I left my wallet in El Segundo.
Left my wallet in El Segundo.
Left my wallet in El Segundo.
I got to get it. I got to, got to get it.

Grammar: Past Perfect

Drove down the road for two days and a half.
The sun had just risen on a dusty path.
Just then a figure had caught my eye.
A man with a sombrero who was 4 feet high

Use the past perfect in order to talk about the ‘earlier past’ and to describe something that happened before an event in the past.

Subject + had + past participle. 

Subject + had + not + past participle. 

Had + subject + past participle?

•  I had never heard such great hip-hop before I listened to A Tribe Called Quest.
• She did not call me because she had lost her phone.
• My trip to New York was great! My wife knew the city so well because she had lived there several years ago.
• Had he studied English before he moved to the United States?

We can use the past perfect in conditional sentences with if. This grammar is called the third conditional, and it is used to describe unreal or hypothetical situations in the past.

• If I hadn’t become a teacher, I would have joined the army.
• You would have died if you had forgotten to wear your seat belt.

We also use the past perfect, not the simple past, to say how long something had continued up to a past moment.

• He had studied Japanese for several years before he moved to Tokyo.
• I had worked at the company for a long time before they promoted me to manager.
• My mother and father had known each other for many years when they got married.

Vocabulary

In this song, Q-Tip tells a story about losing his wallet in a small town called El Segundo, which is located in southern California. Review these words and expressions to help comprehend the story.

• go down (phrasal verb) – to happen; to occur. I had to roam, so I picked up the phone. Dialed Ali to see what was going down. 
  • the phrasal verb go down has several meanings, depending on the context.
• yard (noun) – a slang word for $100. He left me a  yard to pay for the party, but it wasn’t enough money.
• have/got something covered (idiom) – If you have something or somebody covered, it means you prevent problems by having control of a situation. If you need legal advice, you should hire my brother. He’s got you covered. 
• catch somebody’s eye (idiom) – to attract somebody’s attention. There’s a lot of interesting graffiti in San Francisco, but not much has caught my eye.
• sombrero (noun) – the Spanish word for hat.
• grub (slang) – food. I’m hungry, so let’s get some grub.
• in the middle of nowhere (idiom) – If something is in the middle of nowhere, it is far away from other cities or towns. This restaurant is in the middle of nowhere, but the drive is worth it!
• wicked (adverb) – very; really. She’s a wicked beautiful woman!

Extended Biography

To learn more about A Tribe Called Quest, read the biography from the Hip-Hop Smithsonian, an official partner of ESLhiphop.com!

Writing Task

Have you ever left behind and forgotten something important? How long had it been until you noticed it was missing? Did you eventually find and recover it? Please write your share your stories with us below!

The post Past Perfect and Vocabulary with ATCQ appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

But every now and then, a sucker MC gets courageous
and like an epidemic it becomes contagious.
But never the least, they all R.I.P.
For all those unaware, it means Rest In Peace.

Grammar: Have Got To

So if you’re thinking about battling, you better come prepared.
Come with your shield and your armor geared.
You gots to chill.

Use have got to for necessities or obligations. Use have got to for present and future obligations, and use had to for the past.

Subject + have got to + base verb

• I’ve got to study for my test tonight. I cannot go out with you.
• You’ve got to listen to this album tomorrow. It is incredible!
• He had to leave the meeting early. He did not want to miss his flight.

Negative sentences and questions do not use ‘have got to.’ Instead, they use have to.

Subject + doesn’t/don’t/didn’t + have to + base verb.

Does/Do/Did + subject + have to + base verb? 

• I don’t have to study tomorrow. I’m free and available.
• You don’t have to listen to the album now, but check it out over the weekend.
• He didn’t have to leave the meeting early.
• Do you have to meet your friend at the airport?

Informal Grammar

There are at least two informal ways to say have got to.

GOT TO

• I got to study tonight, so I can’t hang out with you. I have a very important test tomorrow morning.
• You got to listen to this song. It’s amazing!

Many people pronounce this expression like gotta /ˈɡɑːtə/.

