Malik, what are you gonna do with your life?

Are you gonna stand on the corner?

Are you gonna sit around with your friends?

You wanna wear new sneakers, you wanna have nice clothes

How 'bout gettin a job?

How 'bout finishin school?

How 'bout gettin your life together?

Don't you wanna prosper, don't you wanna be somebody?

[last sentence is in a foreign language - suggestions appreciated]



[VERSE 1: Phife]

11-20-70, who would have known

That premature born will be grabbin microphones? (Mutty Rankin)

Called Malik Isaac Taylor to Walt and Cheryl

Grew up bein a sports fanatic, wantin to box for gold medals

Influenced by the likes of Ali and Sugar Ray

Magic Johnson, Tony Dorsett and Doctor Jay

Then came the Cold Crush, L.L. Cool J

Pops said he had to move to Cali, but nah, I had to stay

New York was all I ever knew, plus hip-hop started tweakin

Block parties every weekend, come home late, catch a beatin

Gettin grounded for months, to the jams young Phife was speedin

Only 4'8", still the ladies had me cheatin

I reminisce about them hot New York, nights grabbin mics

And hell, God forbid if your flow wasn't tight

Queens, L.I., nothin but flavor over here

I could tell you but so much, cause you had to be there

Growin up I spent much time with my nana, Mom was at work

Knew every version of Bible, I damn near lived in a church

Nana was 7th Day Adventist, those days I can't forget

All day, Saturday, I have to wait until the sun set

Friends would knock on my door: "Can Malik come out to play?"

"No hon, no way, not today, he has to pray"

Those famous words that my granny would say

Therefore I run my ass upstairs and sneak on the TV

Aw shit, _Soul Train_, better act like you know

I used to turn the volume down, so nobody would know

Now while I stared at Jodey Watley, I would practice my flow

Look at all them asses, yo, no doubt, on the low

Steady enjoyin the show, everything good to go

Low and behold, granny was right at the do'

Now I'm dealin with the punishment of pain - I sure deserved it

Proceedin to the fullest, only three hours since the sermon

Then comes the fatal question: "Did you learn anything from service?"

But in the name of hip-hop - for real - it's all worth it

You know my name



[Dave West]

Phife, Phife

Phife, Phife

Phife, Phife

Phife, Phife



Phife, Phife

Phife, Phife

This is your life



[VERSE 2: Phife]

Growin up in a West Indian household, it was real

All my Trini, Bahians, Haitians, Jamaicans, they know the deal

So many days doin nada, watchin cartoons on the couch

Underdog, Mighty Mouse, with the twizzler in my mouth

Mom dukes used to say, "That's all you care about

Eat, drink, sleep, shit up the toilet in my house"

Dropped out of high school, went to get a G.E.D.

The only thing though on my mind is how I'm gonna emcee

God kicked out the crib, moved with my aunt in D.C.

Used to make my housecalls, by sellin nickel bags of weed

Here and there I copped some gear, but I would stay with my dough

80 bucks a hour, just to hit studio

Everyday, every night, I be spittin my flows

Entered talent shows, would lose, cause they love the go-go

Walkin off the stage vexed, "y'all muthafuckas don't know"

Finally made a decision, to take my ass back home

Copped at job at Mickey D's, flippin burgers with cheese

Had to find a better way, cause this wasn't my speed

Tight uniforn pants, with the arch in the back

Phone ring, it's for Phife: "What up Shaheed, where you at?"

"Jive, muthafucka, we just signed a contract"

"Say word?" "Word bond, now give that uniform back"

Now I'm happy than a mutha, yo, you can't tell me shit

Couldn't wait to tell my mama: "I'm a celeb now, I quit"

From the tender age of 9, this is all I dreamed of

Hip-hop, the first chick, to ever have me in love

Tell the world my name



[ Dave West ]

Phife, Phife

Phife, Phife

Phife

..singin this damn hook