Money, Power & Respect

Lil' Kim, The LOX, DMX

About Money, Power & Respect

"Money, Power & Respect" is the second single released from The Lox's debut album of the same name. The song was produced by Hitmen members D-Dot and Amen-Ra and featured DMX, who contributed the song's fourth verse. The song's chorus is performed by Lil' Kim; its motif is consistent with German sociologist Max Weber's Three-component theory of social stratification, which recognizes that one's wealth, power, and prestige, affects one's independent capability or ability to act on one's will. The track samples Dexter Wansel's 1979 song "New Beginning". Released as the follow-up to their debut single, "If You Think I'm Jiggy", which peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Money, Power & Respect" was an even bigger success, reaching 18 on the Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rap Singles chart at No. 1. To date, the song remains the group's most successful single and was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies on April 28, 1998. In addition to the Money, Power & Respect album, the song was among the tracks on The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 2, Music Inspired by Scarface, Survival of the Illest and Bad Boy's Greatest Hits. It was also used as entrance music for professional wrestler Jazz in Extreme Championship Wrestling. 


4:22
#1

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See I believe in money, power, and respect. 
First You get the money. 
Then you get the muthafuckin, power. 
After you get the fuckin' power muthafuckas will respect you. 

It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Help you sleep at night. 
You'll see the light. 
It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 

Ayo my whole clique bout it, bout it. 
We take yours while you pout about it. 
Truck, step out the whore's want to' crowd around it. 
You could see me on optimum TV. 
Go in your bathroom turn the light out. Scream! 
Bloody Mary, 1, 2, 3. 
Sheek ain't your usual friend. 
About to setchu' up like Kaiser and walk straight at the end. 
I'm done wit' ice and charms. 
I'm tryin' my whole casket when I'm gone. 
Pull up wit' class on the don'. 
Once I meet em' I greet em'. 
Kiss his feet for freedom. 
Tell em' thank you lord. 
'cause on Earth I was gettin' bored. 
Now resurrect me back to this cat called Sheek. 
So I can make this album. 
And get back the cats that's weak. 
Two thirty, six two. 
Me bust for you that's like a cat vs. a pitbull. 
Gun, know clip full, keep hunger. 
And plan for the future, 'cause you figure 
you gon' be older 
way longer than you gon' be younger. 

It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Help you sleep at night. 
You'll see the light. 
It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 
It's the key to life. 

Only time could tell how the clock ticks. 
I'm really loved here but I'm still a hostage. 
Two personalities check the posture. 
Smoke out the mouth clear out the nostrils. 
You think of death but the life seem scary. 
I'm past the graveyard seein' people Hail Mary 
I ain't chillin til' I'm out parachutin'. 
Race my man in mountain climbin' for about ten diamonds. 
Twenty five thousand a piece. 
F*ck streets! 
Tryin' to own the island. 
Forget about wilin'. 
Try ridin' in the car that be glidin'. 
If I showed you where I lived you would think I was hidin'. 
Sling dick to chicks that don't speak English. 
Wake up in Trinidad, like fuckin' em rich. 
Come back. Private jet 
live on set. 
If you could shit gold like you split the decks. 

It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Help you sleep at night. 
You'll see the light. 
It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 

Yo nutin' but the hotness. 
Whenever we drop this. 
Monotonous for ya'll to keep hatin', 
'cause ya'll never gon' stop us. 
I keep my rocks spotless, 
and my hoes topless. 
Take time try to figure out who da Lox is. 
Fear no one. 
Kick rhymes like Shoguns. 
You scared to blow one. 
Get robbed wit' your own gun. 
If I don't respect you I'm ah check you. 
And if I don't kiss you I'm a peck you, 
right before I wet' chu. 
I sneeze on tracks an' bless you. 
I'm special. 
And if you like workin' out, 
then I'm gon' stretch you. 
Husslin' is dead but we still get red. 
Turn the spots in the bakeries to get back bread. 
And ya'll said my monies spent. 
But it's in the Bent'. 
So when the feds come the dogs can't get a scent. 
For my story, self-explanatory 
that I'm the hottest thing on the street. 
An' y'all ain't got nutin' for me 

It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Help you sleep at night. 
You'll see the light. 
It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 

Arf, arf. 
This is a beat that I can freak to 
just drop the reals. 
Plus a nigga wit' the ill. 
Ya'll niggas know my skills. 
Ass from the grills get em' up, 
split em' up, wet em' up. 
And watch em' come get em' up, 
Set em' up. 
When you do dirt, you get dirt. 
Bitch, I'll make your shit hurt. 
Step back like I did worse. 
This ain't no fucking game. 
You think I'm playin, till you layin. 
To where? The junkyard decayin'. 
Mom's at home prayin' 
that chu comin' home. 
But chu not, 'cause you sittin up in the trunk 
startin to rot. 
And hell is hot, I know because I'm here now Baby. 
It's goin' down baby. 
Git the full pound baby. 
And let off up in a nigga, 
especially if he think he bigga' 
than my muthafuckin' trigga'. 
Did I? 
Can I get my? 
Is it gone? 
DMX represent for one time. 
It's on. 
 
It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Help you sleep at night. 
You'll see the light. 
It's the key to life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Whatchu' need in life. 
Money, power, and respect. 
When you eatin' right. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect. 
Money, power, and respect.

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


DMX

Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DMX and Dark Man X, is an American rapper and actor. In 1999, DMX released his best-selling album ...And Then There Was X, which featured the hit single "Party Up (Up in Here)". He has acted in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 The Grave, and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX: Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, DMX published a book of his memoirs entitled, E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. DMX released a mixtape The Weigh In as a prelude/promotion towards his album Undisputed (2012). DMX has sold over 30 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling hip… more »

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10 facts about this song

Release Details
"Money, Power & Respect" was released as the third single from The LOX's debut studio album of the same name on December 13, 1997.
Collaborations
The song features DMX and Lil' Kim, two influential artists in the rap and hip-hop scenes. DMX provides the hook, while Lil' Kim delivers the third verse.
Label Involvement
The song was produced under the Bad Boy Entertainment label, founded and owned by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. The LOX later had issues with the label, leaving shortly after the debut album's release.
Charting Success
"Money, Power & Respect" peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, becoming the group's first and only song to reach number one on that chart.
Lyrics and Themes
The song discusses the principles of making it in the music industry, emphasizing that money, power, and respect are most crucial, often deemed as three main elements in achieving success.
Video Features
The music video for "Money, Power & Respect", directed by Hype Williams, includes visuals of urban cityscapes, money, cars, and concerts, further emphasizing the song's themes.
Influence and Impact
The song has been seen as a defining point in late '90s hip-hop, with the raw energy of DMX's chorus and articulate verses from The LOX members setting a standard for many upcoming rap artists.
Album's highlight
Despite the subsequent disagreements between The LOX and Bad Boy Entertainment, "Money, Power & Respect" stood out as one of the most successful tracks of their debut album.
Accolades
In 1998, the song was nominated for the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Grammy Awards.
Pop Culture Reference
The phrase "Money, Power, Respect" from the song's chorus has directly or indirectly made its way into many books, films, and subsequent song titles, highlighting its cultural significance.

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    Money, Power & Respect

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1998

    Billboard #17


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