Hip Hop gets so much heat on the org for not being positive, so I decided to make a positive Hip Hop thread. Remember the golden age Hip Hop? Most of the artist of that era had something to say. Post positive rap lyrics, videos etc.. I'll start

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ur%20child

Oh I remember this song came out like around 1992 or 1993.
How about some A tribe called quest songs they are positive too.

Common - I Used To Love Her (1994)

Verse one:
I met this girl, when I was ten years old
And what I loved most she had so much soul
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me
On the regular, not a church girl she was secular
Not about the money, no studs was mic checkin her
But I respected her, she hit me in the heart
A few new york brothaz, had did her in the park
But she was there for me, and I was there for her
Pull out a chair for her, turn on the air for her
And just cool out, cool out and listen to her
Sittin on a bone, wishin that I could do her
Eventually if it was meant to be, then it would be
Because we related, physically and mentally
And she was fun then, Id be geeked when shed come around
Slim was fresh yo, when she was underground
Original, pure untampered and down sister
Boy I tell ya, I miss her

Verse two:
Now periodically I would see
Ol' girl at the clubs, and at the house parties
She didnt have a body but she started gettin thick quick
Did a couple of videos and became afrocentric
Out goes the weave, in goes the braids beads medallions
She was on that tip about, stoppin the violence
About my people she was teachin me
By not preachin to me but speakin to me
In a method that was leisurely, so easily I approached
She dug my rap, thats how we got close
But then she broke to the west coast, and that was cool
Cause around the same time, I went away to school
And Im a man of expandin, so why should I stand in her way
She probably get her money in l.a.
And she did stud, she got big pub but what was foul
She said that the pro-black, was goin out of style
She said, afrocentricity, was of the past
So she got into r&b hip-house bass and jazz
Now black music is black music and its all good
I wasnt salty, she was with the boys in the hood
Cause that was good for her, she was becomin well rounded
I thought it was dope how she was on that freestyle shit
Just havin fun, not worried about anyone
And you could tell, by how her titties hung

Verse three:
I mightve failed to mention that the shit was creative
But once the man got you well he altered the native
Told her if she got an energetic gimmick
That she could make money, and she did it like a dummy
Now I see her in commercials, shes universal
She used to only swing it with the inner-city circle
Now she be in the burbs lickin rock and dressin hip
And on some dumb shit, when she comes to the city
Talkin about poppin glocks servin rocks and hittin switches
Now shes a gangsta rollin with gangsta bitches
Always smokin blunts and gettin drunk
Tellin me sad stories, now she only fucks with the funk
Stressin how hardcore and real she is
She was really the realest, before she got into showbiz
I did her, not just to say that I did it
But Im committed, but so many brothaz hit it
That shes just not the same lettin all these groupies do her
I see brothaz slammin her, and takin her to the sewer
But ima take her back hopin that the shit stop
Cause who Im talkin bout yall is hip-hop

Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs (1991)

Be a father, if not, why bother, son
A boy can make 'em, but a man can raise one
If you did it, admit it and stick with it
Don't say it ain't yours 'cause all women are not whores
Ninety percent represent a woman that is faithful
Ladies, can I hear it? Thank you.
When a girl gets pregnant, her man is gonna run around
Dissin' her for nine months, when it's born he wants to come around
Talking that I'm sorry for what I did
And all of a sudden he wants to see his kid
She had to bear it by herself and take care of it by herself
And givin' her money for milk won't really help
Half of the fathers with sons and daughters don't even wanna take 'em
But it's so easy for them to make 'em
It's true, if it weren't for you then the child wouldn't exist
After a skeeze, there's responsibilities so don't resist
Be a father to your child
[Edited 6/17/06 10:23am]

SLICK RICK "Hey Young World" (1988)
This rap here... it may cause concern its
Broad and deep... why dont you listen and learn
Love mean happiness... that once was strong
But due to society... even thats turned wrong
Times have changed... and its cool to look bummy
And be a dumb dummy and disrespect your mummy
Have you forgotten... who put you on this earth?
Who brought you up right... and who loved you since your birth?
Reward is a brainwashed kid goin wild
Young little girls already have a child
Bad company... hey, now youve been framed
Your parents are hurting... hurting and ashamed
Youre ruining yourself... and your mommy cant cope
Hey, little kids dont follow these dopes
Heres a rule for the non cool... your life, dont drool
Dont be a fool like those that dont go to school
Get ahead... and accomplish things
You'll see the wonder and the joy life brings
Dont admire thieves... hey they dont admire you
Their times limited, hardrocks too
So listen, be strong, scream whoopee-doo
Go for yours, cause dreams come true
And youll make your mommy proud... so proud of you too
And this is a message... that the ruler rick threw
And its true
[Edited 6/17/06 12:03pm]

I say...Homeboy.

