Released: June 11, 2001

Songwriter: Prince

Producer: Prince

Let's play a game called "you agree"
'Cause nothin' was created in disagreement, see
And if I didn't try to school you, I'd be remiss
You know what?
Why should I do that when I can do this?

(Do this)
(Boom shakalakala boom)
This drummer wicked
(Do this)

U were just conceived on a Friday night
I was on stage wasting brothers in a real fight
Everytime they copped my space down I worked it harder
Stripped down 2 my underwear and spanked them like they father
Never before had people seen a vision so bizarre
Play a hand that's equal 2 mine
Uh, look at my cards I heard your little groove and I raised U another
On a Sunday morning would U play that smack 4 your mother?
Huh, I believe U would think otherwise
A few CDs from now when the software that U're banging's not alive
In a real battle those loops y'all got suffer TKO's
Until U're playing in front of 70,000 U'll never know, nigga
This a grown folks job
All the young dogs need 2 recognize
If the world was God, the people need 2 use it with a 3rd eye
Who? What? Why? Uh, lookout

And if I didn't try 2 school U I would be remissed
Y should I do that when I can do this?

(If a nigga never stylin', who would I diss?)
Y should I do that when I can do this?
(Boom shakalakala boom)
This drummer wicked
Y should I do that when I can do this?
This drummer wicked
Y should I do that when I can do this?

Everytime I turn around there's another boot
Talking about what another boot can't do
Quiet as it's kept, everyone of U boots need 2 try 2 walk a mile in my shoes

I've had devils (out) try 2 take me out but I stand 4 the truth
So my words makes mo' dollars than sense on your hellavision or your radio
With this flow it just grows
Yo, ask Chuck D. - he know
He's been fightin' the "so called power" since the days of old
So tell me now what should be sold?
Sleepy Jack hazards y'all need a couple of No-doze (Ooh)
Ask Mary J. about Chaka
Mary, is Chaka on the radio? (No)
Huh, see U gotta save your own
In the end it ain't about the dollars but the seeds U've sewn
In a mind state full of Dutch ELM that's where the ghetto's grown (Ohh)
Watch out y'all can't block me out 2night

If I didn't try 2 school u I'd be remissed
Y should I do that when I can do this? (Hey yeah)
(Do this)
(If a nigga never stylin', who would I diss?)
Y should I do that when I can do this
(Boom shakalakala boom)
This drummer wicked
Y should I do that when I can do this?

Uh, a drummer in a cold sweat, backin' up my rhyme
I'd make U take your shortie outta here (Everytime )
Calling me fine
I got a big stick, one 4 each hand
Everybody know I keep a tight band, come on
Uh

My brothers in Manhattan say, "Got 2 shut these haters down G."
He say, "Dog I got yo' back but U gotta, U gotta make a sound" (Make a sound)
Like we used 2, "Well U might be pissed
Cuz y would I do that when I can do this?"

2 most I'm known as a lover, 2 others I'm just a pain (Say what?)
The latter's opinion usually form when mediocrity reigns
And if I didn't school ya, U know what? (What?)
I would be remissed
Yo, y would I do that y'all, (haha) Londell, when I can do this?
(Y should I do that when I can do this?)
Y would I do that y'all, Ananda, when I can do this? (Backup)
(Y should I do that when I can do this)
Y would I do that y'all, Doug E., when I can do this?
Y would I do that y'all, Spike, when I could do this?
(Y should I do that when I can do this?)
Y would I do that y'all, NPG? We can do this, we can do this
Boom!

Prince

An American singer-songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist, and actor that produced 22 RIAA-platinum albums during his 40-year career, Prince may be known for one of many different things – his turn as “The Kid” in the iconic film/album/8 ½ minute ballad “Purple Rain”, being the writer behind the acclaimed anthem “Kiss,” rivaling Michael Jackson at the pinnacle of his career, being the inspiration behind censorship laws, or being the artist addressed as an unpronounceable symbol throughout the 1990s—but while many know of Prince, most don’t fully understand the impact his legacy left on this world.

Going by many aliases throughout his life, Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 7, 1958 with his father’s (John L. Nelson) stage name as his own given one. Growing up, Prince suffered from serious epileptic seizures at a very young age, but he had wrote his first composition of many by age seven, and outside of his love for basketball, he wanted music to be his purpose in life. His tumultuous childhood, witnessing alcoholism and abuse, caused him to find refuge in neighbor André Cymone’s home in his teens, where the two competed in local band competitions, leading to Prince’s introduction to Morris Day alongside music with his cousin’s band 94 East, leading him to be courted by record labels and ultimately signed to Warner Bros. Records with complete creative control; at 19, his debut album, For You (1978) was released – Prince played all 19 instruments on the record.

Influenced by the likes of Miles Davis, Rick James, and James Brown, Prince desired to form a music dynasty and after the success of his next albums – the platinum-selling Prince (1979), the sexually-charged Dirty Mind (1980), and politically-motivated Controversy (1981) – he negotiated for the ability to form his own label and manage artists of his own. Prince’s trademark sexual/religious rhetoric within pop-and-dance, funk-rock sound gained him a following, but his opening slates for Rick James and The Rolling Stones were both negatively received and facing bankruptcy, the young artist began to reach for mainstream popularity. Cashing on the drug-influenced doomsday mania of the times, 1982’s 1999 easily achieved that mainstream appeal, landing him on MTV, music charts, and radio stations across the world.