[Verse 1]
The summit, the peaks
The plains and the valley
The ballad, the fog, the bank with the alley
The waking hour, the moment, the dream
The moaning, the murmur, the laughter, the scream
The filling beginning, the quiet finale
Eh eh eh eh lifetime, lifetime
Keep keeping on
Maintain the rock, keep up the rock
[Verse 2]
The lights in the plaza meant there's something fantastic
The moment I met you, the first look was like magic
Yeah, there's the way that it is and the way that it feels
There's the distance between the ideal and the bills
Yet, I see all the numbers; I still lull for the dreamer
I thank God for the dreamers, lifetime [2x] keep keeping on
Maintain the rock, keep up the rock
Maintain the spot, keep up the block
Maintain the rock, keep up the rock
[Verse 3]
Ehhh
I know this much is true
We don't wanna be lonely
Whether kind or you're cruel, be you no more oh lonely
The riot is easy and the silence is loud
You can build yourself up by just turning things down
We were fashioned in love, so why should we feel lonely?
When forever is only... Lifetime [2x]
Keep keeping on
Maintain the rock, keep up the block
Maintain the rock, keep up the rock
Black Jack
Was a fighting man
Black Jack
was a mighty man
You stand them up
He knock them out
Yeah Yeah
thats the real
You stand them up
he knock them down
Yeah yeah
thats the deal
Now sign them high
HEY HEY HEY HEY
Up in the sky
Whoa oh wooo
Break it down low
Whoa whoa
break it off slow
whoa whoa
Then shout it out
Yeah Yeah Yeah yeah
yeah yeah yeah yeah
Who dat boogie man
There dat boogie man
Tackidy Tackidy Tap Tap Tap
Holdin' bread in hand
Go head work that band
Go head work it say
Talkin' the talk and walkin' the walk
Is what daddy do they say
Wear those pretty clothes
Drive them pretty cars
You a super hero
You a super star
You a super man
Go head fly yo cape
Blowin' in the wind
Let it touch the hand
Stand and fight and win
Snatch the crown again
Wit' yo mighty swing
And yo flashy smile
Let them see the light
You so black and bright
You so bright you black
Shinin' you cryin' to fight them back
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah [repeat]
Booka-booka-booka-booka-booka-booka
Ha hah, you know the deal, it's just me Dog
Beats by su-primo for all of my people
Negroes and Latinos and even the Gringos
Yo, check it, one for Charlie Hustle, two for Steady Rock
Three for the fourth comin' live, future shock
It's five dimensions, six senses
Seven firmaments of heaven to hell, eight million stories to tell
Nine planets faithfully keep in orbit
With the probable tenth, the universe expands length
The body of my text possess extra strength
Power-liftin' powerless up, out of this towerin' inferno
My ink so hot, it burn through the journal
I'm blacker than midnight on broadway and myrtle
Hip-Hop past all your tall social hurdles
Like the nationwide projects, prison-industry complex
Working class poor, better keep your alarm set
Streets too loud to ever hear freedom ring
Say evacuate your sleep, it's dangerous to dream
For cha-ching cats get tha cha-pow, who dead now
Killin' fields need blood to graze the cash cow
Some numbers game, but shit don't add up somehow
Like I got, sixteen to thirty-two bars to rock it
But only fifteen percent of profits, ever see my pockets like
Sixty-nine billion in the last twenty years
Spent on national defense but folks still live in fear like
Nearly half of America's largest cities is one-quarter black
That's why they gave Ricky Ross all the crack
Sixteen ounces to a pound, twenty more to a Ki
A five minute sentence hearing and you're no longer free
Forty percent of Americans own a cell phone
So they can hear everything that you say when you ain't home
I guess, Michael Jackson was right, 'You are not alone'
Rock your hardhat black 'coz you in the terrordome
Full of hard niggaz, large niggaz, dice tumblers
Young teens and prison greens facin' life numbers
Crack mothers, crack babies and aids patients
Young bloods can't spell but they could rock you in playstation
This new math is whippin' motherfuckers ass
You wanna know how to rhyme you better learn how to add
It's mathematics
"The mighty Mos Def"
"It's simple mathematics"
"Check it out!"
"I revolve around science"
"What are we talking about here?"
"The mighty Mos Def"
"It's simple mathematics"
"Check it out!"
"I revolve around science"
"What are we talking about here?"
"Do your math"
"Do your math"
"One, t-t-two, three, four"
"What are we talking about here?"
Yo, it's one universal law but two sides to every story
Three strikes and you be in for life, mandatory
Four M.C's murdered in the last four years
I ain't tryin' to be the fifth one, the millennium is here
Yo it's six million ways to die, from the seven deadly thrills
Eight year olds gettin' found with nine mill's
It's ten p.m., where your seeds at? What's the deal?
He on the hill puffin' krill to keep their bellies filled
Light in the ass with heavy steel, sights on the pretty shit in life
Young soldiers tryin' to earn they next stripe
When the average minimum wage is five fifteen
You best believe you gotta find a new grind to get cream
The white unemployment rate is nearly more than triple for black
So frontliners got their gun in your back
Bubblin' crack, jewel theft and robbery to combat poverty
And end up in the global jail economy
Stiffer stipulations attached to each sentence
Budget cutbacks but increased police presence
And even if you get out of prison still livin'
Join the other five million under state supervision
This is business, no faces just lines and statistics
From your phone, your zip code, to S S I digits
The system break man, child and women into figures
Two columns for who is and who ain't niggaz
Numbers is hardly real and they never have feelings
But you push too hard, even numbers got limits
Why did one straw break the camel's back? Here's the secret
The're million other straws underneath it, it's all mathematics
"The mighty Mos Def"
"It's simple mathematics"
"Check it out!"
"I revolve around science"
"What are we talking about here?"
"The mighty Mos Def"
"It's simple mathematics"
"Check it out!"
"I revolve around science"
"What are we talking about here?"
They say the goodness in life
Belongs to those who believe
So, I believe, yes
I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper, like I was ink
When I'm writing I'm trapped in between the line
I escape when I finish the rhyme
(Aiyyo)
I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper, like I was ink
When I'm writing I'm trapped in between the line
I escape when I finish the rhyme
(Aiyyo)
My pops said he was in love when he made me
Thought about it for a second, wasn't hard to see
I could hear he was sincere, was a game of promotion
The entire affair's probably charged wit emotion
But love call your heart, I guess you got to pursue
12-11-73 my life is testament
Praise the beneficent, element that rest
Devoid in the form that make love manifest
I spent my early years in Roosevelt Project
It was a bright valley wit some dark prospects
In '83, Venny C was the host wit the most
I listened to the Rap Attack and held the radio close
I listened to the Rap Attack and held the radio close
This is far before the days of high glamor and pose
Aiyyo power from the street light made the place dark
I know a few understand what I'm talkin' about
It was love for the thing that made me wanna stay out
It was love for the thing that made me stay in the house
Spendin' time, writin' rhymes
Tryin' to find words that describe the vibe, that's inside the space
When you close yo' eyes and screw yo' face
Is this the pain of too much tenderness
To make me nod my head in reverence
Should I visit this place and remember it?
To build landmarks here as evidence
Night time, spirit shook my temperament
To write rhymes that portray this sentiment
We live the now for the promise of the infinite
We live the now for the promise of the infinite
And we believe in the promise
(Love, love, love)
Yes yes, y'all and we don't stop because
I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper, like I was ink
When I'm writing I'm trapped in between the line
I escape when I finish the rhyme
(Aiyyo)
I got love, L O V E and I be
Love, L O V E to MC
Get love, L O V E and I be
Love, L O V E I MC
Get love, L O V E and I be
Love, L O V E to MC
Get love, L O V E and I be
The M O S D E F initely
Check it out y'all, feel me out y'all
Feel me out y'all, hear my out y'all
Check me, out y'all
Feel me out y'all, check it out y'all
Now hear out y'all
(Bounce)
Check me out y'all, feel me out y'all
Check me out y'all, feel me out y'all
Feel me out y'all
(Hear me bounce y'all)
Check me out y'all, check it out y'all
My folks said they was in love when they had me
I take they love they made me wit to make rhymes and beats
(Can you feel?)
The raw deal, it's all wheel-driven
Contemplate the essence of beats, rhymes and living
Speech in line wit the rhythm, designed wit the rhythm
Ears and eyes keepin' good time wit the rhythm
I shine wit the rhythm, the Black Star Gallactica
Big number fleetin', we ancient like the Abbacca's
After us, I see most proceed to be trees
Sproutin' leaves, given breeze to the we who believe
I MC, which means I must cultivate the earth
Back straight backs, hard beats and hard work
I be the funky drummer to soften the hard earth
(Amen)
Pray Allah keep my soul and heart clean
(Amen)
Pray the same thing again for all my team
This go out to Fort Greene and on out to Queens
Uptown to Boogie Down, yo just look around
And shook up the world, like Ali in 6-3
(Right)
I'm reachin' the height that you said cannot be
I'm bringin' the light but you said we can't see
Saw the new day commin', and it look just like me
Some burst through the clouds, my photo ID
I bring light to your day and raise yo' degree
The Universal Magnetic, you must respect it
From end to beginning, [unverified] true and livin'
Every changing, it was a state of magnificent
Building it now for the promise of the infinite
Building it now for the promise of the infinite because
I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper, like I was ink
When I'm writing I'm trapped in between the line
I escape when I finish the rhyme
(Aiyyo)
I got love, L O V E and I be
Love, L O V E to MC
Get love, L O V E and I be
Love, L O V E to MC
Get love, L O V E and I be
Love, L O V E to MC
Get love, L O V E and I be
[Instrumental]
[Mos Def]
Yeah, ha ha ha
A-B-boys rock the world
CD's and tapes help generate papes
E-F is the important Def
G-good, H is what style be
When I grab the microphone and MC
Roll off the tongue like L-M-N-O-P
And when I am done you will agree
Mos Def represent most definitely
Jesus what I used to rock it in '83
Drank up all the Kool-Aid at the block party
Used to wish I could break the Rock Steady
Wash this be the brown shoe on TV
But now it's not dis and it's on like THIS
My name is Mos Def, this is good as it gets
Baby I make you rub your lips like sardines and grits
My what still hits even when the record skip
Even when the record skip
Even when the record skip
I don't quit, I don't quit
We bout to make this one a sure hit
Sean J. make the party people feel it
(Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to introduce a very
Interesting young man that has traveled from very far
Away to be with us tonight)
[Mos Def]
Ha ha ha, what uh-huh
There is such a place, that creates such a melody BROOKLYN
No ladies it's a living dream, it's a living dream, it's a living dream
LOVE LIKE THIS
Recognize all area crew, whether you speak Japanese or Goony Goo Goo
Son when I come through, other rappers boo-hoo
Cuz they know they style's soft like baby doo-doo
I will continue, to hit like a fifth of stolen Naya
Puttin jokers on ice to get the cream like Breyer
No secret, Mos Def is the one that hunts a Mya
I get in my stance and set the dance on FIRE
Spread out my wings and I take the world HIGHER
Peace to the fam magnetic in the Chi
Job-on, top Sean and my man Ahtu
And all my other clan who reside in the Zoo
Got a celebrated oatmeal broadcast crew
Mos Def gon keep it naked like Um Fu-Fu (ANDY!!)
Put it here to the tape like crazy glue
So when they bounce out of speakers they stick to you
The way that I communicate is non-typical
But high level like a 3-D visual
I hold the mic extensive, exhibit level and dimension
I radiate the space like a up-right bass
Son I leave crews laced and escape wit no trace
Sound official like the finish time at a horse race
Here to put it in place, for the nine-uno-seis
Mos Def set the pace, make your fam give chase
Raise your hands in the air, everybody get wit it
Universal Magnetic b-boy, scientific
It's like that and you don't stop
It goes onto the rhythm you don't stop
Raise your hands in the air, everybody get wit it
The Universal Magnetic B-BOY, scientific y'all
You don't stop, it goes onto the rhythm bust it
Baby it's in my chromosomes to ROCK
Microphones sets who wanna test the M-O
Best to leave that *nigga* alone
I make no bones or poems about droppin bars
I make the world full swing under the Mos Def YES
I ring the alarm like tennis sore
My style hella-raw, I keep it raw bone like Skeletor
And you should go and tell your clientele
That they need to get The Message like Melle Mel
I got the -- locked like a Death Row show
And if I ain't a b-boy, Premier never used a bell (ding ding)
So tell your boy, (what) crew to retire
Before I make they *ass* catch fire like Richard Pryor
Nondescriptive fiendin for riches, callin earths *bitches*
But most of y'all brothers is livin wit your mothers
Your Boogie Man yankin up your covers
Sharper than some new box cutters, on Parkay's and butters
And Stevie Wonder's, to make you run and tell the others
The beat lovers, and play my jam like the numbers
Son I rock the globe like I rocked your boat
I'm bout to tap it on your shoulder cuz you got to know
Now raise your hands in the air, everybody get wit it
The Universal Magnetic b-boy, scientific
Like that, and you don't stop
It goes onto the rhythm you don't stop
And raise your hands in the air, everybody get wit it
Universal Magnetic B-BOY, (hooo!!) scientific
You don't stop, it goes onto the rhythm you don't stop
Raise your hands in the air, everybody get wit it
Universal Magnetic b-boy, scientific
Like that, and you don't stop
It go onto the rhythm you don't stop
Now raise your hands in the air everybody get wit it
Make me wanna HOLLA.. aowwWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
"Ah.. ah-ah, ah-ah.. ah-ah, ah-lert the squad.."
Rock and roll
"Ah.. ah-ah, ah-ah.. ah-ah, ah-lert the squad.."
Hehehe, rock and roll
"Ah.. ah-ah, ah-ah.. ah-ah, ah-lert the squad.."
Whoahhhhh-oh, oooh-weee-oooh
"Ah.. ah-ah, ah-ah.. ah-ah, ah-lert the squad.."
Whoahhhhh-oh
(Huh) My grandmomma was raised on a reservation
(Huh) My great-grandmomma was, from a plantation
They sang - songs for inspiration
They sang - songs for relaxation
They sang - songs, to take their minds up off that
fucked up situation
I am... yes I am... the descendant (yes yes)
of those folks whose, backs got broke
who, fell down inside the gunsmoke
(Black people!) Chains on they ankles and feet
I am descendants, of the builders of your street
(Black people!) Tenders to your cotton money
I am.. hip-hop
"It's heavy metal for the black people"
I am.. rock and roll (rock and roll.. rock'n'roll)
BEEN HERE FOREVER!
They just ain't let you know.. (HA!)
I said, Elvis Presley ain't got no soul (huh)
Chuck Berry is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But they ain't come up with that style on they own (uh-uh)
Elvis Presley ain't got no SOULLLL (hell naw)
Little Richard is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But they ain't come up with that shit on they own (nah-ah)
Guess that's just the way shit goes
You steal my clothes and try to say they yo's (yes they do)
Cause it's a show filled with pimps and hoes
Tryin to take everything that you made or control (there they go)
Elvis Presley ain't got no SOULLLL
Bo Diddley is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But they ain't the first place the credit belongs
Say whoahhhh-oh (don't take it) oooh-weee-ohhh
(black music) whoahhhh-oh (don't take it) oooh-weee-ohhh
(black music) whoahhhh-oh (Jimi Hendrix say) oooh-weee-ohhh
(black music) whoahhhh-oh (Albert King and) oooh-weee-ohhh
(and Motown)
(huh) I ain't tryin to diss
but I don't be tryin to fuck with Limp Bizkit
"The fuck is on your mind?"
When I get down in my zone
I be rockin Bad Brains and Fishbone
I ain't tryin to slow your groove
But that ain't the way I'm tryin to move
I don't turn on Korn to get it on;
I be playin Jimi Hendrix 'til the dawn
That's my word is bond
Sittin up on my front lawn
Got the volume turned to ten
Playin Albert King the best again (black)
When the mornin in the cooker
Got to turn on some John Lee Hooker
When I want some rock and roll
Go to Otis Redding to get some soul
Say, James Brown got plenty of soul
James Brown like to rock and roll
He can do all the shit fo' sho'
that Elvis Presley could never know (black people)
Said, Kenny G ain't got no SOULLLL
John Coltrane is rock and roll (uh-huh)
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
but they could never ever rock like Nina Simone
Say whoahhhh-oh (don't take it) oooh-wee-ohh
(black music) whoahhhh-oh (don't take it) oooh-weee-ohhh
(black music) whoahhhh-oh (don't take it) oooh-weee-ohhh
(black music) whoah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
"ah-lert the squad.."
Who am IIIIiiiiiiiiIiiiII, HUH!
GET YOUR PUNK ASS UP!
ELVIS PRESLEY AIN'T GOT NO SOUL
JIMI HENDRIX IS ROCK AND ROLL
YOU MAY DIG ON THE ROLLING STONES
BUT EVERYTHING THEY DID THEY STOLE
ELVIS PRESLEY AIN'T GOT NO SOUL
BO DIDDLEY IS ROCK AND ROLL
YOU MAY DIG ON THE ROLLING STONES
BUT WE SEND THEY PUNK ASS HOME
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii (ROCK AND ROLL)
Who am IIIiiiiiiiiiii!!!
Say, rock and ROLL!
Who am I? Rock and ROLL!
Who am I? Rock and ROLL!
Who am I? Rock and ROLL!
Who am I? Rock and ROLL!
Who am I? Rock and ROLL!
Who am I? Rock and ROLL!
GET YOUR PUNK ASS UP!!!!!!!
Company, MOVE!!!
For Harlem, Fort Greene, Compton
East St. Louis, Detroit (BO BO)
Chicago (BO BO) Bed-Stuy (BO BO)
Flatbush (BO BO) Brownsville (BO BO)
East New York (BO BO) Newark New Jersey (BO BO)
Illadelphia Cincinatti Atlanta the Dirty South
All towns GET YOUR PUNK ASS UP!!
"Rock and roll for the black people"
Hi ma..
I know, I can't afford to stop
for a moment.. that it's too soon.. to forget
I know, I can't afford to stop
for a moment.. that it's too soon.. to forget
Man.. for real
I was in love with this girl, y'know
I was.. to' up dog! I'm tellin you man
She was wild man.. f'real
It's just too.. let me tell you about her
Yo, in she came with the same type game
The type of girl givin out the fake cell phone and name
Big fame, she like cats with big thangs
Jewels chip, money clip, phone flip, the six range
I seen her on the ave, spotted her more than once
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front
She spot me like paparazzi; shot me a glance
in that catwoman stance with the fat booty pants, Hot damn!
What's your name love, where you came from?
Neck and wrist blazed up, very little make-up
The swims at the Reebok gym tone your frame up
Is sugar and spice the only thing that you made of?
I tried to play it low key but couldn't keep it down
Asked her to dance she was like "Yo, I'm leavin now"
An hour later, sounds from Jamaica
She sippin Crys straight up, shakin, windin her waist up
Scene two: my fam throwin the jam
Fahreed is on the stand big things is in the plan
The brother Big Mu makes space for me to move in
Hey, this my man Mos, baby let me introduce; I turn around
Say word! You was the same pretty bird who I had priorly observed
tryin to play me for the herb (Yeah, that's her)
Shocked as hell she couldn't get it together
I just played it long and pretended I never met her
"How you feelin?" "Oh I'm fine." "My name is Mos." "I'm Sharice.
I heard so much good about you it's nice to finally meet."
We moved to the booth reserved for crew especially
And honey love ended up sittin directly next to me
I'm type polite but now I'm lookin at her skeptically
Cause baby girl got all the right weaponry
Designer fabric, shoes, and accessories
Chinky eyes, sweet voice is (fucking) with me mentally
We conversated, made a laugh, yeah you know me bro
Even though I know the steelo, she wild sweet yo
I'm bout to merc, I say peace to the family
She hop up like "How you gonna leave before you dance with me?"
I know I can't afford this life
For a moment
That its too soon
To forget
She blew my whole head with that dude, I was like "What?"
I played it low though, I was like
"Yeah, aiight, c'mon then, let's go"
It's mad, the shit is so sick, I'm tell you
Yo, honey was so blazin, she was just..
Yo, she was like Jayne Kennedy, word bond
To my mother man, she was that ill man
She take me to the dance floor and she start whisperin to me
Yo, let me apologize for the other night
I know it wasn't right, but baby you know what its like
Some brothers don't be comin right
I understand, I'm feelin you
Beside, 'can I have a dance?' ain't really that original
We laughed about it, traced her arms across my shoulder blades
They playing lovers' rock, I got the folded fingers on her waist
He end my butt up like the Arizona summer song
Finished then she whisper 'honey, let's exchange numbers'
Scene three: weeks of datin late night conversation
In the crib heart racin, tryin to be cool and patient
She touched on my eyelids, the room fell silent
She walked away smilin singing Gregory Issacs
Like 'if I don't, if I don't, if I don't'
Showin me that tan line and that tattoo
Playin Sade, "Sweetest Taboo"
Burnin candles, all my other plans got canceled
Man I smashed it like an Idaho potato
She call my at my J.O., 'come now', I can't say no
Ginseng tree trunks, rockin the p-funk
Cocking her knees up, champion lover not ease up
Three months, she call 'I feel I'm runnin a fever'
Six months, I'm tellin her I desperately need her
Nine months, flu-like symptoms when shorty not around
I need more than to knock it down I'm really tryin to lock it down
Midnight we hook up and go at it
Burn a stogger, let her know, sweetheart I got to have it
She tellin me commitment is somethin she can't manage
Wake up the next morning, she gone like it was magic
Ahh damnit! This all Harrison Ford frantic
My 911 wasn't answered by my fly Taurus enchantress
Next week, who hit me up, I saw Sharice at the kitty club
With some banging ass Asian playin lay it down and lick me up
RE:DEFinition
What what what, what what, what what, what what
Woaaaahhhhhhh!
One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop, wayohh
I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
And Hi-Tek make the beat drop, wayohh
[Talib Kweli]
RE:DEFinition, turning your play into a tragedy
Exhibit level degree on the mic, passionately
Niggaz is sweet so I bet if I bit I'd get a cavity
Livin to get high, you ain't flyer than gravity
We Die Hard like the battery done in the back of me by the mad MC
who think imitation is the highest form of flattery, actually
Don't be mad at me, I had to be the one to break it to you
You get kicked into obscurity like judo, no Menudo
cause you pseudo, tryin to compete with reality like Xerox
Towards destruction you spiraling like hairlocks, wipe them teardrops
Chasing stars in your eyes, playing games with your lives
Now the wives is widows soakin up pillows, weepin like willows
Still mo' blacks is dyin, kids ain't livin they tryin
";How to Make a Slave"; by Willie Lynch is still applyin
Regardless, the Mos is one of my closest partners
Rockin ever since before Prince was called The Artist
Rocker before Funkmaster Flex was rockin Starter
When 'Pac and Biggie was still cool before they was martyrs
Life or death, if I'm choosin with every breath I'm enhancin
Stop, there comes a time when you can't run
[Mos Def]
What, lyrically handsome, call collect a king's ransom
Jams I write soon become the ghetto anthem
Way out like Bruce Wayne's mansion, move like a phantom
You'll talk about me to your grandsons
Cats who claimin they hard be mad fag
so I run through em like, flood water through sandbags
Competition is mad, what I got, they can't have
Sinkin they ship, like Moby Dick, did Ahab
Son I'm way past the minimum, it's a verb millenium
My rap's the holy ? in your bag, like Palestinians
Ancient ABYSSINIAN, try to ? the ?
Official b-boy gentlemen won't turn off at the interim
Born inside the winter wind, day after December 10
These simpletons they mentionin the synonym for feminine
Sweeter than some cinnamon the danish brings rotten to men
Rush up on adrenaline, they get they asses sent to them
(Gentlemen) without a tenament more than a ?
Leave your unit tremblin like herds of movin elephant
Intelligent embellishment, follow for your element
from Flatbush settlement, SKIN posseses melanin
Hotter than tales of crack peddlin, makin em WOOP
like blue gelatin, swing like Duke Ellington
Broader than Barrington Levy, believe me
The hot oppresion rent who burn down your chief teepee
You see me?
One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop, wayohh
I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Because we rulin hip-hop, yes we is rulin hip-hop
Talib Kweli is rulin hip-hop
Say we Black Star we rule hip-hop-ah-ahh-ah-ahh-ahh
Whoahhhh!
(MOS DEF)
1 FOR DA TREBLE
2 FOR DA BASS
WELCOME TO DA GREAT INCREDIBLE PAPER CHASE
KEEP YO BOOTZ LACED IF U WANNA KEEP PACE
(NATE DOGG)
OH NO NIGGAZ AINT SCRARED TO HUSTLE
ITZ BEEN SEVEN DAYS DA SAME CLOSE
ASK THEM ORIGINALS CAUSE THEY KNOW
MOS DEF, NATE DOGG, AND PHAROE
STEP AWAY FROM DA MIC THEY TOO COLD
DA FUNK MIGHT FRACTURE YO NOSE...NOSE... NOSE... NOSE... NOSE
(MOS DEF)
SAY MY NAME SAY MY NAME
OBSERVE BEFOR I STAKE MY CLAIM
I INDIPENDINTLY LAY DOWN AND PLAYED MY GAME MY OWN TWO WAYZ MY FLAME CUZ DICK RIDEN ANIT MY THANG
I EARNED WHAT THEY SAID I WOULDN'T
GOT IT DA WAY THEY SAID I COULDN'T BUT NOW IM GETTIN IT AND THEY HOLE GRILL IS CROOKED MAD CAUS IM GETTIN CAKED OUT FOR MY BOOKINS WHY U ALWAYS ASKIN PERMISSION I JUST STEPED UP AND TOOK IT WHAT.DA KIDS BETTER BUY M,Y ROOKIE CARD NOW CUZ AFTER DIS YEAR DA PRICE AINT COMIN DOWN AND IF U GOT A JOINT BUBBLIN THEN GET YO MONEY NOW CUZ IN A MINUTE THERES GONNA BE SOME REAL TROUBLE COMIN OUT, JUST A WARNING AS USUAL SOME CAT WONT HEAT IT DA HARD HEADER ALWAYS GOTTA FEEL IT TO BELIEVE IT ITZ A SHAME DA JELIOUS GAGE IS TOO SHORT TO SEE IT BUT WHEN THEY FACE HIT THA CEMENT THEY NOT IN AGREEMENT. WE CAN PLAY NICVE AND DECENT OR DIRTY LIKE THA 7-1 PRECINCT, CALL IT A DAY OR MAKE IT A LONG EVENING. U KEEP ON SKEEMIN AND GIVE ME SOME MORE REASON TO HAVE THA WOMEN IN YO MAMMAS CHURCH SCREAMIN LORD JESUS. HARDER THEN YA'LL CUZ IM SMARTER THEN YA'LL I KNOW THAT DEEP DOWN IT GOTTA BE BOTHERING YA'LL. PAY ATTENTION WATCH FLACO GET LARGER THEN YA'LL PUT YO PRIDE ON DA ROCKS AND GET SWALLOWED AT ALL THA MATHMATIC PROBLEM FOR YA'LL IS JUST GETTIN HARDER TO SOLVE EVERYDAY LET THA SAGE EVOLVE THA DO OR DIE STAY RUMBBLIN AND BUMPIN IT HARED AND WHEN WE MOVE WE AINT GOT NO DISCUSSION AT ALL EAST COAST ON YO NECK AND U AINT SRUGGIN IT OFF TRY TO BULLY FOOT AND END UP STUMBLIN OFF. IM DADDY BROOKLYN YA'LL NIGGAZ IS THA SONS OF NEW YORK GETTIN SPANKED WHEN THERES TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO TALK..RESPECT MINE.
(NATE DOGG)
OH NO LOOK AT WHO THEY LET IN THA BACK DOOR FROM LONG BEACH TO BROOKLYN THEY WE ROCK FROM THA EAST TO WEST COAST QUEENS SOLUTE U KNOW STEP AWAY FROM DA MIC U TOO COLD THA FUNK MIGHT FRACTURE YO NOSE OH NO.
(PHAROE MUNCH)
VERY CONTAGIOUS RAPS SHOULD BE TRAPPED IN CAGEZ THROUGH STAGES OF WAKLESS FOULS RAPS AH BLAZIN AND IT AMAZES ME HOW U CLAIM THUG BUT TWO WAYS WITOUT SKYTELL PAGES IM INTILECTUAL PASS MO ESSAYS THEN MOTIKE AND POLICE PARADEZ THROUGH WEED SELLE MO BEEF THEN DELAY'S PLUS WHAT VENT IS JUST WHAT U LUST TO VENT IS EVE RELLE HOLLA LUYAH PHAROE MUNCH THREW YA MAINTAIN THA SAME FRAIM OF MIND SCREW YAH GET THA PICTCHA SIT YAH SEAT YAH GREET YAH WIT SCRIPTURE IM AH QUICK TO RIP YAH REACH YAH PHAROE AND MOSES VERBLE OSMOSES COAST TO COAST WE SUPPOSED TO BE THA MOST EXPLOSIVE HERE FEROCIOUS THA LYRICLE PROGNOSES AND DOSES JUST LEAVEN U MENTALLY
UN-FOCUSED HERE MC'S JUST COME ON ROUND U THA NEXT CONTESTANT THATS GONNA CATCH A BEAT DOWN HA DONT BE HESITANT SOUND CRACKS THA SEDIMENT ITZ SEVEN AND WE MEDICINE FOR YO HOLE TOWN SKI'Z TELLIN THA GANGS AFFENDED WHEN IM IN IT ALL WINDOWS IS TINTED HOW U SEEIN ME WHEN IM IN IT RAP WE GOT IT ON LOCK MAN STOP THAT PUT THAT MIC BACK DOWN BOY DROP THAT PHAROE SLOWS BLOWZ SHOWZ LIKE AFFROEZ WE HATE YA'LL THOUGH THATS WHY NATE DOGG GO
(NATE DOGG)
CHORUS x2
What'd you do last night? We, did umm, two whole cars
It was me, Dez and Main Three right?
And on the first car in small letters it said
All you see is and then you know
Big, big, you know, some block silver letters
That said 'Crime in the city', right?
It just took up the whole car?
Yeah, yeah, it was a whole car and shit
Escuchela, la ciudad respirando
Escuchela, la ciudad respirando
Escuchela, la ciudad respirando
Escuchela
The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis
Shinin', like who on top of this?
