Get It Together by The Beastie Boys Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Threads of Hip-Hop Consciousness
Lyrics
Listen to the shit because we kick it until dawn
Listen to the abstract got it going on
Listen to the ladies come on and let me spawn
All your eggs then you you go up the river
Listen to the abstract that freaky nigga
I’m ad rock and I shock and I tick and I tock
And I can’t stop with the body rock
See I’ve got heart like John Starks
Hitting mad sparks
Pass me the mic
And I’ll be rocking the whole park
I’m the m to the see to the a and it’s a must
The rhymes that we bust on the topic on lust
And my moms is not butt, but fuck it
Let me get down to the rhythm
Yes I’m getting funky and I’m shooting all my jism
Like John Holmes, the x-rated nigga
Listen to the shit ’cause I’m the ill figure
Nobody’s getting any bigger than this
Ad rock down with the ione
Listen to the shit because both of them is boney
Got to do it like this like chachi and joanie
Because she’s the cheese and I’m the macaroni
So why all the fight and why all the fuss
Because I ain’t got no dust
Yea, you know I’m getting silly
I’ve got a grandma hazel and a grandma tilly
Grand royalprez and I’m also a member
Born on the cusp in the month of November
I do the patty duke in case you don’t remember
Well, I freak a funky beat like the shit was in a blender
Well, I’m long gone word is born
Don’t need a mother fucking fool telling me right from wrong
I don’t think I’m slick nor do I play like I’m hard
But I shall drive the lane like I was evan bernhard
And I’ve working on my game because life is taxing
Got to get it together and see what’s happening
I go one two like my name was biz mark
But I had to do the shit just let me embark
On the lyric and the noun and the verb
Let’s kick the shit off ’cause yo, I’m not the herb
Well, it’s not the herb but the spice with the flavor to spare
Tho moog with the funk for your derriere
While we’re on that topic, yes I like to mention
When it comes to boning I’m representing
Spacing, zoning, talkin’ on the phone and
My brain is roaming and I don’t know where it’s going
Talking lots of shit a little tweaking on the weekend
I’ve got to get him by the reigns because I know that I’m freaking
Well, I’m a funky skull and I’m a scorpio
And when I get my flow I’m dr on the go
So q-tip, what you on the mic for
Because I had to talk about the times that I rhyme
And when m.c.s come in my face, I’m like mace
Because I back them off with the quills
Nigga ’cause I tell you, nigga ’cause I’ll keep you under prills
Resting on nine one one sixteenth ave off the farmes boulevard
I’m from manhattan m.c.a.’s from brooklyn
Yea, m.c.a., your shit be cooking
Praying mantis on the court and I can’t be beat
So, yo tip, what’s up with the boot on your feet
I’ve got the timbos on the toes and this is how it goes
Oh one two, oh my god
One two, oh my god, I’ve got some shit
I’ve got the kung fu grip behind my green trap kit
Never ever ever smoking crack
Never ever ever fucking wack
I eat the fuckin’ pineapple now & laters
Listen to me now, don’t listen to me later
Fuck it ’cause I know I didn’t make it fuckin’ rhyme for real
But, yo technically I’m as hard as steel
Gonna get it together, watch it, gonna get it together ma bell
I’m like ma bell, I’ve got the ill communications
Ma bell, got the ill communications
Ma bell, got the ill communications
Ma bell, got the ill communications
Ma bell
Keep it on and on
At the intersection of hip-hop’s golden era and the burgeoning alternative scene, The Beastie Boys’ ‘Get It Together’ stands as a testament to lyrical prowess and the melding of genres. The track, seeming at first to be a mishmash of pop culture references and clever wordplay, unpacks layers of meaning upon closer examination.
With an off-kilter beat that slinks around a jazz-infused bassline, this cut from their 1994 album ‘Ill Communication’ captures the essence of a group unafraid to let their idiosyncrasies shine. Let’s take a deep dive into the method behind the madness—the intricate tapestry woven by Ad-Rock, MCA, and their guest, Q-Tip.
A Linguistic Playground: The Art of Association
The Beastie Boys have long been connoisseurs of cultural layering, and ‘Get It Together’ is a linguistic romp through a playground of their making. With every line, they fire off a rapid sequence of associations—sports figures, fictional characters, and allusions to other music that collide to form a mosaic of 90’s zeitgeist.
One cannot ignore the craft in how they tie their references together, leaving the savvy listener to peel back the layers. The basketball prowess of John Starks morphs into the lascivious exploits of John Holmes, forming a duality of fame and persona that plays a central role in the song.
Beyond the Jokes: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
What may initially appear as braggadocio or playful nonsense in ‘Get It Together’ is, in fact, peppered with existential undertones. The track confronts the nature of being in the spotlight, identity, and artistic merit—’Nobody’s getting any bigger than this’ speaks to the pinnacle of their own success while mocking the fickle nature of stardom.
In a swift juxtaposition that is characteristic of their style, The Beastie Boys mix the trivial with the profound. The whimsical mention of ‘grandma Hazel and grandma Tilly’ beside the proclamation of being born ‘on the cusp in the month of November’ are introspective musings on legacy and fate.
Rhyme and Reason: The Rhythm of Wordplay
Delving deeper into the structure, ‘Get It Together’ offers a masterclass in rhythmic wordplay. The syncopation and flow are not just about keeping time but about creating a pulse that carries the narrative. Phrases like ‘I go one two like my name was Biz Mark’ capture the spontaneity of a freestyle battle while nodding to hip-hop history.
The Beastie Boys are relentless in their rhythmic delivery, ensuring each line punches through with intentionality. The momentum of their rhymes punctuates their storytelling, underscoring their wit and timing as central to their message.
Four’s a Crowd: Understanding Q-Tip’s Contribution
The inclusion of Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest in ‘Get It Together’ adds a distinct flavor, intertwining his smooth, musing lines with the raw energy of The Beastie Boys. His verse philosophically meanders, contemplating life’s distractions and the creative process—’Because I had to talk about the times when I rhyme’.
The collaboration highlights the strength in hip-hop unity and the sharing of the mic as a symbol of mutual respect. Q-Tip’s presence serves as a nod to the collective consciousness of the genre and the shared journey of influential artists.
Memorable Lines that Resonate
‘Gonna get it together, watch it, gonna get it together ma bell / I’m like ma bell, I’ve got the ill communications.’ These final lines encapsulate the essence of the track—communication and the quest to make sense of the chaotic. ‘Ma bell’ is an allusion to the former telephone giant, AT&T, symbolizing connection amidst confusion. The very title of the album, ‘Ill Communication,’ finds itself echoed here.
The Beastie Boys remind us through these indelible lines and throughout ‘Get It Together’ that the act of creating and connecting is as fundamental as the electricity coursing through the phone lines, binding us all in a shared, often perplexing, human experience.
