Artist: Gang Starr

Submitted by Annie.

Viewed 140 times.

Jazz Thing (Video Version)

featuring Branford Marsalis (instrumentally only)

* original version appeared on the "Mo' Better Blues" soundtrack

"I would like to play a.. little tune I just composed not so long ago"
"Ms. Billie, Ms. Billie, Ms. Billie Holiday"
*HORNS*
*drum roll* *piano keys played*
*HORNS*
"Byrd..?" *trumpet solo* *group horns*
"The music called jazz.." -> Guru
*HORNS*

[Guru]
It's roots are in the sounds of the African
or should I say the mother.. bringin us back again
From the drummin on the Congo, we came with a strong flow
and continue to grow
Feet move, to the beat of the t'balo
Now dig the story and follow
For then it landed, on American soil
Through the sweat, the blood, and the toil
Hear, "Praise the Lord," shouted on chain gangs
Pain they felt, but it helped them to maintain
Scott Joplin's rags, Bessie Smith's blues
St. Louis blues, they were all the news
Ringin smooth.. in all the listeners ears
Fulfillin the needs, and plantin the seeds
of a jazz thing

King Oliver's group was a train comin through
to Chicago, bringin the New Orleans groove
And when Satchmo blew, the audience knew
Basil Street blues was the whole house tune
it was music.. great to dance to
Great to romance to with a lot to say to you
Relaying a message, revealing the essence
of a jazz thing

* DJ Premier cuts "jazz music" *

In the 40's came be-bop, the first be-bop
The real be-bop, so let me talk about
Diz' and Byrd, givin the word
Defining how a beat could be so complete
Playing with ferocity, thinkin with velocity
About ornathology, or anthropology
and even ?, and this is real history
Theolonious Monk, a melodious thunk

No mistakes were made with the notes he played
His conception, was ?re condite?
A star glowing bright among dim lights
The critics did cite that he sounded alright
Charlie Mingus, such nimble fingers
Droppin the bass, all over the place
and Max Roach, cymbals socking
Bass drum talking, snare drum rocking
Restructuring.. the metaphysics
of a jazz thing

John Coltrane, a man supreme
He was the cream.. he was the wise one
The impression of Afro Blue
and of the promise, that was not kept
He was a GIANT step, and there was Ornette Coleman
He was another soul man
The original invisible, playing great music
I wonder why the ?Bangles? couldn't use it
Now listen see
The real mystery is how music history
created by white men or any other white man
that pretended he originated "uh-huh.."
and contended that he innovated "uh-huh.."
a jazz thing
("Of course we know who can really blow")
Scheamin on the meaning
of a jazz thing

And this music ain't dead, so don't be misled
by those who said that jazz was on it's deathbed
Cause when Betty Carter sings a song
ain't nuttin goin on, but simply good music
And you won't refuse it
She's takin her time, makin the nuances rhyme
Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone
with a big old tone, recitin poems
with notes as words, and haven't you heard
NEXT STOP BUTTER, RIGHT PAST OLEO
Now there's young cats blowin
And more and more people, yes they will be knowin
Jazz ain't the past, this music's gonna last
and as the facts unfold, remember who foretold
The 90's, will be the decade of
a jazz thing "I love jazz music" (3X)

* Primo scratches "I love jazz music" *

A jazz thing..

Are these lyrics incorrect? Use our Corrections Form.

Other Songs by this Artist

1. 1/2 And 1/2
2. 2 Deep
3. 2 Steps Ahead
4. Above Clouds
5. Above the Clouds
6. All 4 Tha Cash
7. Alongwaytogo
8. As I Read My S-a
9. B.i. Vs. Friendship
10. B.y.s.
11. Battle
12. Betrayal
13. Beyond Comprehension
14. Blowin’ Up The Spot
15. Brainstorm
16. Capture (Militia Part 3)
17. Cause And Effect
18. Check The Technique
19. Code Of The Streets
20. Comin’ For Datazz
21. Conscience Be Free
22. Conspiracy
23. Credit Is Due
24. Deadly Habitz
25. Discipline
26. Doe in Advance
27. Dwyck
28. Eulogy
29. Ex Girl To The Next Girl
30. Execution Of A Chump (no More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2)
31. F.a.l.a.
32. Flip The Script
33. Form Of Intellect
34. Full Clip
35. Gotch U
36. Gotta Get Over (Takin Loot)
37. Gusto
38. Hardcore Composer
39. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
40. Hiney
41. I’m The Man
42. In Memory Of...
43. In This Life...
44. It’s Gettin Hectic
45. It’z A Set Up
46. Jazz Music
47. Jazz Thing (Video Version)
48. JFK 2 LAX
49. Just To Get A Rep
50. Knowledge
51. Lovesick
52. Make ’em Pay
53. Manifest
54. Mass Appeal
55. Moment Of Truth
56. Mostly Tha Voice
57. Much Too Much (mack A Mil)
58. My Advice 2 You
59. Name Tag (premier & The Guru)
60. Natural
61. New York Strait Talk
62. Next Time
63. Nice Girl, Wrong Place
64. No More Mr. Nice Guy
65. No Shame In My Game
66. Now You’re Mine
67. Peace of Mine
68. PLAYTAWIN
69. Positivity
70. Positivity (Remix)
71. Precisely The Right Rhymes
72. Premier & The Guru
73. Put Up or Shut Up
74. Remainez
75. Riot Akt
76. Robbin Hood Theory
77. Royalty
78. Sabotage
79. Same Team, No Games
80. Say Your Prayers
81. She Knowz What She Wants
82. Skills
83. So Wassup
84. Soliloquy Of Chaos
85. Speak Ya Clout
86. Stay Tuned
87. Step In The Arena
88. Street Ministry
89. Suckaz Need Bodyguards
90. Take A Rest
91. Take It Personal
92. Take Two And Pass
93. The Illest Brother
94. The Mall
95. The Meaning Of The Name
96. The Militia
97. The Militia II (Remix)
98. The Ownerz
99. The Place Where We Dwell
100. The Planet
101. The Rep Grows Bigga
102. The Squeeze
103. Tons O Guns
104. Werdz From the Ghetto Child
105. What I’m Here 4
106. What You Want This Time
107. Who Got Guns
108. Who’s Gonna Take The Weight
109. Words from the Nutcracker
110. Work
111. Work Remix
112. You Know My Steez
113. You Know My Steez (3 Men and a Lady Remix)
114. Zonin’