[Chorus]

What does it mean to be UNDERGROUND?

It means you gotta be free to be UNDERGROUND

Yo, you got your own key when you're UNDERGROUND

If you're listening to me yo you UNDERGROUND



[Verse One]

It's time that I open with a thunder sound

Now look around your own town for the UNDERGROUND

Yo, you rhymin for the TV, or a million CD's?

You ain't a MC, you ain't UNDERGROUND

You could be platinum or gold, hot or cold

But it's the respect you hold that's UNDERGROUND

When the critics don't get, that for the streets you spit it

When your lyric they fear, that's UNDERGROUND



[Chorus]



[Verse Two]

Yo, white kids, black kids, skinny kids, fat kids

Them Asian cats be UNDERGROUND

Chicanos, Palestinians, Milanos, fuck the Lone Ranger

Where's Tanto?  That's UNDERGROUND

Freddie Foxxx, Blackalicious, Kweli

M.O.P., GangStarr that's UNDERGROUND

Mad Lion, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot

Armageddeon T.S. that's UNDERGROUND, UHH!



[Chorus]



[Verse Three]

Yo, the t'cha returns, I told y'all I went to Cali to learn

And that shit was UNDERGROUND

If the cops be eyein you, cause survive is what you try to do

Yo I'm wit you, you UNDERGROUND

If it's justice you want, and you protest the ice they flaunt

You want skills that's UNDERGROUND

Yo it's not about a rugger rapper, or an actor

It's about your subject matter that's UNDERGROUND

LOOK!



[Chorus]



[Verse Four]

Chevonne Dean from Ruff Ryders, all the Outsiderz

Young Zee, that's UNDERGROUND

When all your money's spent, and you're still hangin on

to 50 Cent (get it) you UNDERGROUND

When you rep the collective consciousness of hip-hop

Not hip-pop, you UNDERGROUND

Yo it ain't about jewels, bitches and cars

It's about Nas, that's UNDERGROUND, yo!



[Chorus]



[Verse Five]

To be underground simply means that you're down

for the struggle, get 'em up, that's UNDERGROUND

You could be a classy lady or a whore

But if you protest the war, for sure, you UNDERGROUND

If the government can't see you, or deceive you

You love your people, believe you UNDERGROUND

If you refuse to play the game, you go against the grain

You ridin the train, you UNDERGROUND - get it!



[Chorus]



[Verse Six]

Yo, yo, that blast from the past, like Grandmaster Caz

Bam and Flash, that's UNDERGROUND

Doug E. Fresh, Lord Finesse, KRS

If you listenin to this you UNDERGROUND

Turn it up now KRS about to show you how

They go wow, BLAOW for the UNDERGROUND

Mr. Walt, Evil Dee, KRS, BDP

Kenny P, that's UNDERGROUND - do it!



[Chorus]



[KRS-One]

(Alright!) Turn it up ah, turn it up ah

Turn it up ah, turn it up ah

Turn it up ah, turn it up ah

Turn it up if you UNDERGROUND - LISTEN!