MC Lyte - I Cram To Understand U Lyrics






I used to be in love with this guy named Sam
I don't know why, 'cause he had the head like that of a clam
But you couldn't tell me nothin', 'cause Sam was number one
'Cause to me, oh, my gosh, he was one in a million

I shoulda knew the consequences right from the start
That he'd use me for my money, and then break my heart
But like a fool in love I fell for his game
But I got mine, so I show no shame

In Empire winked his eye, and then he kept walkin'
And all of those who live in Brooklyn know just what I'm talkin'
The roller disco where we all used to go
Just to have some fun back in 1981

You know the place, Empire Boulevard
Is where I first saw the nigga, and he tried to play hard
But I knew the deal, 'cause I knew his brother Jerry
And Sam, he just broke up with his girlfriend Terry

So Jerry introduced Sam and I that night
He said, "Hello, my name is Sam" I said, "Hi, my name is Lyte"
We dipped and we dapped and we chit and we chat
About this and that, from sneakers to hats

He said, "Look, I'm in the mood for love
Simply because you're near me"
(Let's go)
To my house, lay back and get nice
Watch television, reunite on ice

I said, "Slow down, I know you wanna shake me down
But I'm not one of the girls to go rippin' around"

Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand u

Next month I finally went to his house
I walked into the door, there was a girl on the couch
I said, "Who's the frog, the bump on the log?
You chump, you punk, how could you do me wrong?”

Singing sad songs about your love is so strong
You said, "Wait Lyte, you're confused, the girl is my cousin"
Your brother agreed, but later she said that she wasn't

Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand u

Forgotten, next month we went to the Deuce
Well, I thought it kinda strange 'cause you had lots of juice
You knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts, everybody
Asked ya how you met 'em, said you met 'em at a party

Then these girls tried to tell me you were sellin' the stuff
I said, "It's not your business, so shut the fuck up"
They said, "Okay Lyte, think what you wanna think
But it's gon' be some shit when your man becomes a"

I said, "Look, to bust a move, I don't even know you
To put it Lyte, I really don't care to"
They kinda got mad and sort of offended
They said, "We only lookin' out for yo best interest"

I said, "Thanks but no thanks" in an aggravated tone
"When I wanna find out, I find out on my own"

Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand u

Then my cousin said she saw you with this lady named C
Well, I'm clawin' my thoughts, I wonder who she could be
You're spending all your time with her
And not a second with me

They say you spend your money on her
And you're with her night and day
Her name starts with a C and it ends with a K
I strain my brain lookin' for a name to fit this spellin'
But I just couldn't do it 'cause my heart kept yellin'

Burning, begging for affection from you, Sam
But just like a test I cram to understand you
Thought I knew you well enough to call you a man

But, just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand u

Then it came a time you started looking kinda thin
I asked you why, you said, "Exercise, tryina stay slim"
I bought it, even though I knew it was a lie
'Cause it really didn't matter, you were still lookin' fly

But oh no, oh no, you started askin' me for money
Butter me up, beg me and call me your honey
So I gave you 2 yards, and then I gave you one more
You picked up your jacket and you flew out the door

You came back an hour later and you asked me for a 10
I said, "I only got a 20", you said, "Give me that, then"
I said, "Nope, I'll tell you now, you better stop slobbin'
Find you a job, or you better start robbin'"

So I stepped off with a giant step
Picked up my belongings, and I just left
And now I see you in Empire every Sunday
Juicin' the girls up for some money and a lay

But every time I see you doin' it, I just ruin it
Tell 'em how ya on crack, smoke, sniff, and chewin' it
And as for this girl, Miss C, oh well
I was shocked as hell when I heard, Samuel

When your homeboys told me, I almost went whack
That the girl you was addicted to, her name was Crack





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MC Lyte I Cram To Understand U Comments
  1. T.... M....

    Real hip hop at its finest Female MCs from this era definitely don t get the respect they deserve

  2. E.... T....

    I CRAM TO UNDERSTAND ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

  3. I.... S....

    Sam was number 1# real talk my husband name is Sam

  4. T.... S....

    Man I miss hip-hop

  5. W.... M....

    #EDU.GOV PDF

  6. L.... t....

    I tell you what, put on a hit of today; then follow it up w/ this 1. And see which song gets the crowd going.

