Can't Stop This - The Roots

«My man, JD, was a true hip hop artist

… I can’t explain the influence that

His mind and ear have had on my band

Myself and the careers of so many other

Artists.

The most humble, modest, worthy

And gifted beatmaker I’ve known.

And

Definitely the best producer on the mic

Never without that signature smile and head

Bouncin' to the beat.

JD had a passion for

Life and music, and will never be forgotten

He’s a brother that was loved by me, and I

Love what he’s done for us.

And though I’m

Happy he’s no longer in the pain he’d been

Recently feelin', I’m crushed by the pain of

His absence.

Name’s Dilla Dog and I can only

Rep the real and raw.

My man, Dilla, rest in

Peace.»

Last of the red hot hip-hop lovin' emcees

That came up on grits and government cheese

The only thing I ever really loved in my life, was a mic

Some of my niggas fell in love with MPs, come on

Work the bass, nigga, juggle them keys

I’m tryin’a get a piece of this government green

And smack 'em in the melon with another LP

C’mon, help a couple people in the struggle get free

We from the block, where people stay prepared to rock

And it’s hard, cause opportunity be scared to knock

And mo' people in the 'hood found dead from cops

Than guns that drop, that sprayed off random shots

But whatcha know good, people say they in the hood fo' good

You ain’t a prisoner, the world got mo' to it

Sky’s the limit, it don’t take but a minute

Don’t fear for your people, nigga, my hood yo hood

Yeah… We did it…

I know in these tryin' times it feels confusin'

That’s why I can’t tell y’all to dance to the music

Unless, we face it first and try not to lose it

Even if it gets worse, they can’t stop this (stop this)

Can’t Stop This, I want my peoples to rock this

Bang this music in your speakers and boxes

Langston Hughes is about as a deep as my thoughts is

Sit back and I’mma paint you a portrait

Disgust can make you think that you’ve lost it

This shit can have you exhausted

Just, picture the planet and imagine it’s yours, kid

Don’t ever let nobody knock you outta your orbit

I never seen a bridge we couldn’t shuffle across it

We got a lotta people livin' a life, that’s pure trivia

Real hip hop, and they tryin’a get rid of ya

Can’t have that, because here come, the city of Philly

Put an end to all the trivia really

Where I’m walkin' everybody ain’t pretty or friendly

It’s work, my whole life they ain’t give me a penny

Comin' up between a rock and a hard, watchin' for God

People hip hopping with no option at all

Yo … it’s how it’s goin' down…

I know in these tryin' times it feels confusin'

That’s why I can’t tell y’all to dance to the music

Unless, we face it first and try not to lose it

Even if it gets worse, they can’t stop this (stop this)

We ripping hearts to pieces parts of raps a special sound

The robe’s long enough to be considered a gown

Thought’s brim is sharp enough to be considered a crown

When the plate come, take some, pass it around

It’s the last of the hip hop lovin' emcees

In front of an audience that never been pleased

I’m comin' from all the streets that never been cleaned

And speakin' for any face that never been seen

This debonair style of my words is high-calibre

Speakin' my mind for every day that’s on the calendar

Cause I done been quiet, about as long as I can handle it

Walked a mile in these boots that I’m standin' in

Mellow soul brother with his lyrical dean on

The stages I’m seen on, mic I fiend on

When a song full of soul, that’s when it mean more

I never hesitate to give a shoulder to lean on, yo

… Check it out, man

I know in these tryin' times it feels confusin'

That’s why I can’t tell y’all to dance to the music

Unless, we face it first and try not to lose it

Even if it gets worse, they can’t stop this (stop this)