(3 Is) The Magic Number

(Got to have soul)

Three

That's the magic number

Yes, it is

It's the magic number

Somewhere in this hip-hop soul community

Was born three: Mase, Dove, and me

And that's the magic number

(What does it all mean?)

Difficult preaching is Posdnuos' pleasure

Pleasure and preaching starts in the heart

Something that stimulates the music in the measure

Measure in the music, raised in three parts

Casually see but don't do like the Soul

'Cause seein' and doin' are actions for monkeys

Doin' hip hop hustle, no rock and roll

Unless your name's Brewster, cause Brewster's a Punk (three)

Parents let go cause there's magic in the air

Criticizing rap shows you're out of order

Stop look and listen to the phrase ya Fred Astaire's

And don't get offended while Mase do-si-do's your daughter

A tri-camera rolls since our music's now set

Fly rhymes are stored on a D.A.I.S.Y. production

It stands for "Da Inner Sound, Y'all" and y'all can bet

That the action's not a trick, but showing the function

Everybody wants to be a deejay

Everybody wants to be an emcee

But being speakers are the best

And you don't have to guess

De La Soul posse consists of three

And that's the magic number

(Three)

This here piece of the pie

Is not dessert but the course that we dine

And three out of every darn time

The effect is "Mmm" when a daisy grows in your mind

Showing true position, this here piece is

Kissin' the part of the pie that's missin'

When that negative number fills up the casualty

Maybe you can subtract it

You can call it your lucky partner

Maybe you can call it your adjective

But odd as it may be

Without my one and two where would there be

My three

Mase Pos and Me

And that's the magic number

(What does it all mean?)

Focus is formed by flaunts to the soul

Souls who flaunt styles gain praises by pounds

Common are speakers who honor the scroll

Scroll written daily creates a new sound

Listeners listen 'cause this here is wisdom

Wisdom of a Speaker, a Dove and a Plug

Set aside a legal substance to feed 'em

For now get 'em high off this dialect drug (Three)

Time is a factor, so it's time that counts

Count not the negative actions of one

Speakers of soul say it's time to shout

Three forms the soul to a positive sum

Dance to this fix and flex every muscle

Space can be filled if you ride like my lumber

Advance to the tune, but don't do the hustle

Shake, rattle, roll to my magic number (Three)

Now you may try to subtract it

But it just won't go away

Three times one?

(What is it?)

(One, two, three)

And that's a magic number

(Yo, what's up?)

(One, two, three)

(I say, children, what does it all mean?)

(Whoa-whoa-wo, one, two, three)

(I wouldn't lie to you)

(No more, no less, that's a magic number)

(No more, no less)

(What is?)

(No more, no less)

(No more, no less)

(Do the shing-a-ling)

(No more, no less)

(Anybody in the audience ever get hit by a car?)

(No more, no less)

(How high's the water, mama?)

(No more, no less)

(How high's the water, mama?)

(No more, no less)

(Three feet high and rising)

(No more, no less)

(Three)

(That's a magic number)