my friend sits by the drum
i grab the mic device and i cold get dume
no resistance
dig the polar opposites rocking it and chalking up another victory
dig the rap cats building the mystery
personally hand picked to make history out of realness
ordinary man feels us because
it's actually natural the way we're impacting you
back on my avenue back in the day
we were known to bust raps of a vivid array in a vicious display
the way that we rocked it was top notch
hypnotic
symbolic of the way we were living
chances we were given in the face of where we'd been placed in society
some folks lied to me
said get yourself a college degree
and assimilate quietly
a chosen few told me do what you do
and no matter what happens we'll support you
and the choices you make
chances you take
cages you shake
and events that ensue in the wake of you taking a stance
dance with the opposition
try to better your condition
after all, that's what life's all about
movement without regret, without doubt

pay the man what?
pay the man respect

hit with solid are full blast off guard
hard enough to knock me off balance
here's another strange challenge
besides living in a whirlwind existence
and managing your sanity avidly
life nowadays is overrun with 'reality' in quotations
and manufactured situations
i remember when i used to choose my own adventure as a principle
i choose invisible man
because i can't stand to be seen in this obscene plan laid
where we've all said we've got it made
but we've only been played for the gullible one
since dollars and cents make you controllable ones
fortunate sons
but it ain't me so i must be the rule exception
no doubt, no question
listening when they taught the lesson
always be true
and always do you

pay the man what?
pay the man respect

we could sit down and fantasize all day
but when you open your eyes life gets in the way
of your tunnelvision
forcing you to advance with caution
and second guess every single option
that's why we constantly find ourselves
lost in-between reality and our mind
in some interesting kind of charade
a pity parade with a cast of thousands
all trapped in public housing
stacked like bricks
looking for an escape or some quick fix from these predicaments
less than zero individuals have no need for heroes
the people united cannot be defeated
separation keeps administration seated at the top
if the bad apple won't drop
then chop down the tree with heavy artilery

pay the man what?
pay the man respect