Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New

What the fuck? What, what, what?
Nothin' new, nothin' new, what? Nothin' new, check
Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
I represent the legendary Fifth Dynasty crew
Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin', check this shit out
It's nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Nothin' new, nothin' new

Ghetto-related rendition, the whole world awaited
Y'all Dorito-head cats that 'gnac and stagnated
Black Thought, the Doug E. most war veteran
Crown ruler, soul controller of this lyrical land
Spliff wizard, kid, who is it? Fifth dinosaur ghetto
Beat detonator, apex my level, next
My complex patterns of speech is like sex
I mastered the art of makin' you snap your necks

And Chase Manhattan endorse my mic checks
Upset poet threat, just collectin' my debt
Yo, I'm overpaid in dues, blood, tears, and sweat
When you fuckin' with The Roots, that's as good as it get
Ultramagnet, we pull you in a Drag-net
Then brainwash your clique and extort your assets
Then roadie all your homies on some old-school shit
Roots Crew represent! The Next Movement!

Life's a gamble! Step up and place your bets
I drift through space, then make my escape on through the 'net
With CD's, cassettes, no C.O.D.'s or checks
Straight from the old-school, ayo, Raw's in full effect!

I'm like Lex Luther with rifles filled with kryptonite
When you grip the mic, it's like, "C'mon, kids, let's say goodnight!"
You don't like me, but don't even know why should you hate me
You scared to face these, so I still remain safely confidin'

North Phil' where I'm residin'
Never let a outside nigga slide in
This ain't home plate, I dunk on you once inside the paint (uh-huh)
Flow like this, you can't (right?)
Take me you out, you ain't!

Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Nothin' new, nothin' new, tell me what you could do
Yo, we drop the funk, and do the shit

Yo, head lost, sippin' this Lambic Framboise
Spittin' it for, like, whoever demand the answer
What's the cure for this hip-hop cancer?
Equivalent to this avalanche of black snow rap flow
To get my people thinkin' mo', we at the brink of war
What does it all mean? What's it all for?
With knowledge of yourself, then you're through the first door
My people hungry and thirst for more, next music explore

It's heavenly to your ebony daughter next door
So, what you think The Roots get the world respect for?
The splendid, authentic hip-hop that's raw-core
Severe world premiere, a superior sophomore
No doubt, wherever you dwell, that's where the bomb fell
Explodin' from the imperial en-sem-ble, for real
From the venue to the avenue, we truly only got respect for a few
Y'all ain't sayin' nothin' new

Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Represent the legendary Fifth Dynasty crew
Roots crew comin' through, tell me what you could do
Yo, you lookin' for me? Nah, we lookin' for you
Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Represent the legendary, with nothin' to do
For you, yo, lyrical one-two
Blow up, yo, it's nothin' new, nothin' new

Look at y'all, you just a army ant, I'm a giant
Arm fist, king of my city, runnin' this shit just like a tyrant
Y'all clowns know what I meant, that's if we at war
Then my henchmen will be at your back door
(Uh) waitin', wise at debatin'
Trippin' over legos, runnin' up the steps and lookin' for a weapon
But you come out wavin' a white flag
That's why I just back-slap - like Shaq did Ostertag

Either take me out or be taken
You think I'm goin' down? Psych! The jury, they're still deliberatin'
I got half of they kids tied up in a basement
No, I'm just playin', yo, but that's how I'm playin', yo (right?)
Dig what I'm sayin', yo? D-I-C-E
Shove a mic in your mouth, like Ted DiBiase
When you come sloppy, fuck is y'all tryin' to do?
Y'all into some wack shit, and ain't sayin nothin' new

Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Represent the legendary Fifth Dynasty crew
Roots crew comin' through, tell me what you could do
One-two, one-two, yo, we lookin' for you
One-two, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Represent the Fifty Dynasty crew
Check it out, what? Well, one-two, one-two, one-two
Knowmsayin', yo? It's nothin' new

Nothin' new, nothin' new, y'all not sayin' nothin' new
Represent the legendary, Fifth Dynasty crew
Roots crew, tell me what you could do
You lookin' for me, we're lookin' for, one-two, one-two
Ha-ha-ha! Y'all ain't sayin' nothin' new
O-on-one-two, one-two
Represent the legendary Fifth, knowmsayin'?
Blowin' your vent, yo, content, yo, it's like that