A Tribe Called Quest

Released: September 24, 1991

Songwriter: Q-Tip Ali Shaheed Muhammad Skeff Anselm

Producer: Skeff Anselm

[Chorus]
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city

[Verse 1: Q-Tip]
Look at Miss Elaine who runs the fast lane
Barely knows her name, struck by fame
She just got a Benz, she rides with her friends
Gotta keep her beeper in her purse to make ends
Rollin' down the block, checkin' out the spots
She winks at the cops, always give her props
She knows she's the woman, can't nobody touch her
Hangs with the elite, makes her papes from the gutter
Tried to make my moves on Miss Elaine, she called me young boy
Told her not to diss me I just wants to be your love toy
You young boy? My love toy? I doubt that very highly
Just because you rhyme don't mean I'll let you try me
Business oriented, egos never dented
Always sweet scented, if it's business, she meant it
Distractions never hurt, always did the work
Always was alert, she never got jerked
Queen of the feats, thrive to compete
Love the funky beats while she drove down the street
She was justified, couldn't get a job
Had to feed her family, so she had to play the mob
Pullin' out the oowop, listenin' to doo-wop
(You don't have to say a word)
(*gunshots*) That's all ya heard

[Chorus]
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city
Everything is fair when you're livin' in the city

[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
She's not a big kahuna, wish I met her sooner
Instead, I met her later, my love is much greater
Put me on her roster to rid her of imposters
And to sell the buddah for the sexy drug ruler
Love is my motive, now I'm drug promotive
Plus I needed ducats to fill up my buckets
Supplied me with the squeezy to make my life easy
Now I'm missing action for this fatal attraction
But don't you let me catch you with your joint up in these bitches
And don't you even dare to plan a plot upon my riches
'Cause if you play me out, I think I'll let ya be
I'll be damned if I let a brotha try to gas me
I played my cards well, try to live swell
For the G, I would sell, 'cause I was deep in hell
But then I really wasn't, she had a fly cousin
Who would give me booty on the side of my cutie
Elaine, she kinda knew, that I would do the do
But she didn't tear, I did my work with care
That's all that really mattered, her money never splattered
As long as she was paid, she was in the shade
You can't really blame her for holdin' on a flamer
Society taught her, but they didn't tame her
A ten clip salute, hunny here's a troop
She will never stop until she reach the top
Top, top...

A Tribe Called Quest is to Hip Hop what Pink Floyd is to Rock ‘n’ Roll. With humble beginnings in Queens, New York, the group blossomed from the friendship of Jonathan Davis (Q-Tip) and Malik Taylor (Phife Dawg). Along with acts like Jungle Brothers and De La Soul—their comrades in the Native Tongues rap collective—they vitalized East Coast Hip Hop, setting the stage for the rise of mainstream and alternative hip hop alike.

Their style, a synthesis of avant-garde production and authentic lyricism, paved the way for the conscious and jazz rap movements. Alongside other upbeat artists like Digable Planets, Us3, and Guru, ATCQ opened up the world of afrocentrism to a wider audience.

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