(I got a hole where my heart used to be)
我的心里，有一个空缺（留给hip hop）
我才是真的艺术家
I'm a real true artist
我在作品里倾尽心血
Put all of my heart in this
要说的话我就是为了贝斯和吉他而生的，但这些还不够
I live for the basslines and guitar riffs - But too modest
茫茫音乐海中，其实我的音乐就像是鲨鱼一样，（只要你想）很容易就能找到
The music biz is a vast sea, and you know where the sharks is
从我还是个小屁孩的时候就喜欢上嘻哈乐
I discovered hip-hop as a little tyke
甚至比我会谈情说爱或是会骑车都还要早
Before I kissed a girl or ever rid a bike
作为一个孩子是没有理由不喜欢嘻哈音乐的
There was nothin' about it the kid didn't like
所以我就开始沉迷于创作玩弄韵脚和麦克风了
So an obsession was born for written rhymes ripping mics
其实我的天分不在爵士乐上面（而在嘻哈上）（loot to boot是Buddy Rich的一首爵士乐），于是我就一直坚持创作嘻哈音乐
My astute pursuit wasn't about loot to boot I studied the game from root to fruit
终于，人群开始蜂拥至我的表演，甚至让这里的街区都被封锁了
People gathered in flocks, Hip-hop, had the block locked
这就不由得让我觉得
And had us thinking out of the box
嘻哈音乐就是我们活着的证据呀
The time we were living in it was a testament
（我是指）商业化之前的嘻哈音乐（才是最纯正的）
For before the corporation would invest in it
而现在的嘻哈音乐开始被赋予新的形态和意义
And now they acting brand new
一直在坚持曾经的纯正的嘻哈的我，在现在的人看来就像是一个冥顽不化的傻子
I'm waving a flag for the culture, they lookin' at me like I'm a damn fool
当我有所成就的时候
(When I was up
你们就会围过来
You would always come around)
嘻哈乐
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
就是我的生命
[01:01.13]You are my life
就是我的灵魂
(But when I needed a friend
但当我需要一个真心朋友的时候
Oh you can never be found)
你们就不见了踪影
Hip-Hop Hip-Hop
唯有嘻哈乐
You are my friend
还在那里陪伴着我
What's really relevant
（做音乐）什么才是最要紧的？
Is it good in the hood if it ain't selling
难道销量不好就能否定我的作品吗？
And what is you telling me
所以你到底想表达什么？
Back - When we was back spinning the party was packed
回想以前，派对上我们都是现场进行打碟表演的时候
And it wasn't nobody to stack digits
没有人是为了追求销量数字而创作
They did it for the kids on the block
都只是为了街头的孩子们
Instead of banging they was hanging out doing that up rock flow rock
（让他们知道）除了搞些偷鸡摸狗的事，其实他们还能跟着节奏练练说唱玩玩摇滚
Hip-Hop was there - When nobody else cared
嘻哈音乐一直在那，就算没有其他人注意到
No education, no healthcare, or welfare
不需要培训，不需要照料，甚至不需要上福利、买保险的
The Bronx burning we turning into an inferno
布朗克斯区（纽约的一个行政区）排斥我们
What do we learn to know when we ain't earning dough
就算我们挣不了钱，至少我们还能学到点什么
We got greedier when the media showed up
直到一朝成名，我们就开始变得功利化
And got needier when the city disowned us
而有朝一日，世人厌倦了（我们的作品），我们又会过以前的贫苦日子
I guess it was tryna find a way out the projects
我想这应该只是我们谋求出路的一种方式
And that gentrification is the process to progress
毕竟要经过一个缓慢进步的进程，大家才能过上小康生活
God bless the child with the heavenly trust fund
希望上帝能保佑这些贫民窟的孩子们
The heaviest lump sum that come from the slums
（因为社会问题中）贫穷才是最严重的
(When I was up
当我有所成就的时候
You would always come around)
你们就会围过来
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
嘻哈乐
You are my life
就是我的生命，就是我的灵魂
(But when I needed a friend
但当我需要一个真心朋友的时候
Oh you can never be found)
你们就不见了踪影
Hip-Hop Hip-Hop
唯有嘻哈乐
You are my friend
还在那里陪伴着我
That's the sound of the men
你听到的
Banging on track not hanging on the corner slinging crack
其实是他们用心做的音乐，而终于不用再去街头兜售饮料
Now that we got our back up against the wall we gon' bring it back
（所以说）现在我们挺直了身板，就应该（把曾经最纯粹的嘻哈音乐）带回来
We them entrepreneurs keeping out dream intact
看起来企业家们像是让嘻哈音乐人梦想成真（过上富裕的生活）
The way I feel I don't know if you can say the same
如果你也真这么觉得的话，我就真的无语了
Look at what they became following the gravy train
看看他们只会追求利益的下场吧
And when it drips dry - Them little birds fly
等到终有一天你的油水被榨干失去了利用价值，他们就会弃你而去
Flocking for better weather while we keepin' it curbside
喜新厌旧不正是我们人类的本性吗
To have a cypher you've got to come around
想要知道（纯正的）嘻哈的秘诀，你得凑过来（认真听听）
While pop radio is telling you to dumb it down
（要知道）流行乐只能教会你把音乐更浅显通俗化
But I've been initiated
但是我已经发起（复兴嘻哈的运动）
And we gon' get this **** straight
倡导的就是必须要坚持自己的初衷
And state it that Hieroglyphics the greatest
就像是承认象形文字（虽然复杂却）是最伟大的文明成果
And I'ma be your friend even when I don't got one
虽然我并没有什么可以称之为朋友的人，但现在我仍想作为一个朋友一样告诫你
And when I give 'em the Rigmarole to let 'em know we're not done
走着瞧吧，看我写些长篇大论、旷世奇歌来让他们明白我们嘻哈人没有完蛋
Many rivers to cross
虽然会历经重重困难
To deliver the loss
（甚至最终的）结果还是失败
It's destiny, yes, we gon' weather the cost
但谋事在人成事在天，我坚信我们终将挺过所有难关
(When I was up
当我有所成就的时候
You would always come around)
你们就会围过来
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
嘻哈乐
You are my life
就像是我的生命，就像是我的灵魂
(But when I needed a friend
但当我需要一个真心朋友的时候
Oh you can never be found)
你们就不见了踪影
Hip-Hop Hip-Hop
唯有嘻哈乐
You are my friend
还在那里陪伴着我
Hip Hop My Friend