  7. L.... t....

    Song before it’s time!

  8. A.... R....

    Lyte and shante then Lauryn

    A.... R....

    Sha-Rock then the rest follow

  9. K.... C....

    N!ce

    This intelligent Woman has inspired so many artists.

    Ps " I knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts, everybody
    Cut out of class, just to smoke blunts and drink noddy," - Nas (Street Dreams 1996)

  10. i.... ....

    The original Poor Georgie

  11. T.... m....

    mc lyte spittin bars , I remember when this cut debuted on WBLS in New York and light did not let them know that she cursed on the album and I remember Mister Magic saying well that's the last time we're going to hear from her and I was like yo you going to hear from that chick again and sure enough lyte was a star from this cut

  12. C.... ....

    Notice she only used the word nigga about once. Today you'll hear nigga 80 times per song. LOL

  13. C.... ....

    Could someone explain the album cover?

    C.... ....

    its nothing to it its her body guard in the middle her dj at the bottom lyte hanging on her body guards arm shoulders and a hot woman walking by for the fellows to goose at

  14. F.... ....

    I'm from 1971 and still get goosebumps from this song, Lyte owns this!

  15. M.... H....

    💕💕💕💕💕💕

  16. b.... u....

    1:06 I like to think Sam is actually Davy Crockett from Slick Ricks song Indian Girl 😂😂😂

  17. G.... B....

    THE GOAT

  18. A.... P....

    Mc Lyte snapped on this one

  19. P.... D....

    still one of the best , this song is timeless

  20. M.... A....

    written when she was 12! league of her own....

  21. d.... ....

    Wow, I haven't heard this song for a while, this song reminds my of my girl at a time her name is sam. I hooked her up with gifts, money and stuff that she needed and then I tried getting in touch with her and her phone was off for a while. I felt like I got myself played by her big time. It is what it is. Now I know How MC Lyte feels. I'm with you MC Lyte.

  22. L.... B....

    Classic!!

  23. r.... h....

    hip hop at it's best.

  24. j.... J....

    this voice had the same impact as Nas voice on illmatic. young sharp streetsmart and confident.

  25. s.... ....

    this is her other best song

  26. l.... P....

    Putain, j'écoutais ce sons en boucle sur mon Walkman. J'avais 16 piges s'était du bonheur.

  27. T.... T....

    defines my generation.. hip hop yall..

  28. N.... ....

    MC Lyte was the Slick Rick of female MCs..she was a straight storyteller..amazing!

    N.... ....

    +JoEClove This is nothing like Slick RIck. It's better.

    N.... ....

    @NY OneLove
    I get Slick Rick fan-wise wasnt everyone's cup of tea..but there are many in the industry who looked up to him & most have said he was one of the grreatest storytellers on the mic of all time..which is why i made the reference!

  29. C.... A....

    I cram to understand the music of today!!!

  30. N.... N....

    For some reason I always thought she was talking about Mc Shan, plus Shan made a record talking about how he was hooked on crack, plus he came out with a record called Play It Again Sam! Mc Lyte is even the God Mother of Mc Shan daughter! I use to love this record!

  31. W.... s....

    Real hip hop.
    Not hip-pOp.
    Turn off your radios.
    Shut down the t.v. sets.
    Everybody spread love, truth, and never forget your roots. lets dance.

  32. T.... R....

    OMG I miss these days! We went from this Nikki Minaj Anaconda :(

    T.... R....

    That is so true there is not a piece of music in the world now that is a good or close to MC Lyte.

    T.... R....

    N.E.W. Swims my baby!!! Nobody can fuck with Lana! Real name

  33. t.... ....

    That girl is NICE!!!

  34. N.... W....

    what A fuckin debut.!

  35. S.... S....

    This was the joint!

