ABC's – English Lyrics

• By: K'NAAN, Chubb Rock

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful blend of hip hop and Afrobeat in K'NAAN's "ABC's," featuring Chubb Rock. This track offers a unique perspective on overcoming adversity and learning life's lessons outside the classroom. Explore the rich lyrics and cultural influences that make this song a standout example of socially conscious music.

[English]

Bundle up my whole style is so cold

I glow like old guys who go bald

My flow got no front in the vocal

Your flow got no button it's so old

I don't mean to sound like a showboat

But it's true my persona's no joke

I stepped into some kinda portal

I'm legend and sometimes I'm noble

I'm from the most risky zone, oh

No place is more shifty global

More pistols, Russian revolvers

We shootin' all that is normal

But it ain't just because we want to

We ain't got nowhere we can run to

Somebody please press the undo

They only teach us the things that guns do

They don't teach us the ABC's

We play on the hard concrete

All we got is life on the streets

All we got is life on the streets

They don't teach us the ABC's

We play on the hard concrete

All we got is life on the streets

All we got is life on the streets

Rock, you know my era

B-boy seasoning, salt-n-pepa

Grown and sexy, come with the extra

Crushed up linen, fly like Cessna

This type brew, I gave it birth

Now it's time again to give it a

Jamaican born, not a fan of the ganja

Boulevard, Brooklyn to Somalia

And it goes in the background

Playa, that is my sound

The green doesn't symbolize I made it on the top

Pioneer legend and they call me Mr. Rock

No B word or N word, I don't need those words

Respect for hers

The game dried up, so we come with the grease

Leadin' ya right and treatin' ya right, so peace

They don't teach us the ABC's

We play on the hard concrete

All we got is life on the streets

All we got is life on the streets

They don't teach us the ABC's

We play on the hard concrete

All we got is life on the streets

All we got is life on the streets

Superman is known by the locals

As this dude who's so fly it's global

Attitude that came outta struggle

Destitute but I make it hopeful

You real but my real is tenfold

My real will make yours a rental

Gangsta if at ease, essential

Fight with guns or utensils

So bold, nothing's confidential

Breakfast was not continental

And lunch could not compliment all

We still become competent souls

These streets ain't paved with no gold

Matter fact someone stole the light bulb

Nobody fat enough for lypo

They don't teach us to read and write, so

They don't teach us the ABC's

We play on the hard concrete

All we got is life on the streets

All we got is life on the streets

They don't teach us the ABC's

We play on the hard concrete

All we got is life on the streets

All we got is life on the streets

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
style /staɪl/ B1	noun - a manner of doing something, a way of presenting oneself
glow /ɡloʊ/ B2	verb - to produce a steady light
persona /pərˈsoʊnə/ C1	noun - the aspect of someone's character or personality
portal /ˈpɔːrtəl/ C2	noun - a large doorway, gate, or entrance
legend /ˈlɛdʒənd/ B2	noun - a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical
zone /zoʊn/ B1	noun - an area with a particular characteristic
revolver /rɪˈvɒlvər/ C1	noun - a pistol with a revolving cylinder
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the existence of living beings
respect /rɪˈspɛkt/ B2	noun - a feeling of admiration or deference
grease /ɡriːs/ C2	noun - any oily or fatty substance
legendary /ˈlɛdʒənˌdɛri/ C2	adjective - relating to a legend; famous or celebrated
struggle /ˈstrʌɡəl/ B2	noun - a forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint
strife /straɪf/ C1	noun - bitter conflict or dissension
confidential /ˌkɒnfɪˈdɛnʃəl/ C2	adjective - intended to be kept secret

Key Grammar Structures

• I glow like old guys who go bald

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase uses "like" to compare the speaker's glow to that of "old guys who go bald".

• They don't teach us the ABC's

  ➔ Negative form

  ➔ The sentence uses the negative form "don't" to indicate that something is not taught.

• We ain't got nowhere we can run to

  ➔ Colloquial contraction

  ➔ The phrase "ain't" is a colloquial contraction of "are not" or "have not".

• Breakfast was not continental

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The sentence uses the past simple tense "was" to describe a past event.

• These streets ain't paved with no gold

  ➔ Double negative

  ➔ The phrase uses a double negative "ain't" and "no" to emphasize the lack of gold.

• My real will make yours a rental

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the future simple tense "will make" to indicate a future action.

• Respect for hers

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ The phrase "for hers" is a prepositional phrase indicating respect directed towards someone.