It'd be kinda slick to include the name of artist for the less than hip among us.
Who knows, you might get a few converts.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Well like any other genre of entertainment when something sells people capitalize on it. Whether it be Metal Bands doing Ballads, RB girl groups, Boy Bands, or Blonde Pop Girls, or now Reggaeton. Industries and Corporations will sell u what is in, wanna make a change, turn off the radio and Mtv.

My Block
2Pac
Better Dayz




[Verse 1]

They got a nigga, shedding tears
Reminiscing on my past fears
Cause shit was hectic for me last year
It appears that I've been marked for death
My heartless breath
The underlying cause of my arrest
My life is stressed
And no rest, forever weary
My eyes stay teary for all the brothers that are buried in the cemetery
Shit is scary, how black on black crime legendary
But at times unnecessary
I'm gettin' worried
Teardrops and closed caskets
The three strikes law is drastic
And certain death for us ghetto bastards
What can we do when we're arrested, but open fire?
Life in the pen ain't for me, cause I'd rather die
But don't cry through your despair
I wonder if the Lord still cares for us niggas on welfare
And who cares if we survive?
The only time they notice a nigga is when he's clutchin on a four-five
My neighborhood ain't the same
Cause all these little babies goin' crazy or they sufferin in the game
And I swear it's like a trap
But I ain't given up on the hood it's all good when I go back
Hoes show me love
Niggaz give me props
Forever hop, cause it don't stop
On my block

[Chorus]

Maybe life is but a dream
Hard times is all we've seen
(On my Block)
Every block is kinda mean
But on our block we still plaaayyy
(My Block)
(Heh heh heh)
But on our block we still plaaayyy

[Verse 2]

Now shit's constantly hot, on my block
It never fails to be gunshots
Can't explain a mother's pain, when her son drops
Black males living in hell, when will we prevail?
Fearing jail but crack sales got me livin' well
In a sense I'm suicidal with this thug's life
Staying strapped forever trapped in this drug life
God help me, cause I'm starvin, can't get a job
So I resort to violent robbings, my life is hard
Can't sleep, cause all the dirt make my heart hurt
Put in work, and shed tears for my dead peers
Mislead from childhood where I went astray
Till this day, I still pray for a better way
Can't help but feel hopeless and heart broke
From the start I felt the racism cause I'm dark
Couldn't quit, the bullshit make me represent
Hit the bar and played the star everywhere I went
In my heart, I felt alone out here on my own
I close my eyes and picture home
On my block

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]

And I can't help but wonder whhyy
So many young kids had to die
Caught strays from AK's in a driveby
Swollen pride and homicide, don't coincide
Brothers cried for broken lives, mama come inside
Cause our block is filled with danger
Used to be a close knit community but now we're all total strangers
Time changes dust to stone, them crack pipes
All up and down the block exterminating black life
But I can't blame the dealers
My mama's welfare check, just bought the next man chrome wheels
Shit's real, I know ya feel, my tragedy
A single mother with a problem child, daddy free
Hanging out pickin up game, sippin cheap liquor
Gamin the hoochies hoping I can get to sleep with herrr
It's a man's world, staying strapped
Fantasies of a nigga livin phat, but held back
Pipe dreams can make the night seem hopeless
Wide eyed and losing focus
On my block

[Chorus]


[Verse 4]

And block parties in the, projects
Lasting a way past daylight
A young nigga learned to break night
Used to play fight, with my homies but they stuck in the pen
I send them ends, but it's tough on a friend
In my mind, I see the same motherfuckers ballin
Alcohol will make the lazy nigga slip and fall, miss his call
I know the young niggaz understand this
Growing up in this world where everything is scandalous
I reminisce on the fast times, past crimes
Trying to cop a slice of pizza with my last dime
Can't explain, just what attracts me to this dirty game
Gold chains, some extra change, and the street fame
And what's strange is everybody knows my name, swear they all know me
And lots of cash make a nigga change
I hit the green just to maintain
Feelin pain
For all the niggaz that I lost to the game
From my block

