First Things First

[kid giggles]

[Kid 1 (Kid 2)]
We...just gonna get our shit together...{?}
(Man, get yo stuff, man c'mon) Yo, don't RUSH me, man!
Man, it's startin man, yo...you heard me, right?
(Nigga, what?!) Don't rush me that's what!
(Yo hurry up, shit!) *smacks lips* What's the rush, man?
What's the big - (Forget all that man, c'mon!)
Naw, man I need to make sure my shit is dope
(Nigga, the album is startin! Man look, he's right there, look!) [*applause*]
Aight, aight..

[J-Live (Kid 1) [Kid 2] {crowd}]
PEACE! [Yeah, whattup?] (Ha ha!)
Ladies and gentlemen {Shhhh!}
Gods and earths [What?!]
Brothers and sisters [niggaz and bitches!]
Kings and queens (Yeah, that's right) {SHH!}
[WHERE THE NIGGAZ AND BITCHES AT?!] (HA HA!)
Players and workers {Quiet, please!}
Pimps and hoes [aight] (Word, no doubt)
Reaper and sowers (Dey pimpin, what!)
Cutters and flow-ers [Yeah, yeah c'mon man]
Friends... [Whatever]
New Yorkers and countrymen [Whatever!]
True school alumni and children of alllll ages
(He's buggin) [Whatchu talkin' 'bout man?]
I like to welcome you all, to "All of the Above" [yeah, true true...]
I am your host, the resident MC J-Live
[Who the fuck is J-Live?] (J-Live) [Who dat?]
You might recognize me from such songs as, "The Best Part"
[Ta-ha, who he think he is, Tremor Clark?] (Oh!)
"Them That's Not" [Aww, that's my shit, yo!]
"Bust the Crowd" [Aight!] (I never heard that one)
"Braggin' Writes" [Oooh, he did what?!] (Naw, I ain't like that song)
Hopefully this album reach it's destination on time (uh-huh)
without any major drama... (Bootleggin' and what-not)
We've got a wonderful program for you this evening [evening?]
or this morning (mornin?), or whenever you happen to be listening [aight, aight]
We've got a wonderful program for you this NOW (wha?) [haha]
cause it's always now [hmm, get it?] (I get it)
Whether it's live through your walkman, turntable
car stereo [Word!], computer (Oh man, I'ma start stutterin)
or straight through your own home system [six, ha ha] (aight)
So just sit back, relax; or stand up and get busy
[What you want us to do, man?!]
DO what you feel, (aight) feel what you DO (true)
and enjoy... {*applause*}

[J-Live proceeds to cut and scratch]
"Live on the fader" "J-Live on the fader"
"All of the above'll be, caused by me"
[..is what this album is all about...]
"Bust this..."

[J-Live rhymes while cutting]
"Once upon a time there was a brother named" "J-Live"
"Had a little problem with his" "Record contracts"
"That which the world has never seen before"
"But I didn't care" "I'm never coming back" ("Worrrrrd up!")
"Lookin back on the moment, I'm surprised to find"
"I lay low" "yet still" "I'm gettin' mine"
"Rock shit like this" "just for fun!"
"Because" "two/too" "many" "wack-ass" "records" "get" "done"

[J-Live - Repeat 3X]
PEACE, Y'ALL! (PEACE Y'ALL)
PEACE, Y'ALL! (PEACE Y'ALL)
PE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEECE, Y'ALL! (PEACE Y'ALL)

PE, DA-DEE, PE-PE, DA-DEE
PE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEECE, Y'ALL!

First things first, I just - got through, goin through
this ordeal, dealin with deals, you know the deal
I've dealt with, bein dealt dirty, downsized
and duped, done double-paid my dues, for real
I just - know today's degree, C lesson
Not nowadays, can a record label fool me
So the understanding'll be 'The Best Part'
No need to guess how this rocky road was meant to be
I just - got home from a long tour
seashore to seashore, J-Live up the party
So, even if I'm unknown back home (say what)
Step out of the time zone, these folks came to see me!
I just - grab the mic, jump on the stage
Soak up the crowd, hittin 'em with page after page of
blood, sweat, tears, saliva, sperm, snot
shit, piss, throw-up, everything I GOT!
I just - let it all out, give it all back
like I got it, why? Cause I got it like that
I've been spotted by those that recognize the fact that
God is still black and bullshit is still wack! (wack!)

[J-Live - Repeat 3X]
PEACE, Y'ALL! (PEACE Y'ALL)
PEACE, Y'ALL! (PEACE Y'ALL)
PE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEECE, Y'ALL! (PEACE Y'ALL)

PE, DA-DEE, PE-PE, DA-DEE
PE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA-DEECE, Y'ALL!