GOTS TO

• I gots to pick up my friend at the airport.
• You gots to relax because you’re making me nervous!

Although most people consider gots to as very “bad” English, it is actually quite common in many communities, especially in low-income areas and neighborhoods in the United States.

Vocabulary

• get down (in. phrasal verb) – In this song, it means to have a good time, especially at a party. I’ve had such a long week, and I’m ready to get down at the bar later.
• new jack (noun) – a rookie; somebody who is inexperienced at doing something. These new jacks are so cocky!
• sweat somebody/something (verb) – to be worried about something. If you are worried and nervous, you might begin to sweat. I’ve been studying for the TOEFL for several months, so I’m not sweating it anymore.
• def (adjective) – in the 1980s and 1990s, this slang word meant cool, very good, excellent, dope, etc. Currently, this word is short for “definitely.” Can you come to the party tonight? It’s going to be def!
• rep (noun) – a slang word that is short for “reputation.” My rep is very important to me, and I will do anything to preserve it.
• diss (verb and noun) – to disrespect somebody; a disrespectful comment about somebody. The employees diss the boss all day long. Sometimes they post their disses on a private Facebook group page.
• bite (verb) – In the context of the song, it means to steal, especially lyrics. These biting MCs are not very creative or original!

Writing Task

Answer the questions below:

• What have you got to do today?
• What have you got to do this week?
• What have you got to do this month?
• What have you got to do this year?
• What have you go to do before you do?

The post Old School for New Beginners: ‘Have Got To’ and Vocabulary with EPMD appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

You, you got what I need, but you say he’s just a friend.
And you say he’s just a friend, oh baby!

Grammar: Using ‘Ever’

Have you ever met a girl that you tried to date
But a year to make love she wanted you to wait?
Let me tell you a story of my situation.
I was talking to this girl from the U.S. nation

We normally use ever with the present perfect (has/have + past participle) or past perfect (had + perfect). It means any time up to now or any time up to then. We normally use ever in questions:

Have/Has/Had + subject + ever + past participle?

• Have you ever been to a hip-hop concert?
• Has he ever been to Europe?
• Had you ever thought of going to college before you met your wife?

It is possible to use ‘ever’ in negative sentences, but most people say never.

• I don’t ever want to go there again!
• I never want to go there again! more common

Vocabulary

• date (noun/verb) – a meeting with your boyfriend/girlfriend, or with a potential boyfriend/girlfriend. I asked a girl out on a date, but she turned me down.
• take somebody’s word for it –  to trust or believe somebody. I think you should go to school because you can get a great job. But don’t take my word for it! Do the research yourself.
• build up (sep. phrasal verb) – to create or develop something. Couples need communication if they want to build up their relationship.
• dandy (adjective) – old-fashioned way of saying very good. I feel fine and dandy!
• on somebody’s dime (idiom) – If something is on your dime, it means you pay for it. Order anything from the menu. Dinner is on the boss’s dime tonight!
• on your/the/its way – going or coming. The pizza guy is on his way. We will have dinner in a few minutes.
• Oh, snap! (idiom) – a phrase to express your suprise or excitement. Oh, snap! They have free bagels in the office.

Writing Task

Have you ever had a situation like Biz Markie? Have you ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend who cheated on you? What would you do if you saw your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend on the street right now. Please write your ideas in the comments below!

The post Beginning Hip-Hop with Biz Markie: Vocabulary and How to Use ‘Ever’ appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Take your shoes off, let your hair down and go berserk all night long.
Grow your beard out, just weird out and go berserk all night long.

Grammar

Now this shit‘s about to kick off. This party looks wack.

I‘m about to bloody this track up. Everybody get back.

Just like I did with addiction, I‘m about to kick it.

About to go H.A.M., ya bish, shout out to Kendrick.

If you are about to do something, you are close to doing it. It means you are going to do something very soon.

Subject + am/is/are + infinitive with ‘to’

• Can you tell me where the toilet is? I‘m about to throw up!
• You must be so excited, right? You‘re about to graduate from college!
• I can’t reach her on the phone. I think she’s about to board the plane.

