Classic Verse: Pharcyde’s “Runnin” (Lyrics & Video) Posted by Nathan S. on 05/04/10 | Filed under Features, Classic Verse, Pharcyde

There are a lot of ways to figure out if a track is a classic, but one of the best is the house party test. Simply put, if you put the track on during a house party, and everyone there knows every word, then it's a classic. End of story. I don't know what house parties you do to, but in my house, The Pharcyde's "Runnin" is a classic amongst classics. Coming off their 1995 "LabCabinCalifornia" album, this is one track worth memorizing.

Lyrics are underneath the video:

"I must admit on some occasions I went out like a punk and a chump
or a sucka or something to that effect
Respect I used to never get when all I got was upset
when niggas use to be like 'What's up fool!'
and tried to seat a nigga like the Lip, for no reason at all I can recall
crip niggas throwin' c in my face down the hall
I'm kickin' it in the back of the school eatin' chicken at three
wonderin' why is everybody always pickin' on me
I tried to talk and tell tham chill I did nothing to deserve this,
but when it didn't work I wasn't scared just real nervous and unprepared
to deal with scrappin' no doubt, cuz my pappy never told me how to knock a nigga out
But now in '95 I must survive as a man on my own
Fuck around with Fatlip yes ya get blown
I'm not tryin to show no macho if shown but when it's on, if it's on, then it's on!"

Real fans will notice that I chose to go with FatLip's verse, though frankly all three are worthy of discussion. Still, if only because it's the lead verse, it's Lip's work that will truly go down in hip-hop history, and for good reason. On the delivery tip Lip like to vary his cadence enormously, slowly down to a talk and then stringing together a string of spitfire syllables that always seem to hold a central harmony. On the lyrical side, this is exhibit a in keeping it really real. I mean really, really real. And ultimately it may just be that willingness to be honest, that relteabiltiy, that draws us into Fatlip's verse even further. Or maybe I'm overthinking things. Maybe dope is dope and there's no need for further discussion. Maybe you should just cue up "Runnin" at your next house party and press play.