album cover
Y?
14,361
Hip-Hop/Rap
Y? was released on November 14, 1995 by The Bicycle Music Company as a part of the album Labcabincalifornia
album cover
Release DateNovember 14, 1995
LabelThe Bicycle Music Company
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM92

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Performer
Bootie Brown
Bootie Brown
Vocals
Mwalk
Mwalk
Scratches
Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions
Sampled Artist
Fatlip
Fatlip
Vocals
Imani
Imani
Vocals
Slimkid3
Slimkid3
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Emandu Wilcox
Emandu Wilcox
Songwriter
Derrick Stewart
Derrick Stewart
Songwriter
Romye Robinson
Romye Robinson
Songwriter
James Dewitt Yancey
James Dewitt Yancey
Songwriter
T. Hardson
T. Hardson
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Bootie Brown
Bootie Brown
Producer
Tim Latham
Tim Latham
Recording Engineer
Rick Clifford
Rick Clifford
Recording Engineer
James Mansfield
James Mansfield
Recording Engineer
Bryan Davis
Bryan Davis
Recording Engineer
Gary Wallis
Gary Wallis
Recording Engineer
Anthony Walker
Anthony Walker
Recording Engineer
Paul Arnold
Paul Arnold
Mixing Engineer
J Dilla
J Dilla
Producer

Lyrics

[Intro]
Why is that?
Why is that?
Why is that?
Why is that?
[Chorus]
(Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Why it's gotta be like that)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that?
[Verse 1]
I wasn't sleepin', I was creepin', slidin', hidin'
I would like the girl behind me, roll up a fat time, thinking
Mentally sinking, presently brinking
Two decades and a half creatin' a path for mine to follow
The world is hollow, yet it's full of crap, prepare to gamble
I give you a handful of chips and tips ofwhat's to come, I cried a ton of tears
Drunk a ton of beers, that's fun at first, but learned to persevere throughout the years
Kept my ears open, eyes scoping, mouth locked
Don't rock the boat if you can't swim
Nobody may not be there with the limb to lend
This is the end, still, I can't explain the fact
Why the fuck shit gotta be like that?
[Chorus]
(Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that
Tell me, tell me why it's gotta be like that
[Verse 2]
Know what? I said it
Hear me clear and, oh, it's so severe and dreaded
That they need to be beheaded, why?
I'm readily, steadily stimulating and mutilating
All sloppily-copied imitations 'cause they irritatin'
So I'm intimidating them over the snare with simply a stare
Bringin' them turbulent terror and they know this 'cause they can feel it
He knew that it was mine, still the sucker tried to steal it (Uh-huh)
So I had to reveal it, through proving that I
Am astonishing and fly and by just blinking my eye
In a flash, I flushed out the face, layin' low-key
Trained eyes locate to focus on the phony
Mister sometimey homie, why he act like that?
I thought he had my back, I thought he had our backs
But it was him who I should've never trusted
At not at least until he got his attitude adjusted
Or mouth busted for actin' all dusted, but bust this
Now when I'm out, I seek and sort out the whole scene
For all sinister types, sneaks that scheme
They come into my face, I send them tight men home
When they be suffering from the double-agent syndrome (Why?)
Why it gotta be like that?
[Chorus]
(Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that?
[Verse 3]
Uh, sometimes this world means everything to me (Everything to me)
The inside is lovely through these eyes, I see (Through these eyes, I see)
And, sometimes in my mind, all I wanna do is cry (Why?)
Highly upset, but nothing drops from my eye (Eye)
Thoughts drain out my skin 'cause I'm pissed from within (Uh-huh)
I see a situation now and all I do is grin (All I do is grin)
People think I'm high, but I'm mentally traveling (Mentally traveling)
Aging in sure times 'cause life's unravelling (Unravelling)
While I'm straddling walls of this fuckin' mic (Mic)
I hate to be a pilot, crashin' in a flight (Crashin' in a flight)
People need to know about this thing called life (Called life)
'Cause if you see the light then life's alright (So can you dig it?)
[Chorus]
Be like that, it just be like that (Say what? Say what? Say what? Can you dig it?)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Uh, say what? Say what? Say what? Can you dig it?)
Be like that, it just be like that (Uh, say what? Say what? Say what? Can you dig it?)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Say what?)
[Verse 4]
I jumps inside the Jeep as I embark on my dark mission
Popped in my freestyle tapes, start reminiscing
'Bout my little homie who was raised in Wyoming
Wanted to be famous, so he came to Cali-phony on the microphony
Was super bad and whatnot
But he was the kind of fella to follow fads that was hot
He became so fascinated with that gang-related flavor
That he modificated, rearranged his behavior
He hooked up quick with the influential slang
Gangster stroll, cornrows, the whole shebang
Braggin' and boastin', boastin' and braggin'
How he mostly be hangin' with baby G's I was baggin'
Like why you tryin' to hoo-ride up on the bandwagon? (What? What?)
Hopin' they'd hit him in the head, but he steady saggin'
Like he a hog, creepin' through the smog
Smokin' on some indo, sippin' on a cup of O-Dog
Like most who come to this West Coast society
Try to be because they think it's fly to be a menace
So, what a relic way to end this
Got rolled up when he was strolling on a Sunday up at Venice
**** never listen, they gotta learn they lesson
The hard way I'm guessin', yessin'
Deedy as I hit the beady and make a right on Weston
Pops in my head, the proverbial question, why it—
[Chorus]
Be like that, it just be like that
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
Be like that, it just be like that (Why it's gotta be like that)
Can you tell me why it's gotta be like that? (Tell me why)
[Outro]
Why it's gotta be like that
Why it's gotta be like that
Why it's gotta be like that
Tell me why
Written by: Derrick Stewart, Emandu Wilcox, Jay Dee, Romye Robinson, Trevant Hardson
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