What, goes, on!
Rolling Stones of the rap game, not bragging
Lips bigger than Jagger, not saggin'
Spell it backwards, I'mma leave it at that
That ain't got nothing to do with rap
Check the facts, expose those cats
Who pose as heroes and take advantage of blacks
Your government's gangster, so cut the crap
A war going on so where y'all at?
"Fight the Power" comes great responsibility
'F the Police' but who's stopping you from killing me?
Disaster, fiascos over a loop by P.E
If it's an I instead of we believing TV
Spitting riches, bitches, and this new thing about snitches
Watch them asses move as the masses switches
System dissed them but barely missed her
My sole intention to save my brothers and sisters

(Hard) Get up
Just like that
(Hard) Get up
Just like that
(Hard) Get up
Just like that
(Hard) Get up
Just like that

Screamin' gangsta 20 years later
Of course endorsed while consciousness faded
New generations believing them fables
Gangster Boogie on two turntables
Show no love so its easy to hate it
Desecrated while the coroner waited
Any given Sunday so where y'all rate it?
Wit slavery, lynching, and them drugs infiltrated
I'm like that doll Chucky, baby
Keep comin' back to live love life like I'm crazy
Keep it movin' risin' to the top
Doug Fresh clean livin' you don't stop
Revolution means change, don't look at me strange
So I can't repeat what other rappers be sayin'
You don't stand for something, you fall for anything
Harder than you think, its a beautiful thing

(Hard) Get up
Just like that
(Hard) Get up
Just like that
(Hard) Get up
Just like that
(Hard) Get up
Just like that

So it's time to leave you a preview
So you too can review what we do
20 years in this business, "How You Sell Soul?"
G-Wiz, people bear witness
Thank you for lettin' us be ourselves
So don't mind me if I repeat myself
These simple lines be good for your health
To keep them crime rhymes on the shelf
Live love life like you just don't care
Five thousand leaders never scared
"Bring the Noise," it's 'the moment they feared'
Get up! Still a beautiful idea

Throw yo hands in the air
Get up and show no fear
Get up if y'all really care
PE 20 years
Now get up


Lyrics submitted by theNormaGENE

Harder Than You Think Lyrics as written by Carlton Ridenhour Gary Rinaldo

Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Harder Than You Think song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    from here it seems like chuck's saying that PE have been going for 20 years doing what they're doing, gathering no moss and not getting distracted by the routes rap was taking over the years. he's always believed in a strong sense of personal morality, empowerment through educating yourself and challenging authority - but challenging the right authority. he's saying that it's the government that need taking to task; if you're just starting on your local police then you're not doing any good.

    he also slates the values of the new rap generation and where he feels they are misguided; chuck concerns himself with a war that affects millions, they concern themselves with riches that affect themselves. chuck speaks of brothers and sisters and the tv talks of nias and bihes.

    i think this is a brilliant song, up there with their best. as a summary, or as d says, a preview of what PE does, it's great. a band of insight; of strength and integrity. pe should be proud of their 23 years in the business.

    grazbosson June 11, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    With: "Lips bigger than Jagger, not saggin / Spell it backwards I'ma leave it at that / That ain't got nothing to do with rap"

    I believe Chuck's commenting on the casual use of the "N" word and how that is tossed around in contemporary rap in a disrespectful, baseless way.

    Spell "saggin" backwards. And as he says: "That ain't got nothing to do with rap".

    Slainte!on July 20, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    a great song. love the message and the beat.

    this track definintly stands out on their new cd as one of the top tracks.

    Youknowmysteez..on March 24, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    im confused what this means my guess is they think rappers these days have taken the whole gangster thing way to far ... that back in the day they had to be rebels to live right and treat people as equals with respect to fix the problems ... and now its the new school rappers are the ones causing the trouble if thats what they mean i tottally agree someone wanna tell me whats it really about though?

    aaron_grmaon July 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Lips bigger than jagger, not saggin Spell it backwards I'm a leave it at that... That ain't got nothin to do with rap

    ...Such great lyrics, i agree with you aaron, he's trying to show that the most commonly used lyrics in rap today such as about violence, exploitation of women, and money don't always make a good rap song.

    tccarr14on September 24, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Disasters, "fiascos over a loop" by pe - Lil shout out to Lupe Fiasco?

    Screamin gangsta 20 years later Of course endorsed while consciousness faded - How conscious rappers have disappeared and all thats left is soulja boy etc?

    Ricard0on May 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    HAHA [FlavorFlav] lol that is proffessor griff (richard griffin) cmon guys GET IT RIGHT

    goodbody02on April 23, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me this song clearly goes after gangsta rap and takes on NWA directly. (F the police reference). Also while at the end he promotes PE (PE 20 years), earlier he addresses (possibly) what’s left of NWA (Dre, Cube, et al) they they’re

    “Screamin' gangsta 20 years later Of course endorsed while consciousness faded New generations believing them fables”

    Essentially saying they’re still spitting gangsta while signing endorsements for big money all the while the consciousness of their initial message (of institutional racism and the subsequent life it created for them)has been lost.

    bmack1on May 07, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Nothing changed......

    Meet the new boss...

    adam108347on November 13, 2021   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    wow. illuminati man. think about it. it applies.

    shits harder then you THINK. all we know is what is around us. reality. but reality isnt always real. so many songs "thing arent what they seem". the groups name is PUBLIC ENEMY. PUBLIC = SOCIETY = MEDIA = ILLUMINATI. ENEMY = Target. Essentially Illuminati Target.

    " WHAT, GOES, ON! Rolling Stones of the rap game, not braggin' Lips bigger than Jagger, not saggin' Spell it backwards, I'ma leave it at that.. Check the facts, expose those cats who pose as heroes and take advantage of blacks Your government's gangster, so cut the crap A war goin on so where y'all at?"

    Break it down. Rolling Stone = someone who cannot settle down. If they are rolling stones, they wont stay in one place. Illuminati = one place. One secure, rich place, for life as long as you do what they say.

    So they are rolling stones of the rap game. Rap game = music industry. So they would not be illuminati, hence why they are exposing it. Exposing = "Lips bigger then Jagger". You call someone lips because they talk too much.

    And then he tells you "spell it backwords." AKA.. THINK about it. dont just listen to it. "I'ma leave it at that.." subliminal disses towards the illuminati aren't bad. Because they know 98% of the poeple that hear it won't pick up on it. Look at Michael Jackson interviews, anytime he meantions something directed towards illuminati he shuts up real quick after.

    "Check the facts, expose those cats who pose as heroes and take advantage of blacks"

    Expose the industry/illuminati artists who "pose as heros" (offering a life of selfish peace) and take advantage of blacks. Most blacks at the time = poor. Illuminati goes after project poor people while rap is on the rise. These people want money, they want to be rich. They dont care about their soul. So they are taken advantage of.

    Read between the lines for the rest of the song. No one really talks about Public Enemy anymore. I doubt Chuck D will get respect he deserves. Why? I don;t know. He exposes. Everyone knows Chuck is good, but the media shines people lke Jay-Z. Who are illuminati.

    Read. Between.

    JamzXIVon September 30, 2011   Link

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