Three MC's and One DJ – English Lyrics

• By: Beastie Boys

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of authentic hip-hop with Beastie Boys' "Three MC's and One DJ." This track is a masterclass in lyrical flow and rhythm, offering a playful yet profound celebration of the DJ's artistry. As you listen to Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA trade verses and laud the incredible scratching of Mix Master Mike, you'll not only grasp key hip-hop vocabulary and slang but also experience the cultural roots and energetic interplay that define the genre. It’s a perfect song to learn how language can be used creatively, rhythmically, and humorously within a vibrant musical context.

[English]

[FOOTSTEPS TAPPING]

[DOOR BELL RINGS]

[DOOR SCREECHING]

[DOOR BELL RINGS]

[DOOR SCREECHING]

[RECORD SCRATCHING]

♪ 'CAUSE NOBODY CAN DO IT LIKE MIXMASTER CAN, COME ON ♪

♪ I'VE GOT THE D-DOUBLE-O-D-DOUBLE-O STYLE ♪

♪ HERE WE GO AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE ♪

♪ DO ME A FAVOR, DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ♪

♪ I ROCK FROM MANHATTAN TO THE MIRACLE MILE ♪

♪ MY NAME'S MIKE D AND I'M THE LADIES' CHOICE ♪

♪ I WANT TO GET NEXT TO YOU LIKE ROSE ROYCE ♪

♪ Y'ALL GATHER ROUND TO HEAR MY GOLDEN VOICE ♪

♪ 'CAUSE WHEN IT'S TIME TO RHYME YOU KNOW I GET NOICE ♪

♪ CRUISING LIKE A FAN BOAT ON THE GLADE ♪

♪ HE'LL TWEAK ASS YOUR ASS ACROSS THE CROSS FADE ♪

♪ SO WATCH YOUR BACK WHEN HE TAKES THE STAGE ♪

♪ OR HE'LL SEND YOU OFF ON A NAKED RAMPAGE ♪

♪ WE'RE JUST THREE MCS AND ONE DJ ♪

♪ AND WE BE GETTING DOWN WITH NO DELAY ♪

♪ MIXMASTER MIKE, WHATCHA GOT TO SAY ♪

[RECORD SCRATCHING]

♪ SWEET AND SOUR LIKE A TANGERINE ♪

♪ FRESH LIKE A BOX OF KRISPY KREMES ♪

♪ KENNY ROGERS' "GAMBLER" IS MY GAMBLING THEME ♪

♪ MIXMASTER MIKE WITH THE SCRATCH ROUTINE ♪

♪ ALWAYS UPDATED AND IN THE KNOW ♪

♪ YOU KNOW WE BREAK IT DOWN GOING TOE TO TOE ♪

♪ THE BASS IS BOOMING FROM DOWN BELOW ♪

♪ AND NORTON IS CHILLIN' WITH MARIO ♪

♪ EYO MY NAME IS ADROCK, I'M A SCORPIO ♪

♪ DON'T ASK ME 'CAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW ♪

♪ I'M KNOWN TO MOP, I'M KNOWN TO GLOW ♪

♪ BUT DON'T GET MAD 'CAUSE I GOT'S TO GO ♪

♪ WE'RE JUST THREE MCS AND ONE DJ ♪

♪ AND WE BE GETTING DOWN WITH NO DELAY ♪

♪ SO MIXMASTER MIKE, WHATCHA GOT TO SAY ♪

[RECORD SCRATCHING]