People was tusslin', arguin' and bustlin'
Gangstaz of gotham hardcore hustlin'
I'm wrestlin' with words and ideas
My ears is picky, seekin' what will transmit
The scribes can apply to transcript, yo
This ain't no time where the usual is suitable
Tonight alive, let's describe the inscrutable
The indisputable, we, New York, the narcotic
Strength in metal and fiber optics
Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips
For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets
Hard knuckles on the second hands of workin' class watches
Skyscrapers is colossal, the cost of living
Is preposterous, stay alive, you play or die, no options
No Batman and Robin, can't tell between the cops and the robbers
They both partners, they all heartless
With no conscience, back streets stay darkened
Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened
My eagle talons stay sharpened, like city lights stay throbbin'
You either make a way or stay sobbin'
The shiny apple is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat
You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat
Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down
Spotlight to savages, Nasdaq averages
My narrative, rose to explain this existence
Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance
So much on my mind that I can't recline
Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathin'
Chest heavin', against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving
Breathin' in deep city breaths, sittin' on shitty steps
We stoop to new lows, Hell froze the night the city slept
The beast crept through concrete jungles
Communication with one another and ghetto birds where waters fall
From the hydrants to the gutters
The beast walk the beats, but the beats we be makin'
You on the wrong side of the track, lookin' visibly shaken
Taken them plungers, plungin' to death that's painted by the numbers
With crime unapplied pressure, cats is playin' God
But havin' children by a lesser baby mother but fuck it
We played against each other like puppets, swearin' you got pull
When the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes
Gettin' knowledge in jail like a blessing in disguise
Look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog
Is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene
Thoughts that people put in the air
Places where you could get murdered over a glare
But everything is fair
It's a paradox we call reality
So, keepin' it real will make you a casualty of abnormal normality
Killers born naturally like Mickey and Mallory
Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary
Some cats be emceeing to illustrate what we be seeing
Hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shakin' what you believe in
For trees to grow in Brooklyn, seeds need to be planted
I'm asking if y'all feel me and the crowd left me stranded
My blood pressure boiled and rose 'cause New York niggaz
Actin' spoiled at shows, to the winners the spoils go
I take the L, transfer to the 2, head to the gates
New York life type trife the Roman Empire State
So much on my mind, I just can't recline
Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Yo, don't the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathin'
Chest heavin', against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving
[Foreign content]
Yo, on the amen, corner I stood lookin' at my former hood
Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good
Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it
Mixin' down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered
I choreograph 'Seven Steps To Heaven'
And hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leavened
Veteran of a cold war, it's Chicago for
What I know or, what's known
So, some days I take the bus home, just to touch home
From the crib I spend months gone
Sat by the window with a clutched dome listenin' to shorties cuss long
Young girls with weak minds, but they butt strong
Tried to call, or at least beep the Lord but didn't have a touch-tone
It's a dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on
Some of this land I must own, outta the city, they want us gone
Tearin' down the 'jects creatin' plush homes
My circumstance's between Cabrini and love Jones
Surrounded by hate, yet I love home
Ask my God how he thought travellin' the world sound
Found it hard to imagine he hadn't been past downtown
It's deep, I heard the city breathe in it's sleep
Of reality I touch but for me it's hard to keep
Deep, I heard my man breathe in his sleep
Of reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep
So much on my mind, I just can't recline
Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke, retrace the skyline
Yo, how the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathing
Chest heavin', against the flesh of the evening
There's nothing more refreshing (that cool refreshing drink)
Than a cool, crisp, clean glass of water
On a warm summer's day (That cool refreshing drink)
Try it with your friends
New World Water make the tide rise high
Come inland and make your house go "Bye" (My house!)
Fools done upset the Old Man River
Made him carry slave ships and fed him dead nigga
Now his belly full and he about to flood somethin
So I'ma throw a rope that ain't tied to nothin
til your crew use the H2 in wise amounts since
it's the New World Water; and every drop counts
You can laugh and take it as a joke if you wanna
But it don't rain for four weeks some summers
And it's about to get real wild in the half
You be buying Evian just to take a fuckin bath
Heads is acting wild, sippin poor, puffin dank
Competin with the next man for higher playin rank
See I ain't got time try to be Big Hank,
Fuck a bank; I need a twenty-year water tank
Cause while these knuckleheads is out here sweatin they goods
The sun is sitting in the treetops burnin the woods
And as the flames from the blaze get higher and higher
They say, "Don't drink the water! We need it for the fire!"
New York is drinkin it (New World Water)
Now all of California is drinkin it (New World Water)
Way up north and down south is drinkin it (New World Water)
Used to have minerals and zinc in it (New World Water)
Now they say it got lead and stink in it (New World Water)
Fluorocarbons and monoxide
Push the water table lopside
Used to be free now it cost you a fee
Cause oil tankers spill they load as they roam cross the sea
Man, you gotta cook with it, bathe and clean with it (That's right)
When it's hot, summertime you fiend for it (Let em know)
You gotta put it in the iron you steamin with (That's right)
It's what they dress wounds and treat diseases with (Shout it out)
The rich and poor, black and white got need for it (That's right)
And everybody in the world can agree with this (Let em know)
Consumption promotes health and easiness (That's right)
Go too long without it on this earth and you leavin it (Shout it out)
Americans wastin it on some leisure shit (Say word?)
And other nations be desperately seekin it (Let em know)
Bacteria washing up on they beaches (Say word?)
Don't drink the water, son they can't wash they feet with it (Let em know)
Young babies in perpetual neediness (Say word?)
Epidemics hopppin up off the petri dish (Let em know)
Control centers try to play it all secretive (Say word?)
To avoid public panic and freakiness (Let em know)
There are places where TB is common as TV
Cause foreign-based companies go and get greedy
The type of cats who pollute the whole shore line
Have it purified, sell it for a dollar twenty-five
Now the world is drinkin it
Your moms, wife, and baby girl is drinkin it
Up north and down south is drinkin it
You should just have to go to your sink for it
The cash registers is goin "cha-chink!" for it
Fluorocarbons and monoxide
Got the fish lookin cockeyed
Used to be free now it cost you a fee
Cause it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money) (x9)
Johny cash (Money)
Rosanne Cash (Money)
Give me cash (Money)
Cold cash (Money)
(Repeat to fade)
Cash rules everything around me,
Move!
[Talib Kweli]
Yo, we been through this before right? (Word, word...) So we
figurin', if we gonna do it, we gotta freak it, y'know what I'm sayin?
(True, true, true...) Cuz everything gotta go up from here, right?
So Hi-Tek, turn it up a notch...
[Jane Doe]
Hail Mary, 'matta fact hail Jane
Niggaz take my name in vain/vein like I was cocaine
My affirmations kill emcees like assasination
Bringin' you pain until you wish you had a vaccination
Or vaccine, I shine like Vaseline
Gas plays like petroleum, walk over them like linoleum
My vocab expand like a rubber band
Walkin' nekkid through the motherland, give the finger to my brotherman
Niggaz just don't understand my reasons, I transcend like season
And scar these rappers like legion
It's treason, my suspension attract attention
I'm ventin', givin' these chickenheads detention
Did I mention my name, yo, go by the Jane Doe
Drenched in Polo, chill downtown in Soho
You don't know, this is just half my potential
Check my credentials, come harder than sequential
It's essential, you listen, I drive, you a pedestrian
They bless me on the track cuz I attack wit' the estrogen
Rhyme against the best a men, Jane burn it up
When you hear it in the whip, tell your man to turn it up!
[Wordsworth]
Yo...get it...yo
Yo, we fortified live, supportin' allies
The wack is tryin' to shorten our lives, it sorta waters my eyes
But here is some'n the cryin' talk about
The verse on that cassette you and cousin fought about
That led to God and Satan's fallin' out
Encourage the liquor for those who ain't here that you pourin' out
On 3-way, your parents, preacher and spouse called my house
Revive or ruin, my theories of mics
Sony or Aiwa, black or white, I fit in all stereotypes
Search for a cast to plot, I make you a laughin' stock
So shook, I could walk a half a block and feel the aftershocks
Rain of acid drops, seek some help
Now don't rewind, get it the first time,
Shouldn't have to repeat myself
Eternally verbally, I have numbers, succumb to time outs
In rhyme bouts you'll dial 9, just to get a line out
Known fact or factors and non-rappers fractured
Results in more cast appearances than a hundred actors
Emcees I'm testin' like diseases injected in gerbils
Wordsworth, Kweli, Hi-Tek, Reflection Eternal..what...
[Talib Kweli]
My style high life like Fonz when I burn heads like a conk
Cuz niggaz front, when their chances get slim like Pharoahe Monch
Thinkin' they shits is heavy when they light like ilumination
Intellectual masturbation with premature ejaculation
I'm comin' cleaner than vaccinations
My fascination with character assassination,
Got these niggaz burnin' like sensation
We keep it hot like matches and on lock like latches
Wack emcees get they microphones snatched like Lee patches
So YOU GO! To every wack muthafucka that you know (Scram...)
My lyrics they get up in your genes/jeans like Parasucos
So there's no mystery about the father, niggaz is hot and bothered
Like the bitches that they are, takin' pictures with stars
And got 'em open, but after they little hopes and dreams get broken
Me and Hi-Tek, we live long and prosper like Vulcans
Think I'm jokin'? We both got sons, we make cream and break dreams
See through the fake schemes, wipin' your slate clean
Like a squeegee, we be lightin' shit up like phosphorus
Turnin' flamboyant niggaz anonymous, depressin' to optimus
You stoppin' us is preposterous, like an androgenous masohganist
You pickin' the wrong time, steppin' to me when I'm in my prime like Optimus
Transformin', from rookie of the year to veteran
Hip-hop is big business like Con Edison or medicine
But fuck it, they gonna let us in, or else we rush the door
I got to many reasons, save your 'whys' and 'what fors'
CHORUS:
[Kweli] This is twice inna lifetime so I'm lettin' you know (let 'em know,
yo!)
Blackstar, Wordsorth, Punchline and Jane Doe (yo!)
[Mos] Lyrical com-pete and WE emcee
We got the fortified five, exhibit level degree
[Punchline]
Check it...
I keep dough in my pocket while you follow the false prophet
Get deep like Islamics wrapped in a white garment
I touch topics that try to open up your optics
Vacate in the Tropics, you dodgin' bullets in the projects
Cut the nonsense, I'm hotter than alot a men
Start honorin', got more wifeys than Solomon
Fuck the squad you in, a-yo we be the biddomb
Regardless what I spit on, you worse with the tracks I shit on
Once you get on, it's fair you can't trust (Yes!)
Words & Punch, make rappers march like the third month
I build with friends, lyrically spit gems
Call me diamond, cuz I'm your girl's best friend
Emcees are born losers, alcoholic abusers
I'll go on the radio and start a gay rumor
And then I'll talk about how the crowd tried to boo ya
Label shoot ya, stressed out with brain tumors
My gat claps, 50% of the wack
Take it back to real rap, Krylons wit' the fat cap
Get robbed for your ASCAP, leave you inside
Fortified live, reppin' NY 'til I die!
[Mos Def]
Black body radiation situation that we workin' wit'
My verb exists enlisted by the bogeys campin' services
The purpose is, make you go and purchase this, no nervousness
We are, hot like black tar, Black Star with emergerence
Superlative, you fabricated like the word absurditive
I'm rockin this from here to where the purges live
To Brooklyn where the merchants live
Next door to the murderers
And bourbon is a elder man's medicinal alternative
My memory is furnished with, back streets to back seats to fat Jeeps
Legendary athletes who play by the trash heap
My crew wasn't that deep, but beef we didn't act sweet
Treadin' on these stompin grounds you better catch some black feet
Flashy, it was between DeKalb and Pulasky
Off the meter like an out of borough taxi
They run your pockets fastly, black and nasty, nappy and crafty
And SWAT are either sittin' in Clinton or Kaksaki
Man Rudolph can screw off! You too soft to stop us
You and your coppers should see some foot doctors
Got your burnt chest popped up, but keep your guns cocked up
Cuz all them cats that you knocked up and always gon' be locked up
Hide yaself like Donna Summer, another number one
And comin' from the underground, this is how it's comin' down
Baby let me run it down,
Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jane Doe, Punch, Wor..
umm..E!
Excuse me! Just ate another emcee!
Sometimes that's just how it be
Partner wash you down with green tea and some lime
We like the five on the fist, fortified organized like DIS!
(Let the sun shine)
Yeah yeah its a brand new day y'all (Let the sunshine in)
Turn me up in the top a little bit dog
Little do you know, y'all gonna hear this one (The suns shinin')
Loud and clear, bright and early
Listen..
I don't hate players, I don't love the game
I'm the shot clock, way above the game
To be point blank with you motherfuck the game
I got all this work on me, I ain't come for play
You can show the little shorties how you pump and fake
But dog, Not to def, I'm not impressed
I'm not amused, I'm not confused, I'm not to dude
I'm grown man business, and I am not in school
Put your hand down youngin' this is not for you
On my +J.O.+ with beats by Kan-ye yo
My name on the marquee, your name off the payroll
Style fresh, like I'm still a day old
And it's been like that since the day yo
On more time than a Roley, or Seiko
Step on deck, your neck do what I say so
Get up or get out, get down or lay low
(Let the sun shine)
Standing in the shadow of a fabulous man
Brooklyn nigga I am, Black Dante (Let the sunshine in)
That nigga, that dude
Black People, Lets Move (The suns shinin')
Shout out to my man Talib Kweli, yes
We on top-a top-a, shout-a shout-a
Check it out..
Slim nigga that casts a big shadow
Cherokee red to shoot the long arrow
Got more skill, more aim, and more ammo
You can get it all from a big or small barrel
Like, hail Mary, full of grace
Niggaz come in and shoot up the place
And make you pull up your face
The deck, I'm a pull out the ace
From the jungles of the empire state
where it ain't no escape, 247, 718
And thats like every night, every day
From the place that I settle and stay
To the states, I'm collecting my pay
Blast off then I'm back to the K
Hold it down so my family straight
Represent in a family way
Pro ball not for amateur play
Been raw since the amateur stage
Before the press had the cameras raised
(Let the sun shine)
Like a long time man of the way
You understanding me straight (Let the sunshine in)
Yes, yes, no doubt, excellence
Its what it is, what it is
And thats what it is, you see? (The suns shinin')
Ha, Fire..
'Cause it is deeper, sweeter, richer, crisper
Stronger reception and sharper picture
Revolve around God, and involve with niggaz
These elements I perform my scripture
And make Mos Def a classic modern figure
Brooklyn it don't matter if you holler or whisper
Your coming through clan, 'cause I'm right here wit'cha
Ain't gotta edit the slang, I got it, I'll get ya
Yo, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers
The lovers, the leavers, the doubters, believers
The stayers, the quitters, the bitches, the niggaz
Rebel guerrillas the ghetto civilians
Y'all 'gon feel it from the first to the millionth
It's extra, ordinary and plain
I walk a thousand paces of light ahead of the game
By the time you get where I'm standing, I'll be gone
Y'all make moves, but y'all just move on
(Let the sun shine)
I move in, and y'all must move on
'Cause I move to strong
And I know what my feet move for (Let the sunshine in)
Made it go without a brand new car
Made it fresh without a brand new song
And give a fuck about what brand you are (The suns shining')
I'm concerned what type of man you are
What your principles and standards are
You understand me y'all
Be good to your family y'all
No matter where your families are
'Cause everybody needs family y'all
Raise a hand, you understand me y'all
Everybody needs family y'all
Be good to your families dog
Understand, no matter where your families are
Everybody needs family dog
Raise a hand, you understand me pa
Thats what it is...thats my man
Family and my family Pencil Pete
My man too, all our loved ones behind the walls
All of those who still in the struggle
Masada Malia, Son Dial la, Magic Mel
(Let the sun shine)
Life is real
To all the real soldiers, black people (Let the sunshine in)
We family y'all (The suns shining')
Yo Dee, what? Come on
What? What? Come on
"Give me the fortune, keep the fame", said my man Louis
I agreed, know what he mean because we live the truest lie
I asked him why we follow the law of the bluest eye
He looked at me, he thought about it was like, "I'm clueless, why?"
The question was rhetorical, the answer is horrible
Our morals are out of place and got our lives full of sorrow
And so tomorrow comin' later than usual
Waitin' on someone to pity us
While we findin' beauty in the hideous
They say money's the root of all evil but I can't tell
You know what I mean? Pesos, Francs, Yens
Cowrie Shells, Dollar bills or is it the mind state that's ill?
Creating crime rates to fill the new prisons they build
Over money and religion there's more blood to spill
The wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal
What's the deal?
A lot of cats who buy records are straight broke
But my language universal they be recitin' my quotes
While R&B; singers hit bad notes, we rock the boat of thought
That my man Louis statements just provoked
Caught up in conversations of our personal worth brought up
Through endangered species status on the planet Earth
Survival tactics means bustin' gats to prove you hard
Your firearms are too short to box with God without faith
All of that is illusionary, raise my son
No vindication of manhood necessary
Not strong, only aggressive, not free, we only licensed
Not compassionate, only polite, now who the nicest?
Not good but well behaved, chasin' after death
So we can call ourselves brave, still livin' like mental slaves
Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
Yo, I'm sure that everybody out listenin' agree
That everything you see ain't really how it be
A lot of jokers out runnin' in place, chasin' the style
Be a lot goin' on beneath the empty smile
Most cats in my area be lovin' the hysteria
Synthesized surface conceals the interior
America, land of opportunity, mirages and camouflages
More than usually, speakin' loudly, sayin' nothin'
You confusin' me, you losin' me
Your game is twisted, want me enlisted in your usary
Foolishly, most men join the ranks cluelessly
Buffoonishly accept the deception, believe the perception
Reflection rarely seen across the surface of the lookin' glass
Walkin' the street, wonderin' who they be lookin' past
Lookin' gassed with them imported designer shades on
Stars shine bright but the light rarely stays on
Same song, just remixed, different arrangement
Put you on a yacht but they won't call it a slaveship
Strangeness, you don't control this, you barely hold this
Screamin' brand new, when they just sanitized the old shit
Suppose it's just another clever Jedi Mind Trick
That they been runnin' across stars through all the time with
I find it's distressin', there's never no in between
We either niggaz or kings, we either bitches or queens
The deadly ritual seems immersed in the perverse
Full of short attention spans, short tempers and short skirts
Long barrel automatics released in short bursts
The length of black life is treated with short worth
Get yours first, them other niggaz secondary
That type of illin' that be fillin' up the cemetery
This life is temporary but the soul is eternal
Separate the real from the lie, let me learn you
Not strong, only aggressive, 'cause the power ain't directed
That's why, we are subjected to the will of the oppressive
Not free, we only licensed, not live, we just excitin'
'Cause the captors own the masters to what we writin'
Not compassionate, only polite, we well trained
Our sincerity's rehearsed in stage, it's just a game
Not good, but well behaved 'cause the camera survey
Most of the things that we think, do or say
We chasin' after death just to call ourselves brave
But everyday, next man meet with the grave
I give a damn if any fan recall my legacy
I'm tryin' to live life in the sight of God's memory like that y'all
A lot of people don't understand the true criteria of things
Can't just accept the appearance
Have to get the true essence
They ain't lookin' around
Not strong, only aggressive, not free, we only licensed
Not compassionate, only polite, now who the nicest?
Not good but well behaved, chasin' after death
So we can call ourselves brave, they'rel livin' like mental slaves
Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
Stop hidin', stop hidin', stop hidin' yo' face
Stop hidin', stop hidin' 'cause ain't no hidin' place
Stop hidin', stop hidin' stop hidin' yo' face
Stop hidin', stop hidin' 'cause ain't no hidin' place
Said, there ain't no hidin' place
Said, there ain't no hidin' place
Said, there ain't no hidin' place
Said, there ain't no hidin' place
Said, there ain't no hidin' place
But stop hidin' yo' face, you can stop hidin' yo' face
Stop hidin', stop hidin', stop hidin' yo' face
We take the Black Star line, ride on home
We take the Black Star line, ride on home
We take that Black Star line, ride on home
We take that Black Star line, ride on home
Bismillah ir Rhman ir Raheem
{In The Name Of God, The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate}
What it is, what it is, what it is
What it is
What it is, what it is, what it is
What it is
See me, want me, give me, trust me
Feed me, fuck me, love me, touch me
This whole world is cold and ugly
What we are is low and lovely
I am the most beautiful boogie man
The most beautiful boogie man
Let me be your favorite nightmare
Close your eyes and ill be right there
While...Open...All...Over...A-gain
See me, touch me, give me, want me
Feed me, fuck me, trust me, love me
This whole world is cold and ugly
What we are is low and lovely
I am the most beautiful boogie man
The most beautiful boogie man
Let me be your favorite nightmare
Close your eyes and ill be right there
While...Open...All...Over...A-gain...Ag-ain
Relax, pump the brakes
You're speeding money
You'll smash your whole shit up (slow down)
Lights be changing fast on these streets money, slow down
(slow down) Sleeping on the wrong cats
Clear like a megaphone
Pretty nigga heart skipped the metronome
Rocked the Trump Tower to the terrordome
Poor house to pleasure domes
Soprano, alto, tenor to baritone
MOS DEF one of the illest that you ever known
Rock steady baby, you a stepping stone
Smash your foundation into pebbles
My words leave your nerves unsettled
You take it to the next level down
Looking like a circus clown
Cats like you can't even get a pound
Worldwide from the river to lakeside
My stage show stay live, make the sound man stage dive
I cut fat cats to eight lives with my eight ball lines
I'm home 'fore I'm done with all nine
Got you shook like a fault line
Come all shine and get tarnished
Brooklyn got your pay roll garnished
They form a huddle
Whisper like they want trouble
I melt the ice grills into rainwater puddles
Make the proud-hearted leave on the humble
Black steel in the hour
Assemble my skill form my power
My poems crush bones into powder
You mumble like a coward
I'm Mos Def, you need to speak louder
SUPER HEREOS!
Get your power, your masks and capes snatched
Brooklyn take what you can't take back
I know a lot of cats hate that
All I can say black
There's a city full of walls you can post complaints at
All the doubters and believers adjust your receivers
"I feel it," you can taste it through the speakers
The three six oh-riginal sketch lyrics so visual
They rent my rhyme books at your nearest home video
Tell them cats they need to sit back and observe where they at
Brook-nahm Vietnam
The heat is on
Put your joint on cruise
Try to rush you scuff your brake shoes, just cool and relax
Take a breath, take ten paces back
Stay on time Omegas
Brooklyn patrol like interstaters
Take their license and their registration papers
My joint's so passionate
Make you peal out and mash your shit
Get wild cold crash your whip
Front chassis wrecked, but ock you can't be too upset
Tow truck got my tape in the deck
I'm permanent like tattoos and birth marks
Third degree burn marks
Driving on tracks like Dale Earnheart
Stay on the low like the earth spot
Put a big loss on your earn chart
Nice since the nurse signed my birth chart
Seldom seen but often heard, while your jams is barely heard
Just my name is a daily word
From avenues to streets, terraces and park places
Stair wells, jail cells, penthouse to basements
Arrangement basic, but still fans chase it
Y2K can't delete the true ancient
Apache war drum on the ranges
Skill level dangerous
Arrow head that killed all the cavemen
They cry John-Blazing, but step on the pavement
And get violated like a plaintiff
I ain't shit to play with
I give a Goddamn what your name is
Delete it and make it so it never get repeated
Believe it
Tell the feds, tell your girl, tell your mother
Conference call you wack crew and tell each other
That they just ain't holding me
I'm Mos Def, your hopefully
Mush off or you get bust off like a ovary
Tell them cats they need to ease back and observe where they at
Brook-nahm Vietnam
The heat is on
Put your joint on cruise
In a rush you scuff your brake shoes, just cool and relax
Take a breath, take ten paces back
Brook-nahm Vietnam
The heat is on, no off-ramp or detour
Make these gassed up jokers observe the speed law
Make these gassed up clowns observe the speed law
Make these gassed up clowns observe the speed law
Cause they speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin,
speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin,
speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin, speedin
Relax
Slow down, you better chill money
Lights be changing fast on these streets dude
Smash your whole shit up
You better cool out money
It ain't like that out here
Look at these cats man, it's funny man
He probably just got that car
About to fuck your whole shit up
Speed laws out here money
Knight riding cats
In control like interstaters, state-ahs, state-ahs,
state-ahs, state-ahs, state-ahs, state-ahs, state-ahs,
state-ahs, state-ahs, state-ahs, state-ahs, state-ahs,
Say ho, everybody say ho
By the way yo
I said shake your soul like way back in the day-yo
By the way yo, everybody say ho
Everybody say hooooo- hooo
Everybody say ho
And check it out now
Who is the cat eatin out on the town
And make the whole dining room turn they head round
Mr Nigga, Nigga Nigga
He got the speakers in the trunk with the bass on crunk
Who be ridin up in the highrise elevator
Other tenants who be prayin they ain't the new neighbor
Mr Nigga, Nigga Nigga
They try to play him like a chump cause he got what they want
He under thirty years old but already he's a pro
Designer trousers slung low ccause his pockets stay swoll'
Could afford to get up and be anywhere he go
V.I.P. at the club, backstage at the show
(Yes y'all) the best crib, the best clothes
Hottest whips on the road neck and wrists on froze (say word)
Checks with O's o-o-o-o-ohs
Straight all across the globe watch got three time-zones
Keep the digital phone up to his dome
Two assistants, two bank accounts, two homes
One problem; even with the O's on his check
The po-po stop him and show no respect
"Is there a problem officer?" Damn straight, it's called race
That motivate the jake (woo-woo) to give chase
Say they want you successful, but that ain't the case
You livin large, your skin is dark they flash a light in your face
Now, who is cat dining out on the town
Maitre'd wanna take a whole year to sit him down
Mr Nigga, Nigga Nigga
He got the speakers in the trunk with the bass on crunk
Now, who is the cat at Armani buyin wears
With the tourists who be askin him, do you work here?
Mr Nigga, Nigga Nigga
Nigga Nigga
Yo, the Abstract with the Mighty Mos Def
White folks got it muffled across beneath they breathe
"I didn't say it.."
But they'll say it out loud again
When they get with they close associates and friends
You know, sneak it in with they friends at the job
Happy hour at the bar while this song is in they car
And even if they've never said it, lips stay sealed
They actions reveal how their hearts really feel
Like, late night I'm on a first class flight
The only brother in sight the flight attendent catch fright
I sit down in my seat, 2C
She approach officially talkin about, "Excuse me"
Her lips curl up into a tight space
Cause she don't believe that I'm in the right place
Showed her my boarding pass, and then she sort of gasped
All embarrassed put an extra lime on my water glass
An hour later here she comes by walkin past
"I hate to be a pest but my son would love your autograph"
(Wowwww.. Mr. Nigga I love you, I have all your albums!..)
They stay on nigga patrol on american roads
And when you travel abroad they got world nigga law
Some folks get on a plane go as they please
But I go over seas and I get over-SEIZED
London Heathrow, me and my people
They think that illegal's a synonym for negro
Far away places, customs agents flagrant
They think the dark face is smuggle weight in they cases
Bags inspected, now we arrested
Attention directed to contents of our intestines
Urinalyis followed by X-rays
Interrogated and detained til damn near the next day
No evidence, no appology and no regard
Even for the big american rap star
For us especially, us most especially
A Mr Nigga VIP jail cell just for me
"If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake
Just got some shoe-polish, painted my face"
They say they want you successful, but then they make it stressful
You start keepin pace, they start changin up the tempo
Now, who is cat riding out on the town
State trooper wanna stop him in his ride, pat him down
Mr Nigga, Nigga Nigga
He got the speakers in the trunk with the bass on crunk
Now, who is the cat with the hundred dollar bill
They gotta send it to the back to make sure the shit is real
Mr Nigga, Nigga Nigga
Nigga Nigga.. Nigga
You can laugh and criticize Michael Jackson if you wanna
Woody Allen, molested and married his step-daughter
Same press kickin dirt on Michael's name
Show Woody and Soon-Yi at the playoff game, holdin hands
Sit back and just bug, think about that
Would he get that type of dap if his name was Woody Black?
O.J. found innocent by a jury of his peers
And they been fuckin with that nigga for last five years
Is it fair, is it equal, is it just, is it right?
Do you do the same shit when the defendent face is white?
If white boys doin it, well, it's success
When I start doin, well, it's suspect
Don't hate me, my folks is poor, I just got money
America's five centuries deep in cotton money
You see a lot of brothers caked up, yo straight up
It's new, y'all livin off of slave traders paper
But I'm a live though, yo I'm a live though
I'm puttin up the big swing for my kids yo
Got my mom the fat water-front crib yo
I'm a get her them pretty bay windows
I'm a cop a nice home to provide in
A safe environment for seeds to reside in
A fresh whip for my whole family to ride in
The murder of a teenage life
Fire from the cold steel
The heat from the brights
The temperature of flesh and the shortness of breath
The murder of a teenage threat
The aroma of sesamilia Dollar Superstar
Skama like a new cocaine tobacco leaf
Ecstatic tabernists fire water and freaks
The murder of a teenage chief
My easy speaking is as easy as it seems to be
Hungry belly jamma busts off easily
Balloon bang. POP!
Hot as a bang spot in Bangkok
Colder than a pimp glock
Aim shot, the frame drops
Pressure pushed him to the earth like a rain drop
Take not life in vein
And how the preacher was saying
Remember!
Anyways they laid him in a stray box
Dark suit and gray socks
The neighborhood is all distraught
Candles lit the stoop at the park
Where the family and students are
Confused, in awe
They gape into each others arms
IT’S MURDER!
New absence from a mothers arm
Even the warmth from the mother’s arms
Couldn’t keep her son from harm
From standing where the gun was drawn
Over come, done and done. He’s gone…
MURDER!
Shells fell like a bell that rung
Blood bursts, body temperature fell and plunged
And by the time it took the medics to come
The breath eased out of his lungs
And his soul eased out of the slums
And the voice eased out of the drums
The sirens through their ears, they sung
MURDER!
Telephone wire, sneakers hung
MURDER!
For the Black and young
MURDER!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Aves they from
I am from the block the PRESIDENT DID NOT CAMPAIGN ON
Where the dollar that the working poor slave for is made on
Where hustlers stretch the yay long
And hustle hard for an outpost to trade on
Flip it over and make more
Where the blocks are yellow taped off
Where the young blood is trained on Obese to the Fakesoft
Where the pressure just stays on
But the lights and the heat don’t
The place where you witness the true power of street folk
And that’s where I’m coming from people
High post, low key
Eighth, o-z, and kilo
Law man, dope man
Adversary, amigo
Preacher man, pimp hand
Both folding their C-notes
A Black Fist clutching deliverance for the People
Young hand reach out, strong hand reach in
Yes yes yes yes
(Whoo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-WHOO!)
Light up the sky like the 4th of July
Everything in this life son, they've got two sides
It's part one (part one) part two (part two)
Get together with my crew, and we gon' do
whatever we've got to do, uh-huh-UH!
Feast for Hi-Teknological, neurological
It's unstoppable, check it out..
