Story Behind The Song

The song was written after both Ran and his producer King Solomon felt out of place in the current rap scene. After visiting Def-Jam in a face-to-face meeting in 2003, they decide to redefine their efforts and this was the first song in that regard. I hope you enjoy it. The key was to invoke emotions about the past hip-hop music that shaped all of our knowledge and direction by the great ones before.

Song Description

Song that was written to inspire contemporary rap artists to strive for their best like the pioneers before us

Lyrics

?Renaissance?
©, Cory Phillips and Randolph McGee, 2006
(Track #2 off Anno Domini LP)

Foreward:

Yeah, Harlem stand up,
This is your boy, Ran Ran, Lord Blessed
Yo, This one is for the 5 boroughs
Particulary, I?m reppin? that uptown borough
NYC, Harlem World, Stand up
132?.. Lennox and Fifth
That?s LAF for those that don?t know
Now, take this ride with me

Verse:

It all started off when I six years old
I heard the message, check it, I was six years old

And when I heard Loddi Dotti and they did that show
I memorized all the words, and I would kick that slow

I used to..kick back bro?with a thick black fro
Until my sista gave me braids when I entered the second grade

I was ready rhyming, hip-hoppin and pop locking
While most of yall was old as a F$$ck before you started rocking

I was already on it, shorty-wop forming,
Positions with intentions of ripping and getting it storming

And to do it like they did for love, not just to sit on them dubs
They did it better and they did it for us

This is way before they did for bub, before they did it for drugs
Even way before they did it for thugs

They didn?t do it for the niggas instead it was for the people
In the apple that would grapple and struggle to see the sequel

Chorus:
When I first Run do sucka Mcs it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Marky D, and Buffy and Cool-Roc-Ski it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Mel-E-Mel and Flash, White-Lines 83? it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
And Planet Rockas, the Soul Sonic and Bambatta it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real

My name is Randy-Ski in the place to be?.
That was my very first rhyme, the very first time

7 to 8, 8 to 9, 9 to 10
I free-styled
11 ? 12 , I used the pen

That?s when the youth begin to see the truth within
Shorty-wop was the truth and truth was him

I got love from the women and had juice with men
I was iller than most older dudes, abusing them

I went from ?Randy-Ski? to ?Shy-Smooth? to ?2-Smooth?
?MC Wreckless? the best the new move

?Wreckless Ran? was real, ?Kid Wreck? was even realer
?Ran Boogie? did it Harlem style for h$%s and for scrilla

When ?Ran Ran? came he brought thought to the game
?Ran Rileaux? was the new, but he still fought for the same

I been through the rain and pain, so come test
The unfuckwittable, spiritual ?Lord Blessed?!!

Chorus:
When I seen E do it in Beat Street I knew it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Double Trouble in Wild Style, I went wild it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Ricky D was a beast and Doug E had beats? it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
The South Bronx, the South, South Bronx it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real

I never did time, still I?m iller than most
The son of Pharaoh, with parables and syllable quotes

I got my dart and my arrow in the hood with the shadows
I play my part in the battle
From the ghetto I travel

Leo the sign of the sun
I got the mind of the ONE
I live it, load it and lock
Just like my mind and gun

Now do I get with them (?Yes I do!!?)
Money, I?ll hit em and I?ll split em then I send em to you

See, I rather grab my pen and pad and inter?the views of cinnamon crews
The scholar wear denim and jewels

When it comes to them dealers man, I done been wit a few
Coke killas and top dealers, I done been with them too

Before the spirit had to learn how true ministers do
I left the hood for several years till I was finished with school
My people stuck on the block, they never did what I do
I had to get it, now we got, so lets get it and move

Chorus:
The Bridge, The Bridge it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Eric B for president when flow became relevant it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
The smooth operator, Nice and Smooth and the Flava Unit ? it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Criminal Minded You been blinded it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real

Now let me slow it down, mow it down
That?s how I hold it down

Roll around, don?t load around when I roll in town

The bad wolf, I?m throwing sounds, so know it now
F%%&ck the industry huff and puffin it till I blow it down

My focus now, is black youth going down and my
Latinos and tinas, my ninos and ninas, my shaniquas and mickas
And all my sarafinas, joes and joses, rhondas and rosies

Im unifying all my people in the o-tre
Call us minority, but that aint what the globe say

Divine authority calling me to my soul sway
Hip hop was taught in me bought in me in my old days

I?ll be the illest even when Im in my old age
Realer than dealers and killers and all their cold ways

My sh$#t is iller than thriller and all my gold sways
Side to side, and I?ll abide in the gold age

Chorus:
When I heard Illmatic it was dope for an addict it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
With the 36 Chambers, I was, Ready to Die it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
Unreasonable Doubt was hotter than Down South ? it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real
And I?m revolution ready, God bless the Makeveli it was (?all a dream?), but it was all for real

Afterword:

LAF, Hard Pak, Lennox and Fifth, Reggie-Reg, Bam, Chris, Sala, Rap, Gino, Gator, Dame, Rel, E, Vo, Dave, Pop, King Solomon, Rest in Peace Euro, Holla Back