Getting Up Anthem: Part I

Lyrics

[Intro: Talib Kweli & TagYerit sample] Subway, subway surfing (New York City) No fair to hold on (Hold on) Some talk of sun and sand and surf that pounds Now meet the Kid Kahuna of the underground (Yeah, yo) [Verse 1: Talib Kweli] I come from a two fare zone it seem like just yesterday I had to take the two and the five to the Junction and walk the rest of the way You can catch a bus with a transfer But waiting for that surface transit is a bitch I avoid it like a cancer I'm heavy in the streets like crack in New York in '86 I was riding the A with the R in my walk man With thieves and 'lo-lifes, I can tell you stories of Fighting for my glory on the subway like the Warriors Young mans rights of passage through the belly of the beast With the working classes, homeless and the purse snatchers We used to hop and never drop a token Over the turnstiles Edward Moses And run from the cops like Jesse Owens Tracks stars riding in between the cars The Bronx and Queens don't seem that far Looking at the map cause every single Ave we rep' The people don't look at each other They starin' straight ahead on this… [Chorus: TagYerit sample] Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on [Verse 2: Rakim] I used to roll through the hood, a good ride keep my mental entertained And find higher thoughts past levels never seen Any cost through New York's five boroughs on the train Subway—iron horse, slash ghetto limousine Back when Hip-Hop was just bubblin' in 3-D That's when a metropolis was covered in graffiti More color than TV, just watchin' while ridin' Through the metropolitan rock and came to a brother easy Bucktown to Uptown, under and above ground To my words feel like we off surface Rap flow like the trains give you sidewalk service Ride the track to the 3rd rail soft-circuit Strong Isle the LIR, Ozone Park A Train, BK, East New York MTA Harlem 1-2-5th to get off Then take the 4, 5 or the 6 to the streets of the Bronx Come on [Chorus: TagYerit sample] Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on [Verse 3: Rakim] We call it subway surfing a thug stay swerving To the earth end through the suburbs it's straight urban B boy with the ghetto appeal it's workin' Ladies lookin' lovely in the subway flirtin' Money makin' Manhattan Do or Die Bed Sty Brownsville never ran never will—let's ride The strong island or the isle's of Shaolin Or the boogie down Bronx NY [Verse 4: Talib Kweli] I put my finger to the wind to see if a train comin' soon It's rush hour we pack 'em in until there ain't enough room Or through the tombs riding under the surfaces It's a spray paint alternative it's Getting Up With Uni markers and permanent I was more than your average straphanger You gon' know what my name is when I bang it With a piece so ill that it'll make the papers Before the era of gaming these people did it for real No controllers, riskin' life and limb to get famous [Outro: TagYerit sample] Subway, subway, no fair to hold on Subway, subway, no fair, subway surfing Subway surfing, hold on Subway surfing, hold on Subway surfing, hold on Subway surfing, no fair to hold on