No Gimmicks

[Intro: KRS-One] Lord Finesse and Blastmaster KRS-One Lyrical styles weigh a ton Lord Finesse, we know you got skills Come into the cypher and build Chill out, all emcee I kill Come down [Verse 1: Lord Finesse] Check it out, come on, here’s your chance to swing With some ill motherfuckers, we don’t dance and sing In ‘95 we’re out jingling, serving Poetic Justice without that nigga John Singleton I do my thing while the fans be gelling. Ayyo I’m so dope, you better tap your man and tell him I don’t fake moves, I scrape crews, I make brothers Break food—just give me a beat with a bass groove I’m mad funky—ask the experts—‘cause I’ll Make you bob your head until your motherfucking neck hurt So don’t ask me to max, G, ‘cause if you Ain’t real, I’m bringing it to your face like acne Now rappers run scams and flimflams On how they be getting loose when they’re rusty like the Tin Man They rap fast, trying to stack cash, but on The reel-to-reel, yo, they’re still sounding half-assed Yelling and screaming like they got something when they don’t Got nothing, so them niggas need to stop fronting Talking how they be ragging shit when I don’t know if them Niggas are rapping or talking motherfucking Arabic They act so ill. Ay, no frills, they should go Chill. They all mouth with no skills When I’m around, they all feel funny ‘cause I’m Young, making funds like Shaquille O’Neal, money You want any drama? You better wear plenty armor I’ll cut that ass like the chef at Benihana’s The Funky Man’s in it to win it. We gotta keep it Real, yo, no motherfucking gimmicks [Hook: Lord Finesse] Whoever make a hit they the best (That’s a gimmick). You sell Records based on how you’re dressed (That’s a gimmick). Ayyo That tongue-twisting shit, that’s kind of fresh (That’s a gimmick). What’s when You’re soft but you’re fronting like you’re stressed? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when You’re only into rap to get paid? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when You’re yelling and screaming up on stage? (That’s a gimmick). When your Career is numbered by days? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when Your lyrical style is just a phase? (That’s a gimmick) [Verse 2: KRS-One] Yeah, check it out. A-yes Yes, y’all, to the beat, y’all, bringing the street, let me Put my beeper on “vibrate” so we won’t hear it beep. Representing The street, concrete what I speak, yeah, I live it. Let it Be known KRS is not about a gimmick. I’ll grab the Mic and rip it. Meanwhile, they’re stalling. I’ll raise the mic Stand because I’m tall and I keep the crowd crawling I’m not like those other rappers talking about the caps They peel. Punk, I’ll battle emcees for real Fuck a record deal when you’re still into hip hopping with your Country ass, sounding like you’re still picking cotton You’ll get thrown across the room in that direction. Listen The lyrical Teacha’s not the one you should be checking. This is My eara or era or eara, whatever I’m mad clever, I’ll “Shoop,” you’ll doop, you’ll doop like Salt-N-Pepa Lyrical terror, you should never ever come for mine When I rhyme, I clean up emcees with the fresh smell of pine. I Got skills and it shows—you could slow or speed up The tempo. Your style is fake like Janet Jackson’s nose I’m selling that real live shit, and you could get hurt You’re selling that fake shit like the Home Shopping Network You got a lot of rhymes to battle in a second But frankly, the bottom line is: where’s your hit record? You claim I’m jocking, you claim I’m on your dick. Where’s your witness? If I’m on your dick, my name has got to be syphilis I come with lyrical, physical fitness. Two months From now, you will have bit this. Watch me light that ass up like Christmas Don’t let me come out on that ass, start flipping The lyrics I’ll be kicking be hotter than jerk chicken So whether from The East or from The West, brothers know I’m KRS I got force, I came to your town to set it off So when Finesse goes “hit it,” I’ll never mimic KRS-One could never use a gimmick [Hook: Lord Finesse] When you’re riding the next rapper’s dick (That’s a gimmick). When you’re R&B and then you cold flip (That’s a gimmick). Start rhyming Hardcore just to get a hit (That’s a gimmick). When you get over But your skills ain’t shit (That’s a gimmick). When you Rap but you don’t have soul (That’s a gimmick). When you Cross over just to go gold (That’s a gimmick). When you’re not A gangster but portraying a role (That’s a gimmick). What’s when You’re shaped in somebody else’s mold? (That’s a gimmick) [Verse 3: Lord Finesse] Man your station ‘cause the clan you’re facing is stepping To you trash motherfuckers like sanitation. I’ll shoot And throw rhymes, the whole nine when it’s showtime (What up, kid?) Brothers know I could hold mine On the real, I got rhymes skills. When the time’s Ill, I’m blowing up spots like a minefield Brothers front with their chest out, but Words from Finesse mouth’ll leave them niggas stressed out They make me sick to my stomach (So put it) (On ‘em, kid!) Them motherfuckers don’t want it They can’t see me, believe me. They’re all Phonies like them niggas that be wrestling on TV Yo, they’re nowhere near pro, and niggas Couldn’t hang if they was motherfucking scarecrows Nowadays, a lot of rappers sound fake, talking that Gangster shit when they’re softer than a pound cake So why you fronting with the burner, kid? When you done Took more ass-whippings than fucking Tina Turner did You wanna front? So be it, but fuck Beating around the bush. I just speak how I see it Me fall off? That shit’s dead, it’s not Happening, kid, so get that shit through your thick head I’ll never sellout—(What?)—you heard right I’ll never cross over (Aight!), word life So when I said it, peep the method. If I Never go gold but get credit, I won’t sweat it In ‘95 we’re all in it, we gotta keep it Real, yo, no motherfucking gimmicks [Hook: Lord Finesse] What’s when you Rap but don’t appreciate the art? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when you Sell out just to get a start? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when you Make bullshit just for the charts? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when you Rap but it’s not from the heart? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when you’re Hardcore, then you turn pop? (That’s a gimmick) When you steal ideas to get props? (That’s a gimmick) When you sell out to be on top? (That’s a gimmick). What’s when you Front like you’re hard but you’re not? (That’s a gimmick) [Outro: KRS-One] Now let this be a lesson to all emcees and DJ’s Anyone that come across the line will have to pay Real hip hop is in effect Real hip hop is in effect Real hip hop is in effect Give it respect, we catch wreck