Verified archive entry

The Bridge Is Over

By Boogie Down Productions · Targeting MC Shan, Marley Marl, Mr. Magic, Roxanne Shanté

The Bridge Is Over is a diss track by Boogie Down Productions targeting MC Shan, Marley Marl, Mr. Magic and Roxanne Shanté. The record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.”

Released1987

Annotated5

ExplicitYes

Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

01
[Intro]
02
I say
03
[Chorus: KRS-One]
04
The bridge is over, the bridge is over, biddy-bye-bye
05
The bridge is over, the bridge is over, hey, hey
06
The bridge is over, the bridge is over, biddy-bye-bye
07
The bridge is over, the bridge is over
08
[Verse 1: KRS-One]
Multi-line diss block
09
You see me coming in di dance with the spliff of sensei
10
Down with the sound called BDP
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If you want to join the crew, well, you must see me
12
You can't sound like Shan or the one Marley
Block noteSays the target's identity is borrowed
TargetMarley Marl
MeaningWhat it means: In “You can't sound like Shan or the one Marley,” Boogie Down Productions presents Marley Marl's style or work as imitation rather than an original contribution. Why it was said: The record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.” The accusation strips Marley Marl of artistic ownership: success looks less impressive when the sound, image, or idea is framed as somebody else's first.
ContextThe record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.”
13
Because Shan and Marley Marl, dem a rhyming like they gay
Multi-line diss block
14
Picking up the mic, man, dem don't know what to say
15
Saying hip-hop started out in Queensbridge
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Saying lies like that, man, you know dem can't live
Block noteUses gendered or sexual humiliation
TargetMarley Marl
MeaningWhat it means: In “Because Shan and Marley Marl, dem a rhyming like they gay,” Boogie Down Productions uses gendered or sexual language to question Marley Marl's masculinity or humiliate the target in front of the audience. Why it was said: The record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.” The tactic tries to trigger an emotional reply and damage Marley Marl's public image, even though the framing itself can reproduce homophobic or sexist stereotypes.
ContextThe record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.”
17
So I tell them again, me come to tell them again, gwan
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Tell them again, me come to tell them again
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Tell them again, me come to tell them again, gwan
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Tell them again, me come to tell them
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Manhattan keeps on making it, Brooklyn keeps on taking it
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Bronx keeps creating it and Queens keeps on faking it
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[Verse 2: KRS-One]
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Di-di, di-da, di-di-di, di-da, di-day, ayy
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All you sucker MCs, won't you please come out to play? 'Cause
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Here's an example of KRS-One (Buck)
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Here's an example of KRS-One
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They wish to battle BDP, but they cannot
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They must be on the dick of who? DJ Scott La Rock, 'cause
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We don't complain nor do we play the game of favors
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Boogie Down Productions come in three different flavors
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Pick any dick for the flavor that you savor
Multi-line diss block
33
Mr. Magic might wish to come and try to save ya
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But instead of helping ya out, he wants the same thing I gave ya
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I finally figured it out, Magic mouth is used for sucking
Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit
TargetMr. Magic
MeaningWhat it means: In “Mr. Magic might wish to come and try to save ya,” Boogie Down Productions addresses Mr. Magic directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.” Naming or plainly addressing Mr. Magic removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.
ContextThe record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.”
36
Roxanne Shanté is only good for steady fucking
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MC Shan and Marley Marl is really only bluffing
38
Like Doug E. Fresh said, "I tell you now, you ain't nothing"
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Compared to Red Alert on KISS and Boogie Down Productions
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So easy now, man, I me say easy now, man
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To KRS-One, you know dem can't understand
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Me moving over there and then me moving over here
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The name of this routine is called "Live At Union Square"
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Square, square, square, ooh
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What's the matter with your MC, Marley Marl?
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Don't you know that he's out of touch?
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What's the matter with your DJ, MC Shan?
48
On the wheels of steel Marlon sucks
Multi-line diss block
49
You'd better change what comes out your speaker
50
You're better off talking 'bout your wack Puma sneaker
51
'Cause Bronx created hip-hop, Queens will only get dropped
Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit
TargetMC Shan
MeaningWhat it means: In “You'd better change what comes out your speaker,” Boogie Down Productions addresses MC Shan directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.” Naming or plainly addressing MC Shan removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.
ContextThe record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.”
52
You're still telling lies to me
Multi-line diss block
53
Everybody's talking 'bout the Juice Crew funny
54
But you're still telling lies to me
Block noteTreats the target's persona as fabricated
TargetMC Shan
MeaningWhat it means: In “You're still telling lies to me,” Boogie Down Productions says MC Shan's public story or image is false rather than a reliable account of who the target is. Why it was said: The record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.” Once the persona is presented as invented, the boasts and accusations built on it become easier for listeners to dismiss.
ContextThe record belongs to the Bridge Wars, the Bronx–Queens rivalry sparked by competing claims and interpretations around MC Shan's “The Bridge.”