This structure has the same meaning as be fixing to. However, many people consider this “incorrect” English, whatever that means.

Subject + am/is/are + fixing + infinitive with ‘to’

• I can’t talk on the phone for very long. My flight‘s fixing to take off.
• You‘re fixing to leave the country, so I wanted to say goodbye!

Girl you’re fixing to get your heart broke.

Not about to do something has a slightly different meaning. It means you are unwilling to do something and you don’t plan on doing it.

Subject + am/is/are + not about + infinitive with ‘to’

• I’ve never done the laundry, but I‘m not about to start now!
• He’s studying for the TOEFL, so he‘s not about to leave his desk and go out drinking with you guys.

Vocabulary

• kick off (sep. phrasal verb) – to start or begin something. I hope you kick off the fall semester with a lot of energy and enthusiasm!
• start something from scratch (idiom) – to do something again from the beginning and not use previous work. I tried to write a short story, but it was very difficult. I threw out my work and just started from scratch.
• kick (idiom) – there are two possible meanings in the song:
  • to stop doing a harmful habit. I was a smoker for five years, but I’ve finally kicked the habit.
  • to start something. Let’s kick off the party, shall we?
    
• go H.A.M. (slang) – a slang expression that means Hard As a Motherfucker.
• kick the bucket (idiom) – to die; pass away. What countries do you want to visit before you kick the bucket?
• throw in the towel (idiom) – to quit, especially after admitting the defeat. You’ve worked so hard to be a rapper. You can’t throw in the towel because somebody dissed you. 
• set the bar low (idiom) – to have low standards and expectations. He’s a very lonely person, and he will marry anybody! He’s set the bar rather low, to be honest.

Writing Task

Answer these questions in the comments below!

• Where are you, and what time is it now?
• What are you about to do?
• Some people are very adventurous eaters, and they will try anything. Is there any food that you’re not about to eat?

The post Learn English Grammar & Vocabulary with Eminem’s Berzerk! appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

In “My Mind Playing Tricks on Me”, The Geto Boys describe the mental stress and paranoia that often accompanies the violent life of a gangster.

At night, I can’t sleep. I toss and turn.
Candlesticks in the dark, visions of bodies being burned.
Four walls just staring at a nigga.
I’m paranoid, sleeping with my finger on the trigger.

Grammar

But I don’t know who it is, so I’m watching my back.
I can see him when I’m deep in the covers.
When I awake, I don’t see the motherfucker.

English has three very similar verbs that are sometimes confusing: look at, see and watch. 

If you see something, it means your eyes are open and something enters your eyes. You do not have to pay careful attention in order to see something.

• I can’t see anything without my glasses.
• Do you see the girl in the red dress? She’s gorgeous!
• My Internet connection is very slow, and I can’t see you very well on Skype.

Watch is similar to look at. Use watch for something that is happening now or is going to happen. People especially use watch for TV shows and films.

• Do you want to watch a movie later?
• You watch too much TV!
• Can you watch my luggage while I use the restroom?

Use look at if you are concentrating and paying attention. If you look at something, it is deliberate and on purpose. A similar verb is stare. If you stare at something, it means you look at it for a long time.

I know the Lord is looking at me.
But yet and still it’s hard for me to feel happy.

• Do you see the man over there? Look at his fat dog!
• I looked at the photo album on Facebook, but I couldn’t find any offensive pictures.
• She looked at the painting for half an hour.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever felt paranoia or depression? How did you cope and deal with it? What are some of the causes of stress and anxiety? Is it normal to have some stress and anxiety? When should you see a doctor or psychologist? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English Grammar: Look, See & Watch with Geto Boys appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Just waking up in the morning. Got to thank god.
I don’t know, but today seems kind of odd.

Grammar: Past Perfect

I was glad everything had worked out.

Use the past perfect in order to say something happened before another action in the past.

Subject + had + past participle. 

Subject + had + not + past participle. 

Had + subject + past participle?

•  I had never heard such great hip-hop before I listened to Ice Cube.
• She did not call me because she had lost her phone.
• My trip to New York was great! My wife knew the city so well because she had lived there several years ago.
• Had he studied English before he moved to the United States?

