It Wasn't Me, It Was the Fame

As the wind sets the mood, it's time to let off

A sucker tried to play me, the E, I'm not soft

I'm very hardcore, droppin' bombs like Warsaw

It reminds me, back in 1984

When I went to a party with a masterplan

To step up and put the mic in my hand

Everybody was there from junior high to high schools

Dyin' to get busy 'cause I knew I had the tools

Then I got the heart and went by the set

I said, "Yo, I wanna rock the set"

Yeah, no sweat

Kickin' rhymes in the place, people couldn't take it

The style I flowed, the way I shaked and baked it

Later on I made a record and got recognition

Everybody's jocking now nobody's dissing

Written and produced by the new rap duo

Yes, EPMD, now I'm known in school

I see the backstabbers and the elderly creature features

That used to diss me when I was tryna reach the

Tip, tip top, and I won't stop

To be the master in the field of hip hop

I did that and got a name for myself

The image of E and all of my wealth

I see my fake friends, but things ain't the same

Oh what a shame

I diss 'em

Who to blame? It wasn't me, it was the (Fame)

It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it was the (Fame)

Before I cut records, I had dreams of livin' large

Earning crazy cash flow, the whole nine yards

But when I told my college friends, they kicked back and laughed

Said, "You better grab your books and take your behind to class"

They said, "You couldn't make a record and expect to get paid

'Cause there's too many def rappers in the world today"

I said, "Yo, my name is M.D. and my style is def"

They said, "Your name is Parrish, son, you're like all the rest"

Fronting you gettin' a contract, but then you fess

But when you heard my record playin', your mouth was wide open

Your head was tilted back that you was almost chokin'

But I just lounge, and cool with the fellas

Like my roomie D-Wade, Top Notch, and James Ellis

I never hung with girls, only one and she was mellow

First name was Terry, last name was Romanello

My records started sellin', then P withdrew

From the college Southern Con, known as SCSU

But when I often go and visit, they say, "P, bust a rhyme"

I shake my head and then chuckle, and throw up the peace sign

They wanna feel my gold and sport my Rolex

But P replies, "It's really nothin'" and don't like to flex

And when I step up on the scene, I always hear them whisper

"Yo P's not the same, did you hear him diss you?"

I go deep into my thoughts, then I questioned my brain

It wasn't me, or money, or the fortune

It was the (Fame)

It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it was the (Fame)

Now you wanna know me, before you wasn't speakin'

Now you watch "Yo! MTV Raps" every weekend

Just to see me, the E, and the P

Coolin' on the scene with Fab 5 Freddy

Back then, you didn't know that I was determined

To be a def rapper with the name Erick Sermon

To be a crowd mover, someone that cause trouble

Then I thought and came up with E Double

I can't forget how they used to diss

Sayin' he can't rap because he talks with a lisp

But I got paid, now you feel stupid

Amazed by the style, the sound, and how we looped it

Now I clock G's, trunk jewels, and star trims

Cool around town and flex my black Benz

Definitely hooked up with the system that cranks

Livin' well off, with dinero in the bank

EPMD is Erick Parrish Makin' Dollars

Always on tour, so you can call us road scholars

You saw me in '87, where you been? Because we miss you

I dismissed you

It wasn't me who dissed you, it was the (Fame)

It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it was the (Fame)

As I freak a funky style to a funky fresh rhythm

I use my crazy def talent that God has given

Me to flow slow and still live large

To drop a def LP and catch emcees off guard

Because my friends started buggin', we used to cool at the mall

But on the S.T., the Sneak Tip, they prayed for my downfall

I used to cruise by in my rock and always hear them mumble

They got lucky on Strictly Biz, but watch the next one crumble

My father always told me to wisen up, son

'Cause if you hung with nine broke friends

You're bound to be the tenth one

So I cut my friends off and P went for self

Me and Erick Sermon, and no one else

Strictly writin' def lyrics to my best ability

With the crazy imagination as my only utility

'Cause emcees around my way brag how def they are

But now they workin' full-time and sharin' their mom's cars

Always frontin' to the girls how hard you can rock

But you leave out how you carpool to go punch the clock

Yeah, we came hittin' hard, so all the talkin' had to halt

But don't blame us, blame God, it's his fault

For assisting us on the mission of a point of no return

To do a crab emcee who did not learn

Now when you're hot, you're hot, when you're not, you're not

And when it comes to funky music, the two rock the spot

So next time you see me coolin', bite your lip and respect

Between me and you sonny, straight up, I'm like death

I cooled on the Run tour with Flavor and Chuck

Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, but I guess that was luck

I did shows in crazy countries like Europe and France

Copenhagen, Denmark, and Amsterdam

I even been to our country that they call Africa

Keep your eyes on your girl, 'cause P'll be watchin' around the

Tick ticking, yo check out P rippin'

A new way to sway 'cause brothers keep vickin'

Flows and echoes that sound exact

But you're rhyming in circles and you ain't sayin' jack

So take it in stride, by the way, I'm still the same

First name is still Parrish, Sue's my girl, nothin' changed

You insist I act funny, but who's to blame?

It wasn't "Yo! MTV Raps", the money, or Soul Train

It was the (Fame)

It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it was the (Fame)