Yellow Brick Road

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 their throwaway children
We seem to be approaching an age of the gross
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
Alright, come on, let's cut the bullsh-, enough
Let's get it started, let's start addressing this issue and open it up
Let's take this s- back to basement and we can discuss
Statements that's made on this tape and it's whole origin of
The music that we all know and love, the music we all enjoy
The music you accuse me of tryna destroy
Let's rewind it to '89 when I was a boy
On the East Side of Detroit, crossin' 8 Mile into Warren
Into hick territory, I'd like to share a story
This is my story and can't nobody tell it for me
You have well informed me, I am well aware
That I don't belong here, you've made that perfectly clear
I get my ass kicked damn near everywhere
From Bel-Air shopping center just for stoppin' in there
From the black side all the way to the white side
Okay, there's a bright side, a day that I might slide
You may call it a past, I call it hauling my ass
Through that patch of grass over them railroad tracks
Oh, them railroad tracks, them old railroad tracks
Them good old notorious so well known tracks
So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
As we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
That I once used to call home sweet home
Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
As we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
That I once used to call home sweet home
I'd roam the streets so much, they called me a drifter
Sometimes I'd stick up a thumb just to hitchhike
Just to get picked up to get me a lift to 8 mile and Van Dyke
Or steal a bike from somebody's backyard
And drop it off at the park, that was the half way mark
To meet Kim, had to walk back to her mama's on Chalmers after dark
To sneak me in the house when I'm kicked out my mom's
That's about the time I first met Proof
With Goofy Gary on the steps at Osborn, handin' out some flyers
We was doin' some talent shows at Center Line High
I told him to stop by and check us out sometime
He looked at me like I'm out my mind
Shook his head like "White boys don't know how to rhyme"
I spit out a line and rhymed 'birthday' with 'first place'
And we both had the same rhymes that sound alike
We was on the same s-, that Big Daddy Kane s-
Where compound syllables sound combined
From that day, we was down to ride
Somehow, we knew we'd meet again somewhere down the line
So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
As we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
That I once used to call home sweet home
Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
As we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
That I once used to call home sweet home
My first year in ninth grade, can't forget that day at school
It was cool 'til your man MC Shan came through
And said that Puma's the brand 'cause the Klan makes troops
It was rumors, but man, they flew
Must've been true, because, man, we done banned they shoes
I had the new ones, the Cool J Ice Lamb, suede too
But we just threw 'em in the trash like they yesterday's news
Guess who came through next? X Clan debuted
Professor X (Vanglorious)
"Exist in a state of red, black, and green, with a key, sissies"
Now with this being the new trend, we don't fit in
Crackas is out with Cactus Albums, blackness is in
African symbols and medallions represent Black Power
And we ain't know what it meant
Me and my man Howard and Butter would go to the mall
With 'em all over our necks like we're showin' 'em off
Not knowing at all we was bein' laughed at
"You ain't even half black
You ain't 'posed to have that, homie, let me grab that
And that Flavor Flav clock, we gon' have to snatch that"
All I remember is meetin' back at Manix's basement
Sayin' how we hate this
How racist but dope the X Clan's tape is
Which reminds me, back in '89, me
And Kim broke up for the first time
She was tryin' to two-time me
And there was this black girl at our school
Who thought I was cool 'cause I rapped so she was kinda eyeing me
And, oh, the irony, guess what her name was?
Ain't even gonna say it, plus
The same color hair as hers was and blue contacts
And a pair of jugs, the bombest goddamn girl in our whole school
If I could pull her, not only would I become more popular
But I would be able to piss Kim off at the same time, but it backfired
I was supposed to dump her but she dumped me for this black guy
And that's the last I ever seen or heard
Or spoke to the "Ole Foolish Pride" girl
But I've heard people say they heard the tape and it ain't that bad
But it was, I singled out a whole race
And for that, I apologize, I was wrong
'Cause no matter what color a girl, is she's still a...
So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
As we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
That I once used to call home sweet home
Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
As we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
That I once used to call home sweet home