Native Sons

[Intro 1: Ronnie Gee sample] "Warning: The surgeon general has determined That the sounds you're about to hear Can be devastating to your ear" [Intro 2: Talib Kweli] This one goes out to the legendary Native Tongues crew Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Chi-Ali, Black Sheep The Beatnuts, Busta Rhymes – let's go! [Verse 1: Talib Kweli] We are witnessing a hip-hop apocalypse If you ain't got them bars, I promise it's looking ominous Yup – let's get it going, let's gеt provocative It's Brooklyn, who's stopping us? We are thе true conquerors Rappers get unruly and moody, feuding for dominance Bragging about material objects with people starving, bruh And that's why the phrase 'eat the rich' is so popular Please, these elitists can never defeat the populace Now who these novices think they tryna get brolic with? I'm the architect in this – 'Inception' and 'Megalopolis' I leave your city your city in ruins just like Isopolis It's a rap like a mummy, let's get buddy a sarcophagus I break a rapper like a promise Standing next to famous artists' these niggas' biggest accomplishments This is culture over politics The language of these lames is Greek to me like Acropolis [Chorus: Talib Kweli] Life is all about balance, son, stay on your deen You got to rise to the challenge, son, stay on your deen Whether on and off stages, I stay on my deen Even when collecting wages, I stay on my deen Praises to the Most High, this an offering Trust I'm just getting started, 'cause I got more to bring "I've been to the mountain top," like "It was all a dream" I'm move loving, and that don't cost a thing [Verse 2: Talib Kweli] We've arrived where people ain't living, they just survive People scared of the truth get more comfortable with the lies Want to come at you with hate, that's really love in the disguise The hate the only language that anguish gonna provide There's nothing you can do to me lames ain't already tried How you going to kill me? A nigga already died Ignorance is not a virtue and neither is petty pride You cranky? Go take a nap, eat a Snickers like Barry White – right? They want our people all in chains "Was it all in vain?" is what we ask the Lord as we the call His name It's all a game to these colonizers, yeah, they all the same They causing pain and slaughter all the game like Allan Quatermain If all things was equal, they would forfeit games Like we saw the pouring rain, so the slaves revolt and set it all aflame Employment gain for the sisters rocking the horses' mane We talking slang, Tribe Called Quest is in the Hall of Fame [Chorus: Talib Kweli] Life is all about balance, son, stay on your deen You got to rise to the challenge, son, stay on your deen Whether on and off stages, I stay on my deen Even when collecting wages, I stay on my deen Praises to the Most High, this an offering Trust I'm just getting started, 'cause I got more to bring "I've been to the mountain top," like "It was all a dream" I'm moving love, and that don't cost a thing [Scratch break: Jungle Brothers sample] "Five thousand boomin' watts – sound system, state of the art" "Five thousand boomin' watts – sound system, state of the art" "Five thousand boomin' watts – sound system, state of the art" "Five thousand boomin' watts – sound system, state of the art" "Five thousand boomin' watts – sound system, state of the art" "Five thousand boomin' watts – sound system, state of the art" [Outro: interview clip] That whole Native Tongue organization set so many of us free De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep... Latifah was in there KMD was in there Monie Love Yo, listen, all of them, bro All of them––yeah and Leaders was in there too All of that energy–set us free, bro