The Roots - What They Do

[Chorus: Raphael Saadiq] Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... [Verse One] Yo, yo Lost generation, fast paced nation World population confront they frustration The principles of true hip-hop have been forsaken It's all contractual and about money makin Pretend-to-be cats don't seem to know they limitation Exact replication and false representation You wanna be a man, then stand your own To MC requires skills, I demand some shown I let the frauds keep frontin And roam like a celluar phone far from home Givin crowds what they wantin Offical hip-hop consumption, the 5th thumpin Keepin ya party jumpin with an original somethin Yo, I dedicate this to the one dimension-al No imagination, excuse for perpetration My man came over and said, "Yo we thought we heard you" Joke's on you; you heard a bitin-ass crew but um.. [Chorus: Raphael Saadiq] Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... [Verse Two] Thin is the line that run between love and hatred The game is ill-natured, it's nothing sacred Aiyyo, it's funny when I see some rap niggaz due to make it A few'll blow up, or go as far as they can take it My nine to five, is just to hit ya get the party live I'm Black Thought, used to rap for sport Now the rhymes sayin rent payin life support I take it very serious-ly, within this in-dustry It's various crews that try to touch me But I come with the beautiful things, and I bless the track plushly Around the world crowds love me, from doin tours Recepient of applause from all of you and yours Creator of original sounds to send to stores you take home, to absorb and sweat it out your pores Now who can stop the music runnin through these veins Infinitely go against the grain, that's why my motto's to.. [Chorus: Raphael Saadiq] Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... [Verse Three] Livin the life of limos and lights Airplanes and trains, short days and long nights Keyboards and mics, bass chords and drum kicks And my mental thick to hit my head like brick As I embark on a mission welcomin to the dark When I first spark the arts, when the listenin start Open your head wide, and let the Thought inside My style fortified by all of Philadel-phi I've dealt more stealth than all the wicked weal-thy Mentality undetectable by the naked eye Then I get paid when the record is played To put it short "I want it made" like Ed, nuff said Then after that, I'm puttin on my cousin Hamed We let the ladies blend with the darkskin thoroughbred and discover, my level is that of no other And Roots crew reign offical and true while I'm continuin to.. [Chorus: Raphael Saadiq] Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do... Never do....what they do, what they do, what they do...