2Pac – Grab The Mic aka Thru My Rearview (Unreleased)
Date: January 12, 1996
Producer: Johnny “J” Jackson
Samples:
Public Enemy – Caught, Can We Get A Witness
Eric B & Rakim – Microphone Fiend
Patrice Rushen – Givin’ It Up Is Givin’ It Up
Lyrics:
[Chorus]
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all”
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
[2PAC]
Nobody thought I’d make it, the world call me loser,
just a High School drop out, young drug abuser
Mama told me they’ll be days like this, I never listened,
spent my childhood years in my neighborhood prison
the world don’t give a fuck about the kids,
I could see from the poverty and the evil shit they did,
to my young nation
participation,
more hesitation could turn lethal,
when it ain’t no love for a young nigga, he turn evil
and burn people, with no hope, it’s no peace
to all my niggas start regulatin’ on yo streets
plus in the neighborhood, scandals, another drug war,
there ain’t no crucial negotiation with Thug Lords
try conversatin’, but he won’t listen,
he said the world is a livin’ hell for God’s children
picture ’em still in the pen, doin’ life plus two,
while I’m starin’ at the world through my rear view.
[Chorus]
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
[2PAC]
It’s clearer now, cause I’m a noted individual,
plus I’m the Don, not just a small time criminal
times have changed,
homie died, only lives remain, massive amounts of narcotics, help me hide the pain
wishin’ on a Benz, came up on a Jag,
they got a yacht for the quiet time, reflect on the past
All my homeboys that didn’t make it, for you I do it,
remember back in the days as young truents
tellin’ me to beware because you care,
help me to be prepared, cemetary full of homies no longer here
but what about the babies, lost and watchin’ burgulars,
too dumb to be a dealer, too young to be a murderer
I’m beggin’ you God, don’t make they lives too hard,
they already scared, too doped up to see the stars
we livin’ to die,
everybodys high plus I’m high, too. Starin’ at the world through my rear view
Aaawwghh
[Chorus]
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Got me starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all”
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
[2PAC]
Pictures of plenty, handle a semi, sip a Henny,
I hustle for pennies, know my all, feared my many
I watched and took notes as a child,
I strategized, witnessin’ crack dealin’, and drug killin’, they scattered lives
Niggaz don’t know me but they think,
that we could be closer then homies, nigga you phony so quit buying tricks
mind on my money and funny about my currency,
niggas don’t wanna see me shootin’,but they ain’t buryin’ me
livin’ to tell, prison is hell for a nigga,
they using my bail, to put bigger jails for a nigga
father I’m feelin’ tired, forgive me cause I’m a sinner,
livin’ life as a thug, while duckin’ cops and the criminals
homies is dead, buried, past times are gone,
you ask why I drink liquor, cause my mind is gone
and if I die, then let me watch what we been through,
starin’ at the world through my rear view
Aaawwghh
[Chorus / Outro]
(Starin’ at the world through my rear view)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (They got me starin’ at the world through my rear view)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my motherfuckin’ rear view)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Peep what a nigga tryna say sometimes a nigga say)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!” (sometimes a nigga done seen it all done it all)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (and got shit to say to the motherfuckers that ain’t seen shit and did shit yet)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop (peep game you little young motherfuckers)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (stop running your head into these brick walls,)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!” (these older niggas got something for ya nigga you better listen )
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (That’ll get ya over the hump you know)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop (gotta get over the hump)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my motherfuckin’ rearview)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!” (thats right baby)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Thug Life, Westside, Death Row, Outlawz)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop (you know what time it is)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Starin’ at the world through my rearview, uh)
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all” (Got me staring at the world through my rearview)
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop (aight)
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all”
Somebody in the house say “yeah!”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all”
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all”
I grab the mic and try to say “yes y’all”
Tick-tock – ya don’t stop
