Expert: Bong Santos - 10/13/2006

Question
I'm looking for the title of a song and artist that I remember from 1989.  It's a rap/r&b song.  I remember part of the lyrics like this,
"joy,.....& pain, (pump it up, pump it up) sunshine, rain.." and
"I'm Rob Bass and I came to get down, I'm not internationally know, but I'm know throughout the microphone, so speak clearly..." ???
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.  

Answer
Dear Perry,

You are looking for the song JOY AND PAIN by ROB BASE & DJ E-Z ROCK. The song appeared on the duo's 1988 album IT TAKES TWO and was its second single. The first single IT TAKES TWO peaked at #36 on the Hot 100 on October 29, 1988. JOY AND PAIN, which sampled the original JOY AND PAIN by MAZE featuring FRANKIE BEVERLY from 1980, peaked at #58 on July 1, 1989. Rumors circulated then that ROB BASE had legal problems with FRANKIE BEVERLY for using samples of the song without giving proper credit to FRANKIE BEVERLY as a songwriter in the album. JOY AND PAIN was listed as solely written by ROBERT GINYARD (ROB BASE's real name) in the album. Here's how it goes:

JOY AND PAIN / ROB BASE & DJ E-Z ROCK

Chorus:
Joy and pain
Like sunshine and rain
Joy and pain
Like sunshine and rain

Verse 1:
Well I'm the new kid, I'm just comin' up
A lot of rappers think that I can't tear it up
Well I'm 'a show 'em and ignore 'em
And when they think I ain't lookin' I floor 'em
I mean take 'em out I keep groovin'
A slick bass line keep the beat movin'
They can't take it they just fake it
They wonder how the Rob Base make it
I get ill, you know the deal
Cuz this is how the Rob Base feels
(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 2:
I keep smokin', hot like fire
You had the turn, now retire
Don't talk back, I'm not a new jack
Cuz I'm fresher than you, an' you're whacked
I keep tryin', I'm not lyin'
Up to number 1 is where I'm flyin'
I won't slow down cuz I'm the new kid
With the devastatin' sound that hits
In the house where I used to practice
No one knew the Rob exists, but now
I'm gettin' greedy, don't lead me
The wrong way cuz is just might, might, might
Bring me down, I'll have to fight to get back up
Move away cuz I just won't slack up
(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3:
Now, I go to shows to watch other MCs rock
And if they're good, I don't knock
The way they perform cuz I like to see a good show
After that, go play C-low, y'know
Cuz I'm a leader, no I'm not a follower
And MCs like you I swallow 'em
So don't look and try to judge me
Because you think that I'm another MC, well
I'm the new kind, I just moved around
But that don't mean I can't rip up the town
Me an' my boys, we make noise
I hate MCs that think they're with toys
I'm hittin' harder than any other MC
Who try to come up and go against me
(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 4
Not from the old school or from the new
Applaud the boom, do what you want to
Talk to me then try to put me down
We used to be cool now we don't hang around
Used to be friends but now we're foes
Ask me why, man, no one knows
Maybe jealousy between you and me
Could be the fame, could be the money
I'm goin' for mine and I don't really care
Cuz the spotlight Rob Base don't share
I'm the headliner of this show
And you're just a kid and you need to grow, because
(Repeat Chorus)

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines