The hip-hop sound went through stages

Embark on a trip as I flip through pages

This particular part 'bout a bridge on the Hudson

I first got hand by the rhymes and the cuts and

If I'm not mistaken makin two records mix

And certain deejays had a few dope tricks

If you asked to be on you would be their guest, y'all

Say a few 'ho's and a 'yes yes y'all'

They had battles of the neighborhood jocks

And I used to take the jam right straight to the box

Every now and then you'd hear gunshots ring

Just duck, what the fuck, yo, it ain't no thing

What I thought was shots was just a few pranksters

Were pow-pow-pow men juicin the gangsters

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park

They used to do it out in the park

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark



This was a time MC's used to bug out

Yo, what happened? (Yo, somebody pulled the plug out)

Just about the time when you jumped for joy

(Yo, you take my stage, I'ma kill you, boy)

Answer back and gettin smacked and your friends made jokes

(Hey, pack it up and get out of the park, folks)

But only to the cops we made some committment

I was shocked when the stick-up kids took the equipment

Say - what - is the message?

(Love is the message)

Say - what - is the message?

(Love is the message)

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park



In the winter time they moved the jams to the ????

Do you think that the cold made the whole thing cease?

I recall sein Flash one time - no, two

Can't forget about the Queensbridge Crew

For this is the place which I made my mark

And those who resist or try to dis get sparked

In the park after dark things really got cookin

I seen the titles of idols and many chains get tooken

I seen the scatter of pack, letter for letter

If you wasn't from the town they'd beat you down

But these are just pieces of the ancient ways

But the rule still applies to the rhymes nowadays

Just wave your hands in the air

And wave em like you just don't care

If you used to do it out in the park

Let me hear you say 'oh yeah!' (oh yeah!)

Oh yeah! (oh yeah!)



A time when..

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park

They used to do it out in the park

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park

They used to do it out in the park



Dead dreams - still bought and sold

I strive and I strive to receive my goal

I'm still not happy up until this day

But I'm chill and I don't care what nobody say

Livin and learnin about the straight up deal

And got by cause I went by just what I feel

Cause I refuse to be mislead

By puttin pipes to my lips and smoke in my head

Think about it, much, much later

Go to school and expand because knowledge is greater

But she chose to lead that fate

Eye to eye with a dick on a $5 date

The whole purpose of the story I told

Was mainly to inspire you to reach your goal

Stop walkin through life as if you were blind

You should reach for your goal cause I'm reachin for mine

They used to d-do it out in the park

D-do it out in the park

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park

They used to do it out in the park

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park

They used to do it out in the park

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park

Hip-hop - was set out in the dark

They used to do it out in the park