I'm fantastic, FURIOUS like the Five from B'lawn
Brooklyn phenom'
Diss all peons, flow for eons
Mos Def is beyond, in fact most cats can agree on
Cause we on the same frequency, if not
change your dial and get on it, I flip on this here beat
then the re-bonics keep heat like, Hamid's weed speech
Hit the deep street sonnets, who want it?
Hoppin dancin so sonic, you need tonics
Don't get yours from your schoolboy comets, all blazin
on your man chronic, I twist the hard caps back
to blue bonnets, I repeat -- WHO WANT IT?
Daytime on the list of time on the tradition, of combustion
Ignition, propulsion, put MC's on expulsion
The principle, YOUR academics inadmissiable
You're indefensible, my style is so comprehensible
Cats take it to heart like a ventricle
You temporary like a weather pattern
Forgot I'm like you never happened
Don't never say whatever happened to Mos?
My light shine boast from the East to the Left Coast..
North and South both, cause it sound DOPE
Boy your boy sound CHOKED with the next man's style
between your teeth tongue and throat like *SOUND EFFECT*
Got to wash your mouth out with soap
My penstroke, is leavin other men broke
What I invoke is never asleep, ever woke
It controls the soul of your foes and kinfolk
Maintainin my scope from beginnin to end quote
Like ba-biti-dabi-dida-da-dah-dah
Pretty High Noon riders get clipped and shot down
Reach behind, Teknological, neurological
Unstoppable, title wave in this shit, we powerful
Now raise your hands in the air now everybody get with it
The Universal, Magnetically
B-Boy Scientific, you don't stop
It go ON to the rhythm you don't, bust it!
So raise your hands in the air now everybody get with it
The Universal, Magnetically
You see I'm comin to the party in the b-boy stance
I rock on the mic.. on the mic, yo
Son it's in my chromosomes to rock this, I got this
Watch this! Assemble mo' raps, tap your pockets
Knock this, stimulate nerve ends and shock wrists
Smart art breakin apart hearts in darkness
Down for the longest, son peep the songlist
Radiate enormous, pure peak performance
Vocal chords the strongest, acapella or cordless
Hit town, draw crowds like space shuttle launches
WHOO! How Def flow -- we gone and
Brooklyn New York make the world moonwalk like John Glenn
Son I'm sendin it out, for the short to long haul
Earth sky, left right inbetween it and all y'all
Now raise your hands in the air now everybody get with it
The Universal, Magnetically
B-Boy Scientific, you don't stop
It go ON to the rhythm you don't, bust it!
So raise your hands in the air everybody get with it
The Universal, Magnetically
B-Boy Scientific, you don't stop
You see I'm comin to the party in the b-boy stance
I rock on the mic make your girl wanna dance
Fly like a dove, that come from above
There's nothing more refreshing (that cool refreshing drink)
Than a cool, crisp, clean glass of water
On a warm summer's day (That cool refreshing drink)
Try it with your friends
New World Water make the tide rise high
Come in and it'll make your house go 'Bye' (My house!)
Fools done upset the Old Man River
Made him carry slave ships and fed him dead nigga
Now his belly full and he about to flood somethin
So I'ma throw a rope that ain't tied to nothin
Til your crew use the H2 in wise amounts since
It's the New World Waterand every drop counts
You can laugh and take it as a joke if you wanna
But it don't rain for four weeks some summers
And it's about to get real wild in the half
You be buying Evian just to take a fuckin bath
Heads is acting wild, sippin poor, puffin dank
Competin with the next man, but how your playa rank?
See I ain't got time try to be Big Hank
Fuck a bankI need a twenty-year water tank
Cause while these knuckleheads is out here sweatin they goods
The sun is sitting in the treetops burnin the woods
And as the flames from the blaze get higher and higher
They say, 'Don't drink the water! We need it for the fire!'
New York is drinkin it (New World Water)
Now all of California is drinkin it (New World Water)
Way up north and down south is drinkin it (New World Water)
Used to have minerals and zinc in it (New World Water)
Now they say it got lead and stink in it (New World Water)
Four carbons and monoxide
Push the water table lopside
Used to be free now it cost you a fee
Cause all things fully loaded they roam cross the sea
Man, you gotta cook with it, bathe and clean with it (That's right)
When it's hot, summertime you fiend for it (Let em know)
You gotta put it in the iron you steamin with (That's right)
It's what they dress wounds and treat diseases with (Shout it out0
The rich and poor, black and white got need for it (That's right)
And everybody in the world can agree with this (Let em know)
Assumption promotes health and easiness (That's right)
Go too long without it on this earth and you leavin it (Shout it out)
Americans wastin it on some leisure shit (Say word?)
And other nations be desperately seekin it (Let em know)
Bacteria washing up on they beaches (Say word?)
Don't drink the water, son they can't wash they feet with it (Let em know)
Young babies and professional neediness (Say word?)
Epidemics hopppin up off the petri dish (Let em know)
Control centers try to play it all secretive (Say word?)
To avoid public panic and freakiness (Let em know)
There are places where TB is common as TV
Cause foreign-based companies go and get greedy
The type of cats who pollute the whole shore line
Have it purified, sell it for a dollar twenty-five
Now the world is drinkin it
Your moms, wife, and baby girl is drinkin it
Up north and down south is drinkin it
You just have to go to your sink for it
The cash registers is goin to chink for it
Four carbons and monoxide
Got the fish lookin cockeyed
Used to be free now it cost you a fee
Cause it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money)
Johny cash (Money)
Roseland cash (Money)
Give me cash (Money)
Cold cash (Money)
Cash rules everything around me
This desire...
I come home high and she start to cry
I can't take it..
A brand new excuse does me no use
That won't make it..
She at home with the kids, this is no way to live
What can I say?
I know it's surreal but I'm a hard headed still
Do things my way..
And it's so strong, soo strong
It's like I'm dying..
Trying to hold on, my body says oh no oh out there..
Flying, the price that I pay for the game that I play
Ain't no game at all..
I'm up in the clouds and I'm spiraling down
Nothing breaks the fall..
And it's so strong, so strong
It's like I'm dying..
Try to hold on, my body says oh no oh out there
Flying..
Sounds of the sufferers pray
I come home high and she start to cry
I can't take it..
A brand new excuse does me no use
That won't make it..
She at home with the kids, this is no way to live
What can I say?
I know it's surreal but I'm a hard headed still
Black Dante and it's so strong..
So strong..
So strong..
So strong...
I'm out there flying..
Flying..
Flying..
Flying...
This game is fantastic..desire...
Killers..this life this life
Lovers..this life this life
Hustlers..this life this life
Thieves..this life this life
Gamblers..this life this life
Niggaz..Crackers..Children..Mothers..Fathers..Lovers..Neighbors..Hungry..
Full..the beautiful..the stars..the distance..the close..the stars..
The heavens..this life
The floor..this life this life
The high..this life
The beneath..this life this life
All..all..everywhere..everywhere..anywhere..somewhere..home...
Come on, this how it goes on..
Ghetto people in the world today, get up!
Ha! Look alive, breathe..wooh!
Ha! How it goes...
Mother, mother...
Head in her hands
Her first born son dead in her hands
The whole thing was a setup, a scam
They knew it was set up and planned
Niggaz he worked with wet him and ran, and thas..
Brother, Brother...
But son, I don't see no brother hood
All I see is thugger hood
Get rich and fuck the hood
All they want is some good smoke from the hood
Lookin for the shorty good stroke from the hood
That's how they touch the hood
But when I touch the hood, I'll make it brighter, black
Because I'm brighter, black
And I'm so black I'm bright, shine through the blackest night
Shine when I'm live, shine via satellite
Shout in the hood, we get the picture
Cuz everytime you out in the hood, you got photographers witcha
What's going on? Ha!
Understand this is real life..
This how it goes on, this how it goes on...
It keep going on, this how it goes on...
Ghetto people look alive, get free
Get involved, remain to breathe...Ha! Wooh!
If Marvin was alive now, wow..
What would I say to him?
Where could I start?
How could I explain to him??
I know the minor world would probably look strange to him
Would he feel like today had a place for him?
Global imprisonment, sickness, indifference
When he said, "Save the babies," was we listenin?
When he said, "Mercy, mercy," did he really know..
That decades later we'd still be killin folks?
Or did he hope that we would realize..
That we the first, the son of earth..
The moon and stars, the great beyond..
We black and proud, we brave and strong..
We raise it up, we quiet storm, forever fresh..
And keepin on..?
Ha! Ghetto people look alive and free, ya get real..
This how it goes on, and you say you say
This how it goes on, and you say you say
This how it goes on..
Ghetto people look alive and free and breathe! Ha!
Hold the beat! Stop the beat! Drop the beat!
Hold the beat! Stop the beat! Drop the beat!
Hold the beat! Stop the beat! Drop the beat!
Hold the beat! Stop the beat! Got the beat!
There ain't nothin to be afraid of..
Ghetto people look alive and free, ya get real...
This how it goes on
This how it goes on, keep goin on..
This how it goes on
Now breathe!
Every day somebody ask me where all the real MC's is at?
They underground
There's mad talented cats underground with that raw shit
Yaknowwhat'msayin'? Bringin' them raw skills
YaknowwhatI'm sayin'?
Really to me, it's a Small Wonder like Vicki, why I'm picky
These niggas suck like hickies
And still get the shit they slip in like Mickies
I'm sick of the hater-players, bring on the regulators
With the flavors like a farm team fucking with the majors
Like a river how I run through it, I do it so cold
Freezin' up your bodily fluids, your style is old
You runnin' your mouth but don't really know what you be talkin' about
You should retire, get that complimentary watch, be out
Yo, with the quickness, so swift, you miss this lyrical fitness
Now, get this, these MC's wanna test me like litmus, bear witness
I'm like shot clocks, interstate cops and blood clots
My point is, your flow can stop
By all means, you need more practice, take that ass home
Everybody lookin' at you, fish tank syndrome
In full effect, I stay catchin' lyrical rep
And keep it blacker than the back of your neck
What you expect, that shit's hollerin'
'Cause we developin' the followin'
Gettin' played like stone love tapes and dollar vans
Order reverse your universe so your demise is first
Before your rise it gets worse, you need a night nurse like Gregory
Beggin me, 'stop, it hurts' is what you say to me
Like that's supposed to mean somethin'?
You the one I seen frontin' in the club
Your act I don't buy it, I got the dub
Come on everybody, come on, just show your love
Come on everybody, come on, just show your love
Come on everybody, come on, just show your love
Come on everybody, come on, just show your love
Come on everybody, come on, just show your love
Visions occupy my synaptic space
Command and shake to illustrate my mind's landscape
The tall grass, the low plains, the mountainous ridges
Thickets among the forests, rivers beneath the bridges
Presence of hilltops lit up with tree tops
Eavesdrop and hear the incline of sunshine, nine
Stones in orbit, refuse to forfeit
They all form a cipher and they came to observe it
I follow suit and face it, embrace it
Shinin' bright but still I'm careful not to waste it
Destined to rise because I'm basement adjacent
Spirit is still, so just chill and be patient
Some heads approach like I'm the one to base with
Clowns about to scream and shout but don't say, "Shh"
I ain't your student so I ain't to be tested
I'm majestic, I represent my strength without effort
My method is unorthodox but of course, it rocks
My serious synopsis will drop kick, my topics
Run the gauntlets and galvanize the audience
I must represent, I don't come off with no corniness
It's all luminary, despite commentary
Some people say, Mos how you get so?
My sign will make you jump around like Calypso
And murmur to yourself like a Schizo
There ain't no bottom on the [Incomprehensible]
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Here we go, Blackstar, hop on the Blackstar line
We 'bout to take y'all home
YaknowwhatImean? Here we go
We got all markets on lock, from meat to stock
Blackstar, what? Throwin' like head rock in bars
Men flock to where we are 'cause it's the place to be
I grab my paint, jump on stage and deface MC's
We sell our souls like Spawn and come for the drone I sit upon
Freestyle or written songs so we can get it on
Going back and forth, fallin' back, all across the track
Passin' the mics like quarterbacks, of course, it's phat
Reverse psychology got 'em scared to say when shit is whack
Out of fear of being called a hater, imagine that
We ain't havin' that reachin' past the star status that you grabbin' at
My battle raps, blast your ass back to your natural habitat
So floss 'cause what it costs ain't worth it to me
'Cause I'm the one these Spice Girl emcees wannabe
But they can't, ain't no points forever, so why bother?
'Cause your girl calls my name out like Clarence Carter
Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter
Aiyyo, as we rock harder
And always drop the bonafied head nodders
Aiyyo, later for the hater-players
Yo yo, yo yo, later for these hater-players
Blackstar keeps shinin'
Blackstar keeps shinin'
Blackstar keeps shinin'
Some cats really like to, you know...
Profile and front.
And then the jooks go down, all at once they like...
Don't get me
Don't get me
Don't g-g-g-g-g-get me
You're out on the block hustling at the spot...
GOT, this is how you get Got...
At the gamblin' spot and your hand is mad hot...
GOT, this is how you get Got...
Out in Brooklyn late night flashing all of your rocks...
GOT, this is how you get Got...
Some girl from pink house said "I like you a lot"...
GOT, this is how you get Got...
This one goes to all them Big Will cats
With ice on they limbs and big rims on they Ac
You goin' around town with your system bump
And your windows cracked low to profile and front
Now I like to have nice things just like you
But I'm from Brooklyn, certain shit you just don't do
Like, high postin' when you far from home
Or like, high postin' when you all alone
Now, this would seem to be clear common sense
But, cats be livin' off, sheer confidence
Like "Fuck that, picture them tellin' me run that"
But acting invincible, just ain't sensible
It's nineteen ninety-now, and there's certain individuals
Swear they rollin' hard and get robbed on principle
5 star general, flashin' on your revenue
You takin' a ride on the Downstate medical, Like (whooooooo)
Colorful sparks, yellow and blue
A full on attack and it's happening to you
Wit' nothing you can do but bust back and cop a plea
But five of them and one of you, that equals Got to me...
Don't get me
Don't get me
Don't g-g-g-g-g-get me
Come on ya'll now, let's be real
Some jokers got a rough time keepin' it concealed
I wonder what it mean, it's probably self-esteem
They fiendin to be seen, get hemmed like Gaberdeens
Cats think it can't happen until the gats start clappin
They comin' down the wire spittin fire like a dragon
Cause while the goods glisten, certain eyes take position
To observe your trick, and then catch that ass slippin'
Like, come on now ock, what you expect?
Got a month's paycheck danglin' off your neck
And while you Cristal sippin', they rubbin' up they mittens
With heat in mint condition to start the getti-gettin'
They clique starts creepin' like Sandinistin guerrillas
You screamin' playa haters, these niggas is playa killers
Mr. Fash-ion, that style never last long
The harder you flash, the harder you get flashed on
There's hunger in the street that is hard to defeat
Many steal for sport, but more steal to eat
Cat's heavy at the weigh-in, and he's playin' for keeps
Don't sleep, they'll roll up in your passengers seat
There is universal law, whether rich or poor
Some say life's a game, to more, life is war
So put them egos to the side and get off them head-trips
'Fore some cats pull out them heaters and make you head-less...
Don't get me
Don't get me
[Mos Def]
Yo yo, yo, whassup, yo yo
Yo yo, we gonna, we gonna slow it down
so we can speed it up y'all
Right now I want everybody come to the front
That's right, move forward
I want all the poppers and the breakers, to form this circle
I want all the poppers and the breakers
The writers and the exciters, to get in this circle
and make it real live yo
Cause I'm seein too many stars up in here tonight yo
I'm seein the Rock Steady Crew
I'm seein Ken Swift, I'm seein Mr. Wiggles
I'm seein Modesho, I'm seein Crazy Legs
Man I'm seein the Zulu Nation up in here
I'm seein the Rawkus family, Shabaam Shadeeq, Company Flow
Menelik, I'm seein G-ology, Shawn J. Period
Man this the Black Star movement
Mos Def, Talib Kweli we gon' keep it live
for the b boys and b girls universally
Rock Steady Japan, Rock Steady Europe
Rock Steady New York, yo we just gonna keep it live
all over the world -- get live
[Talib Kweli]
Party people, in the place to be
My name is Talib Kweli
Yo, I got my man on the side of me
Mos Def-initely, and we, are
(Fresh) Black Star
(Fresh) G Young
(Fresh) Hi-Tek
(Fresh) Native Tongue
(Fresh) Shawn J.
(Fresh) Eighty-eight
(Fresh) Ninety-eight
we bout to motivate, come on y'all
[M]
[T]
Here's a little story that must be told
About two young brothers who was put on hold
They tried to stop the goal
We on a spiritual plane
Tried to kill the pride
And destroy the name
We just two bad brothers
Who will never quit
I'm Mos Def
Kweli (WE THE ULTIMATE)
Make sure that you tell
Everybody you know
To get on line
Take a ride
To the Black Star show!
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
[Talib Kweli]
So many emcees focusin on black people extermination
We keep it balanced with that knowledge of self, determination
It's hot, we be blowin the spots, with conversations
C'mon let's smooth it out like Soul Sensation
We in the house like Japanese in Japan, or Koreans in Korea
Head to Philly and free Mumia with the Kujichagulia TRUE
Singin is swingin and writin is fightin, but what
they writin got us clashin like titans it's not excitin
No question, bein a black man is demandin
The fire's in my eyes and the flames need fannin (3X)
With that what? (Knowledge Of Self) Determination
*repeat 4X*
[singer]
Things I say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
[Talib Kweli]
Yes yes come on, yes yes
Knowledge Of Self is like life after death
With that you never worry about your last breath
Death comes, that's how I'm livin, it's the next days
The flesh goes underground, the book of life, flip the page
Yo they askin me how old, we livin the same age
I feel the rage of a million niggaz locked inside a cage
At exactly which point do you start to realize
That life without knowledge is, death in disguise?
That's why, Knowledge Of Self is like life after death
Apply it, to your life, let destiny manifest
Different day, same confusion, we're gonna take this
hip-hop shit and keep it movin, shed a little light
Now y'all bloomin like a flower with the power of the evident
Voices and drums original instruments
In the flesh presently presentin my representation
With that what? (Knowledge Of Self) Determination
*repeat 6X*
- - - - these two parts overlap - - - -
Things I say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
*repeat 2X*
[Talib Kweli]
The most important time in history is, NOW, the present
So count your blessings cause time can't define the essence
But you stressin over time and you follow the Roman calendar
These people enter Cona like Gattaca, you can bet
they tryin to lock you down like Attica, the African diaspora
represents strength in numbers, a giant can't slumber forever
I know you gotta get that cheddar whatever
Aiyyo I heard you twice the first time money, get it together
You must be History, you repeatin yourself out of the pages
You keepin yourself depleatin your spiritual wealth
That quick cash'll get your ass quick fast in houses of detention
Inner-city concentration camps where no one pays attention
or mentions the ascension of death, til nothing's left
The young, gifted and Black are sprung addicted to crack
All my people where y'all at cause, y'all ain't here
And your hero's using your mind as a canvas to paint fear
With, broad brush strokes and tales of incarceration
You get out of jail with that Knowledge of Self determination
Stand in ovation, cause you put the Hue in Human
Cause and effect, effect everything you do
and that's why I got love in the face of hate
Hands steady so the lines in the mental illustration is straight
The thought you had don't even contemplate
Infinite like figure eight there's no escape..
From that what? (Knowledge Of Self) Determination
*repeat 4X*
Things I say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
*repeat 2X*
..
Things I say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
*repeat 2X*
What I'm feelin, what I'm feelin, ooooh, what I'm feelin...
Hey yo man I think that dude's tryin to break into your car
...what?
New York life... type trife...
That's why I'm tryin to shine the light yo
Here it come here it come here it come y'all
Mos Def blessed with the breath of life so arise and give praises
Turn my face to where the mighty sun raises
My book of rhyme pages filled with phrases that amaze
I could go on for days
First name Dante, last name Beze
Build the house of tomorrow with bricks of today
My foundation rests on Allah corner stone
Shine the light throught the mic to radiate your zone
See, the world that we know is about to get finished
I'm watching last days wind down to final minutes
Got dreams of paradise and my whole fam in it
So I ain't got time to play no crime lieutenant
Do you got time to play the crime lieutenant?
See time is the asset, how you gonna spend it
The way you handle yours will be well documented
It's the raw authentic, sandalwood scented
To make you bump the joint and in beyond city limits
Twenty-first, no time to, approach a thing timid
My name is Mos Def and this is how I get in it
Chorus:
Hey yo, my man (huh?)....
Somethin tight comin through the pipe (what?)
You heard the first time, the rhyme is designed
to incline throughout space and time (yeah)
You don't believe, lend a ear, yo my man (huh?)
Somethin tight comin on your right (what?)
You heard the first time, the rhyme is designed
To incline, I hold the fold to shine (yeah)
If you can huh, you can hear it...
If you can huh, you can hear it, we in your atmos'
Shine like black gold, burn like black coal
Make a old timer roll up her sleeves, now that's cold
Behold, the one and only has blessed my testimony
Approach the ceremony authentic, never phony
For delf, but never lonely, keep the kinfolk close
Watch me rip it on Pacific and Atlantic coasts
with the antidote, for the poisonous snake lies wit
Only wimps put the hiss on tape
You can't get on straight, this is dead on tape
Accompanied by Shawn J. with the bid on bait
Put the grid on plate, on the ear or tray
Hot damn it captain Kirk and the Klingons say
You can't sit on stage, you got to get on the M-O-
T-I-V-A-T-E real life, ain't no freebie
My seed can't be needy, no time for freaky-deaky
I'm movin on up like George and Wheezy
Who said that this was easy, they must have been treetop high
Standin yieldin to our boldfaced lie, we all got to die
So all got to try, to live life right
in the sight of most high, to live life right
in the sight of most high, to live life right
in the sight of most high, to live life right in the sight
Chorus:
Hey yo, my man (huh?)....
Somethin tight comin through the pipe (what?)
You heard the first time, the rhyme is designed
to incline throughout space and time (yeah)
You don't believe, lend a ear, yo my man (huh?)
Somethin tight movin on your right (what?)
You heard the first time, the rhyme is designed
To incline, I hold the fold to shine (yeah)
If you can huh, you can hear it yo, my man (huh?)....
Somethin tight comin through the pipe (what?)
You heard the first time, the rhyme is designed
to incline the pure genuine (yeah)
You don't believe, lend a ear, yo my man (huh?)
Somethin tight movin on your right (what?)
You heard the first time, my rhyme is designed
To incline, I hold the fold to shine (yeah)
If you can huh, you can hear it...
If you can huh, you can hear it, we in your atmos'...
(feat. Minnesota)
[Minnesota]
Hear Me, See Me
Welcome to Soundview Projects
Bronx New York, 10473
Intersection action ribs touching
New gutter smacks replacing the whole Dutchman
Loose mamis fucking, they definite land mines
Dudes with no right hustle throwing gang signs
Empty in the webbings broke and underpaid
Fighting federal cases with legal aids
The unlit stage tonight performing lime desires to eat
Can get you in a 8 by 5, the corner's younger
I smell feel touch and taste they hunger
Next in line to rep these street signs to they blunder
Under, wiping tears from his eyes facing the felony
These niggaz wanna be Pistol Pete -without the penalty
His last words, promise me this much in death
Don't my boy live to retrace my steps
Minne- stay safe move quiet and get it
If you encounter opposition get a inch from they face with It
Later amigo, digest the day to end discreetly
Sex money and boss
My ties to hear me see me
True villain
Face covered, driving gloves
Commit by my lonely when push comes to shove
They say that grown men lay on they prey
Took shorts in the street
Came back and made up for that with that white sheet
Revenge is best served cold
Get it the same way you give it
This ain't fear I just need to get away with it
Son stop over here(?), you looking at me like I'm lame
But I'm looking at y'all like y'all call this the drug game
Grand child hosing sims
Put the heroin in queens
Put Pops Freeman on in the early seventies
I sat in rooms with money machines
Drugs sitting 3 feet off of the floor
Cover the smell of the raw
Chest moves like bars scale my connects untimely
King Henry from 12th street flooded the Bronx in the 90's
03 scene MVP and one Accord
Boss makes decision paper wins awards
[Mos Def]
See Me, Hear Me
Welcome to Brooklyn, New York City 11206
Roosevelt Projects, wild rose water the plant
Son you know what it is
From the moment that you come over the bridge
And if you don't ride with me
I'm gonna show you some shit
Ima show you where my niggaz stay sure on the mix
Ima show you where the pain and the poetry is
Ghetto young'ns spend a lot of time alone in the crib
BET on the screen, walls and posters of BIG
Hustlers getting dough sitting low on the 6
Blazing up the ambro glow over they wrist
Hop in the game knowing the risk
Still down to load up they clip
Gamblers with hopes of rolling the trip
But when you hear head crack there ain't no rolling again
Snatch the dice and everything you want is going it in
This how it happens, good people, bad habits, diabetics, crack addicts
Asthmatics
Searching for the truth leaping through the holy tablet
The bible, the Q uran, or the ten crack commandments
Speak on it God, What's today's mathematics
The five day forecast, the Dow Jones average
The price of beer, cigarettes, bread, milk and pampers
Life is a test and we all got the answer
The streets keep calling its hard not answer
And on my government-my attribute-my all
So it's only natural I holla black and respond
Brooklyn stand up and make 'em all sit down
(?) We do not fuck around
That's what it is (All Day)
That's what is Niggaz (Official, Official)
That's how it is Niggaz
BX, BK live all day
Get with it
Grown Man Business
You say one for the trebble, two for the time
Come on y'all let's rock this!
You say one for the trebble, two for the time
Come on!
Speech is my hammer, bang the world into shape
Now let it fall... (Hungh!!)
My restlessness is my nemesis
It's hard to really chill and sit still
Committed to page, I write rhymes
Sometimes won't finish for days
Scrutinize my literature, from the large to the miniature
I mathematically add-minister
Subtract the wack
Selector, wheel it back, I'm feeling that
(Ha ha ha) From the core to the perimeter black,
You know the motto
Stay fluid even in staccato
(Mos Def) Full blooded, full throttle
Breathe deep inside the trunk hollow
There's the hum, young man where you from
Brooklyn number one
Native son, speaking in the native tongue
I got my eyes on tomorrow (there it is)
While you still try to follow where it is
I'm on the Ave where it lives and dies
Violently, silently
Shine so vibrantly that eyes squint to catch a glimpse
Embrace the bass with my dark ink fingertips
Used to speak the king's English
But caught a rash on my lips
So now my chat just like dis
Long range from the base-line (switch)
Move like an apparition
Float to the ground with ammuntion (chi-chi-chi-POW)
Move from the gate, voice cued on your tape
Putting food on your plate
Many crews can relate
Who choosing your fate (yo)
We went from picking cotton
To chain gang line chopping
To Be-Bopping
To Hip-Hopping
Blues people got the blue chip stock option
Invisible man, got the whole world watching
(where ya at) I'm high, low, east, west,
All over your map
I'm getting big props, with this thing called hip hop
Where you can either get paid or get shot
When your product in stock
The fair-weather friends flock
When your chart position drop
Then the phone calls....
Chill for a minute
Let's see whoelse tops
Snatch your shelf spot
Don't gas yourself ock
The industry just a better built cell block
A long way from the shell tops
And the bells that L rocked (rock, rock, rock, rock...)
Hip Hop is prosecution evidence
The out of court settlement
Ad space for liquor
Sick without benefits (hungh!)
Luxury tenements choking the skyline
It's low life getting tree-top high
Here there's a back water remedy
Bitter intent to memory
A class E felony
Facing the death penalty (hungh!)
Stimulant and sedative, original repetitive
Violently competitive, a school unacredited
The break beats you get broken with
on time and inappropriate
Hip Hop went from selling crack to smoking it
Medicine for loneliness
Remind me of Thelonius and Dizzy
Propers to B-Boys getting busy
The war-time snap shot
The working man's jack-pot
A two dollar snack box
Sold beneath the crack spot
Olympic spnosor of the black glock
Gold medalist in the back shot
From the sovereign state of the have-nots
Where farmers have trouble with cash crops (woooo)
It's all city like phase two
Hip Hop will simply amaze you
Craze you, pay you
Do whatever you say do
Hey, hey, heyyy man
I Strike the Empire Back..
I Strike the Empire Back..
Fuck the Empire!!
High flyin like the Millenium Falcon, piloted by Han Solo
I never roll for dolo, frontin on me's a no-no
Understand? Doin this for my family
Ha ha, check it out y'all
Yo I'm tryin to make a dollar out of what makes sense
Add it up, told my daddy I'd be a rich man
You never know when your fate gon' switch hand
Get today's solid ground out of yesterday's quicksand
I was a young boy -- who dreamt about being a big man
on small looseleaf sheets I sketched a big plan
Gotta handle business properly, boost up my economy
Store it up and get my mom some waterfront property
Yesterday was not for me but nowaday it's time for me
The streets is watchin me, I watch back, that's the policy
Movin along my oddesey like blood through the artery
Navigate the treacherous and make it seem effortless
Let those who make the exodus seekin the North beacon
from beatin and hog-eatin, from punishment all season
from hands cracked and bleedin -- cotton thorns in your palms
It's for y'all that I sketch these songs, and it goes..
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow
I fear no man, because faith is the aarow
My vocal chord travel worldwide to block narrow
We can blow with the ammo or go mano-a-mano
Kweli is you wit me? (Whattup whattup?) Let's make it happen
I *BURN* through your argument with action
My eyes stay fastened to tomorrow lookin for a brighter day
When y'all wanna leave y'all? Right away
Shout it out from East-West (from South to Northern)
From Cakalak' (to California)
From the coldest (to the warmest)
To the borders ('cross the waters) understand..
".. and know that I love you.."
We got love in the place
Shout out to all the Queens (all the Seeds)
To all the teams (that's gettin cream)
From outlaw (to emcee's)
Make it happen (do your thing) understand..
".. and know that I love you.."
Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen
Guess who? The illest MC in the atmosphere, yeah the Soul Controller
who roam the frontier like a Buffalo Soldier
I follow the code of honor like a real man gonna
Never disrespect no women cause I love my momma
These cats be givin us praise but it ain't that accurate
I give it up to God, all that, love and attachment, get
scary well-prepared with the shears when it get hairy
like how these niggaz is lookin like some fairies
and singin like canaries to the beast
and anybody who will listen to em clearly
Y'all don't hear me though, even when I'm comin through in stereo
You make a mockery of what I represent properly
Yo why you startin me? I take that shit straight to the artery
Intellectual property I got the title and the deed
I pay for rent, with the tears and sweat, and what I bleed
MC's imitate the way we walk, the way we talk
You cats spit lyrical pork with no spiritual thought
Plus your flow a little bit off, you come across soft
Back in the days, niggaz like that on stage got tossed off
Need to get crossed off the guestlist
It's like you gotta be disrespected and thrown out the exit
to get the message
Sometimes your sunshine get snatched like a necklace
when you get too drunk on power and your drive get reckless
Check it, MC's in my face after I slug you then I hug you
If I gotta dead you know it's only cause I love you
Shout it out from East-West (from South to Northern)
From the richest (to the poorest)
To the elders (in the coffins)
Livin native (dyin for it) understand..
