The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
[Intro: Styles P]
BET get your recorders
You rocking with the ghost Papoose
And Lupe the skate boarder (this is crazy)
Welcome to the cipher the beginning of rap,
For record deals first I'm going to toss you the cap
[Verse 1: PAPOOSE]
Over a hundred soldiers died this month I drop info.
Out of a hundred the majority was negros (Papoose)
George Bush is on a role like a grand hero
They still finding human remains at ground zero
They found it in the sewer, yeah it show aww man YO
I guess that they call it a man hole
When we say BET we ain't trying to spell bet
Black Entertainment Papoose is the best
Nacirema wait till my album to drop
You hop up I clap him in his hip you can call it hip hop
Rapper be acting like tougher then they really is
So I seat them in wheel chair Jada Pinkett kids
You was putting your sneaker on the wrong feet
When Papoose reaping for the streets man the feet
You might as well face your defeat
Look partner I had looking at the feet like a foot doctor
That's Right
[Verse 2: LUPE FIASCO]
They say the game as the belly of a beast (Lupe)
Blunt for fingers and hallo tips for teeth
Wire taps for ears NIKE AIR for feet
Blaspheme for prayers the system full of heart
Rap music for beats heorin for the son and married to the streets
Crack pipes for lungs
And he never sleeps just spized with dice in his eyes
Love life cause he like when it dies
For baking for the soul he cough up pleasure
Clothes made out of dolar bills that he sowed together
He knows he's clever
Jealous his house all the liquor that pours out and goes right to his mouth
Rides around on a stray bullet
With prositute, pimp, dope dealers and killers tied to it to pull it
TV in his head
Strippers slide down his leg and he known to ride around with the Feds
He's
Out there [x4]
[Verse 3: STYLES P]
[Let's go P] Don't call me ghost no more call me the phantom
Real brothers lover street brothers understand 'em
This is to the man with his hand on his Canon
Right at this moment I know we need an atonement
The Malcom is dead, The Martin is dead the guns the barber
Let me know who want to pardon there head
And I am back to the clip fill to the top
I'll grill with a bop
Poloce coming through kids still a rock
I don't give a F cause I wanna die cause I am gonna die
You to figure, don't boo who figure
Want to the play the game find out who's who figure
After you do that, find out who's true figure
Lots of brothers died over B.S, nonsense
School of Hardknocks no Parent Teacher Conference
Got to learn the rules real fast, move fast
Stand up the [? ] shortie
Cause they know that you ass
[Outro:]
[Styles P:] Yeah
[Papoose:] Yeah that's hip hop
[Styles P:]
Before there was radio, before there were videos, before there were magazines
Put the camera down this what it was
[Papoose:]
The cipher 360 degrees, the cipher
Show you cats how to rhyme man
Take that [x2]
BET get your recorders
You rocking with the ghost Papoose
And Lupe the skate boarder (this is crazy)
Welcome to the cipher the beginning of rap,
For record deals first I'm going to toss you the cap
[Verse 1: PAPOOSE]
Over a hundred soldiers died this month I drop info.
Out of a hundred the majority was negros (Papoose)
George Bush is on a role like a grand hero
They still finding human remains at ground zero
They found it in the sewer, yeah it show aww man YO
I guess that they call it a man hole
When we say BET we ain't trying to spell bet
Black Entertainment Papoose is the best
Nacirema wait till my album to drop
You hop up I clap him in his hip you can call it hip hop
Rapper be acting like tougher then they really is
So I seat them in wheel chair Jada Pinkett kids
You was putting your sneaker on the wrong feet
When Papoose reaping for the streets man the feet
You might as well face your defeat
Look partner I had looking at the feet like a foot doctor
That's Right
[Verse 2: LUPE FIASCO]
They say the game as the belly of a beast (Lupe)
Blunt for fingers and hallo tips for teeth
Wire taps for ears NIKE AIR for feet
Blaspheme for prayers the system full of heart
Rap music for beats heorin for the son and married to the streets
Crack pipes for lungs
And he never sleeps just spized with dice in his eyes
Love life cause he like when it dies
For baking for the soul he cough up pleasure
Clothes made out of dolar bills that he sowed together
He knows he's clever
Jealous his house all the liquor that pours out and goes right to his mouth
Rides around on a stray bullet
With prositute, pimp, dope dealers and killers tied to it to pull it
TV in his head
Strippers slide down his leg and he known to ride around with the Feds
He's
Out there [x4]
[Verse 3: STYLES P]
[Let's go P] Don't call me ghost no more call me the phantom
Real brothers lover street brothers understand 'em
This is to the man with his hand on his Canon
Right at this moment I know we need an atonement
The Malcom is dead, The Martin is dead the guns the barber
Let me know who want to pardon there head
And I am back to the clip fill to the top
I'll grill with a bop
Poloce coming through kids still a rock
I don't give a F cause I wanna die cause I am gonna die
You to figure, don't boo who figure
Want to the play the game find out who's who figure
After you do that, find out who's true figure
Lots of brothers died over B.S, nonsense
School of Hardknocks no Parent Teacher Conference
Got to learn the rules real fast, move fast
Stand up the [? ] shortie
Cause they know that you ass
[Outro:]
[Styles P:] Yeah
[Papoose:] Yeah that's hip hop
[Styles P:]
Before there was radio, before there were videos, before there were magazines
Put the camera down this what it was
[Papoose:]
The cipher 360 degrees, the cipher
Show you cats how to rhyme man
Take that [x2]
Lyrics submitted by Latinoheat
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