Gang Starr - Jazz Thing (Video Mix)(1999)

[00:01.81] (Feat. Branford Marsalis (instrumentally only))
[00:02.65] "I would like to play a. little tune I just composed not so long ago"
[00:07.68] "Ms. Billie, Ms. Billie, Ms. Billie Holiday"
[00:09.03] [HORNS]
[00:10.69] [Drum roll] [piano keys played]
[00:14.85] [HORNS]
[00:16.96] "Byrd.?" [trumpet solo] [group horns]
[00:23.91] [Guru] "The music called jazz."
[00:25.18] [HORNS]
[00:26.77] [Guru]
[00:45.49] It's roots are in the sounds of the African
[00:46.91] Or should I say the mother. bringin us back again
[00:50.10] From the drummin on the Congo, we came with a strong flow
[00:53.12] And continue to grow
[00:54.69] Feet move, to the beat of the t'balo
[00:57.66] Now dig the story and follow
[00:59.32] For then it landed, on American soil
[01:01.73] Through the sweat, the blood, and the toil
[01:04.05] Hear, "Praise the Lord," shouted on chain gangs
[01:06.70] Pain they felt, but it helped them to maintain
[01:09.01] Scott Joplin's rags, Bessie Smith's blues
[01:11.34] St. Louis blues, they were all the news
[01:13.40] Ringin smooth. in all the listeners ears
[01:15.94] Fulfillin the needs, and plantin the seeds
[01:18.02] Of a jazz thing
[01:22.97] King Oliver's group was a train comin through
[01:25.11] To Chicago, bringin the New Orleans groove
[01:27.43] And when Satchmo blew, the audience knew
[01:30.12] Basil Street blues was the whole house tune
[01:32.13] It was music. great to dance to
[01:34.71] Great to romance to with a lot to say to you
[01:37.24] Relaying a message, revealing the essence
[01:39.38] Of a jazz thing
[01:41.10] [DJ Premier cuts "jazz music"]
[02:00.78] In the 40's came be-bop, the first be-bop
[02:03.18] The real be-bop, so let me talk about
[02:05.75] Diz' and Byrd, givin the word
[02:08.04] Defining how a beat could be so complete
[02:10.29] Playing with ferocity, thinkin with velocity
[02:12.84] About ornathology, or anthropology
[02:15.21] And even?, and this is real history
[02:17.59] Theolonious Monk, a melodious thunk
[02:20.05] No mistakes were made with the notes he played
[02:22.22] His conception, was? re condite?
[02:24.62] A star glowing bright among dim lights
[02:27.04] The critics did cite that he sounded alright
[02:29.38] Charlie Mingus, such nimble fingers
[02:31.65] Droppin the bass, all over the place
[02:33.88] And Max Roach, cymbals socking
[02:36.45] Bass drum talking, snare drum rocking
[02:38.84] Restructuring. the metaphysics
[02:40.99] Of a jazz thing
[02:48.29] John Coltrane, a man supreme
[02:50.35] He was the cream. he was the wise one
[02:53.14] The impression of Afro Blue
[02:55.01] And of the promise, that was not kept
[02:57.03] He was a GIANT step, and there was Ornette Coleman
[03:00.96] He was another soul man
[03:02.75] The original invisible, playing great music
[03:05.95] I wonder why the? Bangles? couldn't use it
[03:08.10] Now listen see
[03:09.46] The real mystery is how music history
[03:11.90] Created by white men or any other white man
[03:14.99] That pretended he originated "uh-huh."
[03:16.96] And contended that he innovated "uh-huh."
[03:19.08] A jazz thing
[03:20.57] ("Of course we know who can really blow")
[03:22.72] Scheamin on the meaning
[03:23.72] Of a jazz thing
[03:35.37] And this music ain't dead, so don't be misled
[03:37.86] By those who said that jazz was on it's deathbed
[03:40.64] Cause when Betty Carter sings a song
[03:42.56] Ain't nuttin goin on, but simply good music
[03:45.91] And you won't refuse it
[03:47.46] She's takin her time, makin the nuances rhyme
[03:49.48] Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone
[03:51.56] With a big old tone, recitin poems
[03:54.55] With notes as words, and haven't you heard
[03:56.83] NEXT STOP BUTTER, RIGHT PAST OLEO
[03:59.24] Now there's young cats blowin
[04:01.20] And more and more people, yes they will be knowin
[04:04.08] Jazz ain't the past, this music's gonna last
[04:06.14] And as the facts unfold, remember who foretold
[04:08.69] The 90's, will be the decade of
[04:11.13] A jazz thing "I love jazz music" [x3]
[04:18.18] [Primo scratches "I love jazz music"]
[04:18.51] A jazz thing...
[04:21.66]