After These Messages

[Intro]

Ya ever wonder why members of the Klan wore hoods

Well it's because they wanted to hide their identity

See they knew what they were doing was wrong

But they wanted to be shielded and protected

From the consequences of they're criminal activity

That same energy is the reason why

Some of you create blank fake profiles

To dispute racist rhetoric online

You know what you're doing is wrong

You just don't want anybody to know it's you

You want to be protected

From the consequences of your actions

[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]

Let's make a toast to creator pros in the days of old

You play your role, your lies'll ring out hollow like they plated gold

They say they know but just because they say it, that don't make it so

Maybe so, but if it's less travel, I'ma take the road

Let's make a toast to the life of the party and the greatest host

The greatest show on Earth that take your souls dressed in the latest clothes

The natives so restless, it's stressin', the pressure take a toll

They made us so the way to go is to break us off and make us hope

Mother Earth is modest but she never has a veil to wear

They followin' my sister but weapons drawn when she conceal a hair

Through the malls of America, past the Chick-fil-As and the Build-A-Bears

The fall of America was prob'ly triggered by the Trail of Tears

Or wait, and I say so, yeah

But you would know it thoroughly, went from native and indigenous

To marginalized minorities, our stories be inspirin'

The greatest songs you've ever heard, we used to hang from trees

Now they hangin' on our every word

The levees burst open when the storm is ragin'

We call our base and then pray before we hit the stage, every performance sacred

These lyrics are them prayers them devils hate to sing

These miracles are waitin' on our spiritual awakening

The winter comin', got 'em huntin' for scraps

I'm ready for war, I'm like a soldier with his gun in his lap

Under attack, that's where we shine, them cowards run to the back

We gotta become the good energy we want to attract

[Chorus: Luther Ingram]

I'm singin' this message to you

Listen to my song

I'm singin' this message to you

Listen to my song

I'm singin' this message to you

Only way that I can

[Verse 2: Amani]

The only thing out of pocket be how they profit

At this point, leniency not an option, let's get it poppin'

Tired of seein' my people sobbin', least I'm goddess

They movin' ores like hemoglobin

I made a lie out of whoever settlement an island

I made a fire from a pen, pad, and perfect timin'

Reverse the curse, worst come to worst, the pressure birth a diamond

This no church but we got gospels that are certain lament

Deemed impossible to rock the bull without tottlin'

Ya'll some toddlers, where ya mom n'em

I'm in rare form, say a prayer for him, amen

Niggas dare score, all ya'll share of corn is drop gems and read airborne

Or sneeze out ya need for top ten, uh

Thoughts, we all got them, the cause of all our sin

Look at the floor, get your jaw knocked in

Wired up, locked in, the spirit hot is not zen

I fear this not what God meant

So languid a response, yeah, we prolly nearin' our end

Rearin' our head, endearin' our dread

Stackin' bread, we good money as 'long we not dead

Fuck what you feel in yo heart, you ain't gotta fear what I said

Niggas equate a fear with the art

Like, I just create and heal with the art

From what I can tell, they just tryna weigh a bill with the art, uh

[Chorus: Luther Ingram]

I'm singin' this message to you

Listen to my song

I'm singin' this message to you

Listen to my song

I'm singin' this message to you

Only way that I can