Show Business A Tribe Called Quest

[00:01.28] 1 [00:01.55] (Q-Tip) [00:01.81] Let me tell you 'bout the snakes, the fakes, the lies [00:02.54] The highs at all of these industry shing-dings [00:03.81] Where you see the pretty girls [00:04.88] In the high animated world [00:06.39] Checkin' for a rapper with all the dough [00:12.19] If you take a shit they want to know [00:14.69] And if you're gonna fall, they won't be around, y'all [00:17.02] So you still wanna do the show business? [00:19.34] And you think that you got what it takes? [00:22.18] I mean you really gotta rap and be all that [00:24.65] And prepare yourself for the breaks [00:27.04] Check it out! [00:27.60] Do you wanna be in the business? (The Business) [00:31.99] The ups and downs with the hoes (The Business) [00:34.32] Always gettin' fronted on at shows (The Business) [00:36.78] People gotta stick their nose (In the Business) [00:39.26] 2 [00:39.72] (Q-Tip) [00:40.11] Yo, I gotta speak on the cesspool [00:40.92] It's the rap industry and it ain't that cool [00:43.49] Only if you're on stage, but if you're speakin' to your people [00:46.77] Ain't no-one your equal [00:48.45] Especially on the industry side [00:50.34] Don't let the games just glide [00:52.91] Right through your fingers, you gotta know the deal [00:55.95] So Lord Jamar speak, because you're real... [00:57.70] (Lord Jamar) [00:58.18] They're givin' you the business and puttin' on a show [01:00.16] You're a million dollar man that ain't got no dough [01:02.38] But you got a ho tickets backstage to a show [01:05.04] Sedated and at that fact they elated [01:07.38] Time pass and your ass say "Where's my loot?" [01:09.52] The reply is a kick in the ass from a leg and a boot [01:12.45] All you wanna do is taste the fruit [01:14.46] But in the back they're makin' fruit juice [01:15.91] You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label [01:19.15] Not able cuz you signed at the table [01:21.55] For a pretty cash advance, now they got a song and dance [01:24.03] That you didn't recoup, more soup wit' ya meal? [01:26.28] Cos this is the real when you get a record deal [01:28.84] And I say... [01:30.39] (Phife) [01:30.62] Aw... shucks, look what the cat hauled in [01:33.14] It's Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest, let me begin [01:35.58] Like Chuck D, I got so much trouble on my mind [01:37.85] 'Bout these no-talent artists gettin' signed, they can't rhyme [01:40.33] And if that ain't bad, you got bootleggers [01:42.73] Goin' out like suckers, motherfuckers [01:44.88] Feel it's time that I let loose the lion [01:47.35] And if not that then I'll commence to head flyin' [01:49.65] Seems in '91 everybody want a rhyme [01:52.17] And then you go and sell my tape for only $5.99? [01:54.42] Please nigga, I've worked too hard for this [01:56.91] No more will I take the booty end of the stick [01:59.31] Bogus brothers makin' albums when they know they can't hack it [02:01.54] Cuz they lyrics is played like 8-Ball jackets [02:04.06] Now tell me I can't tear it up [02:06.12] Go get yourself some toilet paper cuz your lyrics is butt [02:09.13] Do you wanna be in the business? (The Business) [02:11.43] People can't walk a straight line in (The Business) [02:13.91] Some of these brothers can't rhyme in (The Business) [02:17.67] A-yo, I'm tryna get mine (The Business) [02:18.32] 3 [02:18.73] (Sadat X) [02:19.23] The party scene is cool, but then again it's all the same [02:20.48] You see the same faces, but at different places [02:22.66] When you're up and ridin' high everything is palsy-palsy [02:25.30] Get a million pounds and all the skins give you hugs [02:27.65] Well that's cool, I can dig it, it really ain't my bag [02:29.29] Prefer to max on the side and let my pants sag [02:31.17] "Oh, he's a cutie", yeah, real cute [02:31.38] But I wasn't that cute when I didn't have no loot [02:36.98] Although I hit a pound of herbs I'm still nice with the verbs [02:40.60] So fuck what you heard [02:41.83] The born cipher, cipher master makes me think much faster [02:44.87] But critics still continue to plaster [02:46.76] My name and discredit my fame [02:48.46] All that shit is game [02:50.61] And I don't really give a damn [02:51.34] Eat from the tree of life and throw away the verbal ham [02:53.52] (Diamond D) [02:53.77] Well, excuse me, I gotta add my two cents in [02:58.11] Don't be alarmed, the rhyme was condensed in [03:00.85] A matter of minutes so it must be told [03:03.08] All that glitters' not gold [03:05.63] Everybody wants a deal, help me make a demo [03:07.89] See my name in bright lights, ride around in a limo [03:10.05] My moms keeps beefin' ("Boy, get a job") [03:12.56] But I wanna make jams, damn, I know I'll slam [03:14.91] Huh, well it's not that easy [03:17.28] You gotta get a label that's willin' and able [03:19.57] To market and promote, and you better hope [03:21.79] (For what?) That the product is dope [03:24.51] Take it from Diamond, it's like mountain climbin' [03:26.50] When it comes to rhymin' you gotta put your time in [03:29.02] Get a good lawyer so problems won't pile [03:30.69] You don't wanna make a pitch that's wild [03:34.16]