Dead Precidents

[Chorus: Khary, Nas]
I'm out for presidents to represent me
Get money
I'm out for presidents to represent me
Are we really getting money?
I'm out for presidents to represent me
They getting money
I'm out for presidents to represent me
All the presidents that represent me

[Verse: Khary]
I know the beat says 'presidents'
But I'mma talk about precedents that I thought was set (Set)
So most of us forget (Yo)
And many feel the same as me, but lack the evidence
To explain they feel about where hip-hop's going (Where'd it go?)
So we often claim that commercial is wrong (Wrong)
But there was nothing wrong with Run-DMC (What?)
And they were just about as commercial as can be (That's tricky)
And as time changes, music rearranges (Uh)
Friends turn strange and there's no need for anger (Anger)
About what you're listening to
Because the new becomes the old, and the old becomes the new
We can't blame rap for why the radio's wack
Well, I can blame some emcees, but that ain't me, uh (I can name 'em, uh)
I think it's more 'bout the music industry (What?)
And companies that swear they know what the people need (They swear they know)
Ain't money such a powerful thing (How?)
How it manipulates the alt while seducing the dream? (Damn)
Ever wonder why the mockingbird sings? (Why?)
It probably got bribed for a brand new swing (And)
And if not that, then a brand new bling (And)
And if not that, then a couple of things, uh (Yeah)
But hip-hop survives most of what it represents
Dead presidents just met dead precedents

[Chorus: Khary, Nas]
I'm out for presidents to represent me
Get money
I'm out for presidents to represent me
Are we really getting money?
I'm out for presidents to represent me
What's the price of this music?
I'm out for presidents to represent me
All the presidents that represent me
Uh, confusing, yeah
I'm out for presidents to represent me
What's the price of this music?
I'm out for presidents to represent me
We often confuse it
I'm out for presidents to represent me
Huh, yo
I'm out for presidents to represent me
All the presidents that represent me
We all off of presidents