1nce Again Lyrics

[Intro: Q-Tip & Phife Dawg]
You on point, Phife?
Once again, Tip
You on point, Phife?
Once again, Tip
You on point, Phife?
Once again, Tip
Word, watch me bust they shit
Okay


[Chorus: Tammy Lucas & Q-Tip]
Ohhhh, you did it to me once again, my friend
I swear you do it to me every time
Cause you stay crazy on my mind
Yo, you got it goin' on (Say word)
On and on and on
On and on and on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, come on

[Verse 1: Phife Dawg]
This is the year that I come in and just devastate
My style is great, ask your peoples can I dominate?
My rhymes are harder than last night's erection
Don't play me close, I'll have this mic up in your mid-section
My shit is lovely, simply meaning that my joint is tight
Amping up the mic, making sure production's tight
Sometimes I might catch a severe case of writer's block
But by the end of the day, you'll be on my jock

My name's Malik, my hobby's putting MCs to the test
And if you front, I'll put my foot up in your freaking chest
Freestyle fanatic and never will it ever stop
Your crew is his', you might just want to call the cops
[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
Ayy, yo, I gotta put some action on paper
Make sure my verse jump up and spread out like the raper
The only tip I got for a waiter
Is watch the doorknob hit me where the dirty dog should've bit me
That was my train of thought, but for so long I fought
Now I'm at a level supreme to the devil
So turn up the bass and lay low on the treble
We be the real MCs and you dead, bring a shovel
Revitalize, the vital Tribe nigga (WHAT?)
The ladies sweat the style like the squirrel sweat the nuts
You know a fella's good for the moola
Don't smoke no woolas, read the name, call me Slick Tip the Ruler

[Chorus: Tammy Lucas & Q-Tip]
Ohhhh, you did it to me once again, my friend
I swear you do it to me every time
'Cause you stay crazy on my mind
Yo, you got it goin' on
On and on and on
On and on and on (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah-yeah

[Verse 3: Q-Tip]
Yo, I've been treading on this globe, man, for twenty-five joints
Sometimes Shaitan got me by the pressure points
But I can break a fella down like sex
You eat Wheat Chex but still light in the ass and can't flex
If one nigga front, I'ma make more pay
'Cause tonight, we gettin off like O.J
And yo, I got a Dawg that bites, fuck the barking
Yo, I got a crew with the beats and the smarts and—
[Verse 4: Phife Dawg]
I fought my shit up on Linden in the one-nine-two
Forever writing, never biting, ain't shit else to do
Hoping to battle, but most MCs ain't ready yet
But if they utter one word then it's as good as set
You have MCs dropping bombs that's incredible
Some of the brothers, their styles are just despicable
As for me, see, I just do how I love to do
Try to deny me of my props then I'll be seeing you
Most of you suckers wanna be down for the tag-along
The freaking fame, someone tell 'em that this shit ain't games
You gots to do this from your heart, meaning your inner soul
And if it's real, only then will you be on a roll
I try to stay on top my game, there ain't no time to lose
Four albums deep as a Quester but still we payin' dues
So hear me out one time, you gots to be yourself
'Cause if you ain't yourself, you end up by your freaking self

I'm coming rugged with the Linden Boule type of slang
And yo, we'll see who can hang, yo

[Chorus: Phife Dawg & Q-Tip]
You on point, Tip?
Yo, once again, Phife
You on point, Tip?
Yo, once again, Phife
You on point, Tip?
Yo, once again, Phife
Ayy, yo, that kid is niiiiiiiice

[Chorus: Tammy Lucas]
Ohhhh, you did it to me once again, my friend
I swear you do it to me every time, yeahhh
'Cause you stay crazy on my mind, ohhhh
Yo, you got it goin' on, ohhhh-ohhhh
On and on and on, yeah
Oh yeah

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About

Genius Annotation

“1nce Again” was the group’s first endeavor to cross over into the mainstream R&B market without selling out their traditional sound. With the group’s chemistry being off during the album’s recording sessions, along with the pressures of fame, Q-Tip and Phife-Dawg brought back the feeling of the group’s earlier days by incorporating lines from their hit “Check The Rhime”. The song was a juxtaposition between the group’s traditional sound and the new sound they sought to achieve on the album.

The hook featured stunning vocals from R&B singer Tammy Lucas with a sound that was suitable for mid-90’s hit radio. The verses still retained the traditional Tribe sound with it’s jazzy bassline and hard-hitting drum beat.

“1nce Again” was the first single from the album Beats, Rhymes and Life and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.

Q&A

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

What songs are sampled for the beat on “1nce Again”?
Genius Answer

The vocal sample “ha ha, yeah y’all” that can be heard throughout the song was taken from Cannonball Adderley’s 1972 track “Untitled”:

The jazzy bassline sample that could be heard on the verse was taken from Gary Burton’s 1967 song “I’m Your Pal”:

The vocal sample “what” heard in the second verse was taken from the ATCQ’s 1991 song “What?”:

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