【歌詞翻訳・意味解説】A Tribe Called Quest/ア・トライブ・コールド・クエスト Check The Rhime/チェック・ザ・ライム【歌詞翻訳・意味解説】

アメリカのヒップホップグループ。
1988年に結成され、1998年に一時解散。2006年に再結成され現在も活動中。
3枚目のシングル「Can I KIck It?」がナイキのCMに使われたことから、徐々に人気が高まる。

冒頭の印象的なホーンフレーズがクラブ映えするナンバー。

Back in the days
on the boulevard
of Linden
We used to
kick routines and
presence was fittin
It was I,
The Abstract

And me the five footer
I kicks the mad style
so step off
the frankfurter
Yo, Phife,
you remember
that routine
That we used to
make spiffy like
Mr. Clean?

Um um, a tidbit,
um, a smidgen
I don’t get
the message
so you gots to run
the pigeon
You on point Phife?
All the time,
Tip
[x3]
Well, then grab
the microphone and
let your words rip

Now here’s a
funky introduction of
how nice I am
Tell your mother,
tell your father,
send a telegram
I’m like
an energizer cause,
you see,
I last long
My crew is
never ever nwack
cause we stand strong
Now if you say
my style is wack
that’s where
you’re dead wrong
I slayed that body
in El Segundo
then Push it Along
You’d be a fool to
reply that Phife
is not the man
Cause you know
and I know that
you know who I am
A special shot
of peace goes out
to all my pals,
you see
And a middle finger
goes for all
you punk MC’s
Cause I love it
when you wack
MC’s despise me
They get vexed,
I roll next,
can’t none contest me
I’m just a fly MC
who’s five foot three
and very brave
On job remaining,
no home training
cause I misbehave
I come correct
in full effect
have all my hoes
in check
And before
I get the butt
the jim must be erect
You see,
my aura’s positive
I don’t promote
no junk
See,
I’m far from a bully
and I ain’t a punk
Extremity in rhythm,
yeah that’s
what you heard
So just clean out
your ears and
just check the word

Check the rhyme
y’all…
Check it out,
check it out
Check the rhyme
y’all…
Play tapes y’all

Back in days
on the boulevard
of Linden
We used to
kick routines and
the presence
was fittin
It was I the Phifer
And me The Abstract
The rhymes were
so rumpin’ that
the brothers
rode the ‘zack
Yo Tip you recall
when we used to rock
Those fly routines
on your cousin’s block
Um, let me see,
damn I can’t remember
I receive the message
and you will
play the sender
You on point Tip?
All the time Phife
[x3]
So play the resurrector
and give the dead
some life

Okay,
if knowledge is
the key then
just show me the lock
Got the scrawny legs
but I move just
like Lou Brock
With speed.
I’m agile plus
I’m worth your while
One hundred percent
intelligent black child
My optic presentation
sizzles the retina
How far must
I go to gain respect? Um
Well,
it’s kind of simple,
just remain your own
Or you’ll be
crazy sad and alone
Industry rule
number four thousand and eighty
Record company people
are shady
So kids watch your back
cause I think
they smoke crack
I don’t doubt it.
Look at how they act
Off to better things
like a hip-hop forum
Pass me the rock and
I’ll score ‘em
with decorum
Proper.
What you say Hammer?
Proper
Rap is not pop,
if you call it
that then stop

NC, y’all
check the rhyme y’all
SC, y’all
check it out y’all
Virginia,
check the rhyme y’all
Check it out.
Out
In London,
check the rhyme,
y’all