Keep It Rollin’ Lyrics

[Verse 1: Phife Dawg]
Ayo, swing-swing-swing to chop-chop-chop
Yo, that's the sound when MCs get mopped

Don't come around town without the hip in ya hop
'Cause when the shit hits the fan, that ass'll get dropped
MCs wanna attack me, but them punks can't cope
I'll have you left without a job like Isaac from The Love Boat
So money, watch your mouth, or I'ma have to bust ya
Battlin' MCs from JFK to Russia
Back down to London, Sweden, and Brazil

Do a US tour for three months, and then I chill
Styles be phat like Jackie Gleason, the rest be Art Carney
People love the Dawg like the kids love Barney
I love you, you love me

The shorty Phife Dawg is your favorite MC
So move back yourself, dread, you know the element
The Tribe is good for your health like a can of Nutrament
MCs don't have no wins, MCs don't have no bitches
I flip shit crazier than a busload full of Jerry's Kids
Your crew don't want it, and your crew don't want it
But if you feel you can swing it, then, money, please bring it
Large Professor in the house, you know how we do
I skate on your crew like Mario Lemieux
Peace to Ike Love and the rest of the crew
I'll meet you guys in front the cleaners
Bring the blunts and the brew, so

[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
What's up, kids? The Ab' is speakin' from the moon
Thanks for your support, ayo, I'll be home soon
But the only thing I ask when I return from my task
Is a whole bunch of beats and a flask full of ass
My fist stands firm because I'm Black and solid
I open up your pores like a plate full of collards
Come on, take it easy, would ya? Easy, easy
I'm up in the gulley, that's when I am her buddy
She told me pull her hair, I did, it drove her nutty
Filled up the hole like spackle or I mean putty
When we over joints like this, we never cruddy
Extra P hooked the beat, and kids, it feels lovely
Check it out, 'cause my conception is immaculate
A bachelor lookin' for a bachelorette
Back to you MCs, this is what you gonna get
A first-degree burn from my man Ken's cigarette
I hope you like Marlboro
Paul, you know we thorough like Denver
The beat feels like a never-ender
But all things good must, so I won't sweat it

Drop the seeds for the youthful crew, I hope you get it
As I stand, grip this mic inside my hand
Boy, I'll smack you up like I was your old gran
So respect yourself, son, and come and give me love

Once again, the Ab' is who you think of
So chill with the beef, money, we gotta dead it
[Verse 3: Large Professor]
It's Extra P, and yo, Tip, I'm 'bout to set it
On the country once again, here to win
I'm Uptown chillin', takin' in this Grandmaster Vic blend
From the projects, the PJs
Fuck them two DJ's
Self mission, I had her in the ill position
Sayin', "Large, you's the soul brother that I'd like to F with
For the rest of my life," yeah, yeah, now check the method
As I proceed with what you need like Akinyele
A whip looks complete when the tires say Pirelli
Funk monkey, one rapper fell off, now he's a junkie
There's eight million stories in the city, it's a pity
Don't fuck with the skins if she's tryin' to act shitty
Big shout to the Guru, Primo and Zulu Nation
Was on a vacation in the ghetto
Yo, Ras, slow your roll, I'm 'bout to bag this here schmeydl
Rapper Nas on top, it seems we gonna rock it
Queens represent, buy the album when I drop it

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About

Genius Annotation

Utilizing a sample of the Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s version of “Feel Like Makin' Love,” Tribe connects with producer/MC Large Professor, who at the time was in the midst of separating from his group Main Source, which he alludes to in his verse. Large Pro talked about the track with Complex:

So there was this joint, and I looped it up. And my boy Tony Rome, and Yusef, they had looped it up a while ago, and I was like, ‘Yeah, that shit is hot.’ But I never really knew what it was. But when I threw that record up there, I was like, ‘Oh shit, [I remember this joint].’ Then Tip was like, ‘Yo, that’s dope!’ Then I threw the drums to it, and it was cool.

I didn’t think they were gonna use it. It was crazy. He was like, ‘Yo, I’m in the studio, and I got that joint that you looped up. Come on, let’s rhyme over it.’

The track samples the intro from the Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s 1974 version of “Feel Like Makin' Love”:

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did A Tribe Called Quest say about "Keep It Rollin'"?
Genius Answer

Working with Large Professor [on ‘Keep It Rolling’] was great. He’s an amazing, genius producer. I don’t give too many people that title, but he’s definitely one of them. Large Professor showed me how to work the SP 1200. I had all my pause tapes and ideas, but he used to show me how to actually make tracks. It wasn’t even about giving Large Pro the spotlight on that song. It was par-for-the-course for the track. Large Professor ended the song because he was dope.

— Q-Tip, Vibe, 2011

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