All I want to do is BANG BANG BANG
And CLICK KA-CHING
And take your money

Grammar: Zero Conditional

I fly like paper. Get high like planes.
If you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name.
If you come around here, I make them all day.
I get one done in a second if you wait.

The song’s first verse has several examples of some grammar called the zero conditional. A conditional sentence usually contains the words if/when and then, and we use it to discuss the results of a situation, fact or idea. Use the zero conditional to discuss a result that is always true, such as simple, scientific facts. The result of the condition is 100% true, and the result never changes.

In order to make the zero conditional, use the simple present verb tense.

If + subject + simple present verb, subject + simple present  verb.

• If you catch me at the border, I have visas in my  name.
• If you come around here,  I make them all day.
• If you wait, I get one done in a second.

In the above examples, the IF CONDITION is first, and the result is second. In this case, use COMMAS to separate the clauses. It is also possible to write/say the result first, but you do not need a comma. 

• I get one done in a second if you wait.
• I have visas in my name if you catch me at the border.
• I make them all day if you come around here.

Vocabulary

• paper planes (noun) – a slang expression for visas, which are legal documents for entering, residing and working in foreign countries. Paper planes might also be slang for joints/spliffs, which are cigarettes rolled with marijuana.
• bona fide (adjective) – A Latin phrase that means authentic or genuine. It is always used immediately before a noun.
• hustler (noun) – a person who earns money illegally.
• bong (noun) – a water pipe that is commonly used for smoking marijuana.
• swagger (noun) – If somebody has swagger, they are very sophisticated in fashion and behavior.
• burner (noun) – an inexpensive, pre-paid mobile phone. Criminals often use these phones and then throw them away to evade the police.

Biography from the Hip Hop Smithsonian 

ESLhiphop is proud to be partners with the Hip Hop Smithsonian, which is an online, virtual museum that catalogs and preserves the birth and evolution of hip-hop. Learn more about the life and music of Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, a.k.a. M.I.A., in this exceptionally comprehensive biography. Click the picture below!

The post Zero Conditional and Vocabulary with M.I.A. appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Hieroglyphics.
Hip-hop is vintage.
Underground like silos
launching long-range ballistics.
World-renowned. We ground-breaking.
Musical boundaries.
Running circles around emcees.

Grammar: ‘Until’ and ‘By’

You’re making some green?
But not for glamour or fashion.
I’m stacking cash until I can get Moms a mansion.

Until is a common preposition of time, and we use it to express actions that continue to a point in time and stop. Use “until” with the past, present and future.

• I am 27 years old. I lived with my parents until I was 18. Therefore, I moved out of my parents house nine years ago.
• He’s working until 9 pm tonight, so I imagine he’ll be very tired.
• My boss from work will be unavailable until next week, so I can’t ask her for a raise right now.

Many people shorten “until” into ’til or ’till.

A commonly confused preposition of time is by. This word means no later than or before.

• My professor wants my essay by 5pm today.  It’s 2pm right now, so I only have three hours to write it. Can you drive me to the library?!
• The flight has been delayed a few hours, but we should be boarding by 9pm. It’s 6pm right now, so I don’t think we have enough time to leave the ariport to play golf.

The post Grammar with Hieroglyphics appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

I’m out for dead presidents to represent me.

Grammar: Possessive Pronouns

Whose world is this?
The world is yours. The world is yours.
It’s mine. It’s mine. It’s mine.

Mine, yours, his, hers, ours and theirs are possessive pronouns. They are very similar to possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, our, their), but they are not used with a following noun.

• This is my jacket. The jacket is mine.
• I cannot find your phone. I found my phone, but I cannot find yours.
• Can he borrow your car? His is broken.
• He does not have his keys. Does she have hers?
• They ordered dinner after us, but they got their food first. Why haven’t we gotten ours yet?
• Your children are noisy, but their children are worse! At least you don’t have theirs.

Grammar Tips:

• Do not use articles with mine, yours, etc.
  • Do you have your keys. I can’t find the mine.
  • This is not my jacket. This jacket is a yours.
• We do not normally use its as a possessive pronoun.
  • I ate my lunch, and the dog ate its lunch, too.
  • I ate my lunch, and the dog its, too.

