[Flav] Yeah back it up [Chuck] Vultures of culture A dollar a rhyme, but we barely get a dime Uh-huh, check it out
[Chuck D] If you don't own the master, then the master own you Who you trust, from Swindler's Lust? (GEYEAH!) From the back of the bus, neither one of us control the fate of our soul, in Swindler's Lust
Hickory dickory dock Hand in my pocket, rob me for my chocolate (eheheheh) Mo' dollars, mo' cents, for the Big Six Another million led to bled, claimin innocence Is it any wonder why black folks goin under -- -- cause niggaz be sold in bundles No pressure, tell me why they don't care Rap and R&B pavin the streets of Bel-Air From the sales of singers, no longer here The bigger killer, get the bigger share (eheheheh) Now the ones I attack, negroes got their back No, eighty/twenty is a wack contract Forever lack, the voice of real blacks Stole rock'n'roll and ain't gave it back (yea yea) Started off my defense, now they're the ones I defend against who fell up into the tricks "Fuck the _Fight the Power_ shit; get that Chuck D nigga fixed, and keep him up out of the mix" Well hell, tell em Chuck don't suck no dick Be an ass, and that ass get kicked Hand in my pocket, rob me for my chocolate Watch em swindle yo' ass and turn a profit
If you don't own the master, then the master own you Who you trust, from Swindler's Lust? From the back of the bus, neither one of us control the fate of our soul, in Swindler's Lust
They don't care about me, they don't care about you They don't care about you and your crew your family neighborhood and plus, heh, they don't give a damn about us
[Flav] One thing about them, they like to exploit though [Chuck] Vultures of culture [Flav] They like to exploit little suckers [Chuck] A dollar a rhyme -- while we barely get a dime
[Chuck D] Profit off the soul of black folk Turn em into bitches, niggaz, and stupid ass jokes Laugh with us? Or laughin at us? That's what I'm guessin We in the Rutgers program with that question
They came in and sat at the feet (uh-huh) of our ancient ancestors; they learned (yeah) they took it back. They came back, then they imitated (right) Once they got enough, they came back and destroyed
[Chuck D] Laughin all the way to the bank; remember them own the banks and them god damn tanks (god damn right) Now what company do I thank? Ain't this a bitch Heard they owned slaves, in a ship that sank
[Flavor Flav] Aight aight aight aight yo yo Where all the Louie's? Where my Louie's? Ehehe
[Chuck D] If you don't own the master, then the master own you Who you trust, from Swindler's Lust? From the back of the bus, neither one of us control the fate of our soul, in Swindler's Lust
This to the blues people in the Delta This for everybody in the 50's that didn't, get their money Little Richard gettin half of a penny All of the super soul singers of the 60's All the bands of the 70's on the outside lookin in All the people that didn't make a DIME off their session playin And even the rappers in the 80's and 90's still tryin to get paid, from what they put in, yeah
If you don't own the master, then the master own you Who you trust, from Swindler's Lust? From the back of the bus, neither one of us control the fate of our soul, in Swindler's Lust