[ VERSE 1: El Da Sensei (& DJ Kaos) ]

Aight little man, let me tell you 'bout the days

When your favorite MC's had no major airplay (What?)

No video, car, crib or large deals (Huh?)

Only a single got you city-wide appeal (Damn!)

Showin your skill upon the mic, originality was key

And the law was not to bite in the highest degree (I hear that)

Plus you had to battle cats for respect

(Like Moe Dee, Busy Bee, MC Shan and KRS?)

Yeah kid, it goes deeper but you get the picture

You had to have lyrics and plus hot beats to get the mixture

As always you had to have the ill DJ

Technician with precision, switch the fader all day

A must to have these additives to smash and battle kids

(Well yo, that's like today's cats?) Nah, that's a negative

Today's MC's don't possess these qualities

So I put you to the test on this musical quest



[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

What made the music change through the time?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

They started gettin paid to rhyme

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

What happened to the culture as a whole?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

Too many MC's sold their soul

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

What happened to the MC's from the past?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

Not enough fans and no cash

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

How do we get it back like before?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

More skills and niggas gotta be raw

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

How so many groups fall apart?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

They in it but it's not from the heart



[ VERSE 2: El Da Sensei (& DJ Kaos) ]

Look at the records in this store, know the faces and the names

All the places that they come from and staked it as their claim

Acclaimed writers like Kane, G Rap, Doug and the Biz

DJ's like Cool V, Mister Cee in the mix

(Yo, I heard this one kid who made beats and rhymed correct)

You must be talkin 'bout this man here, his name is Lord Finesse

(It was another cat too, yo this nigga beats was hot

He was down with CL Smooth) The Soul Brother Pete Rock

Plenty others I could name but the most by far

These pioneers most revered, group named Gang Starr

Put it down through the years, most respected by the peers

For Primo's hot beats, Guru's voice so clear

(Yeah, I know about them, "Hard to Earn" one of the best

What about the Cella Dwellas, Special Ed, and Das EFX?)

Ah shit, you got some history, you're buildin on your lessons

When you see me next time be refined for your confession



[ Kaos ]

Yo, I'ma cop this, word up

[ El ]

Yeah, yo do that, you do that

[ Kaos ]

I heard this on "Future Flavas" the other night

[ El ]

Okay, okay

[ Kaos ]

I'ma get two of them



[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

How long can it last like this?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

When all MC's are gone and they're missed

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

What happened to the sound of the East?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

Niggas went south to tryin to eat

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

When the niggas gonna dig back in the crates?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

When certain niggas stop tryin to hate

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

When will all the bullshit stop?

[ El ]

What's the answer?

When your top MC's stop gettin dropped

[ El ]

What's the question?

[ Kaos ]

What you say your name was again, kid?

[ El ]

Yo, El Da Sensei, man, Artifacts, man

[ Kaos ]

Aight peace

[ El ]

Yeah, we comin from the Bricks

[ Kaos ]

Hold up

"Wrong Side of da Tracks"..

[ El ]

Yeah man

[ Kaos ]

Yo, that's you on this cover!

[ El ]

...that's me

[ Kaos ]

You didn't tell me you had joints out

[ El ]

I know, I'm doin work, I'm workin, yo

[ Kaos ]

I knew you'd get that like that, yo

[ El ]

Always workin

[ Kaos ]

Peace yo

[ El ]

No doubt

I check you on the re

One