By All Means Necessary

Voice: so, you're a philosopher?
Krs: yes, i think very deeply.
[repeated and scratched]

[verse one]
Let's begin, what, where, why, or when
Will all be explained like instructions to a game
See i'm not insane, in fact, i'm kind of rational
When i be asking you, "who is more dramatical?"
This one or that one, the white one or the black one
Pick the punk, and i'll jump up to attack one
Krs-one is just the guy to lead a crew
Right up to your face and dis you
Everyone saw me on the last album cover
Holding a pistol something far from a lover
Beside my brother, s-c-o-t-t
I just laughed, cause no one can defeat me
This is lecture number two, "my philosophy"
Number one, was "poetry" you know it's me
This is my philosophy, many artists got to learn
I'm not flammable, i don't burn
So please stop burnin, and learn to earn respect
'cause that's just what kr collects
See, what do you expect when you rhyme like a soft punk
You walk down the street and get jumped
You got to have style, and learn to be original
And everybody's gonna wanna diss you
Like me, we stood up for the south bronx
And every sucka mc had a response
You think we care? i know that they are on the tip
My posse from the bronx is thick
And we're real live, we walk correctly
A lot of suckas would like to forget me
But they can't, cause like a champ
I have got a record of knocking out the frauds in a second
On the mic, i believe that you should get loose
I haven't come to tell you i have juice
I just produce, create, innovate on a higher level
I'll be back, but for now just seckle!

[verse two]
I'll play the nine and you play the target
You all know my name so i guess i'll just start it
Or should i say, "start this," i am an artist
Of new concepts at their hardest
Cause, yo, i'm a teacher and scott is a scholar
It ain't about money cause we all make dollars
That's why i walk with my head up
When i hear wack rhymes i get fed up
Rap is like a set-up, a lot of games
A lot of suckas with colorful names
I'm so-and-so, i'm this, i'm that
Huh, but they all just wick-wick-wack
I'm not white or red or black
I'm brown.. from the boogie down
Productions, of course our music be thumpin'
Others say their bad, but they're buggin
Let me tell you somethin' now about hip hop
About d-nice, melodie, and scott la rock
I'll get a pen, a pencil, a marker
Mainly what i write is for the average new yorker
Some mc's be talkin' and talkin'
Tryin' to show how black people are walkin
But i don't walk this way to portray
Or reinforce stereotypes of today
Like all my brothas eat chicken and watermelon
Talk broken english and drug sellin'
See i'm tellin, and teaching real facts
The way some act in rap is kind of wack
And it lacks creativity and intelligence
But they don't care cause the company is sellin' it
It's my philosophy, on the industry
Don't bother dissin me, or even wish that we'd
Soften, dilute, or commercialize all our lyrics
Cause it's about time one of y'all hear it
And hear it first-hand from the intelligent brown man
A vegetarian, no goat or ham
Or chicken or turkey or hamburger
'cause to me that's suicide self-murder
Let us get back to what we call hip hop
And what it meant to dj scott la rock...

[verse three]
How many mc's must get dissed
Before somebody says, "don't f*** with kris!"
This is just one style, out of many
Like a piggy bank, this is one penny
My brother's name is kenny - that's, kenny parker
My other brother i.c.u. is much darker
Boogie down productions is made up of teachers
The lecture is conducted from the mic into the speaker
Who gets weaker? the king or the teacher
It's not about a salary it's all about reality
Teachers teach and do the world good
Kings just rule and most are never understood
If you were to rule or govern a certain industry
All inside this room right now would be in misery
No one would get along nor sing a song
'cause everyone'd be singing for the king, am i wrong?!
So yo, what's up, it's me again
Scott la rock, krs, bdp again
Many people had the nerve to think we would end the trend
We're criminal minded, an album which is only ten
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky hit records
No more than four minutes and some seconds
The competition checks and checks and keeps checkin'
They buy the album, take it home, and start sweatin'
Why? well it's simple, to them it's kind of vital
To take krs-one's title
To them i'm like an idol, some type of entity
In everybody's rhyme they wanna mention me?
Or rather mention us, me or scott la rock
But they can get bust get robbed, get dropped
I don't play around nor do i f*** around
And you can tell by the bodies that are left around
When some clown jumps up to get beat down
Broken down to his very last compound
See how it sounds? a little unrational
A lot of mc's like to use the word dramatical!
Fresh for '88, you suckas...

