I GOT TA ...


......pick up the mic on the solo tip
......run you down like a polo skip
......rip emcees like a paper bag
......wear a disguise to escape a nag
......go to my shows in a limousine, but
......stay in touch with my inner scene
......keep my house nice and tidy
......learn a lot about the whitey
......buy a house with all my riches
......invest the rest, avoid the ditches
......eat my frank wit' mustard only
......call up a friend when I get lonely
......do enough shows because the rent's due
......get paid cuz it makes "cents" to
......uplift Rap so it's respected
......help all those that are connected
......give a girl enough affection
......turn her heart in my direction
......grab the mic on the stage and
......drop more spice than a Cajun
......smoke emcees like a cigarette
......rap in a style they can't figure yet
......teach the youth that they're capable
......show the ghetto is escapable
......walk soft, but carry a big stick
......wise up and stopped bein' pegged quick
......manifest words so they're understood
......make more noise than thunder could
......play an emcee like a sham shirt,
So step back or your gonna get slammed, squirt
......get on the floor wit' a fly step
......come on strong like a bicep
......ball up my fist, that's my power sign
And emcees clean up ya act, cuz it's shower time
......drop my rhymes like a sandbag
......pick up the microphone and rag
Emcees who try to be better than
......heat up the party like a sweater can
......learn from the mistakes that I have made
......walk whatever path is layed
......let things fall as they may
......live my life by the day
......help out a friend that's in trouble
......tell 'em we all have to struggle
......go to school with the "other" man
......get as close as I can
......knowin' he knows to know him
And then my chance to survive is less grim
......also to have knowledge of self, tho
......learn that plans achieve wealth, yo
......get that wealth for my family
And community and STILL live happily
Not "ever after", cuz life ain't a fairy tale
......stay on my toes and I'll never fail
......carry the crown like a duffle bag
You saw me score and you STILL wanna scuffle?......dang
......admit you gotta lotta heard, kid
You better run, like somebody smart did
......remember the Benz that my man drove
Now it's all smashed up in a grove
......recall the first day he bought it, tho
And as he boasted and posted I said, "So...?"
......say he was the man that was most backed
Ten workers on the Av, sellin' smack
Saturday he made his last mistake, so now......
......buy a suit for his wake, yo

I got ta
Yo, I got ta...

I got ta avoid surroundin' myself with too many materialistic things
But, I got ta live the life enjoyed by the law-abiding Black kings
I got ta motivate others to achieve and become part of this elite group
And that's really what the struggle for equality is all about, troop
I got ta understand the pain and strife of the next man
So I got ta avoid flauntin', showin' off and hi-postin'...if I can
I got ta make sure actions are understood completely by all followers
I got ta convert the color of your shirt from blue to white collars
I got ta close my eyes, ball up my fists and thank God for the freedom of speech
Then I got ta use my knowledge of the English language to write songs...and teach

I got ta
Yeah...I got ta


Masta Ace "I Got Ta"