take heed,
there's some colour in the gutter but the paint leaked.
I've gone beyond hobbyist, laying down wild styles like Dondi did,
bombing this. body bag bad rappers. rap- I embody it.
life's a b.. nevermind. I'll try to pitch a better line:
words'll do whatever you want if you caress 'em right.
I'm only banking on paying dues so that passion grows
and independant artists will never have to stand alone.
if you're prone then we'll close ranks, you know that.
'til the only major label is the industry's toe tag.
I hope that the mainsteam deepens.. the reason?
Its grown old, I'm tired of looped beats like seasons.
I make my moves with youthful vigour,
I defile 'idle' superstition.
hiphop amazed me, life's like a labyrinth,
when I first heard rap I got lost in the passages.
it's hard to explain like the parts of the brain,
if a question's never asked is the answer the same?
for argument's sake lets say it doesn't matter,
I'll climb with straight up bars; a rungless ladder.
abundant phantoms; I'm still in it, living, spilling spirits.
I've got my own presence; gifted with lyrics.
I'll head the search, the quest's affirmed,
the old school's long gone now but the lesson's learned.
[Copyright Christopher Osborne 2012]