Intro

The j, the i, the m, the m
The y, the j, the i, the m
It's jimmy!
It's jimmy! x2

Verse 1

Here is a message to the super-hoes
Just keep in mind when jimmy grows
It grows and grows and grows, so let it
But keep in mind about the epidemic
When jimmy releases, boy it pleases
But what do you do about all these diseases?
Jimmy is jimmy, no matter what
So take care of jimmy cos you know what's up
Cos now in winter aids attacks
So run out and get your jimmy hats
It costs so little for a pack of three
They're jimmy hats for the winter attack
Good for a present, great for lovers
Demonstrated by the jungle brothers
Protect your jimmy and keep it fresh
They're jimmy hats by krs

Chorus

So, remember you're never too old (jimmy is wearin' a hat)

Remember you're never too bold (jimmy is wearin' a hat)
Do me a favour, wear your hat
So jimmy...will have the opportunity to come back

Verse 2

Well, red alert is down with bdp
Teachin' you all about jimbrowski
I don't wanna hear that you're not with it
Turn around and see your butt in a clinic
Havin' doctors just poke at jimmy
Let me express what now what's in me
Too many people take too many risks
Too many people i see get dissed
Jimmy hats are now in style
Cos you can't trust a big butt and a smile
Some are dry and some lubricated
Many companies make and made it
So all you super-hoes, wear your hat
Cos drippin' jimmies is straight up wack
Keep in mind about jimbrowski
Jimmy hats by bdp

The j, the i, the m
The m, the y, the j, the i...
It's jimmy!
It's jimmy!
The j, the i, the m, the m
The y, the j, the i, the m
It's jimmy!

Repeat chorus

When some get together and think of rap, they tend to think of violence
But when they are challenged on some rock group, the result is always silence
Even before the rock and roll era, violence played a big part in music
It's all according to your meaning of violence and how or in which way you use it
No, it's not violent to show in movies the destruction of the human body
But yes, of course it's violent to protect yourself at a party
And, oh no, it's not violent when under the christmas tree is a look-alike gun
But, yes, of course it's violent to have an album like krs-one
By all means necessary, it's time to end the hypocrisy
What i call violence, i can't do , but your kind of violence is stopping me
By all means necessary, the rap audience must grow up
The same type of fightin' we do, they do except we've got nothing to blow up
It doesn`t matter if you win or lose, it's only how good you play the game
This is the oldest sneak attack, because it takes away our senses to gain
If all i do is play the game then i am just mediocre
We strive to be the best we can be, not to just get over
Some people say that life on a whole is serious and nothing is funny
That's only if you base your life around competition and money
Yeah, i'm making some money, he's making some money, but none of these things are necessities
What i find to be a necessity is controlling a positive destiny
With this, money, fame, glory and credit will come in time
The people down with me know this every minute they hear me sayin rhymes
I got some friends, i got some allies like stet, and big daddy kane
They know that by all means necessary that peace is the name of this game
Whether peace by war, or peace by peace, the reality of peace is scary
But we must get there, one way or another, by all means necessary.

{*30 seconds in: dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}

Cocaine business controls america
Ganja business controls america
Krs-one come to start some hysteria
Illegal business controls america

[krs-one]
One afternoon around eleven o'clock
It was freezin cold, he was standing on the block
Sellin cheeba, nick's and dimes
Sayin a rhyme just to pass the time
The cops passed by, but he stayed calm
Cause the leather trench coat was keepin him warm
But this time they walked by real slowly
He thought to himself, "they look like they know me"
They drove away, but he didn't stay
He jumped in the cab and he paid his tab
But guess who he saw when he hit the block
It was the same cop car, the same two cops
They jumped out quick, they pulled a gun
They said, "don't try to fight and don't try to run
Cooperate and we will be your friend
Non-cooperation will be your end"
He jumped in the car, and while they rode
They ran down the list of things he owed
They said, "you owe us some money, you owe us some product
Cause you could be right in the river tied up"
He thought for a second and he said, "what is this?
You want me to pay you to stay in business?"
They said, "that's right, or you go to prison
Cause nobody out there is really gonna listen
To a hood," so he said, "good!
I'll pay you off for the whole neighborhood"
Because

Cocaine business controls america
Ganja business controls america
Krs-one come to start some hysteria
Illegal business controls america

{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}

[krs-one]
A guy named jack, is sellin crack
The community, doesn't want him back
He sells at work, he sells in schools
He's not stupid, the cops are the fools
Cause everyone else seems to go to jail
But when it comes to jack, the cops just fail
They can't arrest him, they cannot stop him
Cause even in jail the bail unlocks him
So here is the deal, and here is the facts
If you ever wonder why they can't stop crack
The police department, is like a crew
It does whatever they want to do
In society you have illegal and legal
We need both, to make things equal
So legal is tobacco, illegal is speed
Legal is aspirin, illegal is weed
Crack is illegal, cause they cannot stop ya
But cocaine is legal if it's owned by a doctor
Everything you do in private is illegal
Everything's legal if the government can see you
Don't get me wrong, america is great place to live
But listen to the knowledge i give

Cocaine business controls america
Ganja business controls america
Krs-one come to start some hysteria
Illegal business controls america

{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Illegal business controls america
{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Illegal business controls america
{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Illegal business controls america
{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Krs-one come to start some hysteria
{*dj scratches "what what what what, what what what what,
What can we get for 63 cents?"*}

Cocaine business controls america
Ganja business controls america
Krs-one come to start some hysteria
Illegal business controls america

