Cal-S-thetics & Tone Dogg on the grind...(produced by Cal-S-thetics)
So. Cal locals addressing necessities and building upon legacies to fulfill our destinies. Straight Hip Hop, No Chaser...
Let us introduce you to Cal-S-thetics- resident producer and emcee, Tone Dogg Raw- raw rhyme writer and emcee, and Ric the New Rula- beatbox general and emcee all of whom are delighted to have ya on this voyage with us upon the Glass Bottom Boat aka the Pens Men's ship aka the window to the world. Watch as our pens flow on fresh soundwaves opening up the world through the porthole of hip hop...
Story behind the song
Long Beach city, Cali living was the inital inspiration, but the song was meant to be universal to all city dwellers. I mean the people are the "breath" of the city, the "heart" of the city, the "life" of the city so this "beat" ("pace") personifies that energy. It also is a shout to all those people struggling to get by, working hard to get their bills paid and what not.
Lyrics
The City Beat
(Cal-S)
As the sun peeks over the buildings/
spring to life men women children/
off to school, day-job or the office/
everyones on the clock so be cautious/
('cause) the pace quickens, excitement heightens/
as veins liven with peeps and cars driving/
doin' what they have-ta-do/cruisin' down the avenue/
you're bound to catch an attitude/if don't show some gratitude/
'cause this is their hustle, this is their life/
they're on their lunch break, they're on their grind/
and it spells doom, especially at noon/
when the end of the day couldn't come to soon/
and just when they think they can't take no more/
for sure, 5 o'clock, day done, they're out the door/
back to the traffic in the city streets/
made gold by the sun that lays low in the eve.
(Chorus)
The City Beat, The City beat/
Pounds like my feet on the concrete when I walk/
The city streets, full of peeps/
Tryin' to make ends meet 7 days a week/
The City Beat, The City beat/
Watch your back when your on the creep at night in /
The city streets, full of freaks/
Remember, the city don't sleep so don't sleep.
(Tone Dogg)
It's 8 o'clock and the street lights just came on/
so I'm outro (gone), 'til the breakadawn/
proceeding to PM, a nice summer evening/
smoking and drinking, another Cali weekend/
headlights spark, it's hard to see in the dark/
open the moon roof hatch, tryin' to see the stars/
Roll slow with an attitude/ view on the avenue/
There's some wild animals/ I know where I'm passing through/
keep an eye for cops in the black in white/
neighborhood watch is still hot at night/
I stay cool and don't trip when I cruise the strip/
Jammin' oldies checkin' for the smoothest whip/
Hop on the freeway smashin' with no traffic/
Got a whole city ridin' trying to see what's crackin'/
On the hill I can see the city and it's beat/
the lights never go out so I don't sleep/
(Chorus)
(Cal-S&Tone Dogg)
Working, providing, each person surviving/
versions of life in an urban environment/
individually to the community/
pump together as one in unity/
It's like you and me are the city's heart/
a rhythmic symphony each playin' our part/
and it's never boring, there's 8 million stories/
so peep the recording and don't get caught snoring/
(Chorus)
(Tone)
Everybody, Where ya at?/
If you love where you're from let me hear you clap/
From the front to the back, yeah! just like that/
It don't matter where from on the map/
Just let me hear you say, Where ya at!/
You know how we do when we bring it back/
Represent, Where ya at!/
It don't matter where it is on the map/
We Comin...
