Rules of Engagement - 7L & Esoteric

One two, one two

For those who do not know, once again

For those who do not know, once again

(yo, check it yo)

Aiyyo it’s somethin' like a twilight zone ep

Rookies in the hall of fame vets gettin' hazed

Has the world gone crazed?

Like, fatal flesh wounds when you just got grazed or

Walking off a point blank shot from a twelve gauge

There’s no respect for the rules of engagement

Producers know nothing 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

Knowing either side ever admits defeat

And screams treason at the first sign of retreat

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

It show that even though you got flavor ain’t nothing sweet

For those who do not know, once again

For those who do not know, once again

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 everybody 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

Let me tell you the reasons why

You wanna know why, I’ll tell ya why

Why?

Because of my vocals

I told y’all here they come now

Now let me hear my man

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

Blessed are the peace bookmakers

The freight burners, the paint huffers

The old school jungle green users

The stock cap rockers, the SP truncators

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

You claim inspiration, but still can’t play shit

Talking 'bout you working on a symphony

And can’t even play the timpani

Walls of asbestos filled with the best dust

Power station of the connection, the wizard of Oz

Mixmaster 'nuff weed, DJ pound cake

The brick mason, prime minister V.C.

Bird L

Now what is my moniker?

Come late like Hanukkah

Johnny come lately, sometimes still crave stay

Pac Man go ank-bank, stank like Hooba

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 Gillespie, hold the vest B

We gon' throw some hands in this section

Uhh it’s like that, Count Bass…