[Interlude: Guru]
Yo, hip hop is the way of life
It ain't a fad, it ain't a trend
Not for those of us who are true to it
It's reflected in our slang, in our walk, and in our stance
In our dress and in our attitude
Hip hop has a history and an origin
And a set of principles including rules and regulations
That a lot of these new kids overlook nowadays

Music itself acts as a safety valve in society
If there was no hip hop music, there would much more chaos in the streets than we have now

It's our way to release tension, to let out the frustration that young people face in the world today

Over the years, hip hop has evolved to represent what is happening now, the reality of street life
Rap is the oral expression of this
The tune, the literature
Hip hop is the lifestyle, the philosophy, and even the religion if I may
Just as jazz has had its own culture
Rap music also has had its own culture, which we proudly call hip hop
Although the music and lifestyle is now propagandized by the media
And is now exploited by big business
And will still remain for the rest of us the raw essence of life

Peace