You Can’t Hold the Torch Lyrics

[Hook: Sample + Q-Tip + Chauncey Black + Busta Rhymes]
"I write rhymes, I write checks"
(It's clear today)
Bust', ayo, what happened to the—
(Love—)
For the game
(Love—)
For the music
(I need realness in my life)
Ayo, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Bust', these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Ayo, what happened?
They ain't got it in 'em to make a classic
Ayo, what happened?
These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it?


[Verse 2: Busta Rhymes]
Ayo, I ain't bringin' they names up (Wooh!)
These niggas sound trash, straight foulin' the game up (Ha)
Need to change up (Change up), sound so trash (Ooh)
When I see 'em feel like breakin' they frame up
(Ha)
DuPont registry (Ha), talkin' 'bout somebody else cars (Ooh)
Muh'fuckers better step up your bars
(Ha)
Instead of frontin' in the game like niggas really are stars
Like we ain't seein' through the bullshit, we know who you are
(C'mon)
I'm like a blessing to the game when your shit sound dated
I force niggas to improve, you should be happy I made it
(Ha)
Here to rep the game fully, change my style like the weather
Givin' you niggas new shit to make the game feel better

I'm sayin, I cook in the kitchen and we make the thoughts connect
You forced to humble yourself, give me my big respect (Ha)
You hurtin' the game when your shit sound off, yaknow
A legend in this shit that's why I move like a boss, yaknow (Ha)
You better be tight, 'cause you can get tossed, fo' sho' (Ha)
You niggas know whassup, I come correct with money long 'cause I—
[Hook: Sample + Busta Rhymes + Chauncey Black + Q-Tip]
"I write rhymes, I write checks"
(It's clear today)
Tip, ayo, what happened to the—
(Love—)
For the game
(Love—)
For the music
(I need realness in my life)
Ayo, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Yup, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Ayo, what happened?
They ain't got it in 'em to make a classic
Ayo, what happened?
These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it?
(Yo)

[Verse 3: Q-Tip + Busta Rhymes]
Oh, my God, they'll (Uh) come ridin' around
Some (Uh) old dream and they (Uh) can't get down
They (Uh) lookin' around outside of themselves
And they (Huh!) sayin' things that ain't really themselves
And they (Ha) keep fuckin' regurgitatin' the same script (Huh)
Same hoes, same blow, same Glock clip (Ha)
Same drug strip (Uh), what the fuck is this? (Uh)
C'mon, y'all, raise the bar on this body shit
(Huh!)
You sound stagnant, need to progress and grow (Uh huh)
Upgrade your punchlines, finesse the flow (Uh huh)
Get your concepts and lyrics together, ayo (Uh huh)
Then drop the bomb shit to step up the pressure, y'know? (Huh!)
I'm tired of niggas complainin' how the game changed (Ha)
You niggas should step up your game, cause you sound strange (Ha)
That's why you ain't sellin' no records, check the SoundScan
(Uh huh)
In this rap shit I command respect, muh'fucker cause I—
[Hook: Sample + Busta Rhymes + Chauncey Black + Q-Tip]
"I write rhymes, I write checks"
(It's clear today)
Tip, ayo, what happened to the—
(Love—)
For the game
(Love—)
For the music
(I need realness in my life)
Ayo, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Yup, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Ayo, what happened?
They ain't got it in 'em to make a classic
Ayo, what happened?
These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it?

[Outro: Q-Tip + Busta Rhymes]
Ayo, these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Bust', these niggas in the game don't sound the same
Ayo, what happened?
They ain't got it in 'em to make a classic
Ayo, what happened?
These niggas can't hold the torch, so why pass it?

[Produced by J Dilla]

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About

Genius Annotation

This song is taken from one of Busta’s best selling album The Big Bang. Almost 10 years later, it was chosen to be a part of the collaborative mixtape of Q-Tip and Bust The Abstract and the Dragon.

The beat was made by the late J Dilla. It samples this great song from Minnie Ripperton. As usual, Jay Dee found the best part from the track to use, the sample only appears for a few second at around 3:20.

On the mixtape, Busta even pays his tribute to the influential beatmaker.

This song is about the Abstract and the Dragon criticizing the new MCs for not being as real and as good as they are. Definitely, a reccurring theme for Tip. For this reason even though the two of them have been in the game for so long, they are reluctant to give place to newcomers.

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