It Wasn’t Me, It Was the Fame

Lyrics

[Intro] Fame Fame [Verse 1: Erick Sermon] As the wind sets the mood, it's time to let off A sucker tried to play me, the E, I'm not soft I'm very hardcore, droppin' bombs like Warsaw It reminds me, back in 1984 When I went to a party with the master plan To step up and put the mic in my hand Everybody was there, from junior high to high schools Dyin' to get busy because I knew I had the tools Then I got the heart and went by the set I said, "Yo, I wanna rock the set," "Yeah, no sweat" Kickin' rhymes in the place, people couldn't take it The style I flowed, the way I shaked and baked it Later on, I made a record and got recognition Everybody's jockin', now nobody's dissin' Written and produced by the new rap duo Yes, EPMD, now I'm known in school I see the backstabbers and the elderly creature features That used to diss me when I was tryin' to reach the Tip-tip-top and I won't stop To be the master in the field of hip-hop I did that and got a name for myself The image of E and all of my wealth I see my fake friends, but things ain't the same Oh, what a shame I diss 'em, who to blame? It wasn't me, it was the fame [Refrain: Parrish Smith] It wasn't me, it was the fame [Verse 2: Parrish Smith] Before I cut records, I had dreams of living large Earnin' crazy cash flow, the whole nine yards But when I told my college friends, they kicked back and laughed Said, "You better grab your books and take your behind to class" They said, "You couldn't make a record and expect to get paid 'Cause there's too many def rappers in the world today" I said, "Yo, my name is MD and my style is def" They said, "Your name is Parrish, son, you're like all the rest Frontin' you gettin' a contract, but then you 'fess" But when you heard my record playin', your mouth was wide open Your head was tilted back that you was almost chokin' But I just lounge and cool with the fellows Like my roomie D-Wade, Top Notch, and James Ellis I never hung with girls, only one and she was mellow First name was Terry, last name Romanello My records started sellin', then P withdrew From the college Southern Con known as SCSU But when I often go and visit they say, "P, bust a rhyme" I shake my head and then chuckle and throw up the peace sign They wanna feel my gold and sport my Rolex But P reply, "It's really nothin'," and don't like to flex And when I step up on the scene, I always hear them whisper "Yo, P is not the same, did you see him diss you?" I go deep into my thoughts, then I questioned my brain It wasn't me, the money, or the fortune, it was the fame [Refrain: Parrish Smith] It wasn't me, it was the fame [Verse 3: Erick Sermon] Oh, now you wanna know me, before you wasn't speakin' Now you watch Yo! MTV Raps every weekend Just to see me, the E and the P Coolin' out on the scene with Fab 5 Freddy Back then, you didn't know that I was determined To be a def rapper with the name Erick Sermon To be a crowd mover, someone that cause trouble Then I thought and came up with E Double I can't forget how they used to diss Sayin', "He can't rap because he talks with a lisp" But I got paid, now you feel stupid Amazed by the style the sound and how we looped it Now I clock G's, trunk jewels, and star trims Cool around town and flex my black Benz Def and hooked up with the system that cranks Living well off with dinero in the bank EPMD is Erick Parrish Making Dollars Always on tour, so you can call us Rhodes Scholars You saw me, then you said, "Where have you been? Because we miss you" I dismissed you, it wasn't me who dissed you, it was the fame [Chorus: Parrish Smith] It wasn't me, it was the fame [Verse 4: Parrish Smith] As I freak a funky style to a funky fresh rhythm I use my crazy def talent that God has given Me to flow slow and still live large To drop a def LP and catch MCs off guard Because my friends started buggin', we used to cool at the mall But on the S.T., the Sneak Tip, they pray for my downfall I used to cruise by in my rock and always hear them mumble "They got lucky on Strictly Biz, but watch the next one crumble" My father always told me to, "Wisen up, son 'Cause if you hung with nine broke friends, you're bound to be the tenth one" So I cut my friends off and P went for self Me and Erick Sermon and no one else Strictly writin' def lyrics to my best ability With the crazy imagination as my only utility 'Cause MCs around my way brag how def they are But now they workin' full-time and sharin' their moms' cars Always frontin' to the girls how hard you can rock But you leave out how you carpool to go punch the clock Yeah, we came hittin' hard, so all the talkin' had to halt But don't blame us, blame God, it's his fault For assistin' us on the mission of a point of no return To do a crab MC who did not learn Now when you're hot, you're hot and when you're not, you're not And when it comes to funky music, the two rock the spot So next time you see me coolin', bite your lip and respect Between me and you, sonny, straight up, I'm like death I cooled on the Run tour with Flavor and Chuck Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, but I guess that was luck I did shows in crazy countries like Europe and France Copenhagen, Denmark, and Amsterdam I even been to our country that they call Africa Keep your eyes on your girl 'cause P'll be watchin' around the Tick-tickin', yo, check out P rippin' A new way to sway 'cause brothers keep vickin' Flows and echoes that sound exact But you're rhymin' in circles and you ain't sayin' jack So take it in stride, by the way, I'm still the same First name is still Parrish, Sue's my girl, nothing changed You insist I act funny, but who's to blame? It wasn't Yo! MTV Raps, the money, or Soul Train It was the fame [Refrain: Parrish Smith] It wasn't me, it was the fame [Outro: Parrish Smith & Erick Sermon] Word up, storm, I'm gettin' mine, '89, it's like that Fame Yo, yo, it's AD Fame Sucker Fame