Verse 1
[q-tip]
Let me tell you bout the snakes, the fakes, the lies
The highs at all of these industry shing-dings
Where you see the pretty girls
In the high animated world
Checkin for a rapper with all the dough
If you take a shit they want to know
And if youre gonna fall, they wont be around, yall
So you still wanna do the show business?
And you think that you got what it takes?
I mean you really gotta rap and be all that
And prepare yourself for the breaks
Check it out!
Do you wanna be in the business? (the business)
The ups and downs with the hoes (the business)
Always gettin fronted on at shows (the business)
People gotta stick their nose (in the business)
Verse 2
[q-tip]
Yo, I gotta speak on the cesspool
Its the rap industry and it aint that cool
Only if youre on stage or if youre speakin to your people
Aint no-one your equal
Especially on the industry side
Dont let the games just glide
Right through your fingers, you gotta know the deal
So lord jamar speak, because youre real...
[lord jamar]
Theyre givin you the business and puttin on a show
Youre a million dollar man that aint got no dough
But you got a ho tickets backstage to a show
Sedated and at that fact they elated
Time pass and your ass say "wheres my loot? "
The reply is a kick in the ass from a leg and a boot
All you wanna do is taste the fruit
But in the back theyre makin fruit juice
You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label
Not able cos you signed at the table
For a pretty cash advance, now they got a song and dance
That you didnt recoup, more soup wit ya meal?
Cos this is the real when you get a record deal
And I say...
[phife]
Aw....shucks, look what the cat hauled in
Its phife dawg from a tribe called quest, let me begin
Like chuck d, I got so much trouble on my mind
bout these no-talent artists gettin signed, they cant rhyme
And if that aint bad, you got bootleggers
Goin out like suckers, motherfuckers
Feel its time that I let loose the lion
And if not that then Ill commence to head flyin
Seems in 91 everybody want a rhyme
And then you go and sell my tape for only $5.99?
Please nigga, Ive worked too hard for this
No more will I take the booty end of the stick
Bogus brothers makin albums when they know they cant hack it
Cos they lyrics is played like 8-ball jackets
Now tell me I cant tear it up
Go get yourself some toilet paper cos your lyrics is butt
Do you wanna be in the business? (the business)
People cant walk a straight line in (the business)
Some of these brothers cant rhyme in (the business)
A-yo, Im tryna get mine (the business)
Verse 3
[sadat x]
The party scene is cool, but then again its all the same
You see the same faces, but at different places
When youre up and ridin high everything is palsy-palsy
Get a million pounds and all the skins give you hugs
Well thats cool, I can dig it, it really aint my bag
Prefer to max on the side and let my pants sag
"oh, hes a cutie", yeah, real cute
But I wasnt that cute when I didnt have no loot
Although I hit a pound of herbs Im still nice with the verbs
So fuck what you heard
The born cipher, cipher master makes me think much faster
But critics still continue to plaster
My name and discredit my fame
All that shit is game
And I dont really give a damn
Eat from the tree of life and throw away the verbal ham
[diamond d]
Well, excuse me, I gotta add my two cents in
Dont be alarmed, the rhyme was condensed in
A matter of minutes so it must be told
All that glitters not gold
Everybody wants a deal, help me make a demo
See my name in bright lights, ride around in a limo
My moms keeps beefin ("boy, get a job")
But I wanna make jams, damn, I know Ill slam
Huh, well its not that easy
You gotta get a label thats willin and able
To market and promote, and you better hope
(for what? ) that the product is dope
Take it from diamond, its like mountain climbin
When it comes to rhymin you gotta put your time in
Get a good lawyer so problems wont pile
You dont wanna make a pitch thats wild.
