[Vocals: modern rap only, 6 separate male rappers, no opera, no colonial accent, no singing on verses] [Intro] 1776 This shit stacked These bitches 'bout to act Fuck that crown [Verse 1: Washington - older boom-bap veteran, deep gravel, slow menacing] Tis George Washington, 1st on the list, I spit Frost on the coat, map in thy grip Oath from the river to the road, shit won't slip King George on that throne talkin' that shit Carved-out jaw, steady-eyed ride, clenched up fist Boots on the boards, stood still like a threat Signed thy name like a soldjha, no regret One fist on the map, one fist on fate If we bend we break — if we wait, we fake They called me calm but I felt that fiah Coiled up tight, ev-ah-ree step a fuse in the night I don't kneel for no bastard in a wig Fuck that king, OG's bringin' that pain [Pre-Chorus: All - shouted gang vocals] Hold your breath! Count that cost! Move now or this war be lost! Tories in the back, shut your mouth Benedict! Cowards get cut, traitors get hit [Chorus: All - yelled chant, no singing] Raise it up, 17-76! Hands to the work, hearts in the mix! Raise it up, 17-76! Fuck the king! Fuck the redcoats! Raise it up! [Verse 2: Jefferson - arrogant mid-high tenor, cold flex] Thomas Jefferson, Sleeves rolled high quill like dagger, tis the weapon of mine Evening my brother's, our fathers have gone Swear on they dirt we ain't laborin' long Kings and thrones — all that shit We take up steel, we ain't kneeling for that bitch Ink on thy thumb, lamp low in the room Ev-ah-ree word has weight, an empires doom Soft spoken OG, I be bringing that smoke I cut through they doubt, a sin-gle stroke Ink dry first... then Blood if them lobsterbacks want it King been warned, Americans don't fuck around bitch [Verse 3: Hamilton - young sharp nasal, rapid-fire] Alexander Hamilton Island-made, enters the fray Here me spit this shit, got plenty to say Be Heav-ee with Hun-guh n' grit That bitch King be sending writs talkin' that shit An Orphan boy from that breezy coast Fuckin' vex-ing King George and his Par-la-ment boasts No ped-i-gree, just the Pow-ah of the pen We ain't fuckin' around, we out mar-shal-ing men My quill's like a blade, I shall draft our defense Bowin' to monarchs make no fuckin' sense This the sound of Rev-o-lution, thee rattlin' chains We washin' that crown out our blood and veins You'll get that smoke on thee field when my cannons ignite Them motha-fuckin' Hessians be runnin' screamin' in fright. [Verse 4: Adams - angry shout-rap, harsh baritone] John Adams, that staunch with the paunch Small in frame, hard like steel I made my case to thy pub-lic weal I stand on business, full of grit ten toes down in this chamber, I spit Cowards and cautious do cry like a bitch I heard they Ops, heard they doubt Cowards who tryin' to par-ley and out! They be trembling at Redcoats whispering of "peace" But my voice tis a hammer and it don't cease Fuck they silks, they tea, they grace I be spittin' on they mandates right here in this place Let that king send navy, Hessians, his men For the fight popped off and we ain't gonna bend Come get some, you powdered-wig sons of bitches [Verse 5: Madison - low whispered trap-spoken, close-mic] James Madison whisperimg federal pacts Need no bitch ass monarch to dictate our acts I do balance the pow-ah, create the design Lockin' in our free-doms in a sovereign line Frail in thy bod-ee but fearce in thy mind Ev-ah-ree word I be dropping tis a weapon of might Fuck the King, we done with tyrants, papers done spun For that Law shall be King when the battle is won So bal-ance the courts, let the statutes a-lign Leav-ing the shadow of the tie-rant bitch boy be-hind Traitors don't get a verse. They get a footnote [Verse 6: Franklin - old drunk theatrical raspy witty mid-baritone] Benjamin Franklin, it's the real OG I be Printin' this shit, smirkin' with dat spark in my eye Snatched that lightning and fucked with the sky My brothas, I hold that oath. My flintlock loaded let's bring that smoke Laughin' at they threats as thun-dah crash down Kite don't fly shaded in that bitch boys crown Truhf in that thun-dah, truhf in that key Truhf in sci-ence, sets a man free Gang, pass that parchment, ink still drippin' Original gangstas' and we keep on spittin' Get the flask. Get the pen. Finish this shit [Bridge] [Washington gravel] Drums come up, don't turn away [Adams shout] De-fy that crown, we stand today [Jefferson cold] Sovereign shape we wake [Hamilton rapid] Every bond we break [Madison whisper] One hard vow, sacred line [Franklin smirk] Lightning flash, pages jine [All yell] We swore that oath — we hold it now Redcoats, Tories, cowards — find out how [Chorus] Raise it up, 17-76! Hands to the work, hearts in the mix! Raise it up, 17-76! Fuck the king! Fuck the redcoats! Raise it up! [Outro] That parchment crack Let freedom ring One hard vow One living thing Crown can kiss our ass
