[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
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