Rising Up

[Intro: Questlove & Chrisette Michele]

Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying

Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying

I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

She told me that the radio's been playing

The same song all day long

So I told her I got something you've been waiting for

I got something you've been waiting for

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]

Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying

I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

She told me that the radio's been playing

The same song all day long

[Post-Hook: Black Thought]

So get your glass, lift it up in the toast position

We getting paper like John Travolta get it

'Cause we focused with it, we supposed to get it

You know me and my whole squad, we so committed

We not the kids cooling out on the sofa with it

We 'bout to dominate the globe like Oprah did it

We getting paper like John Travolta, nigga

[Verse 1: Black Thought]

Well I'm a downtown shooter, who that?

The crown ruler is back, he kind of grew into the shape of a mack

Look how I do it, yo I'm taking you back

This how you rise down to the foundation, how sacred is that?

I'm from the number one place on the map

The generational gap, with yet another sensational track

And we don't stress for nothing, I just press the button

It's as simple as just making it hap'

To all the frauds stop faking, relax, and to the broads if you caking

Then clap then shake it without breaking your back

I know the world been waiting for that, you been aching for that

'Cause what they playing on the station is wack

And I'm a legend in the flesh that dress to impress

The best is that which I accept and nothing less

My stacks is grotesque, my squad so fresh

You know it's Black Thought, and your boy the bro Quest, but

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]

Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying

I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

She told me that the radio's been playing

The same song all day long

[Post-Hook: Black Thought]

So get your glass, lift it up in the toast position

We getting paper like John Travolta get it

'Cause we focused with it, we supposed to get it

You know me and my whole squad, we so committed

We not the kids cooling out on the sofa with it

We 'bout to dominate the globe like Oprah did it

We getting paper like John Travolta, nigga

[Verse 2: Wale]

Hip-hop ain't dead 'cause the pulse is in us

I got the Everclear flow, they mimosa with it

We are the hope of the culture, they 'posed to listen

And I'm 'posed to pivot like I'm a forward in the league

I'm Oden with it

Yet don't owe them niggas nothing but potent lyrics

But if you ain't got the dance, they revoke your spinning

So good rappers ain't eating, they Olsen twinning

But I'm so committed, they have grown familiar

With the counterfeit hitters, they so-so with it, but they are Sosa with it

They Mark McGwire with the writin', I'm Rodriguez

On the road to riches this is the fork I'm hitting

This is the trial-and-error era, no co-defendant

I push the seed every time like I'm Cody with it

I said the one-hit wonders pneumonia to us

I don't know you niggas, hit the road, my nigga

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]

Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying

I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

She told me that the radio's been playing

The same song all day long

[Post-Hook: Black Thought]

So get your glass, lift it up in the toast position

We getting paper like John Travolta get it

'Cause we focused with it, we supposed to get it

You know me and my whole squad, we so committed

We not the kids cooling out on the sofa with it

We 'bout to dominate the globe like Oprah did it

We getting paper like John Travolta, nigga

[Verse 3: Black Thought]

Where my grimy figures at? Look lively addressing the captain

Show me where your first impression is at

And where your dedication to the true profession is at

How you laugh? Answer me, what kind of question is that?

I'll show you where my rare essence is at

The adolescence of rap, the real muscle in the message of that

My name trouble I'm a blessing to rap

And you can check my stats 'cause worldwide, they attesting to that

So, nigga, listen you can probably learn a lesson perhaps

How I'm like Bobby DeNiro, Joe Pesc' and them cats

Am I the unsung hero? Oh yes

If you asking anybody that's aware of the classics

They'll tell you I'm a legend in the flesh that dress to impress

The best is that which I accept and nothing less

My stacks is grotesque, my squad so fresh

You know it's Black Thought, and your boy the bro Quest, but

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]

Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying

I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

She told me that the radio's been playing

The same song all day long

[Post-Hook: Black Thought]

So get your glass, lift it up in the toast position

We getting