Keep It Rollin’ by A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Beats and Rhymes of Hip-Hop’s Lyrical Maestros
Lyrics
Yo that’s the sound when MC’s get mopped
Don’t come around town without the hip in your hop
‘Cause when the shit hits the fan, that ass’ll get dropped
Mc’s want to attack me but them punks can’t cope
I’ll have you left without a job, like Isley from The Love Boat
So money watch your mouth, or I might have to bust ya
Battling MC’s, from JFK to Russia
Back down to London, Sweden and Brazil
Do a U.S. Tour for three months and then I chill
Styles be fat like Jackie Gleason, the rest be Art Carney
People love the Dawg like the kids love Barney
“I love you, you love me”
The shorty Phife Dawg is your favorite MC
So move back yourself dread, you know the element
The Tribe is good for your health like a can of Nutriment
Mc’s don’t have no winds, MC’s don’t have no winds
I flips you crazier than a busload of Jerry’s Kids
Your crew don’t want it and your crew don’t want it
But if you feel you can swing it, then money please bring it
(Wassup?) Large Professor in the house (wassup?)
(Wassup?) You know how we do (wassup?)
(Wassup?) I stay on your crew (wassup?)
(Wassup?) like Mario Lemieux (wassup?)
(Wassup?) Peace to Ike Love
(Wassup?? Hah hah) and the rest of the crew (wassup?)
(Wassup?) I meet you guys in front the cleaners
Bring the blunts and the brew so
Whassup kids? The Ab is speaking from the moon
Thanks for your support, ayo, I’ll be home soon
But the only thing I ask when I return from my task
Is a whole bunch of beats and a flask full of ass
My fist stands firm because I’m, black and solid
I open up your pores like a plate full of collards
C’mon take it easy would’ya? Easy easy
I’m up in the gulley, that’s when I am her Buddy
She told me pull her hair, I did, it drove her nutty
Filled up the hole like spackle or I mean putty
When we over joints like this we never cruddy
Extra P hooked the beat, and kids it feels lovely
Check it out, cause my conception is immaculate
A bachelor, looking for a bachelorette
Back to you MC’s, this is what you’re gonna get
A first degree burn from my man Ken’s cigarette
I hope you like Malboro, Paul, you know we thorough like Denver
The beat feels like a never-ender
But all things good must, so I won’t sweat it
Drop the seeds for the youthful crew, I hope you get it
As I stand, grip this mic inside my hand
Boy I smack you up, like I was your old grand
So respect yourself Son, and come and gimme love
Once again the Ab is who you think of
So chill with the beef money, we got a Jetti
It’s Extra P and yo Tip, I’m ’bout to set it
On the country once again here to win
I’m Uptown chilling, taking in this grand master Vic blend
From the projects, the PJ’s, fuck them two DJ’s
Self mission, I had her in the ill position
Saying “Large you’s a soul brother that I’d like to
Eff with for the rest of my life” yeah yeah now check the method
As I, proceed with what you need like Akinyele
A whip looks complete when the tires say Pirelli
Funk monkey, one rapper fell off, now he’s a junkie
There’s 8 Million Stories in the city it’s a pity
Don’t fuck with the skins if she’s trying to act shitty
Shout to the Guru, Primo and Zulu Zulu
Nation, was on a vacation, in the ghetto
Yo Ras, slow your roll I’m bout to bag this here s’metal
Rapper Nas on topic, seems we gonna rock it
Queens represent, buy the album when I drop it (drop it)
Immersing into the sonic landscape of ‘Keep It Rollin”, A Tribe Called Quest once again proves their timeless knack for weaving complex lyrical artistry with head-nodding beats. The fourth track on the lauded ‘Midnight Marauders’ album, ‘Keep It Rollin” stands as a testament to the group’s pivotal role in Hip-Hop’s golden age.
Peeling back the layers of the track reveals more than just a collection of clever lines; it unfolds a narrative rich with cultural references, self-awareness, and uncompromising integrity in the face of the music industry’s relentless cycles.
Sonic Cutlery and the Art of Lyricism
A Tribe Called Quest, known for their sharp wit, open the track with the onomatopoeic ‘swing swing swing, to chop chop chop,’ a battle cry against subpar MCs . This intro sets the stage for a track that doesn’t merely ride the beat but slices through mediocrity, asserting the group’s dominance in an industry oftentimes filled with cookie-cutter replicas.
The ‘sound when MC’s get mopped’ is not just a clever punchline, but a declaration of skill, an affirmation that when Phife Dawg grips the mic, he leaves no room for mediocrity. In a musical landscape overwhelmed by pretenders, Phife reminds listeners that genuine craft still reigns supreme.
Around the Globe in Eight Bars
From ‘JFK to Russia,’ then swinging down to ‘London, Sweden and Brazil,’ A Tribe Called Quest doesn’t just transcend borders with their music; they mark out a territory of influence. The mention of international locations is more than braggadocio—it’s evidence of cultural impact, showing that their art echoes across the globe.
This global checkpoint signifies a triumph not just of distance traveled but of a message spread wide. The magnetic pull of their tunes is not bound by language or culture – a universal call to nod your head and soak in the wisdom they offer.
Digging Deep: The Hidden Meaning Beneath the Groove
Underneath the self-assured rhymes and the smooth flow lies a deeper invitation for introspection. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg don’t just want to ‘keep it rollin” for the sake of momentum; they aspire to elevate the listener’s mind—encouraging a deeper understanding of the beat’s purpose.
When Phife Dawg states ‘The Tribe is good for your health like a can of Nutriment,’ it isn’t a throwaway line but a nuanced comparison that suggests absorbing their music is as nourishing for the soul as vitamins are for the body. The Tribe’s music is potent and invigorating, a necessary nutrient for those malnourished by the empty calories of superficial hip-hop.
Couplets That Cut: The Memorable Lines
Lyrically, ‘Keep It Rollin’’ delivers with lines that resonate long after the track ends. Standouts like ‘Styles be fat like Jackie Gleason, the rest be Art Carney’ not only demonstrate Phife’s dexterous play with cultural references but also epitomize the track’s overarching tone.
The playful interpolation of ‘I love you, you love me’ from the children’s show Barney becomes a memorable insertion that aptly captures the group’s wide appeal, yet still strikes with the sharpness expected from hip-hop royalty. Through such lines, Tribe juxtaposes innocence and experience, aligning with listeners from all walks of life.
Rollin’ with Legends: Collaborations that Count
Featuring the deft hands of renowned producer Large Professor and the voices of contemporaneous giants like Akinyele and Ras, ‘Keep It Rollin” bridges the gap between masters of the craft. This synergy illuminates Tribe’s prowess not merely in solo flight but also as collaborators who enhance each verse with collective genius.
The nod to ‘Guru, Primo and Zulu Zulu’ aligns Tribe with Hip-Hop’s influential thinkers and skilled musicians who have left an indelible imprint upon the genre. This serves as a roll call of sorts, an acknowledgement that no artist is an island but rather a node within a vast network of creative and subversive energy.
