As the Art Fades Away

Got them Props, shows been rocked, Ode to the greats the tapes
 The boom box and to the bus stop the bootlegs are hot the
 Days fade away won't stay on the block (Adlib: On the block) so true
 They due to get paid, the art that they made it skip the airwaves
 The labels just say we own ya like slaves (Adlib: Put em' on the shelf)
 That thought they took to the graves (Adlib: To the graves). Fast forward
 Flow so historic I claim the torch, the course, the force wit' it (Adlib: I'm the one)
 My lead I bleed the Hip-Hop I speak to the kids the pop
 Has gotta stop (Adlib: Gotta stop), please research the birth
 Of who's hot (Who's hot) Young crowd said Nelly built Rap
 And Chingy, Young Joc put it all on the map and treat the
 Pioneers like Blacks, so hit the back (Adlib: Hit the back)
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if there was never an Eric B. and Rakim
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Public Enemy never started the Rap Revolution
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Big Daddy Kane never touched a Mic (Pause)
 Imagine if I... wasn't willing to fight!!!
 So Sad when ah rapper gets richer give them the fame
 Make money be scripture love of the game fades like
 An old picture... your ah boss, ay boys call you mister
 (Adlib: Coffee Boss)Let me make it real clear for you
 Cats if the pioneers never rapped ya'll wouldn't make crap
 All facts even got jacked when a label own it all from your
 Name to your tracks. Listen here, Hip-Hop my dear
 The doe it dig deep to steep for them to care (Adlib: Don't care)
 Sit quiet in a studio session I start to flashback to tracks
 When I'm eleven. LL had a girl around the way
 I learned to kick step I'm reppin' Kid-N-Play
 I love to hear a scratch from Jam Master Jay (Adlib: Ippy Jay)
 Cop an attitude like N.W.A (Adlib: What)...
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Slick Rick never mastered the art of storytelling
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Run DMC never did "Walk this Way"
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if EPMD wasn't all about they business (Pause)
 I remember... and I'll never forget this!!!
 Round & Round we go... Hoping the Art Don't Fade Away...
 Spin Vinyl, DJ behind you, rock mics forget
 Who ya signed to. This show is for all the greats
 Rewind the time back to dancing wit' breaks
 Free expression that was rap law graffiti on ah
 Stall and ah subway wall and on ah blacktop
 Where the B-boys ball. This culture lives on
 For years and I'll keep spitting an ode to pioneers...
 Female Singing: What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Pete Rock & CL Smooth never gave us "Mecca & the Soul Brother"...
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if BDP never dropped "Criminal Minded"
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Gangstarr never created that Mass Appeal (Pause)
 So I... keep it real!!!
 What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if De La Soul never dropped "3 Feet High and Rising"
 Female Singing: What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if Das Efx never dropped "They Want EFX"
 Female Singing: What Would the Game be Like...?
 Imagine if A Tribe Called Quest never dropped "The Low End Theory" (Pause)
 Wordsmith: So I hope you hear me!!!
 Hold on, it's not over... Imagine if Sykeone never signed Wordsmith... if that happen the world would never get the chance to hear this record, so we can correct the state of Hip-Hop...