Who stole the soul, the rock and roll The pop, the hip-hop, be-bop And some of the whole lot Checking it out from the likes of James Brown Father to your town and tore the house down Criminals, no, rappers like myself Took an old record from a record shop Found the groove that soothes And now improved Add even more bass to make the hyped crowd move Add a vocal track to give it that extra smack Of the new Jack funk rap act From album one, this is deduced Like minute maid, I've still got the juice Half of one, the only song, the only child Turn this wild So I won't hold it As long as people care Who stole it? See Who stole it? And now hear this Who stole it? Stole it? Music is free Who stole it? Oh, snap! Babe, catch Who stole it? Stole it? Are you sitting comfortably? Good! Then we shall begin Oh, snap! Who stole it from me? C&C Music Factory But I like it, I like it Your stuff is good Yo! Fella's welcome to the neighborhood 'Cause some they drive into a sample suicide Both they had on a rapside joyride Fail classes 1000 We taught them from stateside Girls to England Good to see though The MC turbo A beat, hell no! A rhyme Picasso Take the old and make the new Who cares for who As long as it moves So if a sample is a crime Call the cops 'Cause someone get mine Taking and making a hit And you'll never see the world split Who stole it? Who stole it? Stole it? It's the very best in digital dance music Brilliant Who stole it? Oh, snap! Babe, catch Who stole it? Stole it? Let's look at this another way Back in the day when Elvis played He stole his rock and roll from the blacks And the media never attacked But if I sample some seconds on a record Yo! Check it They all after the neck with a lynch mob and a noose But the madman always gets lose Heavy metal guitars made them stars But let's dispose them for what they are Samplers! 'Cause all their tricks are classic music rifts Ain't that a bitch? But you didn't know that 'Cause all the bad press goes to rap acts So if you want to know it The whole music industry stole it Who stole it? And now hear this Who stole it? Stole it? Music is free Who stole it? Oh, snap! Babe, catch Who stole it? Stole it!