You Got Me Wrong

5/18/2016

By Joy Lynn Clark

“You Got Me Wrong performed by Dazee Dizzle”

I love hip-hop.  The first time I heard it I said, “I need to do that”.  I love all kinds.  Conscious, b-boy, gangsta, and the unusual.  When I was much younger I was inspired by the conscious stuff, danced with the b-boys, and impressed by the courage of gangsta rap.  At first there were more women although still not many.

Years go by and I am trying to make it in rap.  Rap was getting so big it was more mainstream than it had ever been and the theme: Pimps, Hos, and tricks.  I had to find where I fit into this scheme.

I already knew I didn’t want to be the ho.  Where I am from tricks are (well, it’s like what a waste).  So I figured I must be the pimp.  Is it an attitude?  Is the pimp the boss?  I am definitely trying to be the boss.

As a female rapper, I sounded like a nutjob.  How am I going to make it if I am not a pimp, ho, or a trick?

Some so-called pimps even liken it to church.

Lyrics from You Got Me Wrong

You done got me wrong

Cause I march to the beat of a different drum

You cats play too many silly games

Pimps and hos all do the same

Don’t you know you play a beggar’s game?

You stay sold and you throw it all away

And you have to hold your head down in shame

Take a break it’s time to fast and pray

I know how you feel when the going gets tough

I wanna go and stray that day

Cause you need to make your way

Tripping out, yet everything is okay

You done got me wrong

Cause I march to the beat of a different drum

You cats play too many silly games

Pimps and hos all do the same

All I ever need in this life is the most high

Master my talent and god will provide

When I wanna cry as I look in the sky

I got to do this work

To get the knowledge to find

The reason why

I’m just trying to get these hos to

Pay their tithes and pray

We can save ourselves today

Follow the word

And we can rise in the day

You done got me wrong

Cause I march to the beat of a different drum

You cats play too many silly games

Pimps and hos all do the same

It’s the body and the blood

Reminds us what you said

The promise and the gift

Will always keep us fed

Got to walk that walk and

Talk that Talk

And do your best

To avoid white chalk

You done got me wrong

Cause I march to the beat of a different drum

You cats play too many silly games

Pimps and hos all do the same

And when it’s time to take collection

Then we all going to give it up

Let’s make this connection

After that we can go and grub

Once was hungry now are fed

If you feeling alright

You feel it in your head

The word will show me

How to properly break bread

And say our blessings

Over this spread

You done got me wrong

Cause I march to the beat of a different drum

You cats play too many silly games

Pimps and hos all do the same

You wanna fuck me for my money

Like it’s some kind of trick

But if I didn’t love you

Then you can’t have shit

You done got me wrong

Cause I march to the beat of a different drum

You cats play too many silly games

Pimps and hos all do the same

Joy Clark is a writer, producer, vocalist, and publisher. Lexington, KY