Dead Precidents

Lyrics

[Intro: Khary & Nas] I'm out for presidents to represent me Get money I'm out for presidents to represent me Are we really getting money? I'm out for presidents to represent me They getting money I'm out for presidents to represent me All the presidents that represent me [Verse: Khary] I know the beat says "presidents" But I'ma talk about precedents that I thought was set (Set) So most of us forget, and many feel the same (Yo) As me, but lack the evidence to explain How they feel about where hip-hop's going (Where'd it go?) So we often claim that commercial is wrong (Wrong) But there was nothing wrong with Run-DMC (What?) And they were just about as commercial as can be (That's tricky) And as time changes, music rearranges (Uh) Friends turn strange and there's no need for anger (Anger) About what you're listening to Because the new becomes the old, and the old becomes the new We can't blame rap for why the radio's whack Well, I can blame some emcees, but that ain't me, uh (I can name 'em, uh) I think it's more about the music industry (What?) And companies that swear they know what the people need (They swear they know) Ain't money such a powerful thing (How) How it manipulates the alt while seducing the dream? (Damn) Ever wonder why the mockingbird sings? (Why?) It probably got bribed for a brand new swing (And) And if not that, then a brand new bling (And) And if not that, then a couple of things, uh (Yeah) But hip-hop survives off most of what it represents Dead presidents just met dead precedents [Chorus: Khary, Nas] I'm out for presidents to represent me Get money I'm out for presidents to represent me Are we really getting money? I'm out for presidents to represent me What's the price of this music? I'm out for presidents to represent me All the presidents that represent me Uh, confusing, yeah I'm out for presidents to represent me What's the price of this music? I'm out for presidents to represent me We often confuse it I'm out for presidents to represent me Huh, yo I'm out for presidents to represent me All the presidents that represent me We all off of presidents