Back Then

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Yeah Back then, didn't need the buzz Russian Alex had Reebok pumps Big Gaz had Nike T dubs Everybody wanted nice sneakers I saved up for a pair of Jordans And spent all day dubbing tapes for Walkmans Who remembers Ice-T was king? Flat tops were in, Swatches were bling I couldn't comprehend my sisters intrepidity Mohawks, Cherry Docs, Dead Kennedys Pegz memories are bonafide But perceptions change over time Yeah, I still love cars and motorbikes Give me coconut sauce and a bowl of rice Keep my soul alive, control the mics Bruce Lee versus poltergeist [Chorus] Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now [Verse 2] Ducking transit cops and gumbies Menzies Ave was a real Jumanji Windsor flats, St. Kilda junkies Steal your money, like "Which bank?" Girls didn't seem so superficial Levi jeans and a blue light disco Let's go back when baseball caps meant racking cans, police harassment Style wars, street assassin Collector's Corner, feed the passion Bootlegs from Central Station KRS-One's revelation Knowledge and self-preservation Fuck racism and President Reagan Remember days when I first tried rapping Cabs were black, white 'til you get enough Keep on— [Chorus] Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now [Verse 3] Everyone had humble intentions DJ Koopz had a couple of lessons Belt-drives, double cassette decks Tandy mics with the budget connections Back then, I scrubbed floors and packed shelves And left school to get away and hang out Phone boxes, pinball parlours Showing off like an ignoramus Whole crew had a crush on Tiffany And got played like a Mozart symphony Bronx infamy, Compton attitude Flannelette shirts and Adidas parachutes Bomber jackets, turtle Ray Bans New Balance, purple stained hands Little Ben got burned by spray cans And I still hear reverberations [Bridge] Back then, didn't need the buzz Back then, hadn't seen enough Back then, always dreaming of B-girls in the classroom, steaming hot Homeboys at the station, being hard Beatbox on the train, MC in the park Getting chased by cops, piss in the yards Back then, I lived the meaning of art [Chorus] Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now Back then wasn't easy Back then, things worked out Back then, I wish you were now