Ragtime Songtext
von Brand Nubian

Hit her, I mean let′s hit this
That's not straight
Do it God, ya bwoy let′s do it now seen?
Here we go, let's pull it bwoy

Aiyyo, check this out
Brand Nubian gettin' ready to swing this ep′
We got the Grand Puba, we got Derek X on the flex
We got, Lord Jamar, we got Alamo with the A, Ron Stud!
And my man Ep Rock
X, kick the flavor for me on this one
′Cause we gettin' ready to be out of here in a sec

Wild, New York raw as my voicebox soars I′ll
Open your pores 'cause it′s one of my chores
Kickin' beats to boggle rhythms, cuttin′ rhymes to a schism
People often wonder and ask

Is I'm the best? Surely you jest, I'm not down with the rest
In fact, they failed the test
It′s my vernacular that′s simply spectacular
My bite is in your neck, it's the effect of Dracula


Man on a mission, go to school with low tuition
Can′t even keep account, of the G's I be kissin′
But oh I beg your pardon, the race is startin'
The criminals is there and I′m the hardest of the hard

And it's a feet for you to meet me on any given day
The adjective, amazing, spelled with an 'A′
And a ′G' on the end, by usin′ my pen
Set forth on a journey for the perfect blend

Rhymin' was a fad in the days of my dad
Now MC′s is makin G's and goin′ for bad
The X in my name makes it all official
Am I the King? Well that's the so-called issue

Rollin' off the tongue was the fresh one-liner
And CB talker was the zero one-niner
Took a slight drop from the tip of the top
Now I′m out for mines and I′m goin' to clock

What′s mine on the line on a rhyme I will dine
Never ate the pig, can't deal with the swine
Keep on, yes my word is bond
Speakin′ that knowledge like Farrakhan
'Cause it′s ragtime!


Ah yeah it's ragged, let's do it!
Aight, now we got Lord J
Lord J, yo c′mon now
Kick, the flavor to this
Drop it like this (I′ma swing it like this)

I like to drop bass, 'cause when it hits, I bounce ′em
I do this with my seven and my one half ounces of brain
Which I contain, to manifest thought
The record is bought so I figure I ought to elaborate

(Might as well) as minds in turn collaborate
I speak the facts black, I don't exaggerate
I just get to the bare essential
Demandin′ that I talk of my credentials, 'cause yo

I never slept, my mind was in the right place
Now let′s take our steps and retrace
Back to a time, when black was defined
As original, God-like, supreme, divine

Refined is my mind that's why I'm buildin′
There was a void in New York but now it′s filled in
By the Lord J, don't forget the A-M-A
To the R, now say I′m a star (you a star, J!)

Well you can be one too
Now here's all you got to do (whatcha gotta do?)
You got to know Knowledge of Self′s the foundation
Know wisdom's the way to let it outcome
Understanding is the manifestation
And cultural freedom, the final turnout, ′cause it's ragtime

That's definitely ragtime
Now let me brag mine! Let me brag mine
Hit this in the 90′s
Hey yo, bust it (here I go, here I go, here I go)

As I, stand as a pharoah and beat up on Eliza
Trick ends on my friends, ′cause Puba's not a miser
Last longer than a Duracell, or a Energizer
I got a little older but a whole lot wiser

When it comes to shootin′ sides, I'm a damn good shooter
MC Grand Puba should be worshipped like a Buddha
I boogies to the rhythm, kicks all the flavortism
Damn I gets busy, though makin′ rhyme I gets bizm

Always help another meaning sister or a brother
Just a little tip I picked up from my mother
Smooth as Ali Baba, once a week I see the barber
So honey pucker up 'cause I′m a damn good slobber

Mr. Exquisite, dressed in silk, Bally's made of lizard
So honey, what is it? (What is it?)
I rock a rhyme at a wedding, next tour I'm probably heading
You wanna beat like this? Check the stack of Otis Redding

I′m hurtin′ like a blister, confusin' like Twister
Not a only child, four brothers and one sister
Not a rinky-dinky, never snackin′ on a Twinkie
When it comes to flexin' I can bend like a Slinkie

So here comes the champ, to civilize a tramp
When brothers try to play me, that′s when the Pub' gets amped
So smile, here comes the picture, click!
A humble type brother so don′t play me as a vic'

I can relate to the Good Times, the Cosby's on the sometimes
Go no buzz on a Sunday. then it′s back at work on Monday
Take my gear to the cleaner′s, buy pants or a Beamer
Then I'm out, bangin′ crackheads, I can do without
(Definitely, why not Puba? Why, why, why?) 'Cause it′s ragtime

Ah, yeah
Now let's on the top with the 90s, y′all
Know I'm sayin'? You know I′m sayin′?
This is a brand new year
And we all brand new, brand new, brand new, yeah

Brand, brand new, brand new, yeah (let's check it like this)
Brand new, brand new yeah (let′s check it like that)
Brand new, brand new, yeah (now you know what I'm sayin′)
Young ladies, you gonna, can't wait
Kick this shit
Try to live
Yeah, yeah, yeah, eeh-hee!
Without the one...