Check it, check it 

[Grand Puba] "First batter up, first-first batter up" 



Now, entering the batter's box 

is a guy who wears Champion socks and likes rings with rocks 

Throw up my middle finger to the umpire 

cause niggaz just choosin the new talent just, need to retire 

Check the signals from my manager, the first base coach 

He's throwin signs, tellin me the label's just, playin cutthroat 

Yo, I hit em with a tape or should I say I take a check swing 

I hear the crowd sing, go meet Plug and the telephone ring 

He says I need more beats, wait a minute, no doubt 

My temper runs out, three pitches later, I strike the fuck out 

Yo, shit like this happens to the real MC's 

Because the labels wanna sign up the commercial wannabes 

and if, it ain't that, it's just a little bit more, sayin 

"Umm, can you put on a screwface and scream lyrics that's hardcore?" 

I adore, this whole rap persona, but some of you A&R's 

must be mixin coke witcha marijuana, talkin 

*sniff* "Oooh, he got the new shit 

I'm on his dick but that's an MC that come out with one baby hit" 

I split atoms, blow up as if I was atomic 

Labels talk so much shit yo I laugh at them like they was comics 

Check the scoreboard, we're up by one 

Two more hitters to go, and the song ain't even done, Baseball.. 



[Grand Puba] 

"First batter up well here's the pitch that's a curve 

Second batter up because the first got served" 

[x2] 



[What What] 

From the kids in the batting cages to the pro players (What What) 

to the labels and the mob and the beaches making waves (What What) 

Looking at the pitcher like, "Man what gives?" 

They got one-arm fugitives throwin with prosthetic limbs ("Ewwww!") 

? look from the team to the umpire means that the 

man got demoted from stadiums to refereein gyms 

Synonyms from big cheese to the independent label couldn't 

pay up they debt so they got cut like unpaid cable 

B.. E.. I.. S.. 

B-O-L, accent on the 'O', GOALLLL! 

Feel the sweat trickling down the back of my neck 

Tighten my grip on the bat, take a swing 

and it's a technical foul... (wait a minute) 

Nah... that's... basketball... whatever, good call 

How come when black men hit the field, they were throwin bottles 

now they throwin million dollar deals 

When I steal bases I do it with pride 

for Jackie Robinson certified, forerunner for us 

Homeruns we must, hit em straight out the ballpark 

I'm not patriotic, so I won't sing the National 

Underlying stipulations playing underhanded ways 

It pays to have your representative stay 

or you'll have, top executives gettin all possesive 

of your money, and it's not funny 

But when uhh loot is involved all problems get solved 

Umm, maybe because you supply they cocaine fetish? 

To finish this, this business ain't nothin but corrupt 

Forget all this garbage, I'd rather play tennis 



[Grand Puba] 

"First batter up well here's the pitch that's a curve 

Second batter up because the first got served" 

[x2] 



Baseball was never for blacks (what?) 

It used to be a pasttime for whites (That's true) 

Now it has mad Puerto Ricans 

but that's not the point of the song (A-ight) 

The point of the song and I make it mad simple 

when I be flippin this script 

is that the industry is all over the mound 

pitchin but nobody's makin any hits, hmm 

Baseball is not just a sport 

It's the verbal, mental, physical, spiritual 

emotional level that we are on 

It's about time that all you devils was gone 

? like charm, I said it and meant it 

If you can not handle it then for your ears it's not intended 

You can play the documented, all athletes quoted 

Cause when you speak to be exploited then your spot will get exploded 

Bases are loaded, but there is no RBI's in the stadium 

where players try, to be hard as titanium 

I got your cranium movin, when I be showin and provin 

Now you fear, that your career, is goin down the tubes 

and it'll be, along industry, that's withering 

and was left oceans, about to blow to smithereens 

I bring, lyrical formats that you'll admire 

And to the Hall of Fame I'm going when I retire 

They'll set your world afire, there is nobody to fear 

when every umpire and A&R is screamin that YOU'RE OUTTA HERE 

And to your amazement, a tax writeoff is your replacement 

You gotta face it, there is no other crew adjacent 

With sounds from the basement, we rise 

We energize, to take up the whole enterprise 

By now you realize, that when we're in the place 

That we will come fat, over piano and the bass 

If you're lookin for security then you can end your chase 

Come home, to Negro League, and you'll be safe.. Baseball 



No doubt, Negro League is in the house 

No doubt, no doubt, knockin runs outs 

Cause we do it like this, we do it like that 

[?]I was rockin stage just like to a bat[?] 

[?]Sent to home back when umm, be doing my thing[?] 

Hit a homerun, with the Negro League theme 

Do it like this, do it like that 

[?]I was rockin stage just like to a bat[?] 

[?]Sent to home back when umm, be doing my thing[?] 

Hit the homerun with the Negro League swin