In a recent effort to snag some publicity post-that SNL episode during the 2004 election cycle, Reverend Al Sharpton has been working overtime organizing rallies against glorified violence in hip-hop muzik. Seriously: Sharpton is taking an ever-exhaustive stab at sending AK-47s, switchblades, and coked-up street hookers home and packing, far away from a genre that, as you know, enlightened TMT reader, is typically free of struggle, aggression, and protest.
In essence, though, Sharpton’s mega-thirsty for a time long past: when West Coast hip-hop was a land of milk and honey, ruled by woman-loving, nonviolent pacifists N.W.A. and the like. Those were the days, Rev.
Sharpton got down and cleaned recently in Motown and New York City, in his it-won’t-make-a-difference endeavor to pull violent, woman-bashing lyrical weeds from labels Viacom, Time Warner and Vivendi. Apparently, Sharpton’s supporting legislation proposed in New York that may or may not affect your favorite artists, listening habits, or daily indie-hair-swooping lives.
Instead, enjoy a cleaned-up version of Jay Z’s woman-loving classic. You’ll notice the flower-power happy-Volvo-driving-house-owning love theme doesn’t really affect the lyrical continuity. Or the struggle. That’s hip-hop, ladies and gents.
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"99 PROBLEMS" (Al Sharpton Remix)
If you're havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, MY FELLOW BROTHER IN THE STRUGGLE TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF MLK IN A SOCIETY MAINTAINING A FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS SURROUNDING OUR CULTURE
I got 99 problems but a LOVELY WIFE TO COME HOME TO WHO WILL COOK MY MEALS AND SLEEP WITH ME IN MATCHING PAJAMAS ain't one
I got the rap patrol on the gat patrol
Foes that wanna make sure my casket's closed
Rap critics they say he's "Money Cash ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMEN"
I'm from the hood LESS INTELLIGENT ONE, what type of facts are those
If you grew up with holes in ya zapatos
You'd be celebrating the minute you was havin' dough
I'm like YOU GOSH DARN critics you can kiss my whole BEAUTIFUL SMILING FACE
If you don't like my lyrics you can press fast forward
I got beef with radio if i don't play they show
They don't play my hits well I don't give a GOSH DARN CARE IN THE WORLD
So
Rap mags try and use my UPSTANDING AFRICAN AMERICAN IDENTITY
So advertisers can give 'em more cash for ads, LOVERS
I don't know what you take me as,
Or understand the intelligence that Jay-Z has
I'm from rags to riches SIMILARLY UPRIGHT AND EMPASSIONED AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE
I ain't dumb
I got 99 problems but a WELL-SPOKEN YOUNG WOMAN WHO SPENDS HER FREE TIME PICKING FLOWERS, SMELLING THE RAIN, AND READING DANIELLE STEELE NOVELS ain't one
[DON’T] Hit me
[Chorus]
99 problems but the BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WHO KISSES MY FOREHEAD BEFORE BED ain’t one
If you're havin’ girl problems i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMAN WITH EQUAL INCOME, HER OWN HEALTH INSURANCE, AND PRETTY EYES ain’t one
The year's '94 and my trunk is raw
In my rear view mirror is the mother-SLOPPY SUNDAY MORNING LOVING law
I got two choices y'all pull over the car or (hmmm)
Bounce on the devil put the pedal to the floor
Now I ain’t tryin’ to see no highway chase with Jake.
Plus I got a few dollars I can fight the case
So I...pull over to the side of the road
I heard "Son do you know why I'm stoppin’ you for?"
Cause I'm young and I'm A NONVIOLENT, UPSTANDING AFRICAN AMERICAN and my hat’s real low?
Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don't know
Am I under arrest or should I guess some mo'?
"Well you was doin’ fifty-five in a fifty-fo’ "
"License and registration and step out of the car"
"Are you carryin’ a BOUQUET OF ROSES on you I know a lot of you are"
I ain’t steppin’ out of THIS REGISTERED VEHICLE all my paper's legit
"Well, do you mind if I look round the car a little bit?"
Well my glove compartment is locked so are the trunk in the back
And I know my rights so you gon’ need a warrant for that
"Aren't you sharp as a tack, you some type of lawyer or something'?"
"Or somebody important or somethin’?"
Nah, I ain’t pass the bar but i know a little bit
Enough that you won't illegally search my REGISTERED VEHICLE
“We’ll see how smart you are when the K9 come"
I got 99 problems but a WIFE THAT BAKES HOT APPLE PIE IN A ‘KISS THE COOK’ APRON ain't one
[DON’T] Hit me
99 Problems but a WOMAN THAT CONSISTENTLY LETS ME HOLD HER IN MY ARMS AND READS THE BIBLE BEFORE BED ain't one
if you havin’ girl problems
I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a YOUNG WOMAN HUMBLED BY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD ain't one
[DON’T] hit me
