[Lyric] Getting Up Anthem: Part I (Talib Kweli & Rakim)

[Intro: Talib Kweli & TagYerit sample]
Subway, subway surfing (New York City)
No fair to hold on (Hold on)
Some talk of sun and sand and surf that pounds
Now meet the Kid Kahuna of the underground
(Yeah, yo)

[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]
I come from a two fare zone it seem like just yesterday
I had to take the two and the five to the Junction and walk the rest of the way
You can catch a bus with a transfer
But waiting for that surface transit is a bitch I avoid it like a cancer
I’m heavy in the streets like crack in New York in ‘86
I was riding the A with the R in my walk man
With thieves and ‘lo-lifes, I can tell you stories of
Fighting for my glory on the subway like the Warriors
Young mans rights of passage through the belly of the beast
With the working classes, homeless and the purse snatchers
We used to hop and never drop a token
Over the turnstiles Edward Moses
And run from the cops like Jesse Owens
Tracks stars riding in between the cars
The Bronx and Queens don’t seem that far
Looking at the map cause every single Ave we rep’
The people don’t look at each other
They starin’ straight ahead on this…
[Chorus: TagYerit sample]
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on

[Verse 2: Rakim]
I used to roll through the hood, a good ride keep my mental entertained
And find higher thoughts past levels never seen
Any cost through New York’s five boroughs on the train
Subway—iron horse, slash ghetto limousine
Back when Hip-Hop was just bubblin’ in 3-D
That’s when a metropolis was covered in graffiti
More color than TV, just watchin’ while ridin’
Through the metropolitan rock and came to a brother easy
Bucktown to Uptown, under and above ground
To my words feel like we off surface
Rap flow like the trains give you sidewalk service
Ride the track to the 3rd rail soft-circuit
Strong Isle the LIR, Ozone Park
A Train, BK, East New York
MTA Harlem 1-2-5th to get off
Then take the 4, 5 or the 6 to the streets of the Bronx
Come on

[Chorus: TagYerit sample]
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway surfing, no fair to hold on
[Verse 3: Rakim]
We call it subway surfing a thug stay swerving
To the earth end through the suburbs it’s straight urban
B boy with the ghetto appeal it’s workin’
Ladies lookin’ lovely in the subway flirtin’
Money makin' Manhattan Do or Die Bed Sty
Brownsville never ran never will—let’s ride
The strong island or the isle’s of Shaolin
Or the boogie down Bronx NY

[Verse 4: Talib Kweli]
I put my finger to the wind to see if a train comin’ soon
It’s rush hour we pack ‘em in until there ain’t enough room
Or through the tombs riding under the surfaces
It’s a spray paint alternative it’s Getting Up
With Uni markers and permanent
I was more than your average straphanger
You gon’ know what my name is when I bang it
With a piece so ill that it’ll make the papers
Before the era of gaming these people did it for real
No controllers, riskin’ life and limb to get famous

[Outro: TagYerit sample]
Subway, subway, no fair to hold on
Subway, subway, no fair, subway surfing
Subway surfing, hold on
Subway surfing, hold on
Subway surfing, hold on
Subway surfing, no fair to hold on