(I got a hole where my heart used to be)
我的心裡，有一個空缺（留給hip hop）
我才是真的藝術家
Im a real true artist
我在作品裡傾盡心血
Put all of my heart in this
要說的話我就是為了貝斯和吉他而生的，但這些還不夠
I live for the basslines and guitar riffs - But too modest
茫茫音樂海中，其實我的音樂就像是鯊魚一樣，（只要你想）很容易就能找到
The music biz is a vast sea, and you know where the sharks is
從我還是個小屁孩的時候就喜歡上嘻哈樂
I discovered hip-hop as a little tyke
甚至比我會談情說愛或是會騎車都還要早
Before I kissed a girl or ever rid a bike
作為一個孩子是沒有理由不喜歡嘻哈音樂的
There was nothin about it the kid didnt like
所以我就開始沉迷於創作玩弄韻腳和麥克風了
So an obsession was born for written rhymes ripping mics
其實我的天分不在爵士樂上面（而在嘻哈上）（loot to boot是Buddy Rich的一首爵士樂），於是我就一直堅持創作嘻哈音樂
My astute pursuit wasnt about loot to boot I studied the game from root to fruit
終於，人群開始蜂擁至我的表演，甚至讓這裡的街區都被封鎖了
People gathered in flocks, Hip-hop, had the block locked
這就不由得讓我覺得
And had us thinking out of the box
嘻哈音樂就是我們活著的證據呀
The time we were living in it was a testament
（我是指）商業化之前的嘻哈音樂（才是最純正的）
For before the corporation would invest in it
而現在的嘻哈音樂開始被賦予新的形態和意義
And now they acting brand new
一直在堅持曾經的純正的嘻哈的我，在現在的人看來就像是一個冥頑不化的傻子
Im waving a flag for the culture, they lookin at me like Im a damn fool
當我有所成就的時候
(When I was up
你們就會圍過來
You would always come around)
嘻哈樂
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
就是我的生命
[01:01.13]You are my life
就是我的靈魂
(But when I needed a friend
但當我需要一個真心朋友的時候
Oh you can never be found)
你們就不見了踪影
Hip-Hop Hip-Hop
唯有嘻哈樂
You are my friend
還在那裡陪伴著我
Whats really relevant
（做音樂）什麼才是最要緊的？
Is it good in the hood if it aint selling
難道銷量不好就能否定我的作品嗎？
And what is you telling me
所以你到底想表達什麼？
Back - When we was back spinning the party was packed
回想以前，派對上我們都是現場進行打碟表演的時候
And it wasnt nobody to stack digits
沒有人是為了追求銷量數字而創作
They did it for the kids on the block
都只是為了街頭的孩子們
Instead of banging they was hanging out doing that up rock flow rock
（讓他們知道）除了搞些偷雞摸狗的事，其實他們還能跟著節奏練練說唱玩玩搖滾
Hip-Hop was there - When nobody else cared
嘻哈音樂一直在那，就算沒有其他人注意到
No education, no healthcare, or welfare
不需要培訓，不需要照料，甚至不需要上福利、買保險的
The Bronx burning we turning into an inferno
布朗克斯區（紐約的一個行政區）排斥我們
What do we learn to know when we aint earning dough
就算我們掙不了錢，至少我們還能學到點什麼
We got greedier when the media showed up
直到一朝成名，我們就開始變得功利化
And got needier when the city disowned us
而有朝一日，世人厭倦了（我們的作品），我們又會過以前的貧苦日子
I guess it was tryna find a way out the projects
我想這應該只是我們謀求出路的一種方式
And that gentrification is the process to progress
畢竟要經過一個緩慢進步的進程，大家才能過上小康生活
God bless the child with the heavenly trust fund
希望上帝能保佑這些貧民窟的孩子們
The heaviest lump sum that come from the slums
（因為社會問題中）貧窮才是最嚴重的
(When I was up
當我有所成就的時候
You would always come around)
你們就會圍過來
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
嘻哈樂
You are my life
就是我的生命，就是我的靈魂
(But when I needed a friend
但當我需要一個真心朋友的時候
Oh you can never be found)
你們就不見了踪影
Hip-Hop Hip-Hop
唯有嘻哈樂
You are my friend
還在那裡陪伴著我
Thats the sound of the men
你聽到的
Banging on track not hanging on the corner slinging crack
其實是他們用心做的音樂，而終於不用再去街頭兜售飲料
Now that we got our back up against the wall we gon bring it back
（所以說）現在我們挺直了身板，就應該（把曾經最純粹的嘻哈音樂）帶回來
We them entrepreneurs keeping out dream intact
看起來企業家們像是讓嘻哈音樂人夢想成真（過上富裕的生活）
The way I feel I dont know if you can say the same
如果你也真這麼覺得的話，我就真的無語了
Look at what they became following the gravy train
看看他們只會追求利益的下場吧
And when it drips dry - Them little birds fly
等到終有一天你的油水被榨乾失去了利用價值，他們就會棄你而去
Flocking for better weather while we keepin it curbside
喜新厭舊不正是我們人類的本性嗎
To have a cypher youve got to come around
想要知道（純正的）嘻哈的秘訣，你得湊過來（認真聽聽）
While pop radio is telling you to dumb it down
（要知道）流行樂只能教會你把音樂更淺顯通俗化
But Ive been initiated
但是我已經發起（復興嘻哈的運動）
And we gon get this **** straight
倡導的就是必須要堅持自己的初衷
And state it that Hieroglyphics the greatest
就像是承認象形文字（雖然複雜卻）是最偉大的文明成果
And Ima be your friend even when I dont got one
雖然我並沒有什麼可以稱之為朋友的人，但現在我仍想作為一個朋友一樣告誡你
And when I give em the Rigmarole to let em know were not done
走著瞧吧，看我寫些長篇大論、曠世奇歌來讓他們明白我們嘻哈人沒有完蛋
Many rivers to cross
雖然會歷經重重困難
To deliver the loss
（甚至最終的）結果還是失敗
Its destiny, yes, we gon weather the cost
但謀事在人成事在天，我堅信我們終將挺過所有難關
(When I was up
當我有所成就的時候
You would always come around)
你們就會圍過來
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
嘻哈樂
You are my life
就像是我的生命，就像是我的靈魂
(But when I needed a friend
但當我需要一個真心朋友的時候
Oh you can never be found)
你們就不見了踪影
Hip-Hop Hip-Hop
唯有嘻哈樂
You are my friend
還在那裡陪伴著我
hiphop my friend