That's How We Do It

That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 Critics and cynics complain that it's a fallacy
 Claiming rap music has a lack of musicality
 But in reality none of the critics can rap
 So they don't know the facts but they're always on the attack see
 Rhythm and poetry that's what a rap is
 It takes musicality, focus and practice
 The rhythm is rapid like the notes of a jazz lick
 Or if it's a triplet it slows down like traffic
 You might point out that it lacks a melody
 But rap can be melodic like Ella or Della Reese
 I don't care about your musical pedigrees
 'Cos I'm the half breed of a jazz funk legacy
 You better be on point when you diss it
 'Cos we know the critics of rap are all bigots
 So dig it, this is how I kick it and it's beautiful
 Don't ever try to tell me that my rap isn't musical
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 The same critics talking trash and dissing rap
 Listen to jazz, rhythm and blues and classical gas
 Maybe they never studied the past or just don't mind
 That jazz wasn't considered a music at one time
 They don't want to admit that it might last
 A very long time like jazz and it's no fad
 Rap tracks continue to pack kiddies knapsacks
 So listen to the sax sayin' somethin' and that's that
 Now I can rap alone spontaneous like a saxophone solo
 Without a chaperon or a stack of poems
 I'm deep like a baritone singing in catacombs
 Back in the days I used to freestyle for accolades
 What other musical genre besides rap
 Crafts lyric gems just as rhythmic as hi-hats
 What other music improvises up wisecracks
 To make the crowd happily clap and why is that?
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 See I grew up in Philly listening to the Roots
 And Black Thought taught me the rules of this rap sport
 And now I'm hip-hoppin' on planes taking it worldwide
 To make the fellas clap and the beautiful girls sigh
 And every now and then critics emerge
 Telling me rap's not a music and I think it's absurd
 'Cos I transcribe the rhythms and I know that I'm right
 And I show and prove my theory when I'm holding the mic
 I know you might not respect what I do
 But at least hear me out when I'm stepping to you
 'Cos I'm not your average cat waving a gat
 When I rap I freestyle while I'm taking a nap
 Making them clap to the music as I travel the globe
 A representative with my pen
 I give a sensitive consideration to my sentences that's the concept
 Take it to the hook let me put it in context
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music
 That's how it is, that's how we do it
 That's why I love this hip hop music