Discussion Questions

What is your ideal day? If you had a perfect day, what would it be like? What would happen and what would you do? Have you ever had a perfect day? What was it like? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English Grammar: Past Perfect with Ice Cube appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

poetic justice (noun) – a situation in which something bad happens to somebody, and you think that this is what they deserve.

You live life on an everyday basis
With poetic justice, poetic justice
If I told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?
I mean, I write poems in these songs dedicated to you.
When you’re in the mood for empathy, there’s blood in my pen.

Grammar: Second Conditional

If I told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?

Use the second conditional for unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future.

If + subject + simple past verb, subject + would + base verb

If + subject + simple past verb, would + subject + base verb?

• If I had $10,000,000, I would quit my job. I don’t have ten million dollars, and I probably won’t have that money soon. This situation is unreal.
• If I lived in Colombia, I would learn  Spanish very quickly. I live in California with my wife. She loves California, and she will be upset if we leave. 
• If I were President of the United States, I would listen to international students. I am not the President, and I will probably never be one!
  • Normally, I was / You were / She was / We were / They were
  • In the second conditional, always use were, even if the subject is first or third person.

Vocabulary

• high maintenance (adjective) – needing a lot of attention or effort. My last girlfriend was very high maintenance. She constantly texted me, and she always demanded expensive gifts.
  
• poetic justice (noun) – a situation in which something bad happens to somebody, and you think that this is what they deserve. He left his wife and children to join a band, and he died during his first performance. It’s poetic justice!
• game (noun) – one’s ability to attract a man or a woman. He has so many girlfriends because his game is tight! 
• test someone’s patience (idiom) – to make somebody feel impatient. I was sitting next to a man, and his nagging questions during the flight were really testing my patience.
• one-off (adjective) – made or happening only once and not regularly. Her boyfriend is not very honest. He always has these one off romances with other women!
  
• taboo (noun) – a cultural or religious custom that prohibits certain behavior or beliefs. Working on a Sunday is a taboo in California. 
• fatal attraction (noun) – being attracted to the wrong person for you; the consequences of an attraction will probably cause problems.

Discussion Questions

Do you know somebody who has experienced poetic justice? If something bad happened to your friends or family, what would you do? Have you ever had a high maintenance relationship? Did this relationship test your patience? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English Grammar: Second Conditional with Kendrick Lamar appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

That’s how we usually start. Once again it’s The Thought.
The Dali Lama of the mic. The Prime Minister Thought.
This directed to whoever in listening range.
Yo! The whole state of things in the world about to change.
Black rain falling from the sky look strange.
The ghetto is red hot. We stepping on flames.

Yo! It’s inflation on the price for fame.
And it was all the same, but then the antidote came.
The Black Thought, ill syllablist, out the Fifth.
This heavyweight rap shit I‘m about to lift.
Like a phyllum lift up its seed to sunlight.
I plug in the mic. Draw like a gunfight.
I never use a cordless or stand applaudless.
Sipping cholorophyll out of ill silver goblets.

Grammar: Be About To

If you are about to do something, it means you are close to doing something or you are going to do something soon.

Subject + am/is/are/was/were + about to + verb

Am/Is/Are/Was/Were + subject + about to + verb?

Wh~ Am/Is/Are/Was/Were + subject + about to + verb?

• I can’t talk right now because I am about to leave. If I don’t leave in one minute, I’m going to be late!
  
• You look like you are about to pass out from this hot weather. Let me get you some water very quickly!
  
• Are you about to eat that sandwich? I’m really hungry, and it would be great if you shared.
• Is she about to throw up? Tell her to run to the toilet!

Not About To Do Something

A similar idiom is not about to do something, and it has a different meaning! It means you are unwilling to do something or you do not intend to do something. Avoid using this idiom in questions. 

Subject + am/is/are/was/were + not  about to + verb

• I have never smoked cigarettes in my life, and I am not about to start smoking now!
• He has to study tonight. He is not about to go out with us because he has a big test tomorrow.