  36. M.... ....

    Songs period. Even the love songs told stories back in the day. Now they're just all about sex. smh

  37. t.... ....

    is this possible: "I used to be in love with this B** named E&J..." - Drink Away the Pain, Mobb Deep...

    from the first line of this song... "I used to be in love with this guy named Sam" ???

  38. t.... ....

    big ups for catchin it my man!!

  39. G.... g....

    Mc Lyte was ahead of her time

  40. c.... ....

    Still real hip hop lives 4 ever

  41. M.... U....

    "s--t the f--k up!"

  42. W.... J....

    Just like a test? Big up to MC Lyte. Raised in the 90's of E. Flatbush Brooklyn, were kids didn't go to school, let alone cram to study, yet this is one of her biggest hits. kick this one for Brooklyn!!

    W.... J....

    In EMPIRE HE Winked his eyes than he kept walking all of those of u (OG's) from Brooklyn know just Wat I'm talking!!...FACTS!!

  43. m.... ....

    "You knew the dopes, pushers, the addicts, everybody" -original lyrics (MC Lyte)/borrowed line (NAS) nice big ups

  44. m.... ....

    For that guy who said it was kiddie like may its because she was 15 when she wrote it .. Now does it still sound kiddie like

  45. A.... A....

    Slow down main-man & listen to yourself for a minute; first, you claim her verses lack complexity, & are kiddy-like, what? Then you turn around & give her props for being a good story teller. Hopefully one day you'll learn to appreciate the art of storytelling should be just that: Simplicity, clarity, making it plain for the masses, not over-the-top. Finally, she possess two rare qualities few have attained: Longevity & consistency.

    A.... A....

    All oF u BROOKLYN know JUST wat I'm TALKING..!!

  46. M.... ....

    Man when this came out, this and 100% blew us out the fucking spot! We never knew females could be this hard! Too damn bad hip hop for females has regressed! This was when hip hop was alive and well, listen to this and 100% Diss, it's harder than Rick Ross and anyone else out here today is putting out! Man for you young cats that weren't there our female rappers back in our generation of hip hop were harder than your Rick Cock and Lil Waynes LOL!

    M.... ....

    EXACTLY.!!.. TALK that shit !! TELL this BOZo... it's CLEAR they don't GOT A CLUE!!...

  47. T.... Z....

    classic!

  48. J.... B....

    Pfft, lots of good storytellers still out there. Immortal Technique has been metioned, and I'll give you Hopsin, Mic Rightous, Lowkey and Grieves for diversity

  49. T.... G....

    Immortal Technique?

  50. 2.... ....

    In case some of you don't know Special Ed did a good remake of this called 'Livin' Like A Star' back in like '91...he did a good job.

  51. j.... J....

    her voice and confidence on this track
    is the same presence as nas on illmatic

  52. a.... ....

    her best!

  53. d.... ....

    She was 13 when she did this. Pretty dope since I can't think of any 13 year old female that pioneered a genre like she did. Mad props to Lyte.

  54. T.... K....

    Classic "Impeach"

  55. S.... ....

    I still love MC Lyte!

  56. t.... ....

    No one could fuck with Lyte then and now (definitely now...)

  57. E.... P....

    Riunite on ice; it was a popular wine in the 80's. You could have with anything. Thats why Lyte wa a genius @ 16 years old.

  58. W.... ....

    @RedJragon1 They are Lyte's older brothers!

  59. 0.... ....

    The story was sickk..
    she the truth.

  60. p.... ....

    GREAT VOICE, AND GREAT DELIVERY!

  61. p.... ....

    heard this on some internet radio station a few years ago, soooo glad I stumbled upon lyte :)

  62. T.... Z....

    @8RandomGuy8 and so good for that very fact.

  63. m.... ....

    The Polish Ambassador samples this on his track Girl Control, it's sick

  64. j.... ....

    @Mehrunissah93 lol yeah i see what you men altough don't forget that it was her first single

  65. M.... ....

    I like the lyrics and the story more than her voice.

    M.... ....

    her voice is what makes her unique because she sounded like no other its just like snoop when you heard his voice you knew it was him because no other sound like him