Verified archive entry

Build and Destroy

By Boogie Down Productions · Targeting X Clan

Build and Destroy is a diss track by Boogie Down Productions targeting X Clan. The supplied transcript is a competitive battle-rap performance directed at rival MCs rather than one consistently named opponent.

Released1992

Annotated1

ExplicitYes

Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

01
[Intro]
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[Kenny] Yeah, whoo! Aiyo Will?
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[Will] What's up Kenny?
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[Kenny] I got a serious problem man
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[Will] What's the problem?
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[Kenny] Yo, after all these years of ripping shit
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These suckers still try to front!
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[Will] But check this out
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We've been on tour with everybody so I don't know why they fronting
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[Kenny] Everybody!
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Y'all be in every party I be in every jam
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I see they faces and they look at me and front
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[Will] They come to every show and know we break shit up all the time
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[Kenny] You know what, yo Kris, what's your opinion?
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[Verse 1: KRS-One]
Multi-line diss block
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Yo, I love the way I am and can't nobody out here change me
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Rearrange me, tame me, try to game me, you don't play me
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When I grab the mic then shock the party spot!
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Your rhymes are flip-flop, I'll rock, hip-hop
Block noteAttacks the target's ability to rap
TargetX Clan
MeaningWhat it means: In “Your rhymes are flip-flop, I'll rock, hip-hop,” Boogie Down Productions challenges X Clan on writing, delivery, flow, or command of the microphone rather than relying only on a personal insult. Why it was said: The supplied transcript is a competitive battle-rap performance directed at rival MCs rather than one consistently named opponent. This goes to the qualification that gives X Clan standing in a rap battle; if the craft is weak, the reply loses authority before its other claims are considered.
ContextThe supplied transcript is a competitive battle-rap performance directed at rival MCs rather than one consistently named opponent.
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Non-stop, me nah stop rock
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You can touch this, but you'll get shocked
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Now what's this all about? Kris and humanity
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In my face you're happy, on vinyl you're mad at me
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Yo, pro-blackness is your solution
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But I don't really know about that style you using yo
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Too many teachers in the class spoil the school
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After awhile you got blabbering fucking fools
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That's worse than always talking about sex, let's build
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It ain't enough to study Clarence 13X
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The white man ain't the Devil I promise
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You want to see the Devil take a look at Clarence Thomas
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Now you're saying, "Who?" like you a owl
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Throw in the towel, the Devil is Colin Powell
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You talk about being African and being black
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Colin Powell's black, but Libya he'll attack
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Libya's in Africa, but a black man
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Will lead a black man
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To fight against his homeland
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An accomplice to the Devil is a devil too
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The Devil is anti-human, who the hell are you?
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I lecture and rap without rehearsal
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I manifest as a black man but I'm universal
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The capital K, small R-I-S
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Capital P, small A-R, capital K, small E-R
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We are, the star
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Without the use of a car we go far
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I build and destroy!
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[Interlude]
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[Kenny] Yeah Kris, serve em man, serve em!
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[Will] Yo why're they so jealous of BDP?
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[Kenny] I don't know Will.. yo don't get mad, get fresh man!
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[Will] Word
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[KRS] Don't ever try to challenge BDP!
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[Kenny] Man.. just shut the fuck up and listen!
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[Verse 2: KRS-One]
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This shit is crazy! Your remarks don't faze me!
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People have a problem with me, cause I ain't lazy
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I talk on vinyl then I act
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What have you done, besides critique KRS-One?
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I create organizations
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Without organization, there'll be no black nation
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What the fuck are you really saying?
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You ain't a human while your music's booming anti-human I'm assuming
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If you ain't human you're a beast
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The white man could be the Devil all day, that's the least
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What are you doing for yourself black man?
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Trying hard to be the original man - who?
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The first man, with the first tan, on the first land
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With the first clan, who gives a damn?!
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In history KRS is well advised
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But it's something that my brain won't memorize
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I don't base my whole life on memory
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I base my life on my spirit and body chemistry
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Africa is a home of humanity
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Which makes the African a humanist, challenge me
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You gotta learn not to be so concerned with the original man
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And see the criminal man, yeah!
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The now man, with the now land, with the now tan
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With the right now genocide master plan
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Damn! We gotta think about stopping this
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God is not any black man on the land; God is conciousness
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When you understand this you'll see Kris
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Until then, you can get dissed
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I'm not your prophet, messiah, minister or savior
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Chill with that ill behavior
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I zero in like a laser
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You're cutting your wrists with a razor, I got all type of flavors
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Yes I am the original Teacher
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You gotta study the Qu'ran, Torah, Bhagavad Gita
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The Bible, Five Baskets of Buddha Zen
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And when you've read them shits, read them shits again!
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But watch what you're repeating
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If you don't know the history of the author
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You don't know what you're reading!
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Yeah, I'm still the original
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Leaving MCs lyrically miserable, their criminal syllables are minimal
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Show me respect boy
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'Cause I build and destroy!
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[Outro: Kenny Parker]
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Now.. after all that
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If anybody out there still got beef, check it out
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We rip the lecture tours, we rip the beats
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We rip the jams, we'll straight up rip that ass
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KnowhatI'msayin Will?
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[Will] Word!
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[KRS] Yeah it seems they all forgot
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On the mic you'll get fucked up
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In the clubs you'll get fucked up
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Anywhere Bronx Brooklyn Queens Manhattan
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Jersey Japan Staten Isle.. yo anywhere you'll get fucked up
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Don't you know we live for the battle?
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I'm outta here
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Yo cut that beat off