".. and know that I love you.."
Yea, yea, we got love in the place
Shout out from up top (to the middle)
To black bottom (SKY HIGH)
Whether you colder than December
or hotter, than July
It don't stop 'til we complete this
(".. and know that I love you..") keep this fly
It's so much to life when you just
stay black
My people, my people, my people people p-people
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
If you can hear me ladies and gentlemen
then I'm very happy that you came here..
Ooh-ooooooooooohhhh, ooh-ooooooooooooooohh-WHEEEEE!!!
That was for Brooklyn..
Ha ha, we get it everytime
You got me on? Ohh
Shout out to all of my crew, East-West, North-South
All the continent, Europe, all abroad international
Bring it in, bring it in, bring it in, bring it in
It's a lot of things goin on y'all
21st century is comin
20th century almost done
A lot of things have changed
A lot of things have not, mainly us
We gon' get it together right? I believe that
Listen.. people be askin me all the time,
"Yo Mos, what's gettin ready to happen with Hip-Hop?"
(Where do you think Hip-Hop is goin?)
I tell em, "You know what's gonna happen with Hip-Hop?
Whatever's happening with us"
If we smoked out, Hip-Hop is gonna be smoked out
If we doin alright, Hip-Hop is gonna be doin alright
People talk about Hip-Hop like it's some giant livin in the hillside
comin down to visit the townspeople
We (are) Hip-Hop
Me, you, everybody, we are Hip-Hop
So Hip-Hop is goin where we goin
So the next time you ask yourself where Hip-Hop is goin
ask yourself.. where am I goin? How am I doin?
Til you get a clear idea
So.. if Hip-Hop is about the people
and the.. Hip-Hop won't get better until the people get better
then how do people get better? (Hmmmm...)
Well, from my understanding people get better
when they start to understand that, they are valuable
And they not valuable because they got a whole lot of money
or cause somebody, think they sexy
but they valuable caause they been created by God
And God, makes you valuable
And whether or not you, recognize that value is one thing
You got a lot of socities and governments
tryin to be God, wishin that they were God
They wanna create satellites and cameras everywhere
and make you think they got the all-seein eye
Eh.. I guess The Last Poets wasn't, too far off
when they said that certain people got a God Complex
I believe it's true
I don't get phased out by none of that, none of that
helicopters, the TV screens, the newscasters, the..
satellite dishes.. they just, wishin
They can't really never do that
When they tell me to fear they law
When they tell me to try to
have some fear in my heart behind the things that they do
This is what I think in my mind
And this is what I say to them
And this is what I'm sayin, to you check it
All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm
Fear not of men because men must die
Mind over matter and soul before flesh
Angels for the pain keep a record in time
which is passin and runnin like a caravan freighter
The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked
But God is sufficient in disposin of affairs
Gunmen and stockholders try to merit my fear
But God is sufficient over plans they prepared
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
on this place called Earth, holdin down my square
Bout to do it for y'all, and y'all at the fair
So just bounce, come on bounce
B-b-bounce b-bounce b-bounce-bounce
And just..
.. just step two three
Just step two three and
step two..
two three and..
One two three and four
One two three and four
Once again
All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm
Fear not of men because men must die
Mind over matter and soul before flesh
Angels for the pain keep a record in time
which is passin and runnin like a caravan freighter
The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked
But God is sufficient in disposin of affairs
Gunmen and stockholders try to merit your fear
But God is sufficient over plans they prepared
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
on this place called Earth, holdin down my square
Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere
Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere
to your atmosphere, to your atmosphere
Oh-ooooooohhhhhhhhhh!
Back up, back up, back up, back up
Back up back up back up back up EASE off
This goes out to all area crew (yes yes)
To my BK crew (ooh-OOOOOOOH-WHEEE) to my QB crew
My LI crew, my Shaolin crew
My Dirty South crew
(What cha'll niggaz about the Dirty South?)
Atlanta, North Cakalak'
For all my fam, all area crew (AOWWWWWWWWW)
Yeah mon!!
Yes, the first cut should be the deepest
to penetrate beyond the muscle wall's inner regions
First you was icin me, connect with the starin at the speakers
Heard the rhyme, head high, what ya starin at ya sneakers
You shy now, got a lot of things on your mind now
You don't feel fly now, you huntin the exit sign down
Fuck what you heard, cause I snatch the grapevine down (yea yeah)
Don't understand how I ran the line down, rewind now
YO!! We be the most magnetic, so athletic
Leave your peeps on the side so they can watch you and your mans get it
Take the arch rivalry stance up on the podium
And give the flavor to niggaz but keep it low on sodium
Posess shit that got you wonderin how we holdin em
Things that'll lay you out like a piece of linoleum
Bring who-ever you want, we bout to bug son and bounce
down to Henry Hudson, after I bust one!
Yo Mos Def!
Alright okay
How you feel?
Feelin great
Whatcha want?
I wan' do it to death, whassup wit you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now!
Bus-a-Bus
What-a-gwan?
How you feel?
Feelin GREAT!
Whatchu want?
I wanna do it to death, whattup wit you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now!
Hay dios mio, me and Bustarimo ??
The hottest negroes en Los Estados Unidos
Hotter than Reno when discovered by Bugsy Siegal
I'm black like Don Cheadle shoutin power to the people
My rhymes dipping like the lifeline on the e-boat
The raw sugar cane, NutraSweet, never Equal
If you in a Benzito or your mother's Buick Regal
I get up like Chino shoutin power to the people!!
Yo, me and the Mighty Mos shine like a light post
Live nigga shit be straight FUCKIN UP THE WHITE FOLKS
That's why they with it now, because niggaz like me and you
we did it now, brought it to that level so they GET IT NOW
We graduated saturated the game now
Infatuated with the fame now let me explain how
we doin this, at any time or any place ready willin and able
let's get the dough secure the FOOD ON THE TABLE
Ay Mos Def
Oh my God..
How you feel?
I'm feelin great
Whatcha want?
Wanna do it to death, whassup wit you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now!
Bus-a-Bus
Rhymes Galore!
What the deal?
Feelin GREAT!
Whatchu want?
Wanna do it to death, WHATTUP wit you?!
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now!
From East West North and South I got joints for all of those
Heavy aquatic water flows keep them on they toes
Tell them thugs that wanna be CEO's to be derobed
'Fore I wear your little dumb ass out like Easter clothes!
Yo, yo-yo yo-yo
It's like a freak show, soon as my heat blow
Sometime I speak slow so people understand my street flow
And while we keep it hot, we got the most shine up in
this WHOLE SHIT, me and Mos spit and blow the show quick
WATCH OWT! Your pussy sound get bucked Souf
Mos 'n Bussa Rhymes too bad man-a-shutout
WATCH OWT! Give a damn whut fancy car ya hop owt
Shut down your game like da NBA lockout
Ya betta WATCH OWT! I'm bout to black on niggaz
like I'm blowin on a sax, blowin my gats on niggaz
Blowin my raps on niggaz - now let me mash out
We fatter than the biggest ass chicks pokin they ass out!
Hey Mos Def
Magnetism
How you feel?
Feelin great!
Whatcha want?
I wan' do it to death, whassup wit you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now!
Bus-a-Bus
Woo-HAH!
How you feel?!
Feelin GREAT!
Whatchu want?
I wanna do it to death, WHATTUP wit you?!
You know my steez!
True indeed
Say it LOUD!
Black and proud!
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now!
What what, we got to do it, do it
We got to do it, do it, make me do it, do it
What.. wha-what-what, we got to do it, do it
Make me do it, do it
Do it do it do it now!
What what, we got to do it, do it
Do we do it, do it, do it, ah do it now!
What what, we got to do it, do it
Got to do it, do it
Hello everybody, recording live from somewhere
Lord, Lord have mercy
All nice an' peace an' true, follow me now, we say
Say, "Hi-Tek, yes, you're rulin' hip hop"
Say, "J. Rawls, yes, you're rulin' hip hop"
Redefinition, say, "You're rulin' hip hop"
Say, "Black Star, come to rock it"
Yo, from the first to the last of it, delivery is passionate
The whole an' not the half of it, vocals an' not the math of it
Projectile that them blasted with, accurate assassin shit
Me an' Kweli close like Bethlehem an' Nazareth
After this you be pressin' rewind on top your master disk
Shinin' like an asterisk, for all those that be gatherin'
Connectin' like a round house, from the townhouse to the tenements
'Cause all my Brooklyn residents, [Incomprehensible] heavy regiments
Don't believe, here the evidence, where Brooklyn, see that?
Bound to take it all kid, believe that
From where they sellin' tree at, to where the police be at
Talib Kweli, E.Kwelity, yo' tell them where we be at
Brooklyn, New York City where they paint murals of Biggie
In cash, we trust 'cause it's ghetto fabulous, life look pretty
What a pity, blunts is still fifty cents, it's intense
Tree scents is dominant, can't be covered with incense
My presence felt, my name is Kweli from the Eternal Reflection
People thinkin' MC is short hand for 'Mis Conception'
Let me meditate, set it straight, came to the conclusion
That most of these cats is featherweight, let me demonstrate
Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
You must know Karate or think your soul is 'Bulletproof' like Sade
Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
An' maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary
Third rate teacher readin' an' talkin about, "I knew he'd amount to nothin'"
Neighbors like, "He was the quiet type
Who'd have thought they was frontin'?"
Talkin' loud like you in R.C.A, get carted away
With body parts an' trays, what a way to start your day, yo, it's like
One, two, three
Mos Def an' Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip top
Best alliance in hip hop, why oh
I said one, two, three
It's kinda dangerous to be a emcee
They shot Tupac an' Biggie
Too much violence in hip hop, why oh
I said Manhattan keep on makin' it, Brooklyn keep on takin' it
So relax we're takin' it back, Redhook, where we're livin' at
Plenty cats be strugglin' not hustlin' an' bubblin'
It ain't about production an' what else we discussin'?
When the cock crows, my crop grows, enable me to rock flows
Strivin' for perfection ever since I was a snot nosed
Colossal, true original B. Boy apostle
Standin' on the rooftop with the Zulu Gestapo
You think you the shit, somebody in the wings'll force you to quit
It could be your crew or click
Or some random kid you smoked Buddha with
Consider me the entity within the industry
Without a history of spittin' the epitome, of stupidity
Livin' my life, expressin' my liberty, it gotta be done properly
My name is in the middle of E.Kwelity
People follow me an' other cats, they hear him flow
An' assume I'm the real one with lyrics like I'm Cyrano
Still sippin', wishin' well, water imported from Pluto
Three hundred an' sixty milliliters for all our believers
In miles or kilometers, most cats, cannot proceed us
In the jungle with the leaders, we the lions, you the cheetahs
A Cypher will complete us, if we come through your receivers
You can play us an' repeat us an' then take us home an' read us
Line for line, good Jesus, Mos Def an' Kweli
Just make a pussy freeze up, thinkin' of it ease up
One, two, three
Mos Def an' Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip top
Best alliance in hip hop, why oh
I said one, two, three
It's kinda dangerous to be a emcee
They shot Tupac an' Biggie
[Mos Def]
Against the canvas of the night
Appears a curious celestial phenomena
called Black Star, but what is it?
[Talib Kweli]
Black people unite and let's all get down
We got to have what? We got to have that love
[Mos Def]
What is the Black Star?
Is it the cat with the black shades, the black car?
Is it shinin from very far, to where you are?
It is commonplace and different
Intimate and distant
Fresher than an infant
[Talib Kweli]
Black, my family thick, like they're striped molasses
Star, on the rise, in the eyes of the masses
Black is the color of my true love's hair
Star's are bright, shining, hot balls of air
[Mos Def]
Black like my baby girl's stare
Black like the veil that the muslimina wear
Black like the planet that they fear, why they scared?
Black like the slave ship that later brought us here
Black like the cheeks that are roadways for tears
that leave black faces well traveled with years
Black like assassin crosshairs
Blacker than my granddaddy armchair
He never really got no time to chill there
Cause this life is warfare, warfare
[Talib Kweli]
Deep on the front lines, and blacks is all there
Black like the perception of who, on welfare
Black like faces at the bottom of the well
I've been there before
To bring the light and heat it up like ";la cocina";
Make without imagine happen but maybe I'm just a dreamer
I love rockin tracks like John Coltrane love Naema
[M] Like the student love the teacher
[T] Like the prophet love Khadeja
[M] Like I love my baby features
[A] Like the creator love all creatures
[Talib Kweli]
Who acknowledge truth and peace seekers
We on point like heat seekers
Targettin the black marketing strategists
Run up on em with the heaters
Everybody followin with no leaders
Feelin like we killin ourselves
because I know they can't defeat us
It don't stop til we complete this, keep this fly
There's so much to life when you just stay Black and God
[Mos Def]
Blacker than the nighttime sky of Bed-Stuy in July
Blacker than the seed in the blackberry pie
Blacker than the middle of my eye
Black like feh-lah man cry
Some man wan ask ";Who am I?";
I simply reply, ";The U.N.I., V.E.R.S.A.L. Magnetic";
Work to respect the angelic, climb the mountaintop
and tell it til the valley's enveloped
You're full of big chat but you nah know me
I'm dark like the side of the moon you don't see
when the moon shine newly
[M] You know who else is a Black Star? (Who?) Me
[T] You know who else is a Black Star? (Who?) Me
[A] You know who else is a Black Star, who we? (And we)
[A] be shinin and shinin, when we rhymin and rhymin
We be shinin and shinin, when we rhymin and rhymin
[Mos Def]
Now everybody hop on the one, the sounds of the two
It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
The 8th Light, is gonna shine bright tonight
It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
[T] You know the light
[M] Go from the dark
[T] The other way is ass-backwards
[M] It's absurd
[T] Make you wanna crow like a blackbird
[M] That's right
[T] You livin from your first day to your last night
[T] Sometimes you show your ass like
[M] Lint on your clothes
[T] When you froze in
[A] THE BLACK LIGHT
[M] Dead that
[T] Before you get your head wrapped
[M] Like Badu
[T] We see through your voodoo
[T] Just like Eve's Bayou, you dealin with that black magic
[M] Try to civilize you
[T] Not walk on by you
[M] Like civil-(lies do get you black listed) it'll
[T] Be unlucky for you like a black cat
[M] A panther
[T] Revolution is the answer
[M] That's what we need
[T] Greed plague my people like the cancer
[M] True indeed
[Mos Def]
Now black people unite, and let's ALL GET DOWN
Now everybody hop on the one, the sounds of the two
It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
The 8th Light, is gonna shine bright tonight
Everybody hop on the one, the sounds of the two
It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
The 8th Light, is gonna shine bright tonight
It's the third eye vision, five side dimension
Equalin up to eight, light shine bright
Be like, yo, let me ask you somethin'
I wanna know, I wanna know who you are
Brown skin lady, hey hey
Where you goin'?
This goes to the brown skin ladies
Brown skin lady
Yo, indigineous women of the planet Earth
What you doin'?
Givin' birth to the brown skin ladies first
Brown skin lady
For what it's worth, from me to you
How do you feel?
From me to you, watchin' you
I like the, I like the, I like the, I like
The way you walk, yes, I live the way you move
I like the way you walk, when you walk on by
I like the way you move, I like the way you move
I like the, I like the, I like the, I like
The way you walk, please, won't you do that dance
I like the way you walk, when you walk on by
I like the way you move, I like you, baby
And everybody on the avenue
I know, when they see you sing
Everybody on the avenue, I know
When they see you sing, there she is
Fresher than Tony Rebel's vestibules at African street festivals
My incredible women is, plentiful
Over the years I met a few, none of them compare to you
Preparin' you to make food bearable, somethin' terrible, let's see
You fruitful, beautiful, smart, lovable, huggable
Doable like art, suitable to be part
Of my life, Coppertone, oh, you copyright infringement
Pay you bidness ten cents, way back in the day
It's like I'm standin' there you know appreciatin' God's design
And then you showed up, it's like you read my mind
Damn she's fine, I think I add the RE, in front of that
And see if she D, to get with a cat like me
I like the, I like the, I like the, I like
The way you walk, yes, I live the way you move
I like the way you walk, when you walk on by
I like the way you move, I like the way you move
I like the, I like the, I like the, I like
The way you walk, please, won't you do that dance
I like the way you walk, when you walk on by
I like the way you move, I like you, baby
And everybody on the avenue
I know, when they see you sing
Everybody on the avenue
I know, when they see you sing, there she is
Ooh, daring, me girl, look at you
Comin' on the block lookin' fresh and brand new
Ooh, headwrap cover your hairdo
Pretty feet peekin' through open-toed shoe
Ooh, no limit to what I would do
Make love to you like long interview
Whooh, is she for real, me like you
Good look champion, win the title
True, many man try invite you
Shot down lyric each time they cyph you
Jewel, what man you get all insides you
Feet they walk way and just that sheik posture
Ooh, can't be a next one like you
Famous like tapes made by DJ Clue
I tighten up my game as I approach you
Yo check her she the nectar the bee get close to
I don't get many compliments but I am confident
Used to have a complex about, gettin' too complex
You got me, willin' to try, looked me in the eye
My head is still in the sky, since you walked on by
I'm feelin' high, got my imagination flickerin' like hot flames
It's how it seems, you make me wanna ride the
Coltrane to a love Supreme
My brown lady, creates environments
For happy brown babies, I know it sounds crazy
But your skin's the inspiration for cocoa butter
You provoke a brother we should get to know one another
I discover when I bring you through my people say true
All I can say is all praise due I thank you God for a beauty like you
Brown skin lady
Where you goin'?
This goes to the brown skin ladies
Brown skin lady
On the planet Earth today, yes
What you doin'?
Brown skin lady
How do you feel?
I like the, I like the, I like the, I like
The way you walk, yes, I live the way you move
I like the way you walk, when you walk on by
I like the way you move, I like the way you move
I like the, I like the, I like the, I like
The way you walk, please, won't you do that dance
I like the way you walk, when you walk on by
I like the way you move, I like you, baby
And everybody on the avenue
I know, when they see you sing
Everybody on the avenue
I know, when they see you sing, there she is
There she is, she's a brown skinned lady
Such a brown skinned lady
She's a brown skinned lady
She's a brown skinned lady
She's a brown skinned lady
She's a brown skinned lady
You know what some people put themselves through
To look just like you?
Dark stocking, high heels, lipstick, alla that
You know what?
Without makeup you're beautiful
Whatcha you need to paint the next face for
We're not dealin' with the European standard of beauty tonight
Turn off the TV and put the magazine away
In the mirror tell me what you see
See the evidence of divine presence
Women of the, Carribean, they got the, golden sun
I know women on the continent got it
Nigeria and Ghana, you know they got it
Tanzania, Namibia and Mozambique
And Botswana to let it speak
About Latinas Columbianas
Tallenas, of course the Brooklyn women walk that walk
And the Bronx women walk that walk
Honies from Queens walk that walk, NYC, ATL, LA
[Child #1] ...and then Jackie Chan just started kickin em
like POW! POW! POW!
[Child #2] Whaaaaa??!
[Mos Def] Alright y'all, alright y'all enough of that
it's time to go to bed y'all
Time to go to bed -- I don't wanna hear that
You know what time it is, you know what time it is
[Children] Uncle Mos?
[Mos Def] Yeeesss?
[Children] Would you read us a bedtime story please?
[Mos Def] Okay, okay. Ya'll tucked in?
[Children] Yeessss...
[Mos Def] Heeeere we go...
Once upon a time not long ago
When people wore Adidas and lived life slow
When laws were stern and justice stood
And people was behavin' like hip-hop was good
There lived a little boy who was misled
By a little Sha-tan and this is what he said
";Me and you kid we gonna make some cash,
Jackin' old beats and makin' the dash...";
They jacked the beats, money came wit' ease
But son, he couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease
He jacked another and another, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder
Set some R & B over the track for 'Deep Cover' (187!)
The kid got wild startin' actin' erratic
He said ";Yo, that presidential I got ta have it...";
With liquor in his belly son, he made up the track
But little did he know that his joints was wack
The shiny A & R said ";Great new hit G!";
";Whenever you need a loop, yo come get me...";
The kid got amped and he starts to figure
";I'm-a get dough like all-a these otha niggaz!";
So, he's in the studio workin' 'round the clock
For pop radio, jacked the beat to 'Planet Rock'
Was out in the street when he met this sister
Who couldn't sing for shhhh but the mix wit' her sister
Hooked up the track and in excitation
He decided he'd head for the radio station
But (But!) he was runnin' and he made a left
Was skeezin' at top speed and ran into Mos Def
I slowed the young man down and I started: ";Yo money,
Yo, why you sellin' lies to our wives and children?";
He ran upstairs up to the top floor
Opened up the door then guess what he saw? (Who?)
JANE the chickenhead radio host
Who be yappin' 'bout beef between east and west coast
He said ";This one's a bullet, you got ta give it run!";
The chicken said ";Thanks."; and spanked it #1
He went outside, was gettin' props all over
Then he dipped into his ride, the 4-point Rover
Raced up the block doin' 83
Some cats with Hennessey saw him at a R-E-D
He winked his eye like his star status mattered
They rat-a-tat-tatted to make his blood splatter
";You rockin' crazy ice and all you do is cling static
And rollin' down to Brooklyn late night is problematic...";
His eyes was bloody red, he hung on every word they said
They told the kid ";Back down, that playa shit is dead.";
Deep in his heart, he knew he was gone
But he grabbed his 45 and decide to blaze on
Wit' shades on founded had him astounded an'
Before long, the young man got surrounded
Those grabbed the guns, so goes the glory
And that is the way I got ta end this story
He was out chasin' cream and the American dream
Tryin' to pretend the ends justify the means
This ain't funny so don't you dare laugh
It's just what comes to pass when you sell your ass
Life is more than what your hands can grasp
Good Night!
(kids talking)
Knock 'em out the box Mos, knock 'em out Mos
Knock 'em out the box Mos, knock 'em out Mos (3x)
Knock 'em out...
A-nother...Mos Def...Black Star MOVEMENT...
presentation... CRUUUMBS!
La La La
People climbed into the night like space suits
People stepped into the night like moon boots
Marching like moon troops
In their zoot colored zoot suits
People climbed into the night like cool wells
Shiney bottles in their hands
Drinking their new selves
They say it's their true selves
People climbed up in the night like green trees
They were hanging from the night like green leaves
Buzzing like queen bees
People climbed into the night like space suits
People stomped inside the night
Stomping and stomping and stomping and stomping and stomping
Where are they going?
What's the rush?
Everybody in the place was so out of touch
Night-time is when the things get heavy
You feel alone and you want somebody
Loneliness whispers desperate measures
And your frantic all by yourself
Night-time is when the things get heavy
You feel alone and you want somebody
Loneliness whispers desperate measures
Baby don't make no fast moves
Baby don't make no fast moves
Baby don't make no fast moves
Baby don't make no fast moves- Tonight
La La La
People stomped inside the night
Let me climb into the night...
Bismillah ir Rhman ir Raheem
Peace, peace whats up y'all this is Mos Def
And this is a message to the people
If you see or hear goodness from me
Then that goodness is from The Creator
You should be thankful to The Creator for all of that
'Cause I'm not the architect of that
I'm only the...the recipient
If you see weakness or shortcoming in me
It's from my own weakness or shortcoming
And I ask The Creator and the people to forgive me for that
Thank you Brooklyn, Thank you World
Yeah, yeah there it is
Turn my voice up in the top a little bit
It feel good to be back
Whats up ochenta?
Yeah, yeah, ha..
It's the Black Dante in your headphones
Speakerbox (freaky radio) freaky radio
(Everywhere on the dial) tell you a little bit about me
For my hometown, break down a little history for you
Myrtle and Broadway, Roosvelt projects, Mossie projects
Listen..
I stepped on the field from no league just home team
I Jumped out the stands and I snatched the rock
With the final seconds +one to land+ on the clock
Mos post up to throw up the tie-breakin shot
I put it through the net and let the world's jaw drop
Then fled the arena before they called cops
Tell the players and the coach I wasn't tryin to blow spot
But the way they was ballin' made it difficult to watch
I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around
Keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about
You got work to do, I don't know if that work for you
But thats how Mos work it through
And my work is personal, I'm a workin person
I put in work, I work with purpose
I get it there, on the water, air, the surface
You feel the impact? Niggaz yeah it's workin
Listen God did not make me a fearful person
The only fear I have, Is my failure to adhear his path
I would love it just to hear this back
On the ghetto streets where y'all at
On the ave's where the Jeep's go past
In the coupes where the seats go back
In the parties where it be so packed
And the atmosphere be so black
And them black things be so phat
If I could I would be so glad
But if not I won't be so mad
I'm still being a man, still feeding my fam'
And even if you don't see it my fam
I believe that I am, truly gifted, truly blessed
I'm yours truly, Brooklyn's own, Mos Def
I'm rockin the hard right, ground zero, to far left
I'm, well balanced, with immense talents
Burn the script, then flip it to keep myself challanged
And thats the mark of a true champ-ine
Thats whether I'm in or outside the ring
No fights, no tilte, no crown or reign
Feel my presence even when I'm up out this thing
Just trust, thats what I'm about to be
But until then settle in and rock with me
Ha, thats what its about to be
Ghetto people look alive with me
And say, We 'gon, stop by
Then we just keep movin on
Ghetto people, look alive and
Feel free, we just keep movin on
For Alliah, Left Eye, Jam Master Jay
All the great hero's who have passed away
Scott Laraque, Big & Pac, Feaky Tai, Big L
All the soldiers locked down in the cell
Lock up the flesh, but the spirit will prevail
To our loved ones, and deceased
Dyin in the street, or quiet in their sleep (B.I.G.)
Rest in peace, your livin in the mansions of our memory(+Sans Marie+)
Rest in peace, your livin in the mansions of our memory
And thats real
'Cause everythin in life 'gon come to an end
Because it must, and when it does
I hope that y'all remember me
With true respect
And ghetto love
Now raise it up
'Cause everythin in life 'gon come to an end
Because it must, and when it does
I hope that y'all remember me
Black Dante, from Myrtle and Broadway
Yeah, yeah y'all
Let me hear it back(echo)
Freaky radio (freaky radio) ha..
[Mos Def]
Hey hey, ha ha say what say what
Ha ha bust it yo
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, is beautiful Brooklyn
Long as I live here believe I'm on fire hey
Cuz it's the B-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
L-Y-N is the place where I stay
The B-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
Best in the world and all USA
It's the B-to-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
L-Y-N is the place where I stay
The B-to-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
Place where I rest is on my born day
Bust it, sometimes I sit back and just reflect
Watch the world go by and my thought connect
I think about the time past and the time to come
Reminesce on Bed-Stuy when I was pride and young
I used to try and come, to the neighborhood function
Throw on my Izod, say a little something
When I was just a youngin, before the days of thuggin
How me and Charlie Chims (aiyyo what?) I'm only buggin
Fast forward, Nine-Now I gotta team my seed
I must proceed at God's speed to perform my deed
Livin the now space and time, round the nine to five
For as long as I'm alive, paw I got to strive
I ain't sittin roadside, that ain't harder to plan
I'm out here for my fam doin all that I can
I love my city, sweet and gritty in land to outskirts
Nickname Bucktown cuz we grown to outburst
Philosophy redefine us, touch mines I touch back
Walk the streets like a sweet and get beat like drum tracks
Catch no shakes over jakes (boomp-boomp!) we bust back
Bring the marty to your face wit no place to run back
I'm from the slums that created the bass that thump back
This ain't a game clown, play ya James Brown and jump back
What you want, Jack? Young cats stash they jums at
Draw they guns back, momma screams where she sons at
Tryin to hunt that, recurring dream of high stakes
The fourth largest, first artist, Brooklyn is the place
Settled by the judge many years ago
Three billion strong and here we go
[Mos Def]
GOOD MORNINNNNNNNNNGG VIETNAM!!!
Ha (back up back up back up back up back up) [repeated in background]
Yo sometimes I sit back, reflect on the place that I live at
Unlike any place I ever been at
The home of big gats, deep dish hammer rim caps
Have a mishap, push ya wig back
Where you go to get the fresh trim at
Four on the jake got the Timb rack
Blue collars metro carding it
Thugs mobbin it, form partnership
Increase armorment, street pharmacist
Deep consequence, when you seek sleek ornaments
You get caught, rode the white horse and can't get off
Big dogs that trick off just get sent off
They shoebox stash is all they seeds gotta live off
It's real yo but still yo, it's love here
And it's felt by anybody that come here
Out of towners take the train, plane and bus here
Must be something that they really want here
One year as a resident, deeper sentiment
Shoutout "Go Brooklyn!", they representin it
Sittin on they front stoop sippin Guinesses
Usin native dialect in they sentences
From the treeline blocks to the tenaments
To the Mom & Pop local shop menaces
Travel all around the world in great distances
And ain't a place that I know that bear resemblance
That's why we it The Planet
Not a borough or a prov, it's our style that's uncalm
From ?sun? to the ? to the Lafayette Gardens
Wycoff-Gowanus in they army jacket linings
Yo this goes out to my cats in Coney Isle
Friday night out in front The Himalaya goin wild
This goes out to Crown Heights and Smurv Village
The nighties, and all my Yardie-Trini Brown's Village
Parkside tenants caught, thirties, forties, and the fifties
The cats out in Starrett City gettin busy
To the Hook, to the East, to the Stuy
Bushwick and Canarsie, Farragut, Ft Greene, and Marcy
My Flatbush posse, generals of armies
When it's time to form, just call me
And let this song be, playin' loud in Long B
If you love Bucktown STRONGLY!
RAISE IT UP!
[Mos Def]
Brooklyn my habitat, the place where it happen at
Live sway and the sharp balance of the battle axe
Irons is brandished at, thugs draw they hammer back
It's where you find the news tool crew cameras at
It's where my fam is at, summertime jame is at
They play Big and get you open like a sandal back
Hotter than candle wax, hustlin you can't relax
The crack babies tryin to find where they mama's at
It's off the handle black, wit big police scandals that
Turn into actions screenplays sold to Miramax
The type of place where they check your appearance at
And cats who know where all the hot 'lo gear is at
The stompin grounds, where you find a pound, smoke is that
Be blazin charm that have your wave cap floatin back
The doorstep where the disposessed posted at
Dope fiends out at Franklin Ave sellin zovarax
You big ballin better keep your money folded back
Cuz once the young guns notice that it's over, black
Brooklyn keep on takin it, worldwide we known for that
Flossy cats get it snatched like the local tax
The place I sharpen up my baritone vocals at
Ground rules
I'll give you all the diamonds and money
But you can't break my heart
Cause that'll just get you fired
and everybody needs a job
Work is scarce, competition is fierce
Fonzi fronting in the new leather like they don't care
Word? Let's get you an award for that performance
Winner in the category for the best boring
Uh, tell the tough guys we tougher than tough times
and needles in the nerves to make the tighten up unwind
One time, for locking out the light in your eyes
You're searching for your perfect one
Broken down from getting it all
To take it however it comes
Plain day, you the specialest one, oh me oh my!