Writing Task

What does Nas mean when he says, “The world is yours” ? Do you think this is positive or negative? Is the world ours to share? Please write your ideas in the comments below! 

The post Learn English Grammar: Possessive Pronouns with Nas appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

There’s a war going on outside no man is safe from.
You could run, but you can’t hide forever
from these, streets that we done took.
You walking with your head downscared to look.
You shook ’cause ain’t no such things as halfway crooks.

By and Until

We living this ’til the day that we die.
Survival of the fit. Only the strong survive.

Until is a common preposition of time, and we use it to express actions that continue to a point in time and stop. Use “until” with the past, present and future.

• I am 27 years old. I lived with my parents until I was 18. Therefore, I moved out of my parents house nine years ago.
• He’s working until 9 pm tonight, so I imagine he’ll be very tired.
• My boss from work will be unavailable until next week, so I can’t ask her for a raise right now.

Many people shorten “until” into ’til or ’till.

A commonly confused preposition of time is by. This word means no later than or before.

• My professor wants my essay by 5pm today.  It’s 2pm right now, so I only have three hours to write it. Can you drive me to the library?!
• The flight has been delayed a few hours, but we should be boarding by 9pm. It’s 6pm right now, so I don’t think we have enough time to leave the aiport to play golf.

Vocabulary

• go on (phrasal verb) – to happen; to occur; to take place. What is going on outside? I heard some screaming and shouting!
• no such thing as … (expression) – used to say that somebody/something does not exist. There‘s no such thing as Santa Claus. He doesn’t really exist, and it’s just a story for children.
  • in many hip-hop/rap songs, ain’t no such things
• have thick skin / be thick-skinned (idiom) – not easily offended or hurt; insensitive. If you want to be a successful musician, you need to have thick skin. In the beginning, everybody will hate you!
• can’t turn back (expression) – used to say that somebody/something is unable to return where it came from. I’m sorry you’re feeling homesick, but you can’t turn back now. We are flying over the Pacific Ocean!
• watch somebody’s back (idiom) – to be careful about where you are and the people around you in order to avoid something bad. You have to watch your back in this neighborhood, especially at night. It gets dangerous!

The post Learn English Grammar with Mobb Deep: by & until appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Back on the scene, crispy n’ clean.
You can try, but then why, because you can’t intervene.
We be the outcast, down for the settle.
Won’t play the rock. Won’t play the pebble.

Grammar: Possessive Pronouns

The choice is yours.

Mine, yours, his, hers, ours and theirs are possessive pronouns. They are very similar to possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, our, their), but they are not used with a following noun. 

• This is my jacket. The jacket is mine. 
• I cannot find your phone. I found my phone, but I cannot find yours.
• Can he borrow your car? His is broken.
• He does not have his keys. Does she have hers?
• They ordered dinner after us, but they got their food first. Why haven’t we gotten ours yet?
• Your children are noisy, but their children are worse! At least you don’t have theirs.

Grammar Tips:

• Do not use articles with mine, yours, etc. 
  • Do you have your keys. I can’t find the mine.
  • This is not my jacket. This jacket is a yours.
• We do not normally use its as a possessive pronoun.
  • I ate my lunch, and the dog ate its lunch, too.
  • I ate my lunch, and the dog its, too.

Discussion Questions

Think about your family and your best friend’s family. Do you have similar or different families? What do your families have in common? Describe and compare your best friend’s family with yours. Use possessive adjectives and pronouns. Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English Grammar: Possessive Pronouns with Black Sheep appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

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 didn’t use to smoke because one cigarette is not a habit.

Subject + used to + base verb

Subject + didn’t 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 /justə/

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!

The post Learn English: Past Habits with Zion I & Grouch appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

In “Don’t Sweat the Technique”, Rakim is warning other rappers not to copy his musical style because he will make them look foolish.

I made my debut in ’86
With a melody and a president’s mix.
And now I stay on target and refuse to miss.
And I still make hits
With beats, parties, clubs, in the cars and jeeps.
My underground sound vibrates the streets.
MCs wanna beef then I play for keeps
When they sweat the technique.

Grammar: Time Prepositions

Use at, in and on to express time in English.

