Get Original – English Lyrics

• By: Black Eyed Peas, Chali 2na

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the roots of the Black Eyed Peas with their track "Get Original." This song is a fantastic way to learn English through music, especially if you're interested in the language of hip-hop and its culture of lyrical skill and authenticity. The wordplay and confident delivery can help you understand rhythm, rhyme, and assertive communication in English. It's a special track that captures a moment in hip-hop where originality was passionately championed.

[English]

What?

A lot of brothers, claimin' they hard

I grab the microphone and leave 'em scarred

But not scarred physically, more like scarred mentally

I correct your ego, I'ma show you how it go

'Cause you killin me, ain't no skill in you

With my hands on you I wouldn't be feelin' you

Yeah you platinum, but you whack as hell

I dubbed over your single like a Maxell

You need to stop now, get original

Start practicin', master your flow

You might as well, turn in your mic

And start collectin' dollars at the turnpike

'Cause the rhymes you kick, need to be fixed

But you couldn't even fix them in the mix

If you ate pebbles, your shit wouldn't rock

You one of them balloons made to go pop

You need to stop now, get original

Start practicin', master your flow

Stop now, get original, what?

Stop now, get original

Start practicin', master your flow

There is really nothin' you can do

We about to hit you in your face with my kung-fu

Risky on the microphone, I am

Got the energy of Goliath and Rovalynn

I'm about to let you know the deal on how I feel

Many people can't be real, so they gotta chase the steel

What the deal? Is it really all about the bills?

What's the thrill? I'd rather have my soul fulfilled

You gotta stop now, get original

Start practicin', master your flow

We delegate the skills to conversatin'

The loss of motivation of MC's to create

Sent it in for quick hit, waitin' for the break

You didn't pay your dues, so you got on Rikki Lake

How does it feel to be the man on top

When everythin' you got ain't any of your props?

You need to stop now, get original

Start practicin', master your flow

Stop now, get original, stop now, get original

Start practicin', master your flow

When you think about rap in it's entirety

Violence became variety

Silently personalities differ from what they try to be

2na be on the frontline, with rhyme shell I hit you

You're sluggish like a barbiturate

We can make you admit you bit

A hectic thrill, connect with Will

Then we create with the kung-fu collected skill

The checks get real, people think this shit is hunky-dory

It's another story while we be fightin' for redemption

Pimps and prostitutes get the break they need

With breakneck speed, the fakes succeed indeed

Thinkin' life is a party and it's a must to please

But many pop MC's work for Mephistopheles stop it please

Choppin' broccoli happily for your company

Publically sellin' Satan when really you should be bumpin' the truth

So stop now, get original

Just practice and master your flow

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
microphone /ˈmaɪkroʊˌfoʊn/ B2	noun - a device that converts sound into electrical signals for amplification
scar /skɑːr/ B1	noun - a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed verb - to mark or damage the surface of something in a lasting way
ego /ˈiːɡoʊ/ B2	noun - a person's sense of self‑importance or self‑esteem
skill /skɪl/ B1	noun - the ability to do something well, especially because of training or experience
original /əˈrɪdʒənl/ B2	adjective - new and not derived from something else; authentic noun - the first form of something from which copies are made
practice /ˈpræktɪs/ B1	noun - repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency verb - to perform an activity or exercise repeatedly in order to improve or maintain proficiency
master /ˈmæstər/ B2	verb - to become highly skilled or proficient at something noun - a person who has control or authority over something; an expert
flow /floʊ/ B2	noun - a smooth, continuous movement of something, especially a rhythm in music or speech verb - to move in a smooth, continuous manner
rhyme /raɪm/ B2	noun - a correspondence of sounds between words or the endings of words, especially in poetry and rap verb - to make words correspond in sound, especially at the end
platinum /ˈplætɪnəm/ C1	noun - a precious silvery-white metal; also a high-level music award (e.g., platinum record) adjective - relating to or made of platinum; of the highest quality (e.g., platinum album)
whack /wæk/ C1	adjective (slang) - bad, inferior, or of poor quality verb (slang) - to strike or hit forcefully; to kill (in slang)
dub /dʌb/ C1	verb (slang) - to add a new audio track, especially a voiceover, to an existing recording noun (slang) - a version of a song with altered or added vocals, often in hip‑hop
balloon /bəˈluːn/ B1	noun - a flexible bag that can be inflated with air or gas, often used as a toy or decoration
kung‑fu /kʊŋ ˈfuː/ B2	noun - a Chinese martial art emphasizing speed, power, and fluid movement
Goliath /ˈɡɒliæθ/ C2	noun (proper) - a giant figure from the biblical story of David and Goliath, symbolizing a powerful opponent
chase /tʃeɪs/ B1	verb - to pursue in order to catch or overtake noun - the act of pursuing something; a pursuit
thrill /θrɪl/ B2	noun - a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure verb - to cause someone to feel excited or delighted
redemption /rɪˈdɛmpʃən/ C1	noun - the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil; a compensatory gain or benefit

Key Grammar Structures

• I grab the microphone and leave 'em scarred

  ➔ Present Simple with 'em as an informal contraction of 'them'

  ➔ The verb 'grab' is in the present simple tense, and 'em' is a colloquial contraction of 'them'.

• I'ma show you how it go

  ➔ Contraction of 'I am going to'

  ➔ 'I'ma' is a colloquial contraction of 'I am going to', often used in informal speech.

• You need to stop now, get original

  ➔ Modal verb 'need to' for necessity, imperative form 'get'

  ➔ The modal verb 'need to' expresses necessity, and 'get' is in the imperative form to give a direct command.

• Start practicin', master your flow

  ➔ Gerund 'practicin'' (practicing), imperative 'master'

  ➔ 'Practicin'' is a gerund form of 'practicing', and 'master' is in the imperative form to give a direct command.

• We delegate the skills to conversatin'

  ➔ Verb 'delegate' with gerund 'conversatin'' (conversating)

  ➔ The verb 'delegate' is followed by the gerund 'conversatin'', which is a non-standard form of 'conversating'.

• The loss of motivation of MC's to create

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'of MC's', infinitive 'to create'

  ➔ 'Of MC's' is a prepositional phrase indicating possession, and 'to create' is an infinitive used as a noun.

• You couldn't even fix them in the mix

  ➔ Modal 'couldn't' for past inability, pronoun 'them'

  ➔ The modal 'couldn't' indicates past inability, and 'them' is a pronoun referring to the previously mentioned rhymes.

• If you ate pebbles, your shit wouldn't rock

  ➔ Conditional sentence with 'if', modal 'wouldn't'

  ➔ This is a conditional sentence using 'if' to express a hypothetical situation, and 'wouldn't' indicates the negative outcome.