[Intro]
Take me back, yeah, to where it all began
To the rhythm of the streets, yeah, the heartbeat of the land
Remember when we those youth, just trying to understand
Floors filled with dreams, not just the grain of cement sand
[Verse 1]
Taking me back to the first crew's, when LL wasn't old
When DMC was rockin', stories yet untold
Eric B and Rakim, still in high school, control
Before the Duggie, before the spotlight's glow
Beatboxing in the classrooms, where we learned to flow
Women rappers showing assets, but then, they just wanted to show
Their intellect, their voice, the strength they'd grow
Before radio told us what to know
[Pre-Chorus]
Can you tell me where the hearts at?
Give me a minute, I’ll be right back
To fight the power, break the chains, stay on track
We can't never get our hearts back, no, no, no
[Chorus]
Take me back to the roots, the raw and real
Where every lesson, every scar, had a story to tell
From the projects to the stages, we excel
Heart of the heart, where we dwell
[Bridge]
It’s about more than dollars, more than the bars
It’s the spirit, the struggle, the scars
Self-distraction, see the truth behind the cars
We searching for our hearts, in the stars
[Outro]
Tell me where the love at, where the roots at?
Before the police terrorize, before the truth cracks
Show me how to flip the script, how to bring it back
Yeah, take me back, take me back, yeah