♪ MIX MASTER, CUT FASTER ♪

♪ MIX MASTER, CUT, CUT, CUT FASTER ♪

♪ ALL TOP SECRET AND CLASSIFIED ♪

♪ I GRAB A HOLD OF A MIC AND LET THE WORDS GLIDE ♪

♪ IT'S ALL HYPNOTIC AND SANCTIFIED ♪

♪ I NEVER WANT TO LET A BAD DAY SLIP BY ♪

♪ NOW, WE BE GETTING STUPID IN YOUR AREA ♪

♪ WE'RE CAUSING ALL KINDS OF HYSTERIA ♪

♪ MY BEATS IS SICK LIKE MALARIA ♪

♪ BUT DON'T WORRY I'LL TAKE CARE OF YA ♪

♪ ME AND AD AN' ADAM AND THE MARIO C ♪

♪ IN THE STUDIO, IT'S THE PLACE TO BE ♪

♪ TO ALL THE PARTY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY AND FREE ♪

♪ WITH MIX MASTER MIKE WE'RE MAKING HISTORY ♪

♪ WE'RE JUST THREE MC'S AND ONE DJ ♪

♪ AND WE BE GETTING DOWN WITH NO DELAY ♪

♪ MIX MASTER MIKE, WHAT YOU GOT TO SAY ♪

[RECORD SCRATCHING]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rock /rɒk/ A2	verb - to move rhythmically back and forth verb - to perform rock music
style /staɪl/ B1	noun - a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed.
choice /tʃɔɪs/ B1	noun - the act of selecting something.
gather /ˈɡæðər/ A2	verb - to come together; assemble or accumulate.
voice /vɔɪs/ A1	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
cruising /ˈkruːzɪŋ/ B1	verb - travel leisurely or without a specific destination.
stage /steɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a raised floor or platform for performers.
delay /dɪˈleɪ/ B1	noun - a period of time that something is late or postponed.
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey.
fresh /freʃ/ A2	adjective - newly made or obtained; not canned, frozen, or preserved.
routine /ruːˈtiːn/ B1	noun - a sequence of actions regularly followed.
updated /ʌpˈdeɪtɪd/ B2	adjective - having the latest information.
booming /ˈbuːmɪŋ/ B1	verb - to make a loud, deep, resonant sound.
chillin /ˈtʃɪlɪn/ A2	verb - relaxing.
glow /ɡloʊ/ B1	verb - emit light; be radiant.
mad /mæd/ A2	adjective - angry.
hysteria /hɪˈstɪəriə/ C1	noun - exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement.
beats /biːts/ A2	noun - the basic rhythmic unit in music.

Key Grammar Structures

• ‘Cause nobody can do it like mixmaster can, come on

  ➔ Comparative clause with 'like' + modal verb 'can'

  ➔ The word "like" introduces a comparison: "nobody can do it "like" mixmaster can".

• I've got the D-double-o-d-double-o style

  ➔ Present perfect (have/has + past participle) with contraction

  ➔ The contraction "I've" stands for "I have", which is used in the present perfect to show possession now.

• Here we go again because it's been a while

  ➔ Present simple + present perfect (it's been) + because clause

  ➔ "it's been" is the present perfect form of "be", indicating that a period of time has passed: "it has been a while".

• Do me a favor, don't touch that dial

  ➔ Imperative sentence + negative imperative "don't"

  ➔ "Don't" is the contracted form of "do not" used to give a negative command: "don't touch".

• I rock from Manhattan to the Miracle Mile

  ➔ Simple present for habitual action + prepositional phrase "from … to …"

  ➔ "rock" is used in the simple present to describe a regular activity: "I rock".

• We're just three MC's and one DJ

  ➔ Contraction "we're" (we are) + linking verb "are" with a predicate noun

  ➔ "We're" is the contraction of "we are"; the verb "are" links the subject to the noun phrase "three MC's and one DJ".

• Mixmaster Mike, whatcha got to say

  ➔ Colloquial contraction "whatcha" (what have you) + present perfect

  ➔ "whatcha" is the informal spoken form of "what have you", using the present perfect: "what have you got".

• The bass is booming from down below

  ➔ Present progressive (is booming) to describe ongoing action

  ➔ "is booming" combines the verb "to be" with the present participle "booming" to show that the bass is currently sounding loudly.