Yellow Brick Road

[00:01.14] What we have to do is deal with it when these individuals are young enough, if you will, to be saved, not in a religious sense, but not to constitute what this country at times calls (Yeah) their throwaway children

[00:14.89] We seem to be approaching (C'mon!) an age of the gross (*Burp*)

[00:19.89] We all have this idea that we should move up a little bit from our parents' station and each—and each generation should do a little bit better

[00:27.64] All right, come on, let's cut the bullshit, enough

[00:29.64] Let's get it started, let's start addressin' this issue, and open it up

[00:33.39] Let's take this shit back to the basement and we can discuss

[00:36.14] Statements that's made on this tape and its whole origin of

[00:38.89] The music that we all know and love, the music we all enjoy

[00:42.15] The music you accuse me of tryin' to destroy

[00:44.89] Let's rewind it to '89 when I was a boy

[00:48.14] On the East Side of Detroit, crossin' 8 Mile into Warren

[00:50.39] Into hick territory; I'd like to share a story

[00:52.89] This is my story, and can't nobody tell it for me

[00:55.89] You have well informed me, I am well-aware

[00:58.64] That I don't belong here: you've made that perfectly clear

[01:01.64] I get my ass kicked damn near everywhere

[01:04.39] From Bel-Aire shopping center just for stoppin' in there

[01:07.39] From the black side all the way to the white side

[01:10.14] Okay, there's a bright side, a day that I might slide

[01:12.89] You may call it a pass, I call it haulin' my ass

[01:15.89] Through that patch of grass over them railroad tracks

[01:18.39] Oh, them railroad tracks, them old railroad tracks

[01:21.39] Them good old notorious so well known tracks

[01:24.64] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road

[01:27.39] As we go on another episode

[01:29.89] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place

[01:32.64] That I once used to call home sweet home

[01:35.89] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road

[01:38.64] As we go on another episode

[01:41.14] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place

[01:43.89] That I once used to call home sweet home

[01:46.89] I'd roam the streets so much they called me a drifter

[01:49.89] Sometimes I'd stick up a thumb just to hitchhike

[01:52.64] Just to get picked up to get me a lift to

[01:55.39] 8 Mile and Van Dyke or steal a goddamn bike

[01:58.39] From somebody's backyard, and drop it off at the park

[02:01.14] That was the halfway mark, to meet Kim had to walk

[02:03.89] Back to her mama's on Chalmers after dark

[02:06.89] To sneak me in the house when I'm kicked out my mom's

[02:09.90] That's about the time I first met Proof

[02:12.39] With Goofy Gary on the steps at Osborn, handin' out some flyers

[02:16.39] We was doin' some talent shows at Center Line High

[02:19.29] I told him to stop by and check us out sometime

[02:22.04] He looked at me like I'm out my mind

[02:24.29] Shook his head like, "White boys don't know how to rhyme."

[02:27.29] I spit out a line and rhymed "birthday" with "first place"

[02:30.54] And we both had the same rhymes that sound alike

[02:33.54] We was on the same shit, that Big Daddy Kane shit

[02:36.79] Where compound syllables sound combined

[02:39.29] From that day we was down to ride

[02:41.29] Somehow we knew we'd meet again somewhere down the line

[02:44.04] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road

[02:47.04] As we go on another episode

[02:49.54] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place

[02:52.29] That I once used to call home sweet home

[02:55.43] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road

[02:58.43] As we go on another episode

[03:00.68] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place

[03:03.93] That I once used to call home sweet home

[03:06.54] My first year in 9th grade, can't forget that day at school

[03:09.58] It was cool 'til your man MC Shan came through

[03:12.58] He said that Puma's the brand ‘cause the Klan makes Troops

[03:15.06] It was rumors, but man, goddamn, they flew

[03:18.06] Musta been true, because man, we done banned they shoes

[03:21.06] I had the new ones, the Cool J Ice Lamb, suede too

[03:24.06] But we just threw 'em in the trash like they yesterday's news

[03:26.56] Guess who came through next? X Clan debuted

[03:29.31] Professor X (Vanglorious!)

[03:31.56] "Exist in a state of red, black and green, with a key, sissies!"

[03:35.56] Now with this bein' the new trend, we don't fit in

[03:38.06] Crackas is out with Cactus Albums, blackness is in

[03:40.56] African symbols and medallions represent Black Power

[03:44.56] And we ain't know what it meant, me and my man Howard

[03:47.56] And Butter would go to the mall

[03:49.06] With 'em all over our necks like we're showin' 'em off

[03:52.31] Not knowin' at all we was bein' laughed at

[03:54.81] "You ain't even half black!

[03:56.06] You ain't 'posed to have that, homie, let me grab that!

[03:59.06] And that Flavor Flav clock, we gon' have to snatch that!"

[04:02.06] All I remember is meetin' back at

[04:04.31] Manix's basement, sayin' how we hate this

[04:06.81] How racist but dope the X Clan's tape is

[04:09.56] Which reminds me, back in '89, me

[04:11.81] And Kim broke up for the first time; she was tryin' to two-time me

[04:15.56] And there was this black girl at our school, who thought I was cool

[04:18.31] ‘Cause I rapped, so she was kinda eyein' me

[04:20.56] And oh the irony, guess what her name was?

[04:23.95] Ain't even gonna say it, plus

[04:25.70] The same color hair as hers was and blue contacts

[04:28.70] And a pair of jugs, the bombest goddamn girl in our whole school

[04:33.20] If I could pull her, not only would I become more popular

[04:35.70] But I would be able to piss Kim off at the same time

[04:38.95] But it backfired

[04:40.20] I was supposed to dump her but she dumped me for this black guy

[04:43.70] And that's the last I ever seen or heard

[04:46.20] Or spoke to the "Ole Foolish Pride" girl, but I've heard

[04:49.33] People say they heard the tape and it ain't that bad

[04:51.95] But it was: I singled out a whole race

[04:54.33] And for that I apologize, I was wrong

[04:57.59] ‘Cause no matter what color a girl is, she's still a—

[05:00.84] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road

[05:03.09] As we go on another episode

[05:05.84] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place

[05:08.59] That I once used to call home sweet home

[05:11.84] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road

[05:14.48] As we go on another episode

[05:17.23] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place

[05:19.73] That I once used to call home sweet home

[05:23.23] Fuck out of my house, you fuckin' pieces of shit!

[05:26.73] Get the fuck out of my house, you stupid fucker!

[05:30.48] You son of a bitch!