I'll give you all the milk and the honey
but you can't break my heart
Cause that'll just get you fired
Sloppy worker get your pay grade bust
Work is scarce, skilled working is rare
Fonzi fronting at the job site, primping up they hair
Word? Well tell them only staff could drink they coffee
Walking papers at the office, sleep late tomorrow morning
Tell the tough guys we tougher than tough times
and nerves don't snap when the clock touch crunch time
That's right we tougher than tough times
From been narrowing, to the clock just unwind
For sure we tougher than tough times
My proof don't need to lie, my tighten up don't unwind
Sunshine, lifting up the light in your eyes
You're gazing at your perfect one
Broken down from never at all
to better than you could ever want
Great day I know that you had to come, oh me oh my!
I'll give you all the diamonds and money
But you can't break my heart
Cause that'll just get you fired
and you're doing such a beautiful job
When...all...is...said...and...done...there's...only...one
Cash and carry legendary Sagitarri(us) style's wary
And it's very necessary get it clearly
Never scary barely worried bright and early
Bald head straight or curly mundane other worldly
No chain now the jewelry that jackers can't snatch
The gingerbread the slave masters can't catch
Blat! Now put your minds on that
Get real or get back quit frontin and face facts
The old timers say we're living in the final days
Gun smoke young folks living any kind of way
Gangster holiday greedy snakes and hideaways
Meanwhile soldiers take it straight through their armor plates
Crash hit the market gates marvels of the modern age
Access is instant and treachery is commonplace
I sense the dangers and I'm not afraid
Because when all is said and done there's only ONE
Man up playboy playing the game boy
Pull back spectacular aim boy
Say what you say boy whoever could make noise
And ride range off in the same voice
Conduct an arrangement with definite language
It's pure inspiration for this generation
Speak true free love (?)
Because when all is said and done there's only ONE
And the one can done so cool
Schooling the young like Rev. Run ("whose house?")
Quote pop and 'til they keep their heads up
And when the pressure comes down press back and press up
Fret not ghetto world guess what
God is on your side the devil is a lie
The Empire holds all the gold and the guns
But when all is said and done there's only...
B.O.O.G.I.E.M.A.N
Practice doesn't make perfect, PERFECT PRACTICE makes perfect
Mentioned that he worked for the embassy
People seem to find that interesting
High status, intrigue and mystery
Special code name on the hotel registry
I love it when they say
Enjoy your stay
You see how they mean it
Cause that's the way theyve been trained
Show you to your room
A suite with a view
Well if anything at all
Do not hesitate to call
Nice the greatest the greatest
Compliments, tooth brush, tooth paste, razors
A bible, a quaran in a drawer
Or depending where you are
Tend to whisper through the walls
She was calling on God
The greatest the greatest
Salutations, congradulations,
Reservations, exclusive arrangements
Dinner with the patrons
The scenery is amazing
It's so outrageous
They whisper when they say it
When it's really real it's even realer than the matrix
Classic modern ancient flagrant
Get a special thrill everytime they get to say it
Peace
I work with the embassy
On behalf of imagination industry
I come visit
You come visit
Such a pleasure
Official business
When I'm down, I just draw some roses
On a pretty piece of paper
With my recipe open
So halfway through, I feel so much better
I imagine happiness, and it runs right to me, such amazing beauty
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven
[Chorus:]
I have found, just the perfect feelin
Finally cause I'm grateful
I can feel your spirit, comin closer on me
It is grand, just to be reminded
Reminded of the good things
Living in a new day, that no one can tear down
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven
Yellow for friendship, red for love
Black for the universal stars above
Pink buds that I bought her on Valentine
She said it was forever then she changed her mind
I said a little prayer then I cleared my eyes
Cause the ?
Started off with a oget, natural poget
I ain't Picasso but that ain't important
Faith, smart dude never graduated high school
Stay tuned I'm a show you how my art move
Shape and dimension flow and extension
Symmetry shade, blowin out the frame
Sign off my name Dante when I'm finished
Put it to your memory for permanent exhibit
Love, hard work and it's worth every minute
Abstract is still life real life kinetic
[Chorus]
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living
When I'm down, I just draw some roses
On a pretty piece of paper
With my recipe open
So almost through, I feel so much better
I imagine happiness, and it ran right to me, such amazing beauty
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living
Revelations
Don't stop keep on
Sunshine
Ecstatic
Flaco
Boogieman
Standing in the sun getting black as I want
You playing good man that aint backing me up
Sky woke a baby aint no jackin my hem
I got a whole lot to say so I aint talking to them
I hear knees dropping
I turn it up louder
Black freedom black genius black power
Black ink for printing the black dollar
Until I see C-I-A
I say now what?
And cc: is central bank
Loose change body slamming big money tanks
We tell god thanks
Ya'll tellin us god don't rank that's why your breath stank
Yuck
Lay off the bacon and smokes
Quit laying off the good working folks quit the hoax
And lay off the corny color jokes
Con chilly populate the colors they wont
Ya big dope
Yuck
Keep them out your face keep em in your prayers
Either that keep em in the cross hairs
Better still keep a even dose of each cause until you get justice
You wont get peace peace peace peace peace peace
The gun shot say ba ba da day ba da da day ba da da da da da day ay!
They shout peace peace peace
They shout peace peace peace
The firefight lit ba ba da day ba da da day ba da da da da da day ay
Rumors and rumors and rumors of war can I get better now what is that for
And more
Rumors and rumors and rumors of war killers just killing now what they kill for
And more
Rumors and rumors and rumors of war can I get better now what is that for
And more
Rumors and rumors and rumors of war
Revelations
Dont stop keep on
[Femi Kuti speaking]
One thing I want to assure them,
If they think I'm gonna change or compromise
My attitude and my way of life or
In my expression or in my goal
What's politics
They are making me stronger
And I am much much stronger now..
[Mos Def]
Check a blank to the boogie
And up chuck a boogie
To the rhythym of the boogie to be [x2]
There it go like simple the plainness
The prominent bassness
Zulu arrangement rockin' amazement
Fly gold, radiating from heaven to pavement
If only years of placement with nothing to play with
Spent time hating but that ain't changing it
God give it to me no body ain't savin' it
Therefore, moving on the base in stammerment?
Standing in the twilight and watching them get it in
Walls, simmering, the air, simmering
She movin' like more than the airs is glistenin'
Woah now
Testin' your ate in the delirium
Sounding fate booming all over your eminence
Skin on skin again
Put it all, get it all,get in then
Ladies and gentlemen, misters and mistresses
.... or entrants and simil men
There it is, boogieman
Hah
Simmer down simmer down simmer down now
Simmer down now [x3]
Quiet dog, wild hog my god
And the rocket don't stop
Brooklyn and the kids heat up the stovetop
Banging the empire state and navigating the way
Your preservation makes the greatest hip hop
The cool dudes swagger little cherry be corny
The flow so steady unsteady is boring
These dudes ain't through with their yawning
Need to get off it
So wack wack is all you can call it
Therefore, movin on the deaf is sumblin
Regardless of ...what town your representin
A bullet in the audience settlement
Tower the tenement
I mold through for all of the element
Simmer down
I manage your mayhem
I'm bright as the AM
And you're rocking more like a station
I'm blessed with the fresh from day one
I got it from day done
We all going back to the same one
It's the cost of motivation I'll stay with
Remarkable flavors
That all is a market of greatness
Woah now
Is to get us to buck town
Your girl is in love now
You thought it so funny
Shorty is down, Shoo
[Sirens]
Simmer down simmer down simmer down now
Simmer down now [x3]
Quiet dog, wild hog let's rock
Hah
And we don't stop
See you rock to the rhythm we don't stop
So you maintain the rock and you don't stop
You keep up the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
Maintain the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
You keep up the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
Maintain the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
Absolutely, Flaco
Fresh and I'm fresh and my fresh just get fresher
Diamonds in production glow greater than the pressure
None turn to some and the some turn to more
The more turn to many and the many turn to all
Shouting on my nothing like it's nothing at all
To not knowing what ya got till it got gone
Same song, new time signature
New brand hustle with the long time arithmetic
Bey, from the preacher man, number man, understand
Curves and sliders, overs and under-hands
Black Batman, knock 'em out the park pitch-
quiet, fire sniper not the one you tryna box with
Block work when the block turn jobless
and triple beams ain't the best means to weigh your options
Smarts, get smart with your smartness
Too busy surviving to argue about Darwin, darling
See me, huh, a pretty dancer
Me, Sugar Ray and Ali pretty dancer
See me do it (see me do it)
Ready, steady, step it out
Big swing-swing with bangers and thing-thingers
Soul glow zinging all over the ring finger
Yo-yo, don't play me so close
Make me tell you something that you ain't really ready to know
Fight camp you was in top form
Fight night, damn you ain't breaking popcorn
Aw man word bond? Word is +bond-ultimatum+
Lights off, smelling salts resuscitate em
I don't underrate 'em son, I don't nothing-rate 'em
All i do is pop-pop, fru-st-rate 'em
Exacerbate 'em, sharp shoot, lacerate 'em
Steady hustle, shuffle-shuffle, fascinate 'em
Ecstatic nature, black imagination activated
True and living elevated, you are rocking with the greatest
Ecstatic nature, black imagination activated
True and living elevated, you are rocking with the greatest
It's like a dove from up above
See me, huh, a pretty dancer
Me, Sugar Ray and Ali pretty dancer
See me do it (see me do it)
Ready, steady, step it out
Fly like a dove from up above
See me, huh, a pretty dancer
Me, Sugar Ray and Ali pretty dancer
See me do it (see me do it)
Ready, steady, step it out
[Repeated until end]
Fly like a dove from up above
[Repeat 4X]
Ecstatic nature, black imagination activated
True and living elevated, rocking with the greatest
Ecstatic nature black imagination activated
True and living elevated, you are rocking with the greatest
Bueno, Flac,
Llamame Flac pero mi primer nombre es Jacin Andante
El apellido el pay
Oiga
Eso soy testigo
La hermosa, el peligro distinto claro que si la verdad
La calle, el pueblo
Las fincas y centros
Ciudad calidad no mejor, mala mas
Guerra y vida, amor y cambio
Comida la guarda
Pistola, oracion para ellos,
Damas y caballeros
Familia, crianza
La luz en la distancia
Quiero y lo dijo
Bien es mas cercana
Mi vista, mi casa, mis suenos, mi alma
Quiero saber lo senti tu abrazo
Y tu contacto
Pues a mi algo
Claro
Amen
Claro, claro, claro que si
No hay nada mas
No hay nada mas
Final
No hay nada mas
Claro, claro, claro que si
No hay nada mas
Y no hay nada mas
Final
No hay nada mas
Claro, claro, claro que si.
English Translation
There Is Nothing Else
Good one, thin
Call me thin, but my first name is Jaci Andante (the one who walks)
The last name the one who pays
Listen
That I am witness
The beauty, the danger is different, of course it is the truth
The street, the town
The cottages and centers
City quality no better, worse
War and life, love and change
Food that is being kept
Pistol, this prayer is for them
Women and men
Family, upbringing
The light in the distance
I want and say
Good is closer
My sight, my house, my dreams, my soul
I want to know and feel your embrace
And your contact
Show me something
Amen
Of course, of course, of course, yes
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
The end
There is nothing else
Of course, of course, of course, yes
There is nothing else
And there is nothing else
The end
There is nothing else
Of course, of course, of course, yes
[Mos Def]
Kweli say, "Everybody act according to the season that they born in"
Some are the night, some are the morning, some at noon
Some in winter, some in June
It's our code, it's the natural
The science is a joke
For me and mines, yours and you
Let's move, tell you a little about mine, yo
I was born in a season where the world was quiet and cold
Celebrations were going on
Some were happy, some were sad
Some felt bad from being good
Some felt good from being bad, feelings pass and change
But they never leave, they here to stay
Holiday, holiday, happy birthday
Teenage love, the first cut run deep
Soul on flesh, this is the Brooklyn streets
Year of the Ox, seven and three
M.D., the history (come on)
Every soul got wonder D (yes)
It's where you been and where you be
And without understanding you cannot proceed
Complete, the start and the end
Then it just go round again... again
[Talib Kweli and Mos Def]
Again and again, brand new
Again and again, so fresh
Again and again, newness
[Talib Kweli]
I was born in the decade of decadence where they worship what they have
Ford was president, do the math
The war was ended when the Vietnamese stormed the city of Saigon
We was like "Bye", we was gone, let bygones be bygones
I'm gone, spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
Where the hug you with the firearm side arm
Like new school clothes, Black Star official
Smash when we do a show, it's facts, no mystery
I'm down with the crew like Mussolini in Italy
I rock with The Roots like the Given Tree
Powerful, bigotry I work, me and my people got history
These rappers dumb it down considerably
We "Get it Poppin'" like a hit chorus
The flow is historic, they can't get rid of us
You pick with us, and we lay the law like Leviticus
Ten years ago we made history so they missing us
[Mos Def]
And don't call it come back in particular
We've been effort blending to affirmer or
Fade into peripheral, {?} of the minister's original
We're broadcast clear without diminishing
Black Star so tight, burning soul temperatures and ministers
Alkalines, aminos and minerals essentials
Served over Dilla time signatures
It's miracle material, remember it's right now foreverness
The way I feel sometimes its too hard to sit still
Things are so passionate times are so real
Sometimes I try an chill mellow down blowin smoke
Smile on my face but its really no joke
You feel it in the streets people breathe without hope
They goin through the motion, they dimmin down they focus
The focus gettin clear and the light turn sharp
And the eyes go teary, the mind grow weary
I speak it so clearly sometimes ya don't hear me
I push it past the bass no nations gotta feel me
I feel it in my bones, black, I'm so wide awake
That I hardly ever sleep, my flows forever deep
And its volumes or scriptures when I breath on a beat
My presence speak volumes before I say a word
I'm every where penthouse pavement and curb
Cradle to the grave tall lead you onna shell
Universal ghetto life holla black you know it well
Quiet storm vital form pen pushed it right across
Mind is a vital force, high level right across
Shoulders the lions raw voice is the siren
I swing round ring out and bring down the tyrant
Shocked a small act could knock a giant lopsided
The world is so dangerous there's no need for fightin
Suttins tryna hide like the struggle wont find em
And the sun bust through the clouds to clearly remind him
Everywhere penthouse pavement and curb
Cradle to the grave talk'll lead you on a shell
Universal ghetto life holla black you know it well
What it is
You know they know
What it is
We know yall know
What is is
Ecstatic there it is
Huh
[2X]
What it is
You know we know
What it is
They know yall know
What it is
You don't know? here it is
[2X]
(and always on time and rockin ya mind)
Sit and come relax riddle off the mac, its the patch
Imma soldier in the middle of Iraq
Well say about noonish commin out the whip
And lookin at me curious, a young Iraqi kid (awww)
Carrying laundry, whats wrong G? hungry?
No, gimme oil or get fuck out my country
And in Arabian barkin other stuff
Till his moms come grab him and they walk off in a rush
I'm like surely hope that we can fix our differences soon (bye!)
White apples I'm breakin on
You take everything why not just take the damn food like
I don't understand it, on another planet?
51 of this stuff how I'm gunna manage?
And increasing the sentiment gentlemen
Gettin down on that middle eastern instruments
Realized trappin is crap
Walk over kicked one of my fabulous raps (la dee da dee)
Arab (??) they well wished they glad wrapped
Now the kid considered like an Elvis of Baghdad
This is a song, got two lyrics
Very simple and plain we can all sing together
Nobody has to feel left out
Join in, this is the song people need to be singing right now
When they tell you you can't, you shouldn't, you won't
Tell 'em this:
There is a way
No matter what they say
A night where beautiful life is real
The mathematic to acting still
The unfamiliar the warm embrace
The family ties and the stranger's face
The lighting thunder the power steed
The what it is and the what is believed
The strong connections desire to need
The waking now or the moment to dream
The laugh the murmur the moan and the scream
The voice of reason somewhere in between
The one and all the me and the we
The I and I the thou and the thee
A man a design a child of the streets
The daily chore the impossible feat
The drum the chorus phenomenal beat
Easy to touch and the harder to reach
The sweetest fruit in the top of the tree
The sun the moon the stars and the bree-eze
I'm coming to it, and it's coming to me
So there's a story about the lady in Louisiana
She's a flood survivor and the rescue teams
They come through, and they, I guess tryna recover people
And they see this women she's wadin through the streets
I guess it'd been some time after the storm
And I guess they were shocked that you know she was alive
And rescue worker said, "So, oh my God h-how did you survive
How did you do it? Where've you been?"
And she said, "Where I been? Where you been?"
Hah, Where you been? You understand?
That's about the size of it
This for the streets, the streets everywhere
The streets affected by the storm called... America
I'm doin this for y'all, and for me, for the Creator
God save, these streets
One dollar per every human being
Feel that Katrina clap
See that Katrina clap
Listen, homie, it's Dollar Day in New Orleans
It's water water everywhere and people dead in the streets
And Mr. President he bout that cash
He got a policy for handlin the niggaz and trash
And if you poor you black
I laugh a laugh they won't give when you ask
You better off on crack
Dead or in jail, or with a gun in Iraq
And it's as simple as that
No opinion my man it's mathematical fact
Listen, a million poor since 2004
And they got -illions and killions to waste on the war
And make you question what the taxes is for
Or the cost to reinforce, the broke levee wall
Tell the boss, he shouldn't be the boss anymore
Y'all pray amin
God save, these streets
One dollar per every human being
Feel that Katrina clap
See that Katrina clap
God save, these streets
Quit bein' cheap nigga freedom ain't free
Feel that Katrina clap
See that Katrina clap
Lord have mercy
Lord God God save our soul
A God save our soul, a God
A God save our souls
Lord God God save our soul
A God save our soul soul soul
Soul survivor
It's Dollar Day in New Orleans
It's water water everywhere and babies dead in the streets
It's enough to make you holler out
Like where the fuck is Sir Bono and his famous friends now
Don't get it twisted man I dig U2
But if you ain't about the ghetto then fuck you too
Who care bout rock 'n roll when babies can't eat food
Listen homie man that shit ain't cool
It's like Dollar Day for New Orleans
It's water water everywhere and homies dead in the streets
And Mr. President's a natural ass
He out treatin niggaz worse than they treat the trash
God save, these streets
One dollar per every human being
Feel that Katrina Clap
See that Katrina Clap
God save, these streets
Quit bein cheap nigga freedom ain't free!
Feel that Katrina Clap
See that Katrina Clap
Soul survivor
God God God save our soul
A God save our soul
A God, a God save our soul
Lord God God save our soul
A God save our soul a God a God save
Lord did not intend for the wicked to rule the world
Say God did not intend for the wicked to rule the world
God did not intend for the wicked to rule the world
And even when they knew it's a matter of truth
Before they wick-ed ruling is through
God save, these streets
A Dollar Day for New Orleans
God save, these streets
Quit bein cheap homie freedom ain't free
God save these streets
One dollar per every human being
Feel that Katrina Clap
See that Katrina Clap
God save these streets
Quit bein cheap nigga freedom ain't free!
Feel that Katrina Clap! Ha
Ghetto Katrina Clap! Ha
Soul survivor
Lord God God save our soul
A God save God save our soul
Feel that Katrina Clap
Let's make them dollars stack
And rebuild these streets
God save these streets
God save these streets
God save the soul!
Feel that Katrina Clap
See that Katrina Clap
Soul survivor
Don't talk about it, be about it
Hear Me, See Me
Welcome to Soundview Projects
Bronx New York, 10473
Intersection action ribs touching
New gutter smacks replacing the whole Dutchman
Loose mamis fucking, they definite land mines
Dudes with no right hustle throwing gang signs
Empty in the webbings broke and underpaid
Fighting federal cases with legal aids
The unlit stage tonight performing lime desires to eat
Can get you in a 8 by 5, the corner's younger
I smell feel touch and taste they hunger
Next in line to rep these street signs to they blunder
Under, wiping tears from his eyes facing the felony
These niggaz wanna be Pistol Pete -without the penalty
His last words, promise me this much in death
Don't my boy live to retrace my steps
Minne- stay safe move quiet and get it
If you encounter opposition get a inch from they face with It
Later amigo, digest the day to end discreetly
Sex money and boss
My ties to hear me see me
True villain
Face covered, driving gloves
Commit by my lonely when push comes to shove
They say that grown men lay on they prey
Took shorts in the street
Came back and made up for that with that white sheet
Revenge is best served cold
Get it the same way you give it
This ain't fear I just need to get away with it
Son stop over here(?), you looking at me like I'm lame
But I'm looking at y'all like y'all call this the drug game
Grand child hosing sims
Put the heroin in queens
Put Pops Freeman on in the early seventies
I sat in rooms with money machines
Drugs sitting 3 feet off of the floor
Cover the smell of the raw
Chest moves like bars scale my connects untimely
King Henry from 12th street flooded the Bronx in the 90's
03 scene MVP and one Accord
Boss makes decision paper wins awards
See Me, Hear Me
Welcome to Brooklyn, New York City 11206
Roosevelt Projects, wild rose water the plant
Son you know what it is
From the moment that you come over the bridge
And if you don't ride with me
I'm gonna show you some shit
Ima show you where my niggaz stay sure on the mix
Ima show you where the pain and the poetry is
Ghetto young'ns spend a lot of time alone in the crib
BET on the screen, walls and posters of BIG
Hustlers getting dough sitting low on the 6
Blazing up the ambro glow over they wrist
Hop in the game knowing the risk
Still down to load up they clip
Gamblers with hopes of rolling the trip
But when you hear head crack there ain't no rolling again
Snatch the dice and everything you want is going it in
This how it happens, good people, bad habits, diabetics, crack addicts
Asthmatics
Searching for the truth leaping through the holy tablet
The bible, the Q uran, or the ten crack commandments
Speak on it God, What's today's mathematics
The five day forecast, the Dow Jones average
The price of beer, cigarettes, bread, milk and pampers
Life is a test and we all got the answer
The streets keep calling its hard not answer
And on my government-my attribute-my all
So it's only natural I holla black and respond
Brooklyn stand up and make 'em all sit down
(?) We do not fuck around
That's what it is (All Day)
That's what is Niggaz (Official, Official)
That's how it is Niggaz
BX, BK live all day
Get with it
[Mos Def]
Hey, you don't like me
That's alright I like me
I got something to say to you
I see you standing on the side
With your smile and your crooked eyes
Actin' like a man
But a chick frontin' in disguise
Pokin' on some thicker thighs
Smokin' on a blunt of lies
Tradin' in they badge
For a sash sayin' "SUCKER, HI!"
Lookin' at her son now
Probably make a mother cry
Should've listen to that song
Telling you to walk on by
But you didn't, now your washed up
Like a cup of Tide
Let me know I got the heat
When you think it's time to dry
[Mekhi]
Who you think you talkin' bout?
Mistaking me for some other guy
Need to buy a watch
Cause ain't no shorty gonna give the time
Day or night, birthdays, Kwaanzas or Valentines
Big talk, really small
But you ain't a friend of mine
You ain't even genuine
Sweeter that a cin-a-bun
[Mos Def (Mekhi)]
But with five fingers in a fist
I'm deadly as the Pentagon
YOU DON'T WANT BEEF WITH MILLER
CAUSE I'M ILLA
(Or you because you bout as criminal as killa)
Ooh ha, I see you slick with the words now
Gash cause you got a chick with curves now
Calm your nerves down
You was locked, Carmen Brown
Jaws had hers now, scored on the first down
Yeah so get your keys out your purse now
Run to your car 'fore you laying in a hearse clown
(How you sound, yo you dirtier than jurors now)
(Extortin all that money thought you'd have a couple furs now)
Huh, watch your speed
I ain't one to play around
You got your heads in the clouds now
I'm 'bout to bring you to the ground
There's something that you need to know
(They got you on video?)
SIKE, but your girl Carmen Brown is a silly ho
Black Jack
Was a fighting man
Black Jack
Was a mighty man
You stand them up
He knock them out
Yeah Yeah
Thats the real
You set them up
He knock them down
Yeah Yeah
Thats the deal
Now sing them high
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY
Up in the sky
Whoa, Oh, Whoa, Whoo
Break it down low
Whoa, Whoa
Break it off slow
Whoa, Whoa
Then shout it out
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Hey, Hey
Who dat boogie man
There dat boogie man
Tackidy Tackidy Tap Tap Tap
Holdin' bread in hand
Go head work that band
Go head work it say
Talkin' the talk and walkin' the walk
Is what daddy do they say
Wear those pretty clothes
Drive them pretty cars
You a super hero
You a super star
You a super man
Go head fly yo cape
Blowin' in the wind
Let it touch the hand
Stand and fight and win
Snatch the crown again
Wit' yo mighty swing
And yo flashy smile
Let them see the light
You so black and bright
You so bright you black
Shinin' you cryin' to fight them back
Turn the drums up
Turn my vocals, too
I hear myself a lil more
Yeah
More
Moto
Nice
Moto moto still
Yeah
Nice
Good
Uh huh
You waited up a lil bit for me
Yeah
Bedstuy Parade & Funeral March
for fighters and lovers
i cant stand you
i just love you
i got somethin to give you but
i dont want to
the one i wanna be close to but
i cant touch you
cuz i can see you
but i cant see good cuz
you keep me crying
oohhoooo oohhoooo oohhoooo oohhoooo oohhoooo
My gangsta woman
Sweet gangsta woman
Pretty gangsta woman
Little killa woman
Sweet gangasta woman
Pretty killa woman
Sweet gangsta woman
Gangsta
haha
Yeah
Give it to 'em
yes,yes,yes,yes,aha ah!
Ghetto people..this one's for you
And you and you and you
And you and you in the front
Jack Johnson (aha) live and stompin
Undisputed heavy weights champ (aha) of the world
Yo I'm live with it, low, middle, the high with it
And that's how I'ma live and die with it
Hold up and down your spine with it
Like Zimzallabim, Jack Johnson, yes my dog, right with them!
The most special, most ghetto, most method, most valuable
Rep my avenue like is the damn state capital
Coming shadows to mind, a better mark of rapeness
On slaves who high jacked the slave ships
The hackers who remapped the matrix
And built the road back to basics
And getcha all off that strain shit
You know this other cats run game with, it's tainted
Consider this the moment that changed it: NOW!
Jack john's stand strong never bow down
Back off or get clapped dog right about POW
For east to the west,up north to down south
We show you how to REALLY make moshpit bounce
Show you how the gritty make the ghetto wild out
First letters that I wrote when I sketch the script down
I'M LIVE WITH IT
low, middle, the high with it
And that's how I'ma live and die with it
I shine with it, rhyme with it, reveal and recognise with it
The ghetto know what time is it, when i spit it
Me 9-semi, an iron lion strike with it
See Dr. Know string a knot and make 'em ride with it
And look alive
Ghetto rock with me
Look alive
Ghetto rock with me
Aha yeah
Throw it up
Ghetto rock with me
Show it up
Ghetto rock with me
Born to rock, since my pawn shift rise (??)
Rock the booze water on any bully on your block
My flow tighter than a big titties halter top
Doper than a floyd flake that they bought they pops
Since I bright a con duke of course I'm not
My sharp mind join the dots and blow they plots
A lot of cats talk noise a lot, but then the noise is stopped
When the heavy sound voice in charge
And this is no limp bizkit this is jack's fat cock
loaded up slightly back, ghetto black rock
Brooklyn got bomb-rush that you can't stop
These the hungry hands that gon snatch your cash box
I never gave a second what on "the fuck is with y'all?"
Cuz my first thought covered it all
YOU WHACK!!!
And I don't care what you sound since not mumblin y'all
Cause you can't do me nothing at all
Which means, you can't shine my shoes watch my drawers
Clean my cloth walk my dog moan my loan
On other words dude I don't need SHIT from them
All I got is hard rhymes and hot spit for them
And yeah, I got the country new (raaatttttt) for them
See how dark it can get for them?
Tell their mommas THAT'S IT for them
Get the flowers, they'll sing for them
A sad story how it'll end for them
That's what you get for not listenin' FIRE!!
And a long rest in kumbayah
You stand strong you can't move higher
You move in "how we all can move higher?"
Ready to roll like new tire
Well I can show you who the true lion
True power move quiet thru the understandin of the science
We live with it, no middle, the high with it
And that's how we gon live and die with it
Now ride with it
Yeah, ghetto rock with me
Ghetto rock with me
Ghetto rock with me
Ghetto rock!! Ghetto... MOTHERFUCKERS!
Yo yeah, yo yeah, yo yeah
Yo, yo, yeah, yeah
Black is, black is something to laugh about
Black is something to cry about
Black is serious, black is a feeling
Black is us the beautiful people
Yo yeah, yo yeah, yo yeah
That was when some of them bad niggas
Made beauty moving juju changes, the drum musics hum
Mojo vibrated and high jons screamed through the bloods
To no more hears the blood sounds, no more folk intercourses
And all the niggas listening acted visionaries
To dig my people, they acted
The ryhtms pulling their minds was one
And moved, moved, moved
Universe earth spirits firing the soil to destroy the evil unimage
Cleanse the waste from the cold lands
Until the cosmos was whole again
And the worlds had become nude
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yo yo, yeah
3:30 in the morning with not a sole in sight
We set for deep at a traffic light
Talking about how dumb and brainwashed
Some of our brothers and sisters are
I don't wanna write this down, (world... premiere)
I wanna tell you how I feel right now (world... premiere)
I don't wanna take no time to write this down, (world... premiere)
I wanna tell you how I feel right now, hey (world... premiere)
Tomorrow may never come
For you or me
Life is not promised
Tomorrow may never show up
For you and me
This life is not promised
I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do, the best that I can,
With what it is I have
I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do, the best that I can,
With what it is I have
Put my heart and soul into this song (yes yes)
I hope you feel me
From where I am, to wherever you are
I mean that sincerely
Tomorrow may never come
For and me
Life is not promised
Tomorrow may never appear
You better hold this very moment very close to you (right now)
Very close to you (right now)
So close to you, So- close to you (your moment in history is right now!)
Don't be affraid, to let it shine
My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My Abi said shine your light on the world
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My Umi said shine your light on the world
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see
(Want black people to be free, to be free...)
Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and, things are so weak
People are so weak
Sometimes,
Sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away (fly fly fly, like a dove)
Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself (ow!)