{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Yeah, illegal business controls america
{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Yeah, krs-one come to start some hysteria
{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Yeah, bdp takin over america
{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Ganja business controls america

{*dj scratches "what can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Cocaine, sensai
Aspirin, coffee
Morphine, sugar
Tobacco, got to go

{*dj scratches "what what what what, what can we get.."*}
Illegal business controls america
{*dj scratches "what what, what can we get.."*}
Yeahhhhh, ganja business controls america
{*dj scratches "what what what what what what,
What can we get for 63 cents?"*}
Yeahhhhh, cocaine business controls america
{*dj scratches "what what what what.."*}
Illegal business controls america

(yo man, these people around here in '87 just slippin-dough, you know what
I'm sayin? boogie down productions not slippin-dough, so hold ya hands-you
Know what i'm sayin? (word) yo! what's goin' on? mr. magic-you know what
Happened? he slipped on us-he die. pumpin kiss fm, we rock. to my man dj
Red alert- we chillin' (word). yo man! yo do, heard about, man, this shit
About this kid-wearin' the, ah, jerry curls, man. word up! he was slippin'.
Yo dough, word up, word up. he had a yellow coat on, but no description was
Given)

Now what you just heard, people, was a little kickin
But let me tell you this while the clock is still tickin
This is the warning, known as the caution:
Do not attempt to dis cuz you'll soften
Just like a pillow, or better yet a mattress
You can't match this style or attack this
While i'm telling you, write on schedule
Fuck with k-r-s and i'll bury you
Deep in the dirt, or sand with a shovel
No fight, no scurry, or scuffle, just muffle
Total domination on stage
Kris is the name, 22 is the age
Those who wanna battle, i know who you are
You got a little girl, you drive a little car
You come into the place with that look on your face
Before you ran the mile, you lost the race
So assume you're doomed when you step in the room
I'll be the witch and you'll be the broom
I'll ride you, guide you into the concrete
I'll slide you to a funky beat
So what do we have here?
A sucka in fear
I snatched your heart
Put it way up on the chart
At ten you're fucked
At nine you suck
At eight you're a sucker
At seven-a mothafucka
At six you're slapped
At five you're just wacked
At four you're lost
At three, you're just soft
At two you're an ass
At one, you're a dick
But before you slip, i'll whip
Cuz homeboy, ya slippin'

(yo get my slip on, i'm chillin on. a long time, ya see me slip on, crop d,
And i'll slip on, everybody-i slip on. sayin? i'll come back if i miss you,
Sayin?)

I understand that music calms the savage beast
But keep in mind that i compose my music piece by piece
First a bass, a snare
A little cut over there
I add my name k-r-s
And the shit becomes fresh
I ask moe and icu for their thoughts
Layin' down a power play all the suckas are tought
One again, the tactics of original arts
We're gettin' payed to the end cuz we were down from the start
We're known as boogie down productions, ain't no b-boy stance
Gauranteed to make ya dance, if you give us a chance
We're goin' off and of course all ya suckas are lost
You wanna hear a fresh rhyme? you've come to the source
Because i'm the type of guy who's not put up on a pedestal
Run my rhyme on time and on schedule
One after another, another to the next
Can't rhyme when you're tense, or your muscles won't flex
Check your larynx
It may get lower havin' sex
Or may get higher
When bustin' as a liar
These are the things i teach so be tought
To me you're kinda short, how many battles have you fought?
If you come up with a number, notebook, or list
It just doesn't matter, you can still get dissed
I'm bringin' back that ol' new york rap
That gets you jacked while you're hands still clap
It's funny
Just dissin' you i can make money
But noone's tippin'
My message is simple: ya' slippin!

(they slippin'-dough-1987-they spippin', but we goin' all the way to the top
Man (word)-you know what i'm sayin? to my brother krs-1, you're large, i'm
Sayin, large-everytime, man, large. they're slippin')

E-n-o, s-r-k
When you go through other albums, you're sure to say
Goddam! they all seem to sound alike
Till you hear the crew standin' over in the light
Showing, glowing, on the top growing
The lyrics keep flowing and flowing and just flowing
Just like a river, or better yet a stream
I'm proud to be down with the winning team
So don't ever in your life even think about an arguement
Cuz you'll get walked on like carpet
We'll pick you up, and dust you off
Stamp bdp on you're head and you're off
But you won't even change that to say instead
I'm down cuz i got a bdp on my head
So just before you inherit that ass kicking
I suggest you wake right up cuz ya slippin'

(yo! they slippin'-dough, they slippin'-dough, they slippin'-word up, i
Don't care no more, man, i'm commin' out of the shell-dough, they slippin'
Man. b-boy records, magic, yo all the time they slippin-ya know what i'm
Saying? this other kid-i don't know what his name is, but you know what time
It is. (word up!) he's slippin' too (everybody). slippin', and everytime
He do somethin', he's slippin'. slippin'.)