Joell Ortiz - Before Hip-Hop Lyrics

Ha, listen homie, you don't know me like you think you know me, ha ha
Uh (what's happening?)

Big boy toys that clap like a dirty bitch box
His ladder's attached with thirty six shots, insert it and cop (blap)
You ain't gotta take my word them shits pop
Ask around how I circled these blocks before hip hop (yeah)
Sandwich baggies drop it in and tie knots
And fight my favorite fiend over to come and try rocks
Dope the only thing stamped inside my mailbox
Folded money 'til the rubber bands pop before hip hop (woo)
Olde E, St. Ides, and Ballantine ale
Dutch Masters, Phillies, and White Owl smells
L trainer lended in powder, to roll L's
Tokin' boots, nigga
No vocal booths nigga, before hip hop
Whole different dude, I'm rolling to you
I got a dub that I don't fold it at Deuce
Everything good, even your nasty ass shoes
Now here's my moment of truth (ha ha)
Yeah, that was life before hip hop

You think you know me, you don't really know me (nah)
Back in my hood, I'm still a one and only (yaow)
Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)

A bunch of candles in the lobby, who got laid to rest?
Empty bottles need a flix, I know the wakers next
I'm from a place people walk around with major stress
Don't say somethin' you'll regret, before hip hop (uh)
I was crazy fresh, trapping in my Avirex
Blue Yankee fitted, 501's above the navy chest (yaow)
I never had to beg for pussy, bitches gave me sex
I left all the drugs that they address, before hip hop
Uh, shit, your boy was out there tryna survive
Too lazy for a nine to five, I bought a 9 and got live 'til it jammed
Said goodbye, next day, went outside, brought that pretty .38
it's on the lap in my ride, ride (ow)
It wasn't always about these verses and words
It was being first to the curb from the first to the third
It was 'bout stayin' alert, see 'em lurking, you swerve
To this day, I thank God, I ain't get locked before hip hop

You think you know me, you don't really know me (nah)
Back in my hood, I'm still a one and only (yaow)
Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)

Before hip hop, had that thing on my hip, don't let it hop off (ha ha ha)
But nah though, just Joell Ortiz