[Verse 1: Posdnuos] We them pros, we never procrastinate (Ah) Guardians who shouldn't let you get past the gate Watch out, dawg, the watchdog's showin' his teeth Guess you bit too much shit, they bitin' your beat While I speak from experience, hunger and hurt And a little bit of hate from niggas doin' me dirt I just wash it all out with Tide and show love To those who ride with me while I'm puttin' in work
[Verse 2: Butta Verses] Full-timin' it, eight-thirty to six, the graveyard shift The three months before the benefits hit But my position went temp to perm' I sat and listened like an intern watchin' who applied get fired Now I'm sittin' in the break room, they gotta make room (Make room) My paper stacks, put staples through 'em So I can keep my money together Some die-hard fans just don't want it like, "Put Pos back on it"
[Verse 3: Posdnuos] I'm back on it, that's why you never disappointed We give you what we live through for real (For real) Don't own a crown, but I'm royalty And tryin' to see the royalty checks about a half a mil' Whether off or on the chart, my cuts grips your heart You know we got you open like your gut splits apart I never pass the buck, my shoulder holds the weights So don't beef when we don't pass collection plates
[Verse 4: Butta Verses] I don't give money, I don't support the needy Schooled in America, taught to be greedy And everything ought to be easy But I never could say goodbye to my friends who get high Wonder Why, I'm rockin' with that guy serious Still make you cry when the satire's hilarious Cold for your areas, flows come in various Shapes and sizes, so hot that you despise it
[Chorus: Dave, Yummy & Posdnuos] Never last up to bat (No, no, no, no) These skills, we don't lack (No, no, no, no) We never fallin' prey (No, no, n-no, no) Make all the ladies say (Ooh-ooh, baby) You can't knock the hustle (No, no, no, no, not at all) Can't be budged by your muscle (No, no, no, no) Never ridin' on E (No, no, n-no, no) It's De La and Butta V (Drive you crazy, yo)
[Verse 5: Posdonus] If you are what you eat, some of you cats heads between Your girl's legs a lot, 'cause y'all actin' sweet Go brush your teeth, then after that Put in a little more practice on your rhymin' attack What you write's not the least bit hot Maybe 'cause your wrist is so cold from all that ice you cop Hate to hate a playa, but you know what? I still smother ya like cheese and broccoli's freshly cut
[Verse 6: Butta Verses] And we the steak and potatoes and De La's the greatest And ladies be on the floor thankin' the Lord that He made us I'm tellin' you, I swoop her like a pelican do You sayin', "Look at that pelican fly," you spittin' gelatin rhymes They shaky as shit, ugly in the mold you fit We the square peg on the round hole Sound's soulful, your imitation flavor is tofu It's true we make a better day and we are
[Verse 7: Posdnuos] The world of rap, take you back in the days Of all four hundred ways that people lack It's that (What?) authentic, big-nosed mic music Fortified, survive all night to it I'm tryin' to keep up with my Jones' and Thomas' 'Til I'm broke like them New Year's Eve promises And that's alright, I just penned another sixteen To fill my bank account with the mixed greens
[Chorus: Dave, Yummy & Posdnuos] Never last up to bat (No, no, no, no) These skills, we don't lack (No, no, no, no) We never fallin' prey (No, no, n-no, no) Make all the ladies say (Ooh-ooh, baby) You can't knock the hustle (No, no, no, no) Can't be budged by your muscle (No, no, no, no, not at all) Never ridin' on E (No, no, n-no, no) It's De La and Butta V (Drive you crazyc'mon, y'all)
No is a braggadocios song where De La Soul and Butta Verses rap about how their grind has paid back dividends: they are never last place, whether it’s with work, girls, or life. Even though they all come from humble backgrounds, their combined spirit of hard work got them where they got today.
No’s message fits in with the rest of The Grind Date, an album that emphasizes reaping the rewards of hard work and “the grind”.
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