Discussion Questions

You are reading and learning English right now, but maybe you are leaving the apartment or cafe in a few minutes. What are you about to do? Why are you about to do that? Please write your comments below!

The post English Grammar: ‘Be About To’ with The Roots appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

This morning, I woke up
Feeling brand new. I jumped up.
Feeling my highs and my lows
In my soul and my goals
Just to stop smoking and stop drinking.
I’ve been thinking. I’ve got my reasons
Just to get by, just to get by
Just to get by, just to get by

Grammar: Stop + Gerund / Infinitive

A gerund is a noun in the form of the present participle (~ing).

• reading
• sleeping
• writing

An infinitive is the basic form of the verb with to.

• to read
  
• to sleep
• to write

Some verbs are followed only by gerunds, and other verbs are followed only by infinitives. On the other hand, some verbs can be followed by both.

• He enjoys reading new books. He enjoys to read new books.
• I want to study Spanish. I want studying Spanish.
• She likes to listen to hip-hop. She likes listening to hip-hop. Both are correct.

The verb stop can be followed by the gerund and infinitive, but they have different meanings!

stop + gerund – to stop an action, habit or task

stop + infinitive – to stop one action in order to start something different

• I stopped smoking 5 years ago. I used to smoke cigarettes, and I don’t smoke anymore.
• I stopped to smoke a cigarette.  I was studying for a test, and I needed to take a break. I stopped studying in order to have a cigarette.
• I want you to stop drinking. Your alcoholism is a problem, and everyone wants you to quit. You should never drink again.
• Let’s stop somewhere to have a drink. I want to stop walking and gave my sore feet a break!
• You should stop playing video games. You have a test tomorrow morning.
• I need to stop exercising to drink water.

Vocabulary

• the crack of dawn (idiom) – very early in the morning. I have to stop watching TV now because I have to wake up at the crack of dawn.
• break your back (idiom) – to work very hard and for a long time, especially manual labor. Your mother and father break their backs every day to put food on the table. You should help them by doing your chores!
• get by (phrasal verb) – to manage to live or do something with the money, knowledge and skills you already have. My wife and I don’t make a lot of money, but we get by comfortably on our small salaries.
• a piece of the pie (idiom) – a share of money, profits, etc. If you help me sell these magazine, I will give you a piece of the pie.
  • also a slice of the pie or share of the pie
• Do or die! (expression) – Something to say when you need great determination. I cannot try to pass the TOEFL and hope to do well. I must study very hard every day. There are no attempts. Do or die!
• brand new (adjective) – completely new. She bought me a brand new computer! 

Discussion Questions

Did you use to have bad habits? Have you stopped doing them yet? If your friend needed help to stop smoking cigarettes, what would you do? Have you taken a break today? Have you stopped work to do something else? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English: The Verb ‘Stop’ with Talib Kweli appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Fight the power!
We‘ve got to fight the powers that be.

Grammar: Have Got To

Use have got to for necessities or obligations. Use have got to for present and future obligations, and use had to for the past.

Subject + have got to + base verb

• I’ve got to study for my test tonight. I cannot go out with you. 
• You’ve got to listen to this album tomorrow. It is incredible!
• He had to leave the meeting early. He did not want to miss his flight.

Negative sentences and questions do not use ‘have got to.’ Instead, they use have to.

Subject + doesn’t/don’t/didn’t + have to + base verb.

Does/Do/Did + subject + have to + base verb? 

• I don’t have to study tomorrow. I’m free and available. 
• You don’t have to listen to the album now, but check it out over the weekend.
• He didn’t have to leave the meeting early.
• Do you have to meet your friend at the airport?

Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing is a classic American film by director Spike Lee. In 1989, he asked Public Enemy to create a theme song for the movie. The video below is the opening credits for the film. 

Discussion Questions

Public Enemy wants us to fight the power. What is the power? How do you fight the power? What do we have to do? Do you have to protest? Do have to sign a petition? Do you have to update your status on Facebook? Please write your comments below!

The post ‘Have Got To’ with Public Enemy appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.