That's right

(Maybe life is but a dream)
(Hard times is all we've seen)
Rest in peace to all the motherfuckers that passed away
From all the blocks where I'm from
(Every block is kinda mean)
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
112th st. and 7th ave. in New York uptown
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
You know what I'm saying
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
183rd and ?
My Block
That's right
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
127th and ... East Side
Kent Avenue, Baltimore
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
My Block
That's right
In the Jungle Marine City
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
That's my Block
That's right
Los Angeles
That's my block too
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
Oakland
Can't forget Oaktown
(But on our block we still praaayyy)
That's my block for sure

And all the other blocks around this motherfucker ...

Houston, Florida, St. Louis, Tennessee, Miami, Chicago
All y'all niggaz stay kicking up dust
Represent the motherfucking block ...


Thats real

Ocosi
Nos

... they don't have lyrics at all.

I always get teary-eyed when ever I hear "Dear Mama" by Tupac.

You are appreciated...

When I was young, me and my mama had beef
17 years old kicked out on tha streets
though back in tha time, I never thought I'd see her face
ain't a woman alive that can take my momma's place
suspended from school, scared ta go home
I was a fool with tha big boys breaking all tha rules
shed tears with my baby sister
over tha years we wuz poorer than tha other little kids
and even though we had different daddies
tha same drama when things went wrong we blamed mama
I reminised on tha stress I caused, it wuz hell
hugg'en on my mama from a jail cell
and who'ed think in elementary, heeeey i'd see tha penitentiary
One day
running from tha Police, that's right
Momma catch me--put a whoop'en to my backside
and even as a crack fiend mama,
ya always was a black queen mama
I finally understand for a woman
it ain't easy--trying ta raise a man
ya always wuz commited, a poor single mother on welfare,
tell me how ya did it
there's no way I can pay ya back
but tha plan is ta show ya that I understand.
you are appreciated.....



Chorus
Laaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya
Sweeeet Laaaady, place no one above ya
Sweeeet Laaaady, don't cha know we luv ya

Ain't nobody tell us it wuz fair
no luv for my daddy, cause tha coward wuzn't there
he passed away and I didn't cry
cause my anger, wouldn't let me feel for a stranger
they say i'm wrong and i'm heartless
but all along I wuz looking for a father--he wuz gone
I hung around with tha thug's and even though they sold drugs
they showed a young brother luv
I moved out and started really hang'in
I needed money of my own so I started slang'in
I ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
It feels good, putting money in your mailbox
I love paying rent when tha rents due
I hope ya got tha diamond necklace that I sent to you
cause when I wuz low, you was there for me
ya never left me alone, cause ya cared for me
and I can see ya coming home after work late
ya in tha kitchen trying ta fix us a hot plate
just working with tha scraps you wuz given
and mama made miracles every Thanksgiving
but now tha road got rough, your alone
trying ta raise two bad kids on your own
and there's no way I can pay ya back
but my plan is ta show ya that I understand
you are appreciated.....



Chorus
Laaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya
Sweeeet Laaaady, place no one above ya
Sweeeet Laaaady, don't cha know we luv ya

pour out some liquor and I remenise
cause through tha drama, I can always depend on my mama
and when it seems that i'm hopeless
you say tha words that can get me back in focus
when I wuz sick as a little kid
ta keep me happy theres no limit to tha things ya did
and all my childhood memories
are full of all tha sweet things ya did for me
and even though I act craaaazy
I got ta thank tha Lord that ya maaaade me
There are no words that can express how I feel
Ya never kept a secret, always stayed real
and I appreciate how ya raised me
and all tha extra love that ya gave me
I wish I could take tha pain away
If you can make it through tha night, there's a brighter day
everything'll be alright if ya hold on
it's a struggle
everyday gotta roll on
and there's no way I can pay ya back
but my plan is ta show ya that I understand
you are appreciated.....



Chorus
Laaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya
Sweeeet Laaaady, place no one above ya
Sweeeet Laaaady, don't cha know we luv ya, Sweeeet Laaaady

Laaaady...[fades]...Laaaady


http://www.youtube.com/wa...NcloTmvTeA

dreamfactory313 said:

Beautiful. Why had I never at least read the lyrics to this joint sooner?

remember this one?

