CROOKLYN DODGERS – 95 The Return Of…

The Crooklyn Dodgers were a hip-hop supergroup based in Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of rotating members. They appeared in three separate incarnations in 1994, 1995, and 2007. The first two incarnations recorded for the soundtracks for Spike Lee films, Crooklyn and Clockers, respectively.

Crooklyn Dodgers: the first group was composed of Buckshot, Masta Ace and Special Ed. Their first and only record was “Crooklyn”, produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, and was featured in the 1994 film Crooklyn. The music video featured appearances by Brooklyn-born athletes Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson.

Crooklyn Dodgers ’95: the second group was composed of Chubb Rock, Jeru the Damaja and O.C. Their first and only record was “Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers”, produced by DJ Premier, and was featured in the 1995 film Clockers.

Crooklyn Dodgers III: the third group consisted of Jean Grae, Mos Def and Memphis Bleek. North Carolina producer 9th Wonder resurrected the group concept in 2007 for a track on his album The Dream Merchant Vol. 2, titled “Brooklyn in My Mind”.

We did it like that and now we do it like this We did it like that and now we do it like this Yeah

Now clock kids, who got the cocaine? Don’t tell me it’s the little kids on Soul Train The metaphor sent from my brain to my jaw It comes from other places, not the tinted faces Journalistic values are yellow and then, of course, falters You’ll watch Channel Zero with that bitch Barbara Walters She’ll have you believe Black invented crack When President Lyndon had the formula way back In ’63 with Kennedy, yes, the double cross Remember that’s when they blow his fucking head off Vietnam vets come back looking like One-armed pets, Nixon bounced pure checks No picket fence, no job, no 8-cylinder car Blue-collar turns to bourgeois Depressed in your chest, Demerol For sess, no dough, crack in vials much less Whitey can sell on the corners of Bushwick Whitey can sell on the corners of Flatbush Whiteys can sell on the corners of Bed-Stuy Pass the torch to that nigga guy So just die, nigga, die, nigga You’re too black, you can’t handle, you’re too strong Get high, fly, clock, next boost your steel In ’95, we take back Ebbets Field

Brooklyn, traveling distance to party Brooklyn, absent at functions? Not hardly Brooklyn, the name alone holds Godly You don’t know? You better ask somebody Crack-filled streets since ’85 The beast getting paid to not bust Hookers’ drawers got crust Claps clapping regular, hardcore niggas with Fat gold chains on the corner maintaining Gold teeth flashing, stickup kids playing in front of Latin Quarters, keep home your daughters ‘Cause if bullets fly, watch the flaming Ignorant ducks are shooting, wilding, they’re not aiming One Easter, now, to think about it, what a pity Five people died in front of Skate City Senseless, back then you was ill if you had a gun People gash you and flash you, damn, no fun Albee Square, you couldn’t shop too much ’cause Fort Greene would hem you, wreck the fuck on up You had do or die, East New York, mad hell Fellas cutting school, trooping to all go Maxwell So many memories I can’t manifest Yo, ‘Ru, start where I finish and to Brooklyn, God bless Yeah, we represent

Listen ’cause for your mind, I got the right nutrition We keep shit hard like fat asses and cases of Heineken Here in Brooklyn, home of the warrior and villain Trife type chicks, “Top Billin'”s the anthem Rastas smoke marijuana Enterprising businessmen shoot dice on the corner Excuse me while I light my spliff but some choose to sip So bullets hit brains when bottles hit lips Clips, whatever happened to .38 Specials? Now it’s Desert Eagles, government issue Probably the same one that killed Noriega Chips that power nuclear bombs power my Sega Subliminal hypnotism and colonialism Leave most niggas dead or in prison In Crookland, right hand cuts off the left hand To spite the hand, jealous of the next man So violent crimes black-on-black, plus mad crack to boot Everybody can’t rap, so most hustle and shoot Make money money, get money, take money I can’t understand that concept ’cause Jah rules everything around me Fire burns the unjust like arson, larceny Melt emcees with mental telepathy With precision, we’re slicing and dicing Peace to the East New York, Perverted Monks, and Mike Tyson

(Crazy-ass Crooklyn kids) (Because it is survival of the fittest) (Crazy-ass Crooklyn kids) (Represent the Brooklyn all-nighter) (Crazy-ass Crooklyn kids) (Because it is survival of the fittest)