Heartbeat Props

But I'm still giving props where the props are due
'Cause he was the champ, as the champion he was my idol
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
It took a great man to mold those
All the lagging and the dragging
Once known as Joanne Chesimard, Robert Townsend, Nelson Mandela
You're giving more respect to a dead man than you do my man
I said I give my man props 'cause he's living
I give my man props 'cause he's living
KRS and Chuck need support today
To the nigga who went out on a whim
But let me start with a fool I don't give a fuck about
'Cause I ain't no punk, I ain't under man to Uncle Tommy
Don't you know that proper respect is what we're giving

We're giving heartbeat props
I give my man props 'cause he's living
Right or wrong, don't you think that he deserves a play?

And the chick the honky's ran to see

You're giving more respect to a dead man than you do my man
(Heartbeat props)
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
It's time to get busy with the heartbeat props
Yo, they took his title when he wouldn't take the gun
(We're giving heartbeat props)
Farrakhan comes you can't seem to buy a ticket
To march on Friday, yeah, it's kind of frightening
A bass freak would say oohwee
When you want to close the shows of your foes

(We're giving heartbeat props)
I said I give my man props 'cause he's living
Check it, when respect goes it's time to break a nose
The entire Nation of Islam, nucka, know what I'm saying?
Blast out, before we're all assed-out
But why did it take them so many decades
Yeah, Spike Lee, Alex Haley, Brand Nubian, sister Whoopi Goldberg
Uh, I said I give my man props 'cause he's living
So I'm giving them gifts before they're stiff like the pose
Yo, I got something to do that day
Fuck that fronting, fuck that fronting
'Cause he's living for you and you and you and you
'Cause foes are those that you got to break like windows
We're pumping up the brothers 'cause the brothers keep it pumping
Don't you know, don't you know that proper respect is what we're giving
(Heartbeat props)
(Heartbeat props)
But her heart stopped before
Told me to give her the full respect or get my ass kicked
Seems like you wondered each day if the Underground
You got it all wrong

We're pulling out all stops 'cause it's time give heartbeat props
Karreem Adul-Jabbar, the Black Panther Party, James Earl Jones
I said I give my man props 'cause he's living
They loved the way she shook her money-maker
Uh, I give my man props 'cause he's living

Be a cold bro and throw low blows
(We're giving heartbeat props)
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
Well, I suppose respect is what respect'll get ya
And my man's got the plans in his hand

A dead leader can't tax your mind
Proper respect is what we're giving
And my man's got the plans in his hand
Everybody get ready for the heartbeat props
Pee, drop the bomb and end the pressure with the menace
Check it out, y'all, proper respect is what we're giving
So I can't go on, it's time to drop a few bombs
We're here to let you know it's just a human being thing

Now they want me in the army but they can't harm me
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)

Peace to DU 'cause I like the way you do me
(We're giving heartbeat props)
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)

(Heartbeat props)
Uh, I said proper respect is what we're giving
Props to Islam, it's getting brothers together before the big bomb
Yeah, you sound like an old bitch nagging
Afrika Bambaataa, Miles motherfucking Davis, sister Assata Shakur
(We're giving heartbeat props)
You be thumbing in 'em, props to Beverly Johnson
And a fool for the loop, see, a groupie for the old one-twoiee
Is going to stay down with the funky beats
When you wait for the TV to tell you what's going on
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)

The brother X tried but he died trying to get through
I give my man props 'cause he's living
Sister Queen Latifah, Bill Cosby, sister Angela Davis
Get busy, G, go on and take 'em to school

(We're giving heartbeat props)
(We're giving heartbeat props)

I ask you about Malcolm and you tell me that he's wicked
In the pictures of Vogue and flashy fashion magazines
He was a roody-poo for shooting Huey Newton
I give my man props 'cause he's living

When she goes she'll roll over in a solid gold casket
Proper respect is what we're giving
Dick Gregory, X-Clan, sister Isis, BDP, Muhammad Ali, Stevie Wonder
(We're giving heartbeat props)
That's why you see we gotta thank God, y'all
(We're giving heartbeat props)
So why wait until the heartbeat stops?

An honor roll student in the school of hard knocks

Proper respect is what we're giving

(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
We need to see that we got to start giving the props to the living
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
We're gonna make it funky with the heartbeat props, y'all

But first we gotta deal with the fronters
Yo, go on and give my man his props
With a dark complexion
(We're giving heartbeat props)
They gave props to the old pro
Don't you know that the proper respect is what we're giving
And my man's got the plans in his hand
There was different type of brother that I used to look up to
Why wait until the heartbeat stops?
Sister Oprah Winfrey, yeah, Jesse Jackson, nuff respect, Paris
But there's a time to break necks and throw bolos
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
And fight in Vietnam the only way he felt, then he won the belt again
Smith & Wesson clear the lesson that your mama gave
I wanted to give a fuck you out
Let me move so I don't get hit by the bolt of lightning
But give respect before the soul goes
Was Josephine Baker, she had them hooked

It was my intention to relent just till the last kick
So I want to give props to my pops because he told those
(We're giving heartbeat props)
Don't you hype on the mic ,yeah, they never get it right
Mama gave PeeWee the same threats, she used drastic measures
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
And check what my man's got to say
If you're really that down then act what you say

Yeah, it's time spread the jewels
Striking you down 'cause you're fronting
Poor Righteous Teachers, Andrew Jackson, Denzel Washington

Therefore he's not a threat to your personal time
You're giving more respect to a dead man than you do my man
(We're giving heartbeat props)

I'm the type of guy that's sly like a fox
Tina Turner, the living legacy
Don't you know that proper respect is what we're giving
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)

She was the first black woman in 'em
Proper respect is what we're giving
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)

Even if you know that I'm a junkie for a bump that's funky
And she's still got you tripping off the legs you see
For niggas like Ice Cube
I love to go on about the funk, matter of fact
Gangstarr, Gil Scott Heron, George the fuck Clinton, Louis Farrakhan

(We're giving heartbeat props)
I see you posing with the Dr King hanging on your wall

Only difference is Chuck might give you that call
Yo, my man's a prophet too, yo, god, you think he ain't?
She was the honky-tonk's fantasy
(Why wait until the heartbeat stops?)
We're giving heartbeat props
And my man's got the plans in his hand
Sister Sarah Sahad Ali, Public Enemy, Stokley Carmichael
I'd love to be another funk front runner

She was sex symbol befo' Marilyn Monroe
You're giving more respect to a dead man than you do my man
When I was young Muhammad Ali had me sprung
Another chick they used to beg to see
To give a little praise to who they ran rave to see

'Cause they'll tell the record straight
So do the right thing, it's not a black or a white thing
(We're giving heartbeat props)
(We're giving heartbeat props)
But I'm thanking God for niggas like Iceberg Slim