West Coast All Stars - We're All In The Same Gang


http://www.youtube.com/wa...ame%20gang

Meloh9 said:

Yeah. I remember memorizing all of the lyrics to everyone's part when I was in the 5th grade. That was an unforgettable moment in hip hop.

Donnie D's on the back up
Drug free, so put the crack up
No need for speed I'm the anti
D-R-U-G-G-I-E my
Body is healthy
My rhymes make me wealthy
And the Funky Bunch helps me
To bring you a show with no intoxication
Come on feel the vibration

OUTKAST - B.O.B ( most firing clip EVER (imo ) )

http://www.youtube.com/wa...st%20b.o.b

http://www.youtube.com/wa...st%20b.o.b


Rosa Parks

http://www.youtube.com/wa...20parks%20




THE ROOTS & ROY AYERS - Proceed 2


http://www.youtube.com/wa...oy%20ayers




http://www.youtube.com/wa...ey%20do%20




PHARCYDE - Drop

http://www.youtube.com/wa...yde%20drop




ANGIE STONE & GURU - Keep Your Worries

http://www.youtube.com/wa...%20guru%20
.
.
.
[Edited 6/18/06 11:38am]

One of my favs:

Tupac- Keep Your Head Up

Little somethin for my godson Elijah and a little girl named Corinne

(Verse One:)

Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
Tupac cares, and don't nobody else care
And uhh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot
When you come around the block brothas clown a lot
But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
Forgive but don't forget, girl keep your head up
And when he tells you you ain't nuttin don't believe him
And if he can't learn to love you you should leave him
Cause sista you don't need him
And I ain't tryin to gas ya up, I just call em how I see em
You know it makes me unhappy (what's that)
When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy
And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I think it's time to kill for our women
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
And since a man can't make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up

(Chorus)

Keep ya head up, oooo child things are gonna get easier
ooooo child things are gonna get brighter [2x]

(Verse Two:)

Aiyyo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing ta me
He had me feelin like black was tha thing to be
And suddenly tha ghetto didn't seem so tough
And though we had it rough, we always had enough
I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two
And I realize momma really paid the price
She nearly gave her life, to raise me right
And all I had ta give her was my pipe dream
Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to tha bright screen
I'm tryin to make a dollar out of fifteen cents
It's hard to be legit and still pay tha rent
And in the end it seems I'm headin for tha pen
I try and find my friends, but they're blowin in the wind
Last night my buddy lost his whole family
It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity
It seems tha rain'll never let up
I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin wet up
You know it's funny when it rains it pours
They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor
Say there ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is
it ain't no hope for tha future
And then they wonder why we crazy
I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby
We ain't meant to survive, cause it's a setup
And even though you're fed up
Huh, ya got to keep your head up

(Chorus)

(Verse Three:)

And uhh
To all the ladies havin babies on they own
I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin all alone
Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want em
Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure
And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more
Cause ain't nuttin worse than when your son
wants to kno why his daddy don't love him no mo'
You can't complain you was dealt this
hell of a hand without a man, feelin helpless
Because there's too many things for you to deal with
Dying inside, but outside you're looking fearless
While tears, is rollin down your cheeks
Ya steady hopin things don't all down this week
Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me
I was given this world I didn't make it
And now my son's getten older and older and cold
From havin the world on his shoulders
While the rich kids is drivin Benz
I'm still tryin to hold on to my survivin friends
And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but
please... you got to keep your head up

Meloh9 said:

I'm surprised nothing from KRS-One/BDP has been mentioned...

Stop The Violence
This might sound a little strange to you
Well here's the reason I came to you
We gotta put our heads together, and stop the violence
Cause real bad boys move in silence
When you're in a club, you come to chill out
Not watch someones blood just spill out
That's what these other people want to see
Another race fight endlessly
You know we're being watched, you know we're being seen
Some wish to destroy this scene called hip-hop
But I won't drop, not I or Scott LaRock
Now here is the message that we bring today:
Hip-hop will surely decay
if we as a people don't stand up and say: Stop the violence!

...A little too Golden?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I remember hearing Digable Planets' Reachin' for the first time in full last year and sighing, first from how great it was and then for what rap could have been....

EmbattledWarrior said:

That's not positive.