No Sell-Out
(The Foundation)
My baby's part (The first part, he rapped it for me that night in a Garage. Shy as he was while rapping, I felt charmed and in love.)
Pen to the pad 'cause i'm mad, not glad.
Hip hop is popular, but is it just for the fad.
Many hands have been shaken, many rules have been bent.
A lot of money's been made, a lot of money's been spent.
Been writin' rhymes for years and now you finally catch on.
Go R&B for the honeys, then take the money and gone.
It's not a game, it's a shame, with only sell-outs to blame.
They get some lyrics, get a beat, and get a catchy name.
But see it's more than a hobby, to me this art is a job.
Hip hop's a way of life, so it's your culture they rob.
They do it time and again, pretend they come as a friend.
And that's the way it'll be, 'cause that's the way it has been.
They took the rhythm and blues, but then they left out the soul.
Still looked for fame, so they switched the name to Rock and Roll.
But will they do it to rap? It's up to you to decide
Got the glamour, got the glory, but forgettin' the pride.
You say you're not sellin' out, but that's the way that it seems.
On the stage flauntin diamonds with your laser beams.
But keep the knowledge inside, that's if ya have it at all.
Attempt to straddle the fence, and it's not long til ya fall.
Off the charts, where's your art? While you beg for some fans.
The fad was over quick, you took the money and ran.
Always talk about yourself and soon nobody will listen.
You claim to be the king, but it's yourself that you're dissin'.
No time put into rhymes to show that you have a brain.
Only writin' 'bout who's bitin' and whose gonna get slain.
No time for ignorant rappers, writin' fictitious words.
Of how a sucka came of ill and then a battle occurred.
Who ya foolin'? you're just foolish or just outta ya mind.
If you was so busy fightin' then how ya writin' a rhyme.
But it sells, sounds hard, so ya put it on wax.
Bring the people what they want instead of bringin' the facts.
It's ill, i try to build with my knowledge and skill.
But competin' and defeatin', i can do it at will.
So if the question that you have is what hip hop is about.
Lend your ears to The Foundation, 'cause we never sell-out.
No sell-out, sell-out (Repeat 3 times)
(Naze's part)
Many stories i could tell about, and more i could yell about.
But this one in particular, no sell-out.
I'm the type of brother, i'm in a never endin' struggle
Between the forces of good, and then there's evil's rebuttal.
Between vanity, materialism, insanity, devil's religion.
Most will never know that's the reason i give them.
Change of pace rhyme styles, the metaphysical child.
Recite my lessons daily then i humbly bow.
Yet, whenever i speak out against unfair practices.
Labeled radical militant by suckas and crackers.
Being a strong African in thought and character
Carries a heavy price in this land called america.
The imagery, the subliminal message of the media.
Poor mad animals, growin' ever greedier.
Live in a country that preaches democracy
But turn your back on Haiti that proves the hypocrisy.
Set us truly free to be who we want to be.
No slave to capitalism and no more colonies.
There's not enough love bein' passed around.
But if i look for some drugs, there's a needle on the ground.
I frown as i think that, without a doubt.
There is no justice, there's no peace, but most of all there's no sell-out.
No sell-out, sell-out (Repeat 3 times)
(Kibwe's part)
No sell-out, soul is your inner self.
Renig on it, and you're a spiritual elf.
And that's f***ed up, because the world is so polluted.
Give people money, anything and they will do it.
Always rattin' out the downpressors authority.
I wouldn't trust Tom in a Greek fraternity.
Looky, Tom is a oreo cookie.
Stupid motherf***er, stop actin' like a rookie.
I'm Kibwe Kojo, that means unconquerable.
Shoot you in the grill with my twelve gauge shotgun.
Dread on, Dread on
To the king of king and the lord of lords.
Selassie I enlightened, was rebuilt now i know.
The sell-outs to the cause are your friends and your foes.
So, before you organize, place your eyes on the prize.
Think wise, 'cause lucifer is in disguise.
Deceivin' and weavin' 'til he gets to the core.
Precise as an eagle in the air when it soars.
'Cause to me, Tom could be Terminator 3
Destroyed the Black Panthers so easily.
So I stomp in the path of the martyr Huey.
No exit in the Rev(olution), on that day you will see.
Kojo explode, snatchin hearts without no doubt.
The Foundation warns ya boy, no sell-out.
No sell-out, sell-out (Repeat)