Use at for precise time

• at 5 o’clock
• at 7:30pm
• at noon
• at midnight
• at the moment

Use in for months, years and centuries

• in 1986
• in April
• in June 2012
• in summer/winter/fall/spring
• in the 1970s

Use on for days and dates

• On Monday, Tuesday, etc
• On Mondays, Tuesdays, etc. (every Monday, every Tuesday, etc.)
• On March 6 (American Date)
• On 6 March (International Date)
• on December 25, 2010
• on his birthday

Example Sentences

• I will meet you at 3.
• She goes to sleep at midnight. 
  
• My boss isn’t here at the moment because she is at a conference.
• Rakim made his debut in 1986.
• California weather is always hot in July.
• My parents grew up in the 1960s. 
• We don’t have to work on Monday because of the holiday.
• He calls his parents on Sundays. 

Other Time Expressions

• at night
• at the same time
• at this time

• in the morning / in the mornings
• in the afternoon / in the afternoons
• in the evening / in the evenings
• in a while (soon in the future)

• on Tuesday morning / on Tuesday mornings
• on Wednesday afternoon / on Wednesday afternoons
• on Friday evening / on Friday evenings
• on the weekend / on the weekends

And in a while the style’ll have much more value
Classical too intelligent to be radical
Masterful, never irrelevant. Mathematical

Vocabulary

•  Don’t sweat it! (expression) – used to tell someone to stop worrying about something. I know you are nervous around women, but don’t sweat it! Just relax and enjoy the party.
  
• on target (adjective) – focused; making progress towards a goal. Her hard work is paying off. If she keeps studying hard, she’s on target to become a doctor!
• for keeps (idiom) – forever. This car is my gift to you. It’s yours for keeps!
• deep (adjective) – showing great knowledge or understanding;  philosophical thoughts; strongly emotional. This rapper is so smart and poetic, and his songs are so deep! I understand everything he’s singing about.
• brand new (adjective) – very new; completely new. My friend won a brand new car at the casino. He’s so lucky. 

Discussion Questions

What is your daily schedule like? What do you normally do in the mornings and afternoons? What do you like to do on the weekends? Do you have any special future plans, such as a vacation? When are you planning to take your next trip? Please write your comments below!

The post Time Prepositions and Vocabulary with Eric B. & Rakim appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

I like big butts, and I cannot lie
You other brothers can’t deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty-bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung

Grammar: Modal Verb ‘Can’

Can is a very common modal verb, and it has many meanings and uses. Use can in order to:

• to discuss an ability
• to discuss an opportunity
• to ask for permission
• to make polite requests
• to make offers
• to discuss a possibility

Subject + can + base verb

Subject + cannot + base verb  **one word, not two words

Subject + can’t + base verb

Can + subject + base verb?

• Sir Mix-a-Lot can rap very well. His musical abilities are very good. He sings very well. 
• He can’t go to the concert. He has to work, and he wont’ have the opportunity to see De La Soul in concert
• Can I borrow your Tribe Called Quest CD?
• Can I borrow your car. It’s a big request, but I have an important job interview tomorrow! 
• Can I get you something to drink? I am offering to buy you a drink. 
• Learning English can be fun if you learn with hip-hop! It’s possible that you will have fun if you learn English with rap music. 

Synonyms of Can

Synonyms are words with similar or the same meaning. 

• can for opportunities and abilities = be able to
  • He able to sing very well.
  • I was able to get a full scholarship!
• can for persmission and requests = may, could
  • May I borrow your CD?
  • Could I use car for a few hours today

Grammar Activity

There are many sentences in the song that use can and can’t. Read each sentence and decide if it means an opportunity, an ability, permission, request, an offer, or a possibility. Write your answers in the comments below!

1. I mean, her butt is just so big
   I can’t believe it’s just so round.
2. I like big butts and I cannot lie
   You other brothers can’t deny.
3. You notice that butt was stuffed
   Deep in the jeans she’s wearing
   I’m hooked and I can’t stop staring
4. I just can’t help myself. I’m acting like an animal.
   
5. You can do side bends or sit ups
   But please don’t lose that butt.
6. To the beanpole dames in the magazines.
   You ain’t it, Miss Thing!
   Give me a sister. I can’t resist her!
   Red beans and rice didn’t miss her.

Karaoke Activity

“Baby Got Back” is commonly sung in Karaoke bars in America. Trying singing it here! 

