Give the People

EPMD

About Give the People

"Give the People" is the third and final single released from EPMD's third album, Business as Usual. It peaked at 28 on the Hot Rap Singles. The song is built around a sample of the O'Jays' "Give the People What They Want".


Year:
1990
5:10
131 
#3

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

When I came out with my first rap jam
I had no idea that the record would slam
It did real good without radio play
Maybe at night but no airplay in the day

I couldn't understand why to be exact
Our music was good and I was far from whack
Then came the answer, commercial was the key
To get airplay and a spot on TV

Like Ed Lover and Doctor Dre from Yo, MTV Raps
A show, mainly for the black
And still we can't ill, 'cause to them that's wrong
Cause like P.E. said, we're too black and too strong

But hey, what can I say?
Brothers and sisters, that's a price a rapper must pay

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

[Incomprehensible]
Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

As airwaves collapse rap shows at a standstill
Some racial circuits the frequencies can't handle
The funk tracks produced by EPMD
But it's a fat jam, that will never win a Grammy

Unless we sellout and kill the black movement dead
Which means swallow our pride and become flunkies instead
And stop the rap about freedom, thoughts of a black president
And rap about a black crack, the mayor in our residence

Give me a break brothers, it's time to take a stand
And kill that, "No sir, yes sir, and thank you, ma'am"
'Cause the word is a luxury a black man can't afford
That's why poverty's on the rise and we still ignored

And it's a setback and yet the clock still ticks
And if we let it, rap would be run by politics
I read it somewhere that every man's created equal
But not in this day and age, maybe in the sequel

Which means next time, so observe these rhymes
And take a stand and go for yours cause I'm going for mine
That's why I

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

Why is that when wrong is done by the black
It's blown out of proportion and immediately attacked?
By the press and yes, conflict is caused
By the kids at concerts who bum rush the doors

One child gets hurt, the press gets pesty
But what about the Beatles, G, and Elvis Presley
Same stuff was rough, rap does not cause violence
So fight the power and make them understand
But too much power and you might get banned

So if you want airplay
You can't be too black and hey
Watch what you say, but ayo

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

[Incomprehensible]
Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

Got to give the people
Ladies and Gentlemen
Give the people what they want
Ladies and Gentlemen

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


EPMD

EPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group's name is a concatenation of the members' name "E" and "PMD" or an acronym for "Erick and Parish Making Dollars", referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon ("E" aka E Double) and Parish Smith ("PMD" aka Parish Mic Doc). The group has been active for 26 years (minus two breakups in 1993 and 1999), and is one of the most prominent acts in east coast hip hop. Diamond J, DJ K La Boss, and DJ Scratch were DJs for the group. more »

1 fan

Written by: ERICK SERMON, ERICK S. SERMON, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF, PARRISH JOSEPH SMITH

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Musical Style
"Give The People" by EPMD is a classic example of the East Coast Hip-Hop scene. With its dense sampling and complex lyrical wordplay, it showcases the group's distinctive style.
Released Year
The song was released in 1990 as part of their third studio album, "Business as Usual."
Artistic Background
EPMD (an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars") is a highly influential American hip-hop group from Brentwood, New York. The duo comprises of Erick Sermon ("E") and Parrish Smith ("P").
Achievements
"Business As Usual" peaked at #36 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, indicating that "Give the People" was a significant part of a successful album.
Lyrical Theme
The song, like many of EPMD's tracks, features politically charged lyrics. It is a call to action about giving the people what they want - music that is real, raw, and speaks to their experiences.
Unique Sounds
"Give the People" uses an interpolation of Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie" and the drum break of Sly & the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song," showcasing EPMD's innovative approach to hip-hop production.
Music Video
The music video for "Give The People" showcases the socio-economic landscape of 1990's America. Throughout the video, EPMD raps in different locations, representing various slices of society.
Legacy
"Give The People" is regularly hailed by fans as an example of EPMD's best work due to its engaging lyrical content and dynamic beats.
Collaborations
The album "Business as Usual" featured many guest artists and marked the debut of future hip-hop star, Redman, highlighting the significance of the album and potential impact of the song "Give The People."
Social Impact
"Give The People" played an instrumental role in popularizing political hip-hop, encouraging listeners to critique and challenge societal norms and inequalities.

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