LE SON DU JOUR : A Tribe Called Quest, « Check the Rhime »

Sorti en 1991, dans l’album « The Low End Theory », le single « Check the Rhime » de A Tribe Called Quest va contribuer à populariser ce groupe de hip-hop américain. Le prestigieux magazine Rolling Stones le considèrera même comme l’un des 500 meilleurs albums de tous les temps.

Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden,
We used to kick routines and presence was fittin’
It was I the abstract

And me the five footer
I kicks the mad style so step off the frankfurter

Yo, Phife, you remember that routine
That we used to make spiffy like mister clean?

Um um, a tidbit, um, a smidgen
I don’t get the message so you gots to run the pigeon

You on point Phife?
All the time, tip
You on point Phife?
All the time, tip
You on point Phife?
All the time, tip
Well, then grab the microphone and let your words rip

Now here’s a funky introduction of how nice I am
Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram
I’m like an energizer ’cause, you see, I last long
My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong
Now if you say my style is wack that’s where you’re dead wrong
I slayed that body in El Segundo then push it along
You’d be a fool to reply that Phife is not the man
Cause you know and I know that you know who I am
A special shot of peace goes out to all my pals, you see
And a middle finger goes for all you punk MC’s
Cause I love it when you wack MC’s despise me
They get vexed, I roll next, can’t none contest me
I’m just a fly MC who’s five foot three and very brave
On job remaining, no I’m chaining cause I misbehave
I come correct in full effect have all my hoes in check
And before I get the butt the jim must be erect
You see, my aura’s positive I don’t promote no junk
See, I’m far from a bully and I ain’t a punk
Extremity in rhythm, yeah that’s what you heard
So just clean out your ears and just check the word

Check the rhyme y’all
Check it out
Check it out
Check the rhyme y’all
Play tapes y’all
Check the rhyme y’all
Check the rhyme y’all
Check it out
Check it out

Back in days on the boulevard of Linden
We used to kick routines and the presence was fittin’
It was I the Phifer

And me, the abstract
The rhymes were so rumpin’ that the brothers rode the ‘zack

Yo, tip you recall when we used to rock
Those fly routines on your cousin’s block

Um, let me see, damn I can’t remember
I receive the message and you will play the sender

You on point Tip?
All the time Phife
You on point Tip?
Yeah, all the time Phife
You on point Tip?
Yo, all the time Phife
So play the resurrector and give the dead some life

Okay, if knowledge is the key then just show me the lock
Got the scrawny legs but I move just like Luke Brock
With speed I’m agile plus I’m worth your while
One hundred percent intelligent black child
My optic presentation sizzles the retina
How far must I go to gain respect? Um
Well, it’s kind of simple, just remain your own
Or you’ll be crazy sad and alone
Industry rule number four thousand and eighty
Record company people are shady
So kids watch your back ’cause I think they smoke crack
I don’t doubt it, look at how they act
Off to better things like a hip-hop forum
Pass me the rock and I’ll storm with the crew and
Proper. What you say Hammer? Proper
Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop

NC, y’all check the rhyme y’all
SC, y’all check it out y’all
Virginia, check the rhyme y’all
Check it out, out
In London, check the rhyme, y’all