Passion takes over me
I feel like a man
Going insane
Losing my brain
Trying to maintain
Doing my thang
Hey hey hey hey hey
Put my heart and soul into this y'all
I hope you feel me
Where I am, to wherever you are (ha ha ha ha)
Sometimes I don't want to be bothered
Sometimes I just want a quiet life, with
Me and my babies, me and my lady
Sometimes I don't want to get into no war
(Black people to be free, to be free...)
Sometimes I don't wanna be a soldier
Sometimes I just wanna be a man, but
Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My dreamers(?) said shine your light on the world
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see
(Want black people)
My elders said shine your light on the world (Hey hey)
Shine your light for the world to see
I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All my people to be free, to be free, to be free
Oh black people to be free, to be free, to be free
Oh black people to be free, to be free, to be free
That's all that matters to me
Black people unite and let's all get down
Gotta have what,
Gotta have that love
Peace and understanding
One God, one light
One man, one voice, one mic
Black people unite come on and do it right
Black people unite come on and do it right
Black people unite come on and get down
Gotta have what,
Love, peace and understanding
One God, one voice, one life
One man, gon' shine my light
Black people unite, now hop up and do it right
Black people unite, now come on and do it right
Yeah baby that's what I like
Yeah baby that's what I like
Yeah baby that's what I like...
You are the one
You're the ooooone!
Other brothers just don't know
You got to feel me on this one man
So real
I'm so sin-serious about it, you know?
I know, I know more than a few is gonna relate
So much more than a few (fa-really real)
So much more (on the really real!)
When it started I knew it was trouble
But you know me
Them "hard an' e'rythings" can't hold me (you love, hardhead)
I need some shit straight out the movies
DRAMA
Warm to the touch, hot mama
You put me all in like launch jeans and scama
You was Mrs. Mine
So fine
Went from "we gonna conquer it all"
To "nigga I'ma see you in court"
I woulda never thought (damn)
I guess I better think again (you know?)
OK, now the shit is really sinking in
We ain't just divorced
We ain't even fucking friends
Cause in the end it was all about the ends
But fuck that I know it gotta be more to it
Held up with bitter hate with crosses all through it
And when I looked, what did I see?
You on the other end crying like me
Expression on your face like, "how could this be?"
That's what I'm asking, "what the fuck happened?"
How could all the magic and passion just vanish (c'mon)
Went from outsanding, to makin' me shout, "Dammit!"
Can't explain the changes, behavior's is outlandish
Now I'm just stuck in the road feeling stranded
I'm in the dark wishing for the answers
On some ol' "Biggie gimme one more chance" shit
When we met your face so brown
Ya ass so round, of course I'm so down
Wish I knew then what the fuck I know now
Couldn't read the signs in the road: "SLOW DOWN!"
I'm too deep in the road now
Got me pulling over getting smoked out
Fighting tears that I can't hold down
Can't believe it, this fucka's got me weeping
I keep it a secret so my friends won't peep it (live man?)
But late in the evening I'm up, my chest heaving
I'm reaching in the dark and I'm looking for the reason
(WHY!)
Did our love have to die?
You and I were so fucking fly
Can't get it off my mind
The things that made me smile now make me cry
You are the one
You're the one!
FUCK YOU!!
I wish we never met, I wish we never kissed
I wish we never touched (I swear to God)
I wish I didn't love you so much
I wish I could forget how feel, how you f--
(Damn) That's a lie
The shit that made me smile, now make me cry
You are the one
You're the one!
FUCK YOU!!
Sometime I wish we'd come back
Man, I wish we'd come back
(Memories!)--No lie
For real?
Fuck that
No, for real
It's a dangerous necessity, it's a world famous mystery
Love
That's it
[Malcolm X]
"You're living at a time of extremism, a time of revolution
a time where there's got to be a change. People in power have misused it
and now there has to be a change and a better world has to be built
and the only way is going to be built is with extreme methods
and I for one will join with anyone, don't care what color you are
as long as you want change this miserable condition that exists on this earth."
[Mos Def]
Ecstatic
Ecstatic ecstatic
Classic
Flow
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
Knock off your set, Brooklyn we keep 'em open
The heavens expand the stars advance feel the boogieman
Mojo hand healing power like Bang
Snap, I rebuke these snitches
We know the truth, you can't confuse me bitches
Great name, greater than all your riches
Yah Dante Flaco Bey that's the business
Repeat, I rebuke these snitches
We know the truth, you can't confuse me bitches
Strong magic that bust all your wishes
Cherokee Chief rock upon cha rock it don't stop
And let's get
You're now rockin' with the Def
Lararara
Oh Oh Oh Oh
It's like heartbeat, you make me feel
So... REAL
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
Knock off your set, Brooklyn we keep 'em open
Again again
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
Knock off your set, come close and get 'em open
Get it here, let it go!
Ectasy
The heavens expand the stars advance feel the boogieman
Nice!
Old white men is runnin' this rap shit
Corporate force's runnin' this rap shit
Some tall Israeli is runnin' this rap shit
We poke out our asses for a chance to cash in
Cocaine, is runnin' this rap shit
'Dro, 'yac and E pills is runnin' this rap shit
The rape over, turn your face over nigga
No God in disguise it's me, game over
Hey lil souljahs you ready for war?
But don't ask what you're fighting for
Just hope that you survive the gunfight, the drama, the stress
You get in the line of fire, we get the big ass checks
You gettin' your choice of pimp make your choice and fall in
This is ho stroll B I, take that cock in your behind, beyotch
Hit the streets and perform for us
Hold hard and bring it on to us, fucker
I let you sip up some army, get a Mercedes
And kick back and let you pay me, my Mack is crazy
I leave the, knife and fist fight filled with glamour
Yeah, take a picture with this platinum plated sledgehammer
We over do it add the fire and explosion to it
We sold confusion, we front rap music
M.TV, is runnin' this rap shit
Viacomm is runnin' this rap shit
A.O.L and time warner runnin' this rap shit
We poke out our asses for a chance to cash in
Cocaine, is runnin' this rap shit
Hennessey, is runnin' this rap shit
Quasi homosexuals is runnin' this rap shit
Watch out we run the world
I just want you to
Relax
Ease into it
Baby slow down, just take your time
You and me goin' be here for a while
Okay
Baby don't rush this, take your time
You and me goin' be here for a while
Okay
I got so much that I want to do
I just want to be close to you
Okay
I got so much that I want to do
That I can show you better than I can say
I don't wanna be no where but here
No where in this atmosphere
Stratosphere, ionosphere
Ain't no sphere that's bright like here
I don't wanna be no where but here
No where in this atmosphere
I'm good where I am
Baby slow down, take your time
You and me goin' be here for a while
Okay, hey
I got so much that I want to do
I can show you better than I can say
Let me show you
Let me show you
Let me show you
Let me show you
Let me show you
I wanna show you
Let me show you
Let me show you
Let me show you
Oh baby, you make me feel so good
Come let me take you by the hand
Oh baby, you make me feel so good
Let me show you how
Let me show you how
Let me show you now
Let me show it out
Let me show you how
I wanna show ya how
Let me show ya
Let me show ya
Let me show ya
Let me show ya
Let me show ya
Baby slow down just take your time
You and me goin' be here for a while
Okay, hey
I got so much that I want to do
That I can show you better than I can say
Enough talk and let's move
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
You turn me up a lil'..
I'm gettin a lotta , alotta music
Add me more voice here, yeah, yeah
Even more, even more, even more
A Black Johnson, exclusive
Pop up!
Pop up, pop up, pop up, pop up, pop up!
Aahhh!
Y-E-A, YEAH!
You can get it...and you can get it!
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
You can get it!
They want a nigga that done change their life
Fuck 'em,and feed 'em, and buy 'em all the things, he like: shit!
You smile bright and ya game is tight
You say: Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Bright eyes and the pretty long hair, oh yeah
Body all there, oh yeah
You wanna reach me call here
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it
Though I believe what I'm sayin, yeah well
I believe I can spit it so good that they will
And that's real
And that's all
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Raise your hands and we doin now with it
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Put it up if you wanna (be) down with it
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Throw it up if you wanna (be) down with it
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Haaaa.
They want a nigga that done change in life
Fuck 'em, and feed 'em, i'ma buy all the things, he like:
You smile bright and ya game is tight
Huh! You smile bright and ya game is tight
Let me know whatcha doin' tonight
Y-E-A, YEAH!
Huh, yeah!
Huh, yeah!
Huh!
Y-E-A, YEAH!
Y-E-A, YEAH!
Huh, they want a nigga that done changed in life
Fuck 'em, and feed 'em, i'ma buy all the things, he like
Shit! You smile bright and ya game is tight
Now baby: Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Bright eyes and the pretty long hair, oh yeah
Body all there,yeah oh yeah
You wanna reach me call here
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Raise your hands if you wanna (be) down with it
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Throw ya hands let me know how you feelin
Belly to belly then up in the dance
You got the things that I like to touch
Get close cuz I like to touch
Uhhhhhhhn, so much!
Belly to belly then we up in the club
Don't hate baby show some love
Let me know what's on your mind
Get close let me start to grind
Hun, what's on your mind
And get close and we start to grind
Make me feel so... oohhh!
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
You can get it
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Is you with it?
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Ghetto rock for all y'all niggaz
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Hun! See
Huh, they want a nigga that done changed their life
Fuck 'em, and feed 'em, i'ma buy all the things, he like
Shit! You smile bright and ya game is tight
Now baby: Y-E-A, YEAH!
You can get it
The bright eyes and the long or short hair, oh yeah
The body all there, mama oh yeah
You wanna reach me call here
7-1-8, Y-E-A, Y-E-AAAAAA-H!
Uhhh uhhhh. Uuhh uhhh
I like it, I see it, I want it uhh uhh
I like it, I see it, u got it uhh uhh, let's do it
I like it, you got it,uhh uhh I see it
I like it, you got it uhh uhh lets do it
I like it, you got it uhh uhh
I see it, I like it you got it
Y-E-A, YEAH! You can get it!
Say Y-E-A, YEAH YEAH
Y-E-A, yeah yeah!
Brooklyn!
I say.. oohh ...ahhh
Oooh, aahh
Belly to belly you and I up in the dance
Don't be shy while we raise your hands
Belly to belly you and I up in the grind
Let me know what's on your mind
Gz y-e-a ....(yeah)..Owwwwwwh!!!!
Y-E-A...(yeah yeah..) ooh oh ho ohh!
Y-E-A... (yeah yeah..)
Y-E-A... right away, right away..
Hey, top priority
Peace before everything
God before anything
Love before anything
Real before everything
Home before anyplace
Shoot before anything
Style and state radiate
Love power slay the hate
Truth killer, flakey face
Players say it to they face
Ain't afraid to major straight
Race at the table straight
Flow greatest like the greatest lakes
Capes all greatest states
Quiet water major waves
Steer the course make a way
And come ashore on a greater day
Home grown from the greatest grain
Full flavor in the native strain
Now put that on your brainy brain
Full exposure to favorite slang
Minimal wage and major gangs
Y'all seen them play the bait
Later night from day to day they came to play
We came to stay get out the way
Biotch sons buy heat rocks
Brooklyn finest, preservation to beat box
[Incomprehensible] detox
When we rock the people [Incomprehensible] priority
Peace before anything
God before everything
Love before anything
Real before everything
Home before anyplace
Shoot before anything
Style and state radiate
Love power slay the hate, priority
Boogie man, boogie man, boogie man
BOOGIE MAN! (Hello children!)
My whole life is real
My life
A-ha, Brooklyn you know
My life
, it's a real thang
Listen
My whole life is real, morning news and nights is real
What I spit and I write is real, cuz my life is real
My own life is ILL!!
filled with magic's strife to scale
Sun bright, no time to chill, got all type of bills
I got seeds I gotta feed with this
They be needin shit, I got ex-wife beef and shit
That's how deep it get
My whole life is real, my whole life is ill
A fantastic, a beautiful mess
And life nigga in America: the usual stress
I do it to the up, low, the east and the west, I
Do it to most, I do it to death
I do so it good they don't know what to do with theyselves
Well do this: MOVE!
Back, forward, mo'
Life is real, let's move on
My whole life is real, morning news and nights is real
What I spit and I write is real, cuz my life is ILL
Filled with magic's strife to scale
Sun bright, no time to chill
Got all type of bills
I got seeds I gotta feed with this
I got streets I gotta reach with this
That's how deep it get
My whole life is ill, my whole life is real
Mornings, noon's, nights
Birthdays, workdays, holidays, funerals. the usual
Life is real!
Sunday to Monday, school, your gunplay, politics, bullshit
Life is real!
Shootings, stabbing, free tray, arrest
crush, kill, destroy, cheques
Death. rebirth
Reach the world but touch the street first
Life goin in every direction but rewind
Niggaz is waiting for the light to dive down
On a park a hustler plays the hide out
Somebody's gotta notice it's a matter of time before the world fine out
The earth dry out and push the hintin to high ground,life style--Hostile
Real, life real real
So real, too real, news real--edited
The close up block out the rest of it
True evident, false measurement
Crunk superstar, thug president
Tricks allegiance, M-def payment ship
Scribe lively, so timely,that is timeless
And is lovely, and is ugly, as it must be
My whole life is real, ha-haa!
Brooklyn know
My life my
B.X. know
My life my
Real niggaz all over the world
My life my
, it's a real thang
whoooo!
Bright moments
Bright moments always come back vivid
The fifth great was epic citywide test pressure
The pre-crack era
Mr Schollmen, what a prick
Attitude matches wardrobe, uglier than sin
This is Bed-Stuy '82
Ninth floor, three tiny rooms, one view
Buck-town, Roosevelt house
They green grass is green, our green grass is brown
Shots rang, my phone wasn't touchtone
A heavy beef in the street, ET had to flee
Gray heavens, good grief
Hungry bellies, bright gold on they teeth
The windows on the Ave look like sad eyes
They fix their sharp gaze on you when you pass by
And if you dare to stand, you can see 'em cry
You can watch 'em scowl, feel 'em prowl
Wall and study every inch about you
Fast math measuring what you amount to
The laughter, the screams
The numeral, the song of psalms, the book of dreams
Ends don't meet where the arms can't reach mean streets
Even when it's free it ain't cheap
On going saga, terminal diagnosis
Basic survival requires super heroics
No space in the budget for a cake
It's when you gotta fly by night to save the day
Crash landings routinely happen
Some survive, others never rise from the ashes
Watching asphalt and observing the Sabbath
Creates an ecstatic and there you have it
From teenage love praying in tongue
Strange fruit, batty boots and native drums
From hence I come, so here we go
Signs and wonders all along the road
Some lies open, some lies close
Some stretchers role with no lies at all
Some riders don't know what they riding for
Hands on the wheel and their mind is gone
Wherever you ride, whatever your name
This raw cold life is a beautiful thing
And we are alive in amazing times
Delicate hearts, diabolical minds
Revelations, hatred, love and war
And more and more and more and more
And more of less than ever before
It's just too much more for your mind to absorb
It's scary like hell but there's no doubt
We can't be alive in no time but now
It's just a sure shot to the heart
It's just a sure shot in the dark
It's just another place in the star
[Incomprehensible]
Life in marvelous time, life in marvelous time
Right, everywhere all over the world
You can feel it, all over the world
Feel it, feel it rise everywhere
It's just a sure shot to the heart
It's just a sure shot in the dark
It's just another place in the star
[Incomprehensible]
Life in marvelous time, life in marvelous time
Kweli say, Everybody act according to the season that they born in
Some in the night some in the morning
Some at noon
Some in winter some in June
Its all cool,its a natural
The science is a jewel
For me and mines yours and you, let's move
tell ya little brother I'm out
Yo, I was born in a season where the world was quite and cold.
Celebrations were going on.
Some were happy, some were sad, some felt bad from being good, some felt good from being bad.
The feelings past and changed but they never leave, they here to stay.
Holiday holiday happy birthday teenage love the first cut run deep.
So long flesh this is the brooklyn streeets.
Year of the ox, 7 and 3 MD,the history.
Every soul's got one of these.
It's where you been and where you be.
And without understanding you cannot proceed complete
It start then it end
Then it just go 'round again, again.
Again and again brand new.
Again and again so fresh.
Again and again newness.
[Kweli]
I was born in the decade of decadence where they worshiped what they have.
Ford was president do the math.
The war was ended when the North Vietnamese
Stormed the city of Saigon.
We was like bye we was gone.
Let bygons be bygons.
I'm gone spread love it's the brooklyn way.
Where they hug you with the firearms sidearm.
Like new school clothes, Black Star official.
Smash when we do the shows.
Facts no mystery.
I'm down with the crew like Mussolini in Italy.
I rock with the Roots like the giving tree.
Powerful bigotry at work.
Me and my people got history rappers dumb it down considerably.
We get it poppin' like a hit chorus.
The flow is historic.
They can't get rid of us,
Ubiquitous.
And we lay the law like Leviticus.
Ten years ago we made history so they missin' us.
[Mos]
And don't call it a comback in particular
Even if it blend into ephemera
Or fade into peripheral
Transition of the minister's original
We're broadcast clear without diminishing
Black Star, stove top burners
Soul temperatures, administers, alkalines, aminos and minerals essentials
Served over Dilla time signatures
It's miracle material
Hip hop, modern time, flossy and raw so self-absorbed, immature
I can't remember being this bored
Fake bonanza, there come real wars
Bullets burn through the candy on the driver side door
Long investigations and no firm lead, billion dollar flow
And black life is still cheap
Your rent skyrockets and y'all prospects plummet
Ten murders, ten days, this summer
Talk about today's mathematics, a eighth, an O, a key
And the caliber on your rack, shit
The inmate number, the centerfolds for measurement
Is close as a coed cell come to some tendon-is
I heard them say it was all about the Benjamins
I don't believe it now, didn't believe it then, fuck wutcha heard
You believe wutcha want, the truth is what it is, it be what it been
Get rich, shorty just tryna live
Don't believe in heaven and ain't tryna get in
And hell is everyday, fuck the world anyway
Potion and sips, spark up a clip, FADE AWAY!
The low lights, tree top heights
Be careful how you move the traps are covered in the lights
Landmines be disguised as welcome signs
I'll repeat it so you ain't got to press rewind
The landmines be disguised as welcome signs
Black fresh from Iraq, a wild look in his eyes, missing part of his arm
What the fuck is your problem!? Ohh lord! Fake Bonanza!
Gladiator, circus world
Glamour, pussy, pimp, ho good to serve this world
Paranoid, if she trick a nigga nervous world
Shade-tonic natural order in reversal world
The ipod, no God, zero circle world
The blow-a turtle world, smoke from the purple world
The killer murder world, hamburger murder world
Open twenty-four hours, all about them dollars
Pretty poison, devoid choices
Cold coffee and more coffers, fake bonanza
Huh? What? I don't understand ya!
What they talking bout save they soul, ohh lord, save they soul!
Help them reach the goal, peace!
You know, peace
, boogieman! Don't be scared
Ohh lord, save they soul
Ohh lord, save my soul
Please
Boogieman
Woke up this morning with my, my state don't fade and said I
Had the baddest feeling, maybe you stayed on my mind, said I
Woke up this morning in my, my state, I'm dreaming, dreaming
Ain't nothing even.....dreaming, praying, keeping
Woke up this morning and my mind stayed on freedom
Woke up this demon that keep staying on my mind
Said, woke up this morning and my mind stayed on freedom
Walkin' with my baby
She got great big feet
She's long, lean and like
Ain't had nothing to eat
But she's my baby
And I love her just the same
Crazy 'bout that woman
'Cause Caldonia is her name
Caldonia, Caldonia
What makes your big head so hard
I love you
Love you just the same
I'll always love you, baby
'Cause Caldonia is your name
You know my mama told me to leave Caldonia, love
That's what she told me, no kid
That's what she said, she says
"Son, keep away from that woman, she ain't no good
Don't bother her
But mama didn't know
What Caldonia was putting down
So I'm going down to Caldonia's house
And ask her just one more time
Caldonia, Caldonia
Hey hey, ha ha say what say what
Ha ha bust it yo
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, is beautiful Brooklyn
Long as I live here believe I'm on fire hey
Cuz it's the B-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
L-Y-N is the place where I stay
The B-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
Best in the world and all USA
It's the B-to-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
L-Y-N is the place where I stay
The B-to-the-R-the-O-the-O-K
Place where I rest is on my born day
Bust it, sometimes I sit back and just reflect
Watch the world go by and my thought connect
I think about the time past and the time to come
Reminesce on Bed-Stuy when I was pride and young
I used to try and come, to the neighborhood function
Throw on my Izod, say a little something
When I was just a youngin, before the days of thuggin
How me and Charlie Chims (aiyyo what?) I'm only buggin
Fast forward, Nine-Now I gotta team my seed
I must proceed at God's speed to perform my deed
Livin the now space and time, round the nine to five
For as long as I'm alive, paw I got to strive
I ain't sittin roadside, that ain't harder to plan
I'm out here for my fam doin all that I can
I love my city, sweet and gritty in land to outskirts
Nickname Bucktown cuz we grown to outburst
Philosophy redefine us, touch mines I touch back
Walk the streets like a sweet and get beat like drum tracks
Catch no shakes over jakes (boomp-boomp!) we bust back
Bring the marty to your face wit no place to run back
I'm from the slums that created the bass that thump back
This ain't a game clown, play ya James Brown and jump back
What you want, Jack? Young cats stash they jums at
Draw they guns back, momma screams where she sons at
Tryin to hunt that, recurring dream of high stakes
The fourth largest, first artist, Brooklyn is the place
Settled by the judge many years ago
Three billion strong and here we go
GOOD MORNINNNNNNNNNGG VIETNAM!!!
Ha (back up back up back up back up back up)
Yo sometimes I sit back, reflect on the place that I live at
Unlike any place I ever been at
The home of big gats, deep dish hammer rim caps
Have a mishap, push ya wig back
Where you go to get the fresh trim at
Four on the jake got the Timb rack
Blue collars metro carding it
Thugs mobbin it, form partnership
Increase armorment, street pharmacist
Deep consequence, when you seek sleek ornaments
You get caught, rode the white horse and can't get off
Big dogs that trick off just get sent off
They shoebox stash is all they seeds gotta live off
It's real yo but still yo, it's love here
And it's felt by anybody that come here
Out of towners take the train, plane and bus here
Must be something that they really want here
One year as a resident, deeper sentiment
Shoutout "Go Brooklyn!", they representin it
Sittin on they front stoop sippin Guinesses
Usin native dialect in they sentences
From the treeline blocks to the tenaments
To the Mom & Pop local shop menaces
Travel all around the world in great distances
And ain't a place that I know that bear resemblance
That's why we it The Planet
Not a borough or a prov, it's our style that's uncalm
From ?sun? to the ? to the Lafayette Gardens
White ?coff guawinas? in they army jacket linings
Yo this goes out to my cats in Coney Isle
Friday night out in front The Himalaya goin wild
This goes out to Crown Heights and Smurv Village
The nighties, and all my ?yarda trenny? Brown's Village
Parkside tennants caught, thirties, forties, and the fifties
The cats out in Starite City gettin busy
To the Hook, to the East, to the Stuy
Bushwick and Kanarcy, Farraget, Fullgreen, and Marcy
My Flatbush posse, generals of armies
When it's time to form, just call me
And let this song be, playin loud in Long B
If you love Bucktown STRONGLY!
RAISE IT UP!
Brooklyn my habitat, the place where it happen at
Live sway and the sharp balance of the battle axe
Irons is brandished at, thugs draw they hammer back
It's where you find the news tool crew cameras at
It's where my fam is at, summertime jame is at
They play Big and get you open like a sandal back
Hotter than candle wax, hustlin you can't relax
The crack babies tryin to find where they mama's at
It's off the handle black, wit big police scandals that
Turn into actions screenplays sold to Miramax
The type of place where they check your appearance at
And cats who know where all the hot 'lo gear is at
The stompin grounds, where you find a pound, smoke is that
Be blazin charm that have your wave cap floatin back
The doorstep where the disposessed posted at
Dope fiends out at Franklin Ave sellin zovarax
You big ballin better keep your money folded back
Cuz once the young guns notice that it's over, black
Brooklyn keep on takin it, worldwide we known for that
Flossy cats get it snatched like the local tax
The place I sharpen up my baritone vocals at
War is a global economic phenomenon
Ain't a batch of guns on where, hellfire
Spittin', run up everything they hittin'
Some do they job to dodge the barrage
As sleek projectiles never stay bound
Fire bite invades the night with light
Loud, fighter planes shout shell rain
When they shot to kill cops on the terrain
And leave any brain that may remain stained
You god damn right this war goin' too far
Socialists think they converse with the stars
Wars found, my find the beauty in the stars
I level with death even beneath radar
I level with death even beneath radar
I level with death and she got pretty eyes
Nobody told me death was so damn fine
I go to sleep with that girl on my mind
Wake up in a sea, I wanna fire in line
Grab my heat, then it's get down time
One day I'ma make that girl all mine
But for now I'm a soldier abidin' my time
Writin' my rhyme behind enemy lines
Palestine, Kosovo, Cashmere
No different than the avenues right here
An increase in the murder rate each year
Paramilitary unit keep the streets clear
Curtains up on the theatre of warfare
Dramatic politics nightly preformed here
Worldwide from Colombia to Columbine
Don holders keep ya dollar signs on the line
"I don't want to rule or conquer anyone
I should like to help everyone if possible
Jew, gentile, black man, white
We all want to help one another
Human beings are like that
We want to live by each other's happiness
Not by each other's misery
In this world, there's room for everyone
And the good earth is rich
And can provide for everyone a way of life"
Fuck that
You know the drill
Fix ya face
I'ma hustle off the hill
Go get my money man
Go get my money man
See every hunter need to kill
Go get my money man
I'm old school from off the hill
Go get my money man
Go get my money man
I give a fuck what I do
Go get my money man
Go get my money man
Go get that money man
Go get my money man
Go get that money man
Gimme my money man
Gimme my money
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
Fuck you, pay me
So what you doing
I'm feeling very well
Rocking this from Brooklyn, this is my vibration
Make you have sensation, when you hear the jam
All you want to say is happiness yo
Sometimes I get a feeling inside it's like (what)
It's something type of hard to explain it's like (what)
I got a good vocab and such but Ock
Somethings still remain out of touch- it's like
Your very first kiss or- it's like
Like a new pair of kicks or
You know what I'm saying Ock
It's just the vide
I can't articulate it
It's better demonstrated
And when it's integrated
Then things get rennovated
It's deeply contemplated
Before I operated
My steady advance will keep the jams populated
Okay okay I'm ready, (alright) I'm feeling good
Beats by 88 Key, Mos Def the emcee
The HOTtest entry, inside your benzy
Yo they got digitals now, true
That's old school
Don't run no new game, I like the old rules- like
Early to sleep and early to wake
You keep your long on money and short on mistakes
I speak on beat breaks, my jams is keep sakes
So recite that (cite that)
I said recite that (CITE that)
Cause when I'm laying down here baby it's tight phat
When I react that ain't no army that can strike back
And if they do they catching more than the eye jab (poof)
A lot of cats like to bite, I copyright that
So when you hear it on your box you say "I like that"
Send salaams to Abstract, is this the right track?
We staying, underground like the NTA
Be controller of the rock like the NBA
I remember days when supper was the empty tray
But I still held it down for mines an-y-way
See I still held it down for mines an-y-way
See I still held it down for mines an-y-way
It's how we do say,
Hey man what you doing
Feeling very well
Rocking this from Brooklyn
This is my vibration
To make you have sensation
Family situation
When you hear the jam
All you want to say, is Happiness- yo
The era we entering is mad exciting
Sometimes I got more rhymes than I remember writing
I stand like a titan above the mental midget
My safe originate from seven-eighteen digits
Thats BROOKLYN- for area code impaired
Medina of the planet for cats from out there
Mos Def official native of the Bed-Stuy section
I'm standing 5'10" with the chocolate complextion
I keep the function moving in the right direction
I'm coming with the new to keep the next crew guessing
Who you stressing! Pump your brakes and slow down
I hold court, you get cut short like pronoun
I throw down just like Ali in Zyaire
I'm fresh from my feet to the roots in my hair
Kangol and Wallabees is some gear that I wear
Skid out to Chamber Street and I copped the fly pair
And I DARE- anyone of these new chaps
To step in the arena without they crew's back
Approahing the recital with titles you lose that
Send home a telegram to relay the news that the
M- for magnificant
O- praise omnipotent
S- for significant
D- for type different
E- for effic-ient
F- the fly fisherman
Netting everything from here to Lake Michigan
So all my people if you're out there listening
Give me a shout and let me know what you getting in
Some emcees ain't even worth mentioning
Let's congregate and compilate these Benjamins
We take the crown and break them down like divis-ion
To realize what my eyes is envisioning
Dollars correct and I'm the man on deck
But otherwise I gotta jet, it's no disrespect
Otherwise I gotta jet, it's no disrespect
Otherwise I gotta jet, it's no disrespect
Otherwise I gotta jet, it's no disrespect
Hey man what you doing
Feeling very well
Rocking this from Brooklyn
This is my vibration
To make you have sensation
Family situation
When you hear the jam
What it is, what you want?
Live your life right
Make the beat the bump
It's like one for the treble
Two for the bass
Three for the pretty babies up in the place
The undeniable
Come to the party in a B-boy stance
I rock on the mic
And the world wanna dance
Fly like a dove
That come from up above
I'm rockin on the mic
And you can call me Mos love
Little homie you can call it what you want
But you can't call it weak
And you can't call it chump
And looking like that
Babe you need to call me up
Seven eighteen D-a-n-t-e, one what?
These jokers don't want none
And all the pretty mommies want some
Tell 'em come
BK do it how Biggie say
Spread love
R. Harrison, throw it on get 'em up
Dispirit and raw till they can't get enough
Haters get it twisted
Real niggaz get it done
Buck down like a live round
Not a dum dum, bop bop
And you know, you know (make 'em say)
(No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now)
Yea, the undeniable
(There ain't no future in fronting
So just love me now)
Yea, the undeniable
So I start a flow
just want y'all to know
just who your listening to
Black Dante
So listen let me tell ya
Who I am, and how I do
The undeniable
Respect a foundation that they can't hold
And it's bullet, shatter, and earthquake proof
See how I drop the jewel
It's the golden rule
A-B-C Always be cool
They need to teach it at every school It's the
A-B-Y Always be you
Def, and I always been true
Real, true
Skill, true Ill
Ghetto world I know exactly how it feels
(Some go work, and some go steal)
Children grow, women produce
And we rock on no matter what what you do
(No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now)
Yea, the undeniable
(There ain't no future in fronting
So just love me now)
Yea, the undeniable
Yea, the undeniable, spread love y'all
6x spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
13x spread love,
every day, Brooklyn way, can't deny, no
matter how hard you try
can't deny, can't deny, can't deny
spread love you can give us a one
Uh, What it is, what you want
Get your mind right
It's the beat to bump
It's like one for the treble, two for the bass
Make no mistake, you are rockin with
Black Dante
The undeniable
Ha, Yea, The undeniable
Fantastic
Raw, dynamic, and real
You got the feel
Yea, the undeniable
Spread love
Undeniable
Spread love
Yea, the undeniable
Brooklyn way
So good to you
Bismillah ir Rhman ir Raheem
Def on the speak
Epic on the beat
Champion chronicle, M Def remarkable
A breeze through the street
Like the most potent ganja fume
The non-stoppable 'A' article arsenal
True legendary Zulu Johnny stomper dude
Held responsible, bright, black, phenomenal
M mastered the magical, ceremony classical
Black hand touch the intangible, strong hold
And get *'em all* with or without the barcode
Y'all know, who stay frontin' like y'all don't
Stay gone, brother stay home keep the K close
At the crime court keep a case low
Flaco got to keep *a face* though
Baby, make no mistake about it
I remember them days without it
Vibrated a major wattage
My gate safe and solid
My flow translate to major dollars
New ways and options
New days new plagues and problems
News page all the rave about him
"It's so good, so hood, nothin' changed about him"
You know...
