Corey Scoffern, better known by his stage name The Grouch, is an American rapper and producer based in Maui, Hawaii. He is a founding member of Living Legends, an underground hip-hop collective based in Los Angeles, California. The Grouch collaborated with many artists including Zion I, a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer AmpLive and MC Zumbi. The group is known to its followers for Amp’s futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi’s positive and socially conscious lyrics (taken verbatim from Wikipedia).
In “I Used to Be a Vegan” The Grouch and Zumi criticize the vegan lifestyle and remember their vegan days.
I used to be, used to be, used to be vegan.
But I felt lightheaded and I almost regret it.
I used to be, used to be, used to be vegan.
Once was unhealthy. Now I’m breathing.
I used to be, used to be, used to be vegan.
Once was a skater. Never been a hater.
I used to be, used to be, used to be vegan.
But you can’t be a foodie if you only drink smoothies.
Grammar: past habits with ‘used to’
Used to implies a past habit. If you used to smoke cigarettes, it means you have smoked many cigarettes in the past, but you do not smoke anymore. If you have smoked only one cigarette in your entire life, you didnt use to smoke because one cigarette is not a habit.
Subject + used to + base verb
Subject + didnt use to + base verb
Did + subject + use to + base verb?
- I used to read Word Up Magazine. Biggie Smalls read Word Up Magazine for inspiration. After he became famous and wealthy, he stopped reading it.
- I used to eat sardines for dinner. Sardines are very cheap and inexpensive fish. When Biggie was poor, he often ate sardines. He ate lobster and drank champagne when he became successful.
- Girls used to diss me. When Biggie Smalls was poor, girls did not like him. They disrespected him. After Biggie Smalls got a lot of money and fame, girls and women adored him.
- We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us. Biggie and his family complained many times after the landlord dissed them. Not anymore.
Pronunciation of used to
Many Americans pronounce used to like /justÉ/
Common Error: used to & be used to
Used to is for habitual actions in the past. Be used to means something is familiar and you are accustomed to it.
I was used to packing gats and stuff.
Subject + be verb + used to + noun
Subject + be verb + not + used to + noun
Subject + be verb + used to + ~ing verb
Subject + be verb + not + used to + ~ing verb
- I was used to packing gats and stuff. I was familiar and comfortable with guns, but I am not accustomed to guns now.
- I am used to waking up very early in the morning. I have woken up early many times. In the beginning, it was difficult to wake up early. Now, it easier to wake up early.
- She is not used to listening to hip-hop music. She usually listens to R&B and rock. Hip-hop music is too fast, and she is not familiar with it.
Vocabulary
- vegan (adjective, noun) – a person who does not eat any animal products like meat, milk and eggs. She can’t eat sushi, steak or chorizo because she’s a vegan.
- pee (verb, informal) – to urinate. I drank three cups of coffee, and I really have to pee now!
- also a noun
- Mickey Deez (slang) – a nickname for McDonald’s fast-food restaurant.
- FDA (acronym) – the Food and Drug Administration. The US government department that inspects the quality and safety of food and medicine.
- lightheaded (adjective) – slightly faint. After running 20 kilometers, I began to feel very lightheaded.
- foodie (noun) – a person who is very interested in cooking and likes eating different foods. My father tries many new restaurants because he is a foodie.
- preservative (noun) – a chemical used to prevent food from spoiling and decaying. Foods with a lot of preservatives are unhealthy. We should eat more fruit and vegetables.
- vegetarian (adjective, noun) -a person who does not eat any meat.
- PETA (acronym) – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an American animal rights organization.
Picture Dictionary
“I Used to Be a Vegan” has a lot of food words. Use the picture dictionary on Pinterest to learn new food words.
Discussion Questions
Are you a vegan or vegetarian? Are there any advantages or disadvantages of being a vegan or vegetarian? Is it ethical for humans to eat meat? Please write your comments below!