De La Soul - Long Island Degrees Lyrics

It's Strong Island for real, where the critters run wild
The prefix is 516, the top of the dial
Through the L.I. Sound from the Ville to Down Under
And across the globe I heard a lot of folks wonderin'
So when's it coming 'cause the stakes is high
See big money that waves, don't put the pen to my page
And ain't nothin' wrong with standing still and relax
And spendin' some of that cash that Uncle Sam is gonna tax
A New York demeanor, sit back in the beamer
With nothing to lose but some gas and some minutes
Ignorin' the gazers 'cause some stars don't get petty
And that trash you talk is just New Years confetti
It's like that, y'all, but that's all gots to change
Like some of my own, people tend to act strange
I'm making a scene and it's served with it's capabilities
So set it at an Island's degrees

It's Strong Island for real, the diagnosis is supreme
The prefix is 516, where microphone's fiend
The voices that gots the gift 'cause the world is on their shoulders
Makin' plans to switch from little rock to money boulders
The wheels proceed while girl stampede
From Nubians actin' like Columbians sellin' keys
Characters have the tendency to con itself
In thinking East Coast is only New York and Philadelph'
And know the way we blow, your shit is played like pork
And as for we be bringin' you, we live and direct from New York
I ought to say my fam calls me Merce
Steppin' to me fool will get you punched out like a curse
It's like that, y'all, let it all consume
Like them brothas who smoke 'til they high like the noon
Soon to a town near you be them super emcees
Set it at an Island degrees

I hit the L.I.R.R. for big dreamers out east
And get your bank roll spent
Bangin' dents out your systems
Turnin' coins to get the uppercut like Sonny Liston
But eyes-closed episodes, bring you back to zeroes
The same hero playin' like he Casablanca
Blind to it but I'ma grind him up a cup of Sanka
Servin' dimes love on tennis courts and sorts
Laid back like grown folks sippin' tea for sport

I be sweepin' up the room with my lyrical broom
While others rhymes pale and plastic like some lunch room utensil
The official color for this planet is green
Which growns in pockets of them people willing to scheme
An't no exposé, these facts are from the mouth
Profilin' through the Island with that wind from down Douth
At last, be the world broadcast from the crew who gave you 3's
Magic from the Island degrees

It's Strong Island for real where the critters smoke fritters
Night time excites time for the heavy hitters
Gamin' hers' cause in the mean time mine is home on bait
Fluffin' pillows impatiently waitin', ain't no debatin'
'Bout to settle, check the level stakes is high than the sky
I got questions 'bout your life if you so ready to die
We in the last quarter, y'all, somebody's gonna cry
I think they need to set the clock before the time pass by

When around unknown eyes, my size can get swelly
If sensing danger I will play a ranger on my celly with my fellas
We're wonderful like colorful flicks
Provide a thread and needle every time them stages get ripped
I grip upon the pleasure, sippin' the tea
Of the Island 'cause that island is a main artery
So, um, you better come and give respect or catch some of these
Nuts from the Island degrees

Rap, it sucks, I hate it
(Oh, in what particular way?)
It just don't appeal to me, it's
There's no music in it
It's just, you know, niggers talking