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Words from the artist’s archive
Crack in the Speaker lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
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Intro
Crack in the speaker, wires taped tight Music still knockin’ through the hunger at night Mama say turn it down, rent past due But the beat feel louder than the pain we grew through
Verse 1
Old heads talk ‘bout parks and the crates Stolen power from the light pole late No label dreams, just blocks and noise Turntables, beats, cops and broken toys Funk on the drums, sweat on the ground Whole hood circle when the break go round Didn’t have much but the sound stayed warm That’s how the street learned the beat was born
Pre-chorus
Every era broke, every era brave Same pain talkin’ through records we play
Chorus
Crack in the speaker, still bangin’ Life ain’t fair but we sang it From the curb to the stage we on That’s how the beat was born
Verse 2
Eighty-nine nights, radios hiss Cops roll slow, don’t wanna get missed Nineties had us writin’ pain in a book Every verse sound like a jailhouse look No silver spoons, just bars and stress Truth hit hard in a Mitchell & Ness If you ain’t live it, don’t quote that song We learned real quick how to rap that wrong
Bridge 1
Still hear ghosts when the needle drop Friends locked up, others never got out Every old verse still carry that weight That’s why the beat still sound like fate
Verse 3
Burned CDs then the files went online Same broke crib, just a different grind Streams look pretty but the fridge still light Numbers don’t hug you at two in the night Kids wanna rap ‘cause the rent still high Same story, different app this time New tech, but the hunger stay strong Still chasin’ freedom in a three-minute song
Chorus
Crack in the speaker, still bangin’ Life ain’t fair but we sang it From the curb to the stage we on That’s how the beat was born
Bridge 2
Ain’t no museum, this still the street Past and present in the same heartbeat If it sound rough, that’s ‘cause it’s true Beat got scars just like me and you
Chorus
Crack in the speaker, still bangin’ Pain turn rhythm, we bang it From the curb to the stage we on That’s how the beat was born
Outro
May not be rich, but the sound still mine Every era bled just to pass that line If the beat still knock, then we ain’t gone Long live the streets where the beat was born
Inside the recording
Crack in the speaker, wires taped tight Music still knockin’ through the hunger at night
Every era broke, every era brave Same pain talkin’ through records we play
May not be rich, but the sound still mine Every era bled just to pass that line
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.