"Can't Stop This" lyrics - THE ROOTS

[Intro: Black Thought]
Saved message, today at 5:47 PM
You know, my man Jay Dee was a true hip hop artist
I can't explain the influence that his mind and ear have had on my band, myself, and the careers of so many other artists
The most humble, modest, worthy, and gifted beatmaker I've known
And definitely the best producer on the mic
Never without that signature smile and head bouncin' to the beat
Jay Dee had a passion for life and music, and will never be forgotten
He's a brother that was loved by me, and I love what he's done for us
And although I'm happy he's no longer in the pain that he had been recently feeling, I'm crushed by the pain of his absence
The name's Dilla Dog and I can only rep the real and raw
My man Dilla, rest in peace

[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Last of the red hot hip-hop lovin' emcees
That came up on grits and government cheese
The only thing I ever really loved in my life was a mic, some of my niggas fell in love with MPs
Come on, work the bass, nigga, juggle them keys
I'm trying to get a piece of this government green
And smack 'em in the melon with another LP
Come on, help a couple people in the struggle get free
We from the block, where people stay prepared to rock
And it's hard, 'cause opportunity be scared to knock
And more people in the hood found dead from cops
Than guns that dropped and sprayed off random shots
But what you know good, people say they in the hood for good
You ain't a prisoner, the world got more to it
Sky's the limit, it don't take but a minute
Don't fear for your people, nigga, my hood your hood
Yeah
We did it

[Chorus: Black Thought]
I know in these trying times, it feels confusin'
That's why I can't tell y'all to dance to the music
Unless we face it first and try not to lose it
Even if it gets worse, they can't stop this

[Verse 2: Black Thought]
Yeah, they can't stop this
I want my peoples to rock this
Bang this music in your speakers and boxes
Langston Hughes is 'bout as deep as my thoughts is
Sit back and I'ma paint you a portrait
Disgust can make you think you were lost, that shit can have you exhausted
Just picture the planet and imagine it's yours, kid
Don't ever let nobody knock you out of your orbit
I've never seen a bridge we couldn't shuffle across it
Got a lot of people livin' a life that's pure trivia
Real hip-hop, why they trying to get rid of you?
Can't have that, because here come the city of Philly
Put an end to all the trivia, really
Where I'm walkin', everybody ain't pretty or friendly
It's work my whole life, they ain't give me a penny
Comin' up between a rock and a hard, watchin' for God
People hip-hopping with no option at all
Yo
It's how it's going down

[Chorus: Black Thought]
I know in these trying times, it feels confusin'
That's why I can't tell y'all to dance to the music
Unless we face it first and try not to lose it
Even if it gets worse, they can't stop this

[Verse 3: Black Thought]
We rip a heart to pieces, part of rap's a special sound
The robe's long enough to be considered a gown
Thought's brim is sharp enough to be considered a crown
When the plate come, take some, pass it around
It's the last of the hip-hop lovin' emcees
In front of an audience that never been pleased
I'm comin' from all the streets that never been cleaned
And speakin' for any face that never been seen
This debonair style of my words is high caliber
Speakin' my mind for every day that's on the calendar
'Cause I done been quiet 'bout as long as I can handle it
Walked a mile in these boots that I'm standin' in
Mellow soul brother with his lyrical dean on
The stages I'm seen on, mic I fiend on
When a song full of soul, that's when it mean more
I never hesitate to give a shoulder to lean on, yo
Check it out, man

[Chorus: Black Thought]
I know in these trying times, it feels confusin'
That's why I can't tell y'all to dance to the music
Unless we face it first and try not to lose it
Even if it gets worse, they can't stop this

[Outro:]
Ayy, what up, dog?
Yo, this message is for J Dilla
Jay Dee
Dilla live forever
Definitely, man, Dilla changed the game
He started a movement, you know what I'm saying?
Unsung hero, you know what I'm saying?
Y'all gotta give it up, people gotta know about Dilla, 'cause Dilla was like the greatest triple threat of all time
Dilla
A lot of these cats, they know your music, but they don't know your name
The boy was just-
Dilla
The fiercest, he was, he was the potentest
Gave everything the culture deserved
He was the rawest
Genius (Dilla) sound, and his humbleness is something we'll never forget
Jay was a, a genius
The man is the king
Dilla
There'll never be another like him
Greatest, at least, you know what I'm saying?
Muhammad Ali of beats
Very fortunate to have known this man
He can take any, he can take any, anything, any noise, any instrument, and not-
'Cause I've seen him take these instruments up and not see him train, not play it, just make something great
Some sounds, a song great out of it
This man was truly one of the most brilliant minds to, to ever come across my path
I love you so much, JD, I love you so much
We developed a friendship
He's such a humble, good person, you know?
He's taught me a lot, there were times I wanted to give up, and I just looked at him, how hard he worked and how diligent, it makes me want to go on
I remember being at the house in Detroit and, um, coming down to the basement
Jay Dee touched my soul
J Dilla
Woo
This brother's vision and this brother's passion has shaped what we know as hip-hop
And the hip-hop that we love, not the corny, commercialized, nonsense shit you be hearing on radio
But the real hip-hop music from the soul
Jay Dee is the soundscape for that
Hip-hop lost a great warrior
I'm glad to know that you're in a better place, and you're not suffering anymore
He will be extremely, extremely missed
It's, it's very easy to say he's in a better place, but I personally just want to be selfish enough to say I wish he was still here
You gon' be innovative, always ahead of everybody, you're ahead of us now, you beat us home
Dilla live forever