The post Modal Verb ‘Can’ with Sir Mix-a-Lot appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

It’s bigger than hip-hop, hip-hop, hip-hop, hip
It’s bigger than hip-hop, hip-hop, hip-hop, hip-hop

Grammar: Making Comparative Adjectives

Use comparative adjectives when you want to compare two people, places or things. Comparative adjectives describe the differences between nouns.

For most adjectives with one syllable, simply add r or er. 

• old – older
• fast – faster
• late – later
• nice – nicer
• big – bigger
  • If the adjective ends with a consonant-vowel-consonant, then double the final consonant.

If the adjective has two syllables AND ends with ~y, then omit ‘y’ and add ~ier.

• pretty – prettier
• happy – happier
• busy – busier

For most adjectives with two or more syllables, add ‘more‘ and do not add ~er.

• modern – more modern
• expensive – more expensive
• beautiful – more beautiful

Some adjectives are irregular and have special comparative forms. You must memorize these special irregular adjectives.

• good – better
• bad – worse
• far – farther
• has/have + more

Using Comparative Adjectives

If you want to compare two people, places or things, use the comparative adjective and than. 

Subject + Verb + Comparative Adjective + Than + Noun

• East coast hip-hop is better than west coast hip-hop. I enjoy east coast hip-hop more than the west coast. 
  
• Lil Wayne is older than  Drake. Lil Wayne was born in 1982, and Drake was born in 1986.
• The Notorious B.I.G. was fatter than 2Pac. 2Pac was very athletic and  fit, and the Notorious B.I.G. always wore size XL. 
• Twista is faster than Snopp Dogg. It’s true. Snopp Dogg is a slow and chill rapper, but Twista is very fast! 
  
• N.W.A. was more violent than De La Soul. N.W.A. often rapped about the violence of inner city life in Los Angeles. De La Soul did not rap about the violence of inner city life. 

 Writing Task

Below are 2Pac (left) and Biggie Smalls (right). Describe the artists using comparative adjectives. Write 3-5 sentences in the comments below! 

The post Comparative Adjectives with Dead Prez appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Let’s all bring it in for Wally
Eazy-E, Uncle Charlie
Little Boo, but God’s got them.
And I’m gonna miss everybody

Grammar: Be Going To

Use be going to for the future.

• Use be going to for future plans or intentions, even if the plan or intention is unrealistic. 
• Use be going to for future predictions.
  • You may also use will to make future predictions.

Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb

Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb?

• I am going to fly to San Francisco for the De La Soul concert. It is a plan. I purchased my tickets last week. 
• He is not going to visit his parents. He wants to visit his girlfriend’s family. 
  
• Is it going to rain? The clouds are dark, and it is windy. I think it might rain. 

Pronunciation

Many Americans contract be going to into a single word.

going to = gonna /gənə/
I’m going to = I’mma /aimə/

Vocabulary

• miss (verb) – to feel sad because you can no longer see someone you like or love. I really miss my wife. She has been traveling in Europe for three weeks. 
• destiny (noun) – the power believed to control the future. Some people believe in God while others believe in destiny. 
• decease (noun) – the death of a person. Before the government meeting, we will have a moment of silence to respect the decease.
  • Decease is almost always a noun, but it is a verb in the song.
• heaven (heaven) – the place believed to be the home of god where people go when they die. My grandmother believes she will go to heaven. I’m an athiest, so I don’t believe in that. 
• eternal (adjective) – without end; existing forever. Nothing on Earth is eternal. All things must come to an end, and we must accept this fact. 
• soul (noun) – the spiritual part of a person that is eternal, even after death. Do you think animals have souls? 
• hell (noun) – in some religions, it is the place where devils live and where bad people go when they die. I’ll see you in hell!
• devil (noun) – In the Jewish, Christian and Muslim relgions, it is the most powerful evil being. Also called satan. 
• pass away (phrasal verb) – to die. Easy-E passed away many years ago. 
  
• murder (noun) – the crime of killing a person intentionally.
  • Murder is a noun in the song, but it is also a verb.

Discussion Questions

How do you remember and honor friends and family who have passed away? What special customs or ceremonies does your family do? Why are some people afraid of dying? Please write your comments below!

The post Be Going To & Vocabulary with Bone Thugs n Harmony appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.