[Intro]
“A world premiere”
“A world premiere”
“A world premiere”
[Verse 1: El Da Sensei]
I calculate that Eighty-Five was the year
I first grabbed the pen, daydreamin’ of the cheers
I’d hear from rockin’ shows, no Girbauds that sag
The windbreaker suits and backspins that was mad
I stress progress, roll joints at my rest ‘til
The ill wee hours, and I knew it was the best
I hit mad spots, many crews got dropped
While I was gettin’ props, niggas was dealin’ on the block
Stayin’ in crib on the weekends ‘cause was Marley Marl
Was freakin’ the cuts Mr. Magic was speakin’
That’s how I got my first taste, makin’ tapes ‘til
The rhyme skill was great and my style would escalate
Practice made my perfect tactics, now my dap
Gets clap ‘cause I’m the rap snap fanatic
But now in Nine-Trey, I got the T-Ray tracks
And my trunks, my roots are growin’ styles from way back
[Hook]
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
[Verse 2: Tame One]
I flash back
To fat Kangol hats with plastic, back when
Steppin’ on kicks in Eighty-Six got your ass kicked
Bombers and sheepskins were common when I first started
Rhymin’. Still, I found time to go bombin’
Me and my pals rocked Cazals with no glass
Dark-flavored Clarks, Lee Denims off the ass
Back when Mr. Magic had it goin’ all the way on
The beef with BDP added flavor like a crayon
Indeed, MCs would represent with the skills
But now in Ninety-Three, a lot of them can get the dillz
It seems like a little somethin’ missin’ in the mix
But now I got a deal, so it’s up to me to fix
When niggas put me up on with funky raps to cut on
Word is bond, if I hear another wack rap song
I might snap, and it’s an actual fact that I’ma
Kick it like that ‘cause this is strictly ‘bout the way back
[Hook]
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“It’s like that y’all, it’s like that y’all”
“It’s like that tha- tha-that, it’s like that y’all”
“It’s like that y’all, it’s like that y’all”
“It’s like that tha- tha-that, it’s like that y’all”
[Verse 3: El Da Sensei]
Aww man
Damn, way back, things was kinda fat. Had
The Godfather knot, a Starter hat, things are kinda wack
Now. Packed up my cardboard and stepped away
I didn’t have a choice, the culture was slayed
Graffiti had died, and things were disappearin’
The West coast was here, and all these wack beats appearin’
DJs were breakin’ down record store doors
To get the Biz Dance and the Chante Moores
Peace to Buck Four, Rock Steady on the floor
New York and Dynamic crews plus many more
Remember the time when you didn’t pack a nine, niggas
Just came to hear some funky-ass rhymes
But all of that’s over ‘cause brothers wanna act up
No clubs to go to, they’ll just pack rap up
That’s how the media wants it to stop
So peep the first and last showing of Graffiti Rock
So check it. The brothers wanna wreck it to get what’s
Expected ‘cause hip-hop should be respected
Gotta get it back to get it on track
Artifacts kickin’ styles illy on the way back
[Verse 4: Tame One]
Like back when my Timberlands were only size sixes
I used to take pictures, shootin’ spitballs at bitches
Cross New Jersey Transit just to see a rapper kick it
But now I ain’t with it ‘cause niggas just ain’t worth the ticket
Shit man, I remember jams that were slammin’, gettin’
Me and my man in was harder than backgammon
DJs would scratch back to back on boom baps
And rappers with real raps would drop shit real fat
But now, kid, as I recollect, rappers out
Who caught wreck respected, just got stuck up in my tape deck
Real deal hip-hop, when Biz used to flip-flop
His fat ass on stage and do a dance in busted Reeboks
Niggas must’ve forgot when real rhymes was hot
‘Cause now if you ain’t gold, you ain’t got no props
But fuck that. I’m above that, I don’t play that
The Artifacts staff drops math about the way back
[Hook]
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Going way back, way back, way back”
“Back in- Back in the days”
[Outro]
“It’s a demo...”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“You gots to chill...”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“South Bronx”
“To the- to the Bridge”
“South Bronx”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“Jimbrowski... that’s what it is”
“Back in- Back in the days”
“It’s like that y’all, it’s like that y’all
“It’s like that tha- tha-that, it’s like that y’all”
“It’s like that y’all, it’s like that y’all
“It’s like that tha- tha-that, it’s like that y’all”
“It’s like that y’all, it’s like that y’all
“It’s like that tha- tha-that, it’s like that y’all”
“It’s like that y’all, it’s like that y’all
“It’s like that tha- tha-that, it’s like that y’all”
