Testo: A Tribe Called Quest. Show Business.

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 you're gonna fall, they won't be around, y'all

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

Yo, I gotta speak on the cesspool
It's the rap industry and it ain't that cool
Only if you're on stage or if you're speakin' to your people
Ain't no-one your equal

Especially on the industry side
Don't let the games just glide
Right through your fingers, you gotta know the deal
So Lord Jamar speak because you're real

They're givin' you the business and puttin' on a show
You're a million dollar man, that ain't 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, "Where's 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 they're makin' fruit juice

You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label
Not able 'cause you signed at the table
For a pretty cash advance, now they got a song and dance
That you didn't recoup, more soup wit' ya meal?
'Cause this is the real when you get a record deal and I say

Aw, shucks, look what the cat hauled in
It's 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 can't rhyme

And if that ain't bad, you got bootleggers
Goin' out like suckers, motherfuckers
Feel it's time that I let loose the lion
And if not that then I'll commence to head flyin'

Seems in '91 everybody want a rhyme
And then you go and sell my tape for only dollar 5.99
Please nigga, I've worked too hard for this
No more will I take the booty end of the stick

Bogus brothers makin' albums, when they know they can't hack it
'Cause they lyrics is played like 8-Ball jackets
Now tell me, I can't tear it up
Go get yourself some toilet paper 'cause your lyrics is butt

Do you wanna be in the business? The business
People can't walk a straight line in the business
Some of these brothers can't rhyme in the business
Aiyo, I'm tryna get mine, the business

The party scene is cool but then again it's all the same
You see the same faces but at different places
When you're up and ridin' high, everything is palsy-palsy
Get a million pounds and all the skins give you hugs

Well, that's cool, I can dig it, it really ain't my bag
Prefer to max on the side and let my pants sag
"Oh, he's a cutie", yeah, real cute
But I wasn't that cute when I didn't have no loot

Although I hit a pound of herbs, I'm 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 don't really give a damn
Eat from the tree of life and throw away the verbal ham

Well, excuse me, I gotta add my two cents in
Don't 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 I'll slam

Huh, well it's not that easy
You gotta get a label that's willin' and able
To market and promote and you better hope
For what? That the product is dope

Take it from Diamond, it's like mountain climbin'
When it comes to rhymin', you gotta put your time in
Get a good lawyer, so problems won't pile
You don't wanna make a pitch that's wild