7L & Esoteric – Rules Of Engagement (featuring J-Live & Count Bass D)

[Intro]

*scratching* One two, one two

For those who do not know, once again

For those who do not know, once again

(yo, check it yo)

[J-Live]

Aiyyo it’s somethin’ like a twilight zone epic

Rookies in the hall of fame vets gettin’ hazed

Has the world gone crazed?

Like, fatal flesh wounds when you just got grazed or

Walkin’ up and point blank shot from a twelve guage

There’s no respect for the rules of engagement

Producers know nothin’ of arrangement

Emcees with five figure deals and never got up on the stage yet

Knowin’ that they styles haven’t properly aged yet

Consider these, casualties in the war between art and industry

Fought in the streets, so nobody sells out in vain

It just makes us work harder, on these dope rhymes and beats

Knowin’ either side ever admits defeat

And screams treason at the first sign of retreat

It’s like a never endin’ struggle in this box of chocolates

It show that even though you got flavor ain’t nothin’ sweet

Hook:

For those who do not know, once again

For those who do not know, once again

[Esoteric]

Eighty nine was the time that I started catchin’ wreck

I had my hair in steps with a fresh pair of sweats

They were rules to abide by, you couldn’t slide by

Rappin’ in tye-dye claimin’ that you sci-fi

But nowadays people clap even if you’re wack

No wonder everbody wants to rap

These underground cats think they’re down

They don’t know a damn thing

These rock dudes tryna rap cause they can’t sing

You don’t shoot a gun before, learnin’ how to use it

Ya don’t shoot ya mouth off before learnin’ the music

I stay fly, the rules still apply

Bridge: *scratching of the line*

“let me tell you the reason why”

“Wanna know why, I’ll tell ya why”

“Because of my vocals”

“I told y’all here they come now”

“Now let me hear my man…

[Count Bass D]

First give it up to God he the head of my life

Blessed are the peace thought makers

The freight burners the paint hoffers

The old school jungle green users

The stop cap rockers, the S-P trunk haters

Beat’s so hot use a tong not my tongue it speaks impurity

Fuck Debbie, plus in blood like Carrie

They’re all gonna laugh at you

I know why Donny did a swan dive off the Essex

Ya claim inspiration, but still can’t play shit

Talkin’ bout you workin’ on a symphony

And can’t even play the tympani

Walls of asbestos filled with the best dust

Power station of the connection the wizard of Oz

Mixmaster nuff weed deejay pound cake

The brick mason, prime minister V.C. Burn L

Now what is my moniker?, come late like Hanukkah

Johnny come lately, sometimes still crave-sty

Pac Man go ank-bank, stang like Cuba

More pickups than Hoover, more run than Suba

The funky dope maneuver, my field is holy

New duva, shook in Judah

Who the fuck wanna test me?

Captain Kenny Clark Gillespy, hold the vest B

We gon’t throw some hands in this section

Uhh it’s like that, Count Bass…