It just gets better with time
It's like a greater later winner eve-ry time
I got the will and the skill
That the building can't kill, that's real
Who that? The Undeniable
True that, the most incredible
Your M deffer, the Undeniable
Cool ways are the sake of my time
I get paid even if they don't pay me no mind, you know...
The days and times be frustrating the mind
They youngbloods
But discover such danger they shine, its so...
Necessary that I come with the raw
The magnetic, the sure, the most magical pure, *G Bank*...
So bear witness to the actual fact
It's no trick or a magical act
Supernatural black, Dante this exclusively style
Spread love baby move it around
You know...
It just gettin better with time
It's like a greater later winner eve-ry time
I got the will and the skill
That the building can't kill, that's real
Who that? The Undeniable
True that, the most incredible
Your M deffer, the Undeniable
Ture Magic
True Magic
True Magic
Magic...
Bank...(shh shh shh...)
It just gettin better with time...
I got the will and the skill...
That's real...
The Undeniable...
M Def...
(Ha ha ha)
Don't Stop...Keep on
Quick question...
You ever felt like the realest nigga alive?
Felt too pretty or powerful to die?
Tell the truth...
You ever felt ugly enough to cry?
Have you ever begged for mercy?
Have you ever wished you died?
Tell the truth...
Have you ever taken pride in the crime?
Been too hungry to break down or hide?
Felt low down dirty? Or super duper high?
Or contemplated murder, robbery, or suicide?
Tell the truth...
Taken medicine for trouble in your mind?
Or taken down a number? For taking up a scheme?
I made her wild, beautiful take her 'til she skeet?
Take her to the penthouse or take her to the skreet?
Tell the Truth...
So the waterman he take it to the beat
And I take it to the 'mic
So we takin' what we like
Take it to your neck
We gon' take it to the bank
Triple X, Killa K
Black we take it to your face
Like, G..."BANK BANK"
Gangsta, birth sign is danger
It's like thug is the drug
That make 'em fall in love
When love don't love nobody
BANK, BANK
Gangsta, star sign is danger
It's like thug is the drug
Ready rock, steady pump
Man they leanin' and they fiendin'
Cuz they can't get enough...
The Dee-Jay play this song in the dance
And every buggy on the block got the tune on blast
The TV is like the radio with visuals too
So shiny, so gutter, mean moody and cool
Tell the truth...
They might be doing things that you wanna' do
You fantasize as they be living it through
The big home with the beautiful view
You have a swim in the pool, and get fresh
And take a spin in the coupe
Tell the truth...
You probably want to feel the world in your palm
While hold a gun in your hand
And make 'em know you a star
Tell the truth...
And there's those who probably already are
They well known in they zone
Or they town or they block
Tell the truth...
Then there's the rest who are usually not
And the heavy dose of thug feel like all that they got
So they ready to rock...R-r-rock...
Ha, ha, heh
Gangsta, birth sign is danger
It's like thug is the drug
That make 'em fall in love
When love don't love nobody
Gangsta, star sign is danger
It's like thug is the drug
Ready rock, steady pump
Man they leanin' and they fiendin'
Woman you know I love you
Woman you know just how I feel
You try to tell me that you don't know
When I know you know the deal
Woman you know I love you
Woman you know I care...
You try to say
I'm running game
You try to say baby you don't play fair
Oh darling
If there is any doubt in your mind
I want you to be sure...
heeeey
If you don't ever see me again
I want you to be sure
That I love you
Oh girl
Oh baby I love you
Darling I love you...
Oh darling I love you...
(Turn the lights down low)
(Turn the lights down low)
Oh baby
You got to understand how I feel
You need to understand where I'm coming from
Aint no need to be afraid
Aint no need to get up and run
Oh darling
Oh girl you know I love you
Oh darling
You know I know I love you
Oh baby
If you never see me again
I need you to be sure
From this moment right now
Till for ever more
Said I love you
Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love
you, love you, love you, love you...
babyyyy
Woman I love you
Woman I love you
Woman I love you
AAAAAAHHHHHH...
Sex love and money, fun
Brooklyn,. Sex love and money, get up, come
Danger!!
You are now rockin with the best
Black darts exclusive, fire in the dark
Fire in the dark, ghetto let this spark!
[Verse 1]
Huh!
Freaky black beauty with the pretty pout
Where you work it out got me fiendin'--bam!
I hit the G ready for the street
Heavy, ghetto sweet breezing through the evening --bam!
I'm on the lounge path for the warm blast
Got the john shaft cocked back and loaded --bamm!
I beat it, word john! Body awesome
Is the way that you come that got me goin--bam
I'm on the back streets rollin
I'm playin back all the magic moments, don't front
You know I got'cha,know I got'cha
You sneaky freaky, but I know about'cha, know about'cha
You straight dope, I can't do without'cha, go without'cha
Lay back and relax you mind
I'm bout to; double the doses in half the time
Ha! Master physical, master mind
You play it quiet but in private that ass is mine, huh!
We body rockin the last of time
And then we, we body rockin the last of time
And then we, body rockin the last of time
And then we, her body rockin huh, her body rockin
Now shell on 1 deep it ain't nobody steppin
Honey shell on 10 deep it ain't nobody steppin
Thousand shell or hundred deep, I'm there the body rockin, come on!
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you luv, I just can't help myself
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you luv, I just can't help myself
Whoooa...whaaa ohh whaaa!
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
Freaky freaky black, freaky freaky black
Sex love and money, fun
Brooklyn, Sex love and money --come
Fun-- temperature's risin
[Verse 2]
Freaky black beauty pretty purse and blouse
Where you took it out got me leanin'--bam!
I hit the streets easy in my seat
Lighting on my feet breezy like the evening --bam!
I'm on the lunch pack feel the warm blast
Boogie john shaft cocked and loaded --bamm!
Top and bottom, Body awesome
is the way that you come that got me goin --bam!
I'm on the back roads rollin (rollin)
I'm playin back all the magic moments, don't front
She know I got'cha,know I got'cha
You sneaky freaky, but I know about'cha, know about'cha
You goog hurricane,go without'cha, go without'cha
Lay back and relax you mind
I'm bout to, double the doses in half the time, huh!
Master physical, master mind
You play it quiet but in private a-ha a-ha!, huh!
We body rockin the last of time
And then we, we body rockin the last of time
And then we, we body rockin the last of time
And then we, the body rockin huh, the body rockin huh
The body rockin huh, the body rockin huh, the body rockin huh
The body rockin says, DON'T STOP THE BODY ROCK!
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you luv, I just can't help myself
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you luv, I just can't help myself
Whoooa...whaaa ohh whaaa!
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
Freaky freaky black, freaky freaky black
Sex love and money, fun
Brooklyn, sex love and money --come
Fun-- temperature's risin
DANGER!!
[Femi Kuti speaking]
One thing I want to assure them,
If they think I'm gonna change or compromise
My attitude and my way of life or
In my expression or in my goal
What's politics
They are making me stronger
And I am much much stronger now..
[Mos Def]
Check a blank to the boogie
And up chuck a boogie
To the rhythym of the boogie to be [x2]
There it go like simple the plainness
The prominent bassness
Zulu arrangement rockin' amazement
Fly gold, radiating from heaven to pavement
If only years of placement with nothing to play with
Spent time hating but that ain't changing it
God give it to me no body ain't savin' it
Therefore, moving on the base in stammerment?
Standing in the twilight and watching them get it in
Walls, simmering, the air, simmering
She movin' like more than the airs is glistenin'
Woah now
Testin' your ate in the delirium
Sounding fate booming all over your eminence
Skin on skin again
Put it all, get it all,get in then
Ladies and gentlemen, misters and mistresses
.... or entrants and simil men
There it is, boogieman
Simmer down simmer down simmer down now
Simmer down now [x3]
Quiet dog, wild hog my god
And the rocket don't stop
Brooklyn and the kids heat up the stovetop
Banging the empire state and navigating the way
Your preservation makes the greatest hip hop
The cool dudes swagger little cherry be corny
The flow so steady unsteady is boring
These dudes ain't through with their yawning
Need to get off it
So wack wack is all you can call it
Therefore, movin on the deaf is sumblin
Regardless of ...what town your representin
A bullet in the audience settlement
Tower the tenement
I mold through for all of the element
Simmer down
I manage your mayhem
I'm bright as the AM
And you're rocking more like a station
I'm blessed with the fresh from day one
I got it from day done
We all going back to the same one
It's the cost of motivation I'll stay with
Remarkable flavors
That all is a market of greatness
Woah now
Is to get us to buck town
Your girl is in love now
You thought it so funny
Shorty is down, Shoo
[Sirens]
Simmer down simmer down simmer down now
Simmer down now [x3]
Quiet dog, wild hog let's rock
And we don't stop
See you rock to the rhythm we don't stop
So you maintain the rock and you don't stop
You keep up the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
Maintain the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
You keep up the rock and you don't stop
(The rock)
Maintain the rock and you don't stop
The emperor, subjects, and his dogs
Fuck you all
Napoleon's dynamite blew up in his face
Yoo busy handin out plates, now get yourself a taste
Yum, gravy over lips seekin tongues
Price that you pay for thinkin e'rybody dumb
Green and googly wide-eyed and surprised
Brows and lashes, honey mustaches, fried bride
Effort to little hit now holla cry pride
When the opposition forces came to take him back BACK
(Always gonna be hounded fella, by the police)
Oh-me-oh-me-oh-my, we don't assume
Secretly you probably relate
Loud lung tyrant, now YOU be quiet
Husheth, thou dost protesth too mucheth
Your deeds are on file, take your testament is bupkis
I feel like Lazarus, steppin out the grave
To give reporters of his death, the world's greatest nay
It ain't hear or say, you can see it for your own two
Sucker or get close and feel it if you want to
But I know you, you won't and can't do
Seamstress and lies are bustin up your handle
Palms and fingertips on ultra-blister
You crossed a good dude now he cued the ultra-disher
Shell position fill your old tradition self
Machine gun ran in the pad and clipped himself
Now your project sinks up leakin
Hand over head and the sticky red is seepin
Weepin willow goin onry ape shit
Little homey onlooker shout,"He ain't gon' make it!"
The moment where bullies find God
Dumb-ass, he been on the scene all along
Tried to help you steer clear, you sped up to the climax
The brick wall on your cheeks worse than Imax
Heavy child I know you wish you never tried black
Dante air blow craft you can't hijack
Yes, but really I digress
Let me step aside and let the EMS clean up the drecks
Extra gore soak the medics to they own asshole
I pray peace on your soul now BEGONE~!
Movin on, to deeper brighter better and more
To all my people in the back jam on it {Right}
To all my people in the front jam on it {ha ha, ha ha}
To all my people on the side jam on it {he he, he he, right}
So jam on it, say what
[Mos Def]
The sweet old beats my speech radiates
I grab the mic my voice resulates and penetrates
I make the "B-Boy" emulate
A buck-fifty still swinging like a heavyweight
Me and the lounge about to levitate
You don't believe let me demonstrate
The way we make cats disintegrate
[Voice]
Well hold up you got to stop the tape
You got to prove you can rock the bricks
Me and my man going to investigate
The whole way that you operate, cooperate
And what's your name? {Mos Def}
And where you from? {Brooklyn}
And how you living {Very well, very well}
Damn you had to say it twice? {That's right}
So you nice? {Damn right}
[Mos Def]
I rock the party all night all night
{All right, all right}
So why you over here ripping with me?
Trying to prove you position to me?
{Some cats ain't equiped to MC}
But you can see I'm different "G"
The universal magnificently
I rock the party eficiently
From the Brooklyn but centered to (?)
And I do it so lyrically
That you got to give it to me
Like Rick James, I kick game and spit flame
Burning rappers all up out their frame
We get into this vein
From Brownsville all the way down to Brisbean
{Damn this brother's flow is insane}
That's what I've been trying to explain
Got no time to play games
Keep it coming like the next train
Make the party people exclaim
Whenever they hear my name
They go "Mos Def"
Oh yes my style is so fresh
Guranteed to win any MC contest
Old school like the eighty-four fresh dress
You spend you assets to get my cassette
Now that's fresh, the red hook address
Make a cop jealous swell like abscess
I'm shoutin' bigs up to Medina and the rest
Bout' to drop it on your block a high on the press
[Chorus with singing in backround]
I said people in the front jam on it {Say what, say what}
To all my people in the back jam on it {Say what, say what}
To all my people on the side jam on it {Ha ha, ha ha}
Jam on it, Ha ha, ha ha
To all my people in the front jam on it
To all my people in the back jam on it
To all my people on the side jam on it
So jam on it, ha ha, ha ha
[Mos Def]
You see my name is Mos Def and my style will never pest
Brown skinned body-rocking MC
I got the black zodiac and you know it's never whack
Sagitarius definatley
You see it's me and lyricist and we're getting serious about to make another hit
I tell your homeboy chill cuz' his style ain't ill but it's straight up counterfeit
You see I'm fast or bent or sweet then bullet and when I'm on the set
All the hip-hop fans just raise they hands because the one and only mighty Mos Def
You see I come into the party in a "B-Boy" stance I rock the mic so viciously
So all the real "B-boys" and real "B-Girls" never know others better than me
[Voice]
I said hey Mos Def you can't steal the show
You ain't the only MC out here with flow
I'm the Pro-Castro and I'm letting you know
That I get on the mic and go toe to toe
[Mos Def]
Well cool young brother and just slow you role
Cuz' your arm's to shook to have mic control
See I get on the mic and jump off your case
You best get out my face and stay in a child's place
[Voice]
See I get on the mic because I know I can
And I'm fresher than you because I know I am
So when I jump on the stage you better step back
Because your name is Mos Def but your really Mos Whack
[Mos Def]
Uh listen up little brother you ain't grown
The sun is going down you need to take you butt home
And come outside with your whack freestylin'
You should have kept it in the house like Debbie Galler
When I grab the microphone people scream my name
The ain't no sesame street this is a grown-man's lane
See you best heed my words and listen up
Or I'm a tell your momma to whip your butt
[Voice]
Well you ain't my daddy and I'm letting you know
That you can't tell me when it's time to go
See I get on the mic and show you what it's about
Cuz' even my momma said knock you out
[Mos Def]
Well if you didn't know baby boy I'm a tell ya'
You need to learn to respect your elders
But since you here and you think you got skill
Then get on the mic and show your real
[Voice]
Well I'm the devastatin' never fakin'
Always keep your body shakin'
Steady rockin' never stoppin'
Keep your body always jockin'
Rock the beat, shock the beat
Till' it's time to stop the beat
Steady moving show improvement
Keep the party keep on groovin'
[Mos Def]
Well hey young blood that was fresh
You just got one hundred on your MC test
You got a soul-shocking body-rocking set you see
You need to pack up your bags and get down with me
[Chorus with singing in backround]
So jam on it, so jam on it
I said jam j-jam j-jam on it
I said were rocking to the bright early morning
I said jam j-jam j-jam on it
This is the one to keep inside the jam
And make you get up and just do that dance
This is the one to keep inside the jam
And make you get up and just clap your hands
New York you got to jam on it
And Atlanta got to jam on it
And BK you got to jam on it
Got to jam on it, you got to jam on it
And Miami you got to jam on it
And California you got to jam on it
(?) got to jam on it
Got to jam on it, got to jam on it
Chicago got to jam on it
And Detroit cuz' they got to jam on it
And St. Louis got to jam on it
Got to jam on it, got to jam on it
The whole world you got to jam on it
And Brooklyn yes we got to jam on it
The "Lyricist" just to make you jam on it
Make you jam on it, make you jam on it
{And don't you hear the sound...}
We all got to have, a place where we come from
This place that we come from is called home
We set out on our travels, we do the best we can
We travel this big earth as we roam
We all got to have, a place where we come from
This place that we come from is called home
And even though we may love, this place on the map
Said it ain't where ya from, it's where ya at
I come up in the street around some real wild brothers
With more than one name and more than one baby mother
More than one chase, been on more than one run
Got more than one enemy and more than one gun
While these cats that's less privileged is just more raw
Less space cause the projects laced with more flaws
Less sleep cause the nights ain't peace, it's more war
The can is raw like thirsty, rainy season thunder claps
On the block with your old pop pleading number act
To the spot with the red top fiends is huddled at
To the crib where the little kids spend their summers trapped
With the jungle cats, lions and tigers, leopards and cheetahs
For gazelle you get chased like a zebra, they blaze cheeba-cheeba
And dominate the weaker on the street
Hungry bellies only love what they eat and it's hard to compete
When they smile with your heart in they teeth
And the odds is stacked high beyond and beneath
Son i been plenty places in my life and time
And regardless where home is, son home is mine
Some people live out in-New York City
Some people live out in-Atlanta
Some people got to live-Chicago
Some people do live-Miami
All my people at-California
And other people got to live-London
And everybody got to live in the whole big world
Together just you and me
When i think of home, my remembrance of my beginning
Laundromat helping ma dukes fold the bed linen
Chillin in front my building with my brother and them
Spending nights in Bushwick with my cousins and them
Wise town and Beat Street, federal relief
Slowly melting in the morning grits we used to eat
Sticking to your teeth and teeth is hard to keep
With every flavor Now & Later only a dime apiece
Old timers on the bench playing cards and thangs
Telling tales about they used to be involved in things
Start to drinking, talking loud, cussing up and showing out
On the phone, call the cops, pick'em up, move'em out
And it's all too common to start wildin
I'm a pirate on an island seeking treasure known as silence
And it's hard to find
Block parties in dark lobbies
Funeral homes packed but only dark bodies
I can't sleep hardly, stirred up like Bob Marley
Marley Marl played the symphony, remember we recall
Son i been to many places in my space and time
Hello Children
Black Jack Johnson N.Y.C., R-O-C-K-I-N-G
Sun and the moon, earths, stars, and planets
Before song done y'all goin' all understand it
Like - Hot
The haters can't fuck with it
'Cause they mom and they sister and girl in love with
it (and they niggaz)
Sound man holla black COME WITH IT
Sping the record 'till the record done spinning
Up top is you getting up with it?
Dirty dirty is you getting cronk with it?
Smokey smoke from coast to coast
Be carefull our first draw be that overdose
Who stay holding it from Brooklyn? YOU KNOW IS MOS!
Ha, Jackpot I (Sing yo) got to go for broke
Is this the only way the Smith Family now to go
Right here to my youngest one is older folks
Im'ma put down like a dirty so and so
Freak daddy came here to work the mojo - oh
Because the - high is high and the low is low
And that goes for the sinner man to holy folks
Put your shit in the sky like I know you - oh
(Brooklyn stand up!)
Ha, my ghetto nation get toe to toe
Stay rocking steady steady 'cause I told you so
And after y'all get it go I let it go some more
That Black Jack about something for sure) for sure
(SAY WHAT!)
For sure for sure (HA!)
Let me see you in the world making your shoulder role
And if it get good tell your nigga throw your 'bows
'Cause we are so ghetto
Yes we are rock and roll
Yes we are so ghetto
Yes we are rock and roll
Yes we are so ghetto
Yes we are rock and roll
Yes we are so ghetto
Yes we are - rock and motherfucking roll (WOOOO!)
Ha, I am a fighter and a lover
I'm the freaky baby daddy, I'm a bad motherfucker
I'm the earth, wind, fire, and the thunder
I said I am, go ask my mother
You don't believe that shit believe what you want to
Alright, OK, So, Shut-up!
Speak language come straight from the gutter
Observe the terms that we trade with one and other
Like - what's good, what's popping, what's cracking
What it is, how you living, what's happening
Work songs that the slaves sang back then
The playground chants, with little girls claping
Black John Johnson N.Y.C., R-O-C-K-I-N-G
Son and the moon, earths, stars, and planets
Before the song done y'all going all understand it
Black John Johnson N.Y.C., R-O-C-K-I-N-G
Son and the moon, earths stars and planets
Before the song done y'all going all understand it
SPACE!
GIMME THE SPACE!
BACK UP, GIMME THE SPACE!!!
LET A NIGGA ROCK!
GIMME THE SPACE!
LET A NIGGA ROCK!
LET A NIGGA ROCK, HA!
This is the sound
Ghettos rock
This is the sound
Ghettos rock
This is the sound
Ghettos rock
This is the sound
Ghettos rock
This is the sound
Ghettos rock
This is the sound
It was so beautiful. It was almost unfair.
It's cold but it's true. It was so cold it got warm.
Kids out in the schoolyard and playing.
It was nice and calm. It was dangerous.
When the MC's came, live out the name
And to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane
Before they rocked the don
Now on to the mental pains, spark the brains
Building to be born
?? is on the track
Check em check chicka icka etta UHH
Strange Times
Everybody got their get high (Oh my)
Their get right, their get nice, they get by (Oh my)
They get open, get ready, get primed
The national pastime is victimless crime
You want your thrill and I want mine
As long we can get it we ain't got to say why
I don't mean to pry, you ain't got to lie
We ain't got to speak when it's written in the eyes
Whenever she was high off the sparkle in her palm
She had a young girl's smile and a hustler's charm
Dying from the city where the hustler's are born
Made, traced, murdered, replaced
Life-long residents barely feel safe
And the street's offer plenty taste and little faith (Break it down)
Little face, soft lips, little waist (Break it more)
Tiny hands (Oh god) fat ass (Oh more)
Big eyes like birthday surprise
Super dupa fly, born in 85
Repeat it to yourself: This is a victimless crime
Psyche your mind there's a victim every time
Your tasty little pill, your freaky little thrill
Pray won't leave you still, you wonder how it feel
It's real, pussy like some money that you steal
When the MC came, fill out the name
And to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane
Before they rocked the don
Now on to the mental pains, spark the brains
Building to be born
Give the people a new drug
Crime and medicine
Dead wrong and live in America
Off the block and right in your area
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
HA HA
Crime and medicine
Dead wrong and live in your area
From the street corner, right in your residence
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
Crime
Fresh peaches and apples for the president
Crime
Fresh chocolates and apples for the president
Crime
Fresh linens and apples to the president
Crime
Pull up to ya spot on low
Shine brighter than all o' them cats they got on glow
Layin' the cut like they not gon' know
Cuz if I gotta make a move dawg they not gonna know
This door marked private this is not fo' sho'
It's Mos Def what you call real fo' sho'
Is they what you call gangsta, hell no
They get a lil' pitch and go snitch to the po'
They all talk fast and they all think slow
I'm Mos Definite, not think so
Flood ya city with the black ink flow
And my crew ain't scared to let them things go
So, stop with the nonsense, like he conscious
I'm just alright dawg, I'm doin' great dawg
I don't play games so I don't playa hate y'all
Get it straight or get the fuck up out my face dawg
I'm like the second plane that made the tower's face off
That shit that let you know it's really not a game dawg
Your grind and my grind ain't the same dawg
I'm the catalog, you the same song
So cool and ol' school like '84
The one ya lil mami windin' up on ways for
The name that real niggaz got they hands raised for
Me and Mini got ya block yellow taped off
Don't push me (get off)
'Cuz I'm close - To the streets,
to the beach, the bitches, the niggaz,
the women, the children, the workers,
the killers, the addicts, the dealers
the quiet, the livest, the realest
- And that's close
Don't push me, cuz I'm close
To the edge, back, middle, and front
Strong back shit liftin' it up
From the big and the small
I'm like J. Brown Gettin' Involved
But when I'm lettin' off around don't get in the cross
Have ya preacher man speakin' low gettin' his cross
Tell 'em wild cowboy not to get off they horse
Before they find out the talion is strictly enforced
It's a real bad way to get ya name in the Source
Testin' the limits of a dangerous force
Ya ended up dumb famous and gone
Your people shoutin' out ya name in they song
Pourin' liquor on the day you was born
Find paint to put ya face on the wall
C'mon fall back, there's no need for all that
It's all good, we all here, goin' all out (all out)
All day, listen when this song say
Don't push me 'cuz I'm close - To the streets,
To the beach, the bitches, the niggaz,
The women, the children, the workers,
The killers, the addicts, the dealers
The quiet, the livest, the realest
- And that's close
Don't push me, cuz I'm close
To the edge, back, middle, and front
Strong back shit liftin' it up
From the big and the small
I'm like J. Brown Gettin' Involved
Now get yours
(1st Verse)
Good evening ladies and gents, close and distant fam
Let me break it down for ya'll exactly who I am...(CAV)
That brotha straight off of Myrtle Ave
That dude that make the other dude say that's my man, (CAV)
It ain't nuttin' I want I can't have
The haters know it's real and that's why they mad
They struggle so hard while I just lay back
They sound under pressure, sweaty and straight wack
I rock like this because I ain't that, (CAV)
Tell the players I'm taking the game back...
Matta fact tell the coaches, the GMs, and owners
Shut down the stadiums, it's ova
I make the cat's in the back draw closer
Get the comp choked up like white folks on Oprah
Yeah you dope, but (CAV) is more doper
Mo skill, mo style than mo folkas
I hit the lab with good shit to smoke up
And tell the sound man where I wanna go from
Blow up, skit sheet across the notepad
School em' all from the drop out to post grads
What history book you do or don't have
There's only two eras of rap, pre and post CAV
Now you know that
Stop the train, there's no place for the game left to go at
(BREAK)
CAV is my name but you can call me, (CAV)
It's all the same abbreviated or whole
Shout it out so it don't be a secret to folk it go, (CAV)
Short for Cavee but I'm not from Cali
I'm from the rotten apple, dirty streets and alleys
Bed-Stuy Brooklyn doin'it exactly, Get at me!!!
(2nd Verse)
Holla!!...Like Missy and Ja Rule
Ain't a crowd in the world that CAV cannot move
Hot dude, cats was thinkin' it's not true
But come front row at show, I got proof
I went from sellin' candy in junior high school
To servin' spoony g for the fiends, to gnaw to
Got sent upstate on bus, (Not cool)
In the yard thinkin' damn should've listen to ma duke
Come home in 99, what the fuck I'm gonna do
I won't move bundles, I got a new hustle
I quit pie baking, started rhyme makin
Buildin' up my rep to be one of the five greatest
And I ain't saying CAV the best nigga out there
But until he appear, I'm sittin'in his chair
And I'ma need a few moments just to get in ya'll ear
To make you forget the Duke was eva even here
I got two words for the world, BE PREPARED!!
I got three words for your girl, DON'T BE SCARED!!!
And when they ask where the real hip-hop, IT'S OVA HERE!!!
And when they ask where Brooklyn at, HOLD YA EAR!!!!
It's like YEAH!!!!, Chris Antione Vashon
Capricorn hit em' off with the classic bong and then I'm gone...
[Mos Def]
Yes A, B is for
My ability
C, D, E-F-F-E-C-T
And the G H is how
It should be
Represent with J-Rocc and Babu
Soundbombing sequel
Meanin in part one and two
Making it funky for you
Boulevard Avenue
Whether you passing through
Or staying for a while
This is the style thats
Universal Magnetic
Mos' bet it
Hold you back like bad credit
Yo yo I'm ready ready for action
Enter... like kids accent
Speak a blow up
From Row House to the Madison
It's get... person
They don't know the name
Will be show in the antonim
Be translate make the world in a...
But boy's like magic, my flow's fantastic
Is someone real man...
Or the... in
The second profile this me very hansome
Is over my face...
And I ain't the gym
I'm in the lab toy
Show him I live in a ball
Right home in a...
Close to the door
... They focus the show
Get a swaym when the people involved
It must'a ball but that, that involves the path'
When they keep trouble on your mom
But don't let bullshit knock you...
And that's real talk for all mine
And for all yours
Rock city keep your...
Top top and break down the wall
Like they count a doll
And like a van in a...
Be patient where you are
Where the known with a pride is...
... Understand
I might give a fault
I feel freack yo
I feel freack yo
And you don't stop
I feel freack yo
I feel freack yo
And you don't stop
I feel freack yo
I feel freack yo
And you don't stop
Now listen to me
It's like pits' in my
... the twilight
Show them that I'm not like
Show when I'm... light
Blow up the fight fight
... The victory entered
The most powerfull potions...
Pure simply I kill conclusion...
Skill in a role we do
When... to aproove'n
A magnet... your potions
... Behind your music
I feel freack yo
I feel freack yo
And you don't stop
I feel freack yo
I feel freack yo
And you don't stop
I feel freack yo
I feel freack yo
And you don't stop
I feel freack yo
Is like I'm ready ready for action
Enter... like kids accent
Speak a blow up
From Row House to the Madison
It's get... person
They don't know the name
Will be show in the antonim
Be translate make the world in a...
But boy's like magic, my flow's fantastic
Is someone real man...
Or the... in
I check the profile this is very hansome
Is over my face...
And I ain't the gym...
I'm in the lab toy
Show him I live in a ball
Right home in a...
Close to the door
... They focus the show
Get a swaym when the people involved
It must'a ball but that, that involves the path'
When they keep trouble on your mom
But don't let bullshit knock you...
And that's real talk for all mine
And for all yours
Yo, this is to the entire critical mass, my nigga Ty
Shawn (?), Jah Born and
Big 2.
This how we do, check it out:
Yeah
Day light disappears from sight,
Sun bleeds on the bricks,
And brings forth the night,
The red saranade,
Give shade to backstreets,
Heads adjust the EQ,
For the bass in they jeeps,
Sound like the drum
Of a neighboring tribe,
Absorb the vibe,
Feels good close my eyes,
And swept out the loot
By the crisp night air,
I gotta stay aware,
God there's demons out here,
Adjust the headset,
'fore I begin this trip,
Insert the cassette,
Press play on the deck,
The horns echo,
And I slip back in the zone,
It's time for
The high plains man to roll,
Yo I be dealing with menbut ,
Some say mellowdramat,
Linguilly acrobat,
Staying fluent in style,
I work my way
Through your town
As the day goes down,
I got observatory view
Of the sight and sounds,
I feel completely out of place,
In this wack rap race,
I'm the type of black man,
That need color and space,
Heads be dealing with waste,
They be moving in haste,
Heard there's something to prove,
Want to stare in ya face,
Brothers want to compete,
When there aint shit to win,
They playing high post now,
Unprepared for the end,
They wanna profile they style,
Like they got it so sweet,
It ain't about what ya earn,
It's about what you keep,
Man passes by,
In an aimless stroll,
Barefoot in the street,
As the night grows cold,
In reply to our sorrow,
He begins to dance,
He claps his hands,
Share an awkward glance,
CHORUS
Mos Def:
Sun is Falling. . . Moon is rising. . .
Ces (in Background):
A yes yes ya'll. . . a break a break ya'll . .
A feel free ya'll . . . and ya don't stop
VERSE
Mos Def:
Keep leaning to myself
Aint got to many friends,
While they be lookin' for rocks,
I be searchin' for gems,
I got nothin' to lose,
Might as well be a winner,
Try to radiate the light,
As the world get dimmer
Papa haven't ya heard.
There is power in words,
I contemplate to elevate
The average man on the curb,
Who be slangin' his rock,
Catchin' hell from the cop,
Got the world on his back,
Being male being black,
And it's crazy mad stress,
The city don't rest,
Can't maintain ya poise,
But a goddam noise,
So I'm watching my clock
Until the day drifts off,
At night I reason with myself
So I can get shit off,
Might be reading a book,
I might be drinking the stout,
I might be thinkin' it over,
Might just need to be out,
I might be tryin' to get money,
I might be dealing with honeys,
Might be geakin' off these devils,
Cause they so fuckin' funny,
Smokin' a stoge on the D-train chillin',
Checkin' the skyline off the watchtower buildin',
Images of black in the hills and the valleys,
From the tight business men
To the gods in the valley (peace God),
A basehead with the moldy shades,
A little girl with pretty eyes and her hair in braids,
A mother rests on her seat,
Rubs her feet,
Pulls back into sleep,
Thousand fathoms deep,
(bah bah bah bah)
CHORUS
VERSE
Ces:
As the night time falls
I creep through the dark
I check out the scenes,
In Fort Green park,
Lost souls in empty memory lanes,
No life to live,
And no goals to gain,
There's negatory provisions
That's all around us,
It's systematic and frantic,
The devil hounds us,
Set to prevail I take back the night,
Wake up my soul,
Take back my life,
I sit back,
And I wait for the right time,
But I'm already here,
Its in the night time,
CHORUS
VERSE
Mos Def:
Moonlight starts to fade away,
Sun creeps up the bricks,
And brings forth the day,
Sun is high and it's AM again,
A time for the killers to slay men again,
I'm real short and brisk,
Doing business things,
I want this shit to be over,
Got no time to play,
So if you want to help,
Then do me this favor,
Cut the nonsense
And let me handle this paper,
Time is money,
And money is time,
Ain't a damn thing free
So I must get mine,
It's 10 to closin,
Yo son got to jettin',
Headed back to the Brack
To watch the sun set,
When I think of home, I think of a place where there is
We all got to have a place where we come from
This place that we come from is called home
We set out on our travels, we do the best we can
We travel this big earth as we roam
We all got to have some place that we come from
This place that we come from is called home
An' even though we may love, this place on the map
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
I come up in the street around some real wild brothers
With more than one name an' more than one baby mother
More than one chase, been on more than one run
Got more than one enemy an' more than one gun
[Incomprehensible]
While these cats that's less privileged is just more raw
Less space 'cause the projects laced with more flaws
Less sleep 'cause the nights ain't peace, it's more war
The can is raw like thirsty, rainy season thunder claps
On the block with your old pop, pleadin' number act
To the spot with the red top fiends is huddled at
To the crib where the little kids spend their summers trapped
With the jungle cats, lions an' tigers, leopards an' cheetahs
For gazelle, you get chased like a zebra, they blaze cheeba cheeba
An' dominate the weaker on the street
Hungry bellies only love what they eat an' it's hard to compete
When they smilin' with your heart in they teeth
An' the odds is stacked high beyond an' beneath
Son, I been plenty places in my life an' time
An' regardless where home is, son, home is mine
We all got to have a place where we come from
This place that we come from is called home
We set out on our travels, we do the best we can
We travel this big earth as we roam
We all got to have some place where we come from
The place that we come from is called home
Even though we may love, this place is on the map
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Some people live out in New York City
Some people live in Atlanta
Some people got to live, Chicago
Some people do live, Miami
All my people at California
An' other people got to live, London
An' everybody got to live in the whole big world
Together just you an' me
When I think of home, my remembrance of my beginnin'
Laundromat helpin' ma dukes fold the bed linen
Chillin' in front of my building with my brother an' them
Spendin' nights in Bushwick with my cousins an' them
Wise town an' Beat Street, federal relief
Slowly meltin' in the mornin' grits we used to eat
Stickin' to your teeth an' teeth is hard to keep
With every flavor, 'Now an' Later' only a dime apiece
Old timers on the bench playin' cards an' thangs
Tellin' tales about they used to be involved in things
Start to drinkin', talkin' loud, cussin' up an' showin' out
On the phone, call the cops, pick 'em up, move 'em out
An' it's all too common to start wildin'
I'm a pirate on an island, seekin' treasure known as silence
An' it's hard to find block parties in dark lobbies
Funeral homes packed, but only dark bodies
I can't sleep hardly, stirred up like Bob Marley
Marley Marl played the symphony, remember we recall
Son, I been to many places in my space an' time
An' whatever my home is, son, home is mine
We all got to have a place where we come from
This place that we come from is called home
We set out on our travels, we do the best we can
We travel this big earth as we roam
Said,? We all got to have some place where we come from
This place that we come from is called home
Even though we may love, this place is on the map?
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Said, "It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at"
Talib Kweli & Hi Tek F/ Mos Def
Miscellaneous
B Boys Will B Boys
[Mos Def]
Yo yo, yo, whassup, yo yo
Yo yo, we gonna, we gonna slow it down
so we can speed it up y'all
Right now I want everybody come to the front
That's right, move forward
I want all the poppers and the breakers, to form this circle
I want all the poppers and the breakers
The writers and the exciters, to get in this circle
and make it real live yo
Cause I'm seein too many stars up in here tonight yo
I'm seein the Rock Steady Crew
I'm seein Ken Swift, I'm seein Mr. Wiggles
I'm seein Modesho, I'm seein Crazy Legs
Man I'm seein the Zulu Nation up in here
I'm seein the Rawkus family, Shabaam Shadeeq, Company Flow
Menelik, I'm seein G-ology, Shawn J. Period
Man this the Black Star movement
Mos Def, Talib Kweli we gon' keep it live
for the b boys and b girls universally
Rock Steady Japan, Rock Steady Europe
Rock Steady New York, yo we just gonna keep it live
all over the world -- get live
[Talib Kweli]
Party people, in the place to be
My name is Talib Kweli
Yo, I got my man on the side of me
Mos Def-initely, and we, are
(Fresh) Black Star
(Fresh) G Young
(Fresh) Hi-Tek
(Fresh) Native Tongue
(Fresh) Shawn J.
(Fresh) Eighty-eight
(Fresh) Ninety-eight
we bout to motivate, come on y'all
Here's a little story that must be told
About two young brothers who was put on hold
They tried to stop the goal
We on a spiritual plane
Tried to kill the pride
And destroy the name
We just two bad brothers
Who will never quit
I'm Mos Def
Kweli (WE THE ULTIMATE)
Make sure that you tell
Everybody you know
To get on line
Take a ride
To the Black Star show!
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house y'all
Black Star
Shinin
Shinin, we in the house
Shinin
[DJ Evil Dee]
Uh, this is Side 2, Evil Dee in your area
Rawkus, every four minutes of dump flavored Now and
Laters
*laughs* and ass-crack Oreos
(ready, ready)
-interlude-
[Talib Kweli]
*laughs*
Throw your hands in the air, and wave em like you just
don't care
And if you, love the truth, and you livin proof
Let me hear you say "oh yeah"
And you don't stop, and you don't quit, and you don't
stop
And you don't quit, and you don't quit
It's Talib Kweli I'm the ultimate
Got my man Mos Def and he's freakin shit
Listen to the way the beat gets intricate
Anybody who is illiterate, probably will never even
consider it
Yo, Evil Dee what up? my name is Talib Kweli
That's Mos Def on the ?Wilison?
Yo, this is futuristic Soundbombing, welcome
Please do not hold onto the doors
(Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to introduce
A very interesting young man who's traveled from very
far away
To be with us tonight)
[Mos Def]
(yes, yes) yo yo yo yo (yes) yo yo
Aiyyo Kweli I heard there's a function goin on at the
Some things that I gotta see, heard that the Rawkus
click
Was doin some ill shit wit my man Evil, and the rest of
my people
Is you wit it?
[Kweli]
I'm always wit it, always forget it
If you a MC, you couldn't get wit it, you too dim-
witted
MC's come to and try to diss this
Chicks want Kweli for Christmas, on they wish list
Here we come through, kick the lyrical swiftness
You missed this, again it's over your head
Now I send it, over to my friend Mos Def
MC's got no fuckin rhymes left
[Mos Def]
*phone rings*
Hello, yes I got the call, don't need no answering
machine at all
I got a, Caller ID to screen my calls
So I can see who's tryin to speak to me cuz frequently
A lot of cats try to get in touch but I don't want to
be in they clutch
I got my man Kweli who I love very much, and such and
such
My man, Rawkus click, we on some ill shit
[Kweli]
I call 7-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh
Don't want to say his number, MC's is in slumber
Yo they wakin up they takin up too much time
Mos Def, I got to get in touch wit and get a Dutch
And then head over to his crib and say
"Yo look what these kids did, and I had my kids at my
crib"
And I can't believe they tried to roll up on my like
that
MC's come through because they always lookin wack
[Mos Def]
They always lookin wack cuz look at the way they dress
Thinkin you a Mister you must be a Miss
I'm watchin the slip underneath your skirt
Steppin to me like that kid you only get hurt
Son I stand five-ten wit the open palms, I'm droppin
bombs
Wit the, urban songs and I never stay calm when I kick
A matter of fact I get type wicked and very specific
[Kweli]
And exquisite wit the beat, MC's is incomplete
They ain't like whole wheat, I need to eat
More of that for my nutrition, MC's catchin coniptions
They readin the writin on the wall like an Egyptian
Comin through is my verbal mission, to try to track you
down
It's the MC formerly known as Genesis
You will remember this, it's your verbal nemesis
Yo, Mos Def is
[Mos Def]
Yo my style is original like fingerprints
I been down ever since, make you Reminisce like Pete
Rock
When the beat drop, kids stop to listen
Because they hear the verbs glisten
I'll play your opposition like a fullback, I got the
full pack
Just like a convict on lock, the beat never stop
And we come on time like a clock, this is the real hip-
[Kweli]
The real hip-hop, try to test me, you get stomped
Why try, you get caught up in the paparazzi like
Princess Di
Yo, come through we always lookin fly
MC's try to come up to me, they singin lullabyes
They on a plantation, I'll free you like Emancipation
>From that thought you have is makin your mind needin
some sanatation
I'm fillin the schools up like asbestos
It's best that you leave my premesis
[Mos Def]
And what's better, is to make cheddar
And try to get yo shit together
I freak it wherever and whenever just like Maxwell
The style that I got will tax well
Yo that just bomb, but I don't spend my time
Focusin on mistakes, I feed breaks
This is the way that we make, and sound hype
When we stand on the mic
[Kweli]
We focus on true, we never dwell and hate
[DJ Evil Dee]
[Talib Kweli]
We fantastic, flippin on tracks like gymnastics
Small brats get they ass kicked, me and Mos smash it
Top gun like what comes after the, fist rockin' knife
Check the keys that get played on the roads of life
Yo the rhyme is so heavy like a load of my chest
Travel on these mc's, leave 'em broken like house pets
Priceless like the streets I'm on, my word is born
You like Paula Abdul-ka-ka compared to Sarah Born?
Sayin, what did I do to be so black and blue
Mc's sayin damn what got it goin after you
Slam my microphone and do just what I have to do
Aiyyo, I'd like to stop and chat but I'm just passing through
You know I'd like to stop and chat but I'm just passing through
[Mos Def]
I'm on my way back to Louis Avenue
Inside Brooklyn the b-boy capital, lot of cats travel to black eratical
Say, my response is invatically yes
We invatically fresh, you dramatically stressed
These mc's proceed to cease the presidential palace
And burn Babylon like a?
Strive to maintain balance
With the God given talent
Articulate the article, eliminate the fossical
Black Star Line shine remarkable, they style ain't even talkable
These socalled criminals is fictional they make the party turn miserable
We document the memorable
Then break 'em up like syllables
Straight down to earth like minerals
Your style is foul like down? chemicals
We five-dimensional, audio, visual, physical, spiritual, lyrical
Another world
Another world, y'all
We transmit another world
Another World, y'all
We transmit another world
Another World, y'all
We transmit another world
Black Star 'bout to shine from what
[Talib Kweli]
Yo Mos, ain't it a shame how these people treating life like a game
Ain't gonna give you no fame by callin out your name
Just explain how I do it and, lead by example
Stay away from repetition don't wanna sound like no sample
You can't handle this Messiah
My shit is classical we get bug' like Umfufu, "You treat me like animal!"
Just 'cus you got money, don't mean you made it
Just 'cus you make it don't give you the right to be a?
Matter fact stay out my face
I can't take it like them stupid big horse bills
Your defense is nill, my chatter, shatter your forcefield
Kweli and Mos Definition with more lines then a petition
Yo my mission is to break shit in half, like intermission
Then get missin' with Hi-Tech or anyone like that
Costin' one million pounds 'cus it sound so fat
Lay you flat like the carpet
Take the tobacco out my spliff before you spark it
The only tye I rock is chocolate
Makin profits like Spacely Sprockets, you can't stop it
The topic, we always gonna be black like markets
From the underground, look around and tell me what you see
Another picture painted perfectly by yours truly
Another world, y'all
Say what, another world
Another world, y'all
Say what, another world
Travellin' through, time and space
On the the Black Star galactica
Yo, another world
'nother 'nother, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother world
[Mos Def]
Never never never soap opera
Whether you, indian, dominican, jamaican or bolivian
No matter what disc recorder or part of town you livin' in
I recommend you listenin' to these distinguished gentlemen
Who take the proper measurement to represent
The solo's? chrome is known to built on
Gleam on the measurement
Master mc carpentry
Talib kwa, the Kweli in quality
Put the groundation down properly
You can't trespass the property
Ain't takin' or breakin', robbery
Got the whole owner blast-back policy
Follow me, descendant of the grand master armery
Where cats rock the Wallabe and Kangols, mc's exchange flows
The same goes on, they'll be here when we gone
Hope they heart stay strong for
The other world
The other world y'all
Say what, another world
Another, 'nother 'nother 'nother
Say what, another world...
Everythin' is wrong since me and my baby parted
All day long I'm walkin' 'cause I couldn't get my car started
Laid off from job and I can't afford to check it
I wish somebody'd come along and run into it and wreck it
Come on, since my baby parted
Come on, I can't get started
Come on, I can't afford to check it
I wish somebody'd come along and run into it and wreck it
Everything is wrong since I been without you
Every night I lay awake thinkin' about you
Every time the phone rings sounds like thunder
Some stupid jerk tryin' to reach another number
Come on, since I been without you
Come on, steady thinkin' 'bout you
Come on, phone sounds like thunder
Some stupid jerk tryin' to reach another number
Everything is wrong since I last saw you baby
I really wanna see you and I don't mean maybe
I'm doin' everythin' tryin' to make you see
That I belong to you honey and you belong to me
So come on, I wanna see you baby
Come on, I don't mean maybe
Come on, I'm tryin' to make you see
That I belong to you honey and you belong to me
Maybelline, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing
The things you used to do
As I was motivatin' over the hill
I saw Maybelline in a coup de ville
A Cadillac a-rollin' on the open road
Nothin' will outrun my V8 Ford
The cadillac doin' 'bout ninety-five
She's bumper to bumber
Rollin' side by side
Maybelline, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing
The things you used to do
Pink in the mirror on top of the hill
It's just like swallowin' up
A medicine pill
First thing I saw that Cadillac grille
Doin' a hundred
And ten gallopin' over that hill
Offhill curve, a downhill stretch
Me and that Cadillac neck by neck
Maybelline, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing
The things you used to do
The Cadillac pulled up ahead of the Ford
The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
It then got cloudy and it started to rain
I tooted my horn for a passin' lead
The rain water blowin' all under my hood
I knew that was doin' my motor good
Maybelline, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing
The things you used to do
The motor cooled down, the heat went down
And that's when I heard that highway sound
The Cadillac a-sittin' like a ton of lead
A hundred and ten a half a mile ahead
The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
And I caught Maybelline at the top of the hill
Maybelline, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing
[Shyheim]
The precinct is crooked, my man got grabbed up
Had cracks on him worth about a bullet
They just took it, asked him questions like, "Where's
the guns?"
They tried to cheat him to tell them where was Un
The God ten deep in a red fifteen passenger
Guns out when they jumped out, pointed at us
Here comes, what they call a procedure
Slammin us against a gate, cuffin us before they beat
[Channel Live]
It's like they can't trust us, they wanna bust us
and crush us, they sayin f' us, there's no peace, no
just-us
They claim to protect us, they serve and they wreck us
Never respect us, arrest us and always stress us
To see the Devil die is my purpose of to live up
Self-determinance is the must, I practice Kool G jog-a-
leos
Free your mind and yo *bitch* is sure to follow
and free will come to lock it down, look out for tips
thats hollow
[Wise Intelligent (of Poor Righteous Teachers)]
It's P.I.T. supreno
Mix it down, dedicated to Steve Feliciano
Directored that steam and gouge Danno
F' the five-oh pronto, cuz I know
First head to take the white and burst lead
Never did but might have to do it
Lies twenty-five, hollow shots in a pro-active unit
7-A, M-J, stop the BS movement, that's how we do it
Mobilize the people, conscious *niggas* get to it
[Chorus: Mos Def (of Black Star)]
My people unite and let's all get down
We got to have one love, peace and understandin
One God, one love, one life
One aim, one voice, one fight
[Chorus 2: Mos Def]
My people unite, hop up and do a right
We got to have one love, peace and understandin
One God, one love, one life
One aim, one voice, one fight
My people unite, hop up and do a right (echoes)
Keep it tight y'all, do it right y'all
[Cappadonna]
Yo, forget police brutality, I worked for a salary
and did time for a crime I didn't commit
They tried to beat me in my head, make a brotha submit
Hit me in the face with sticks, lockin me down for bein
around
Still remember, never surrender into the beast
The man, peace for Diallo
My reality is to fight back police brutality
[Crunch Lo (of Othorized F.A.M.)]
Mr. Officer got my trapped in a dark corridor
Long hallway, they in luck with the gunplay
Swing knight sticks, run thicker than Bloods and Crips
Harass mad cats and it don't make sense
Roll around in dark tints, fiendin to match finger
prints
Search me down everyday and you still ain't content
[Rock (of Heltah Skeltah)]
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Calm your nerves down, bop your heads too high
Let 'em know Rock, stop wonderin why you keep gettin
knocked
Cuz you a part time dealer, prob'ly a part time pops
Not a part time killer, but them dudes is full time
cops
Make a hustle stupid, you half *ass* black acts
Stack, use your head for than a hat rack, Jack
Start runnin your life instead of runnin the streets
Runnin your mouth, oh yeah, stop runnin from beasts
Riding along in my automobile
My baby beside me at the wheel
I stole a kiss at the turn of a mile
My curiosity running wild
Crusin' and playin' the radio
With no particular place to go
Riding along in my automobile
I was anxious to tell her the way I feel
So I told her softly and sincere
She leaned and whispered in my ear
Cuddlin' more and drivin' slow
With no particular place to go, hey
So we parked way out on the Kokomo
The night was young and the moon was gold
So we both decided to take a stroll
Can you imagine the way I felt?
I couldn't unfasten her safety belt
Riding along in my calaboose
Still trying to get her belt a loose
All the way home I held a grudge
For the safety belt that wouldn't budge
Crusin' and playin' the radio
[Talib Kweli]
Yo you sent out the signal right?
And this is what happened
The voice of Hip Hop got heard
Never comprimised this is how we put it down c'mon
[Kool G Rap]
Throughout my thuglife I've seen the ???
Like ??? fight over the role of dice
Flashing whole lights when killas on a hiest
So contight, get poltergiest over the bowl of Christ
Who pulled the slice from cats aiming gats who showed
the hiest
Told you right she be the one that come and hold your
Then aim it at the whole vice squad just like ???
Rollin like every prototype was dolomight
One man recall his ice inside his gun hand he holds for
life
[Rah Digga]
This for the ones with holes in they graves
Waitin for they piece when the law misbehave
I say we off ??? watch 'em walk the beat
Like you can't cross streets make them all retreat
(now) Judges and the jury be a little to appointed
Making us defendants when we supossed to be the
plantiffs
Laugh now cause soon the thrill stops
Heads get it on and start to kill cops
[Sporty Theivz]
I'm sober but the pull me over
What i do yo? (what we do yo?)
Poe-poe go i'm drivin to slow (cool yo)
I torin' them explorin them (damn)
For them that's why i'm ignoring them (uh-oh)
Bring like king skip
Before they bring this to some Rodeny King shit
Forget them fools
Now make no sudden moves
They reachin for they tools (let's move)
You buggin dude
Kirk you ran the stop, word them pigs frontin
Yo tell like you tell 'em cousin we ain't did nothin
All they see is three blacks in a jeep with seats back
Lookin for ??? packs how the blood dog can eat that
They thirstin for a reason to blast you can't beat that
Gats and a badge to match you can beat that so bounce
[Mos Def]
My people unite and let's all get down
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
Do it right ya'll, keep it tight ya'll, do it right
ya'll, just do it
[Shabaam Sahdeeq]
Blood on they hands, blood on my mans
Destroying the fam
More souljers die, another mother cries
Anthony Buyers, ??? ???, Diallo
Let it keep happenin and theirs more to follow
It's even deeper then that penal shot in the back
Forever we fight and cus but the world still adjust
So many bullets just to stop one man
Is that the plan,
To leave us all dead in the street
[Common]
I'm an opponent of violence
To many of my guys have to condome it in silence
Law takes lives and can only do violence
And with night sticks i write quick
Hopin that
[Talib Kweli and Common]
I might hit somebody in the heart
[Talib Kweli]
Like an arrow with her eyes on a sparrow
Yo i feel my peoples pain all in my bone marrow
[Common]
I'm tellin Pharoahe to let my folks go
Ma's been singin to law like they background vocals
[Talib Kweli]
Local, state, federal cops have been payed properly
To protect the property
How can i just stand by and watch a man die for nothin
and not react
The way we spit on this track is how we bustin back
[Common]
Yo i pimp slap 5-0
Get behind them and make the marks drive slow
[Talib Kweli]
Yo, you wanna know how to improve on the quality life?
Try respectin it step into my zone and maifest a check
in it
[Pharoahe Monch]
Cops they transport me from Long island to Medina
with they fucked up demeanor
Dreamin of stickin it to me like Abner Louima
Pharoahe slash El-Hajj Malik Shabazz
with plans of retaliations of they coward ass
God please allow me to preach for 'em
A voiceless man through a spirit i speek for him
Step to city hall if a dove flew for Diallo
with a vision of cops inside the Public Enemy logo
[Posdnous]
All that scheming and plotting
The young absorb like cotton does
Ecspeacially in my city where the boys steady rockin in
You would thought 5-0 would cut it all short
But they play the biggest part in the art of living
arms
In our land cops guns clap more then hands
As if we don't deserve what they hear to preserve
We just tryin to do it right in these worlds that we
rappin in
While they trying to fill us all up with more lead then
zepilin
[Everyone Lead by Mos Def]
My people unite and let's all get down
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
My people unite and let's all get down
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
My people unite and let's all get down
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
One aim, One voice, One fight
My people unite, hop up and do it right
We gotta have what? love peace and understandin
One god, One love, One light
Mos def:(getting louder)
This is for all of you
This is for all of you
This is for all of you
For all of you
ALL OF YOU
ALL!
Every since i was small, i played the wall
The loner type, even as a little tike
(singing)while the other little kids were out at play,
I was home wishing for a rainy dayyay..(/singing)
I didn't have friends cuz i barely even spoke
My head was mad out on a I'll uni flow
Surrounded outside by thievs and crooks
I found a little peace in stars and books
My outside contact was limited
Cuz i was different and heads couldn't get wit it
(singing)i used to get mistaken ?? ?? when all i ever
really wanted was some
Love
???remember drew back many tears??? that i kept inside
for so many years
All but galactic intuition, i learned the skill of
being self sufficient
Heads got live, while i took the train
I watched the sky and let the daytime fade(/singing)
Go through whole twenty four hrs is sorrow
Role lay down and do the shit all again tomorrow
Keepin compsure is a way ??to burden??
And smiling in your face ??while my chess is hurtin'??
I wanna be nice but that shit ain't worth it
Turn off the light draw the curtain
Will i find peace, son, i'm not certain
(singing)in dark quiet places feelings go,
Beating you down all hard and slow oh ohh ohhh ohh
ohh....(/singing)
(CHORUS[spoken above eachother])
DCQ(Ces in brackets):
(i'm tired of all these devils)
Victory is not granted to the swift and mighty, know
what i'm saying? (that's
What the devil wants. it wants you to be afraid)
You can get hot but can you sustain the heat? (that's
how you lose your power)
Things that rise to quickly fall even faster (maintain
maintain maintain)
(maintain maintain maintain)
Things that rise to quickly fall even faster (maintain
maintain maintain)
Ces:
The night brings courage and solutions
Images and dramatic conclusions
I playback a hundred thousand scenes
Cut the proper sneer and practise being me
I've taken too many a lost
Man fuck patience it's time to excersice thought
It's the last thing heads would expect
If they wont' give it to me i'm taking my respect
And i'm using all means at hand
Because apparently motherfuckas don't understand
They don't know the fury behind the meekness
Mistaking my kindness for weakness well peep this
(singing)it's a brand new day(/singing)
And we gon do it this way
Call me MD with with revenge prognosis
I'm handing out justice in powerful doses
Coming out the deck with aces and jokers
Flushing whoever comes closest
Sticktly hands over ears when you try to make amends
I've got my pad and pencil who the hell needs friends
You think i'm on some shit, you god damn right
My area of peace is like mad and tight
Attempt to tresspass my radius and we gon' have to
fight
My heart is too heavy for you to take me light
I exit sufferers status so if you thought otherwise
imma let you know
That when the tables turn they moving hard and slow
[ INTRO: Mos Def ]
Baba-baba-baba-baba-baba, you been so good to me
When I was a little boy you were the only one I wanted
to be
To be like pa duke and ma duke
How much I love the both of you
I know all the strain we been through
But it's of no consequence cause I'm comin through
[ VERSE 1: Mos Def ]
Check it
I first stood ???? in the ??Brakalak??
In the center of ??Islam??, started ????
This had to be about ten years back
Before I ever even heard of a 24 track
Talkin about you was an MC was ??quite the?? move
Cause if you said you had skill well then you had to
show and prove
And if there ever was a party, son, yo, I would set it
And tell the deejay run the beat from (Ultra-magnetic)
I grabbed the mic and then I leave the party buzzin
Tellin all my honeys I was Slick Rick's cousin
When they knew I wasn't, but I had no shame
Pa, you know the name, the Mos always had game
Back in the day ?????
Brothers knew how to act before glocks and crack
And Wendy C was doin radio shows
And 'crossover' meant that you wore your mom's clothes
When Sweet G was talkin about the games that people
play
I used to sit back and say: yeah indeed, someday
And as I grew older my kung fu grew better
Instead of shootin the humbles I was shootin ????
And now my time has come
And now hip-hop's an industry polluted by bums
Posin with guns they're puffin mad blunts
Aiyo, brothers just started rhymin last month
They gettin fat deals on any major label
When they only see other people hold the mic cable
Five years ago when peoples danced to house
When the deejay played hip-hop then you walked out
But now you're hard, talkin about you paid mad dues
I used to see your ass ???? wearin platform shoes
I ain't confused, who you think you're foolin with that
????
You ain't genuine, so don't waste your time
Riffin over here cause here ain't no chance
That you could break the sound, son, you ain't that
advanced
Times are gettin critical across the land
???? the b-boy, introduce the b-man, understand?
The M-O-S D is who I am, now check it out, y'all
[ CHORUS ]
My kung fu is the style you haven't mastered
[ VERSE 2: DCQ ]
At the age of 18 made a little money
And I needed some advice on how to live my life
Was goin through strife, people couldn't understand
That I was comin into my own, becomin a man
I had to have a plan cause I know what I'm here for
So I can't waste time, y'all
Gotta be on the ball and represent for my peeps
(Where?) in the streets
I make beats and kick facts over fat tracks
It's all of that from the ??Brakalak??
Goin through problems as a adolescent
A lot of troubles and turmoils, there was persistence
And I know that I stutter
But it don't matter cause I'm a bad -
I flip a verse either backwards, sideways
I rocks my [edited] from here, Mondays, Fridays
Saturdays and I get a weekend off
My [edited] ain't soft
(Well, excuse me, baby)
You paid your dues cause I'm the boss
So mother[edited] Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross
Because they know what the time is
I rock [edited] for the fly kids, b-men, bouncin ??
bombastics
Kick it drastic, you get tossed like an ash, kid
Youknowmsayin?
[ CHORUS ]
[ VERSE 3: Ces ]
Well, I'm sleek and I freak a beat
For you and your peeps to bump inside your jeeps
Your Acura, Honda or whatever
Bump it in the Benzi and get your head together
Strollin down the F.D.R.
Playin the microphone star
Deep in your car
With the thump-diddy-thump-da-thump-da-thump-thump
Pop up the trunk and let the bass bump
If you ain't got a ride, well, that's alright
Let the U keep you company on your hike
Trekin down the ave. with your headphones on
Take em off for a sec, you still feel gone
You're pressin rewind, many, many times
I must rock the mic cause it's only right
Comin right up offa Eastern ground
This is how you get down, I hope you like the sound
Thermo offering number one
There's more in store, there's more to come
We far from done, no, the show ain't over
So when we comin through don't say I never told ya
That
![[198] NSA Recruiting Fail, Gabon Ritual Killings, Egypt in Turmoil, Mos Def Gets Tortured](http://web.archive.org./web/20130924180348im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KnE9fkWKVW8/default.jpg "[198] NSA Recruiting Fail, Gabon Ritual Killings, Egypt in Turmoil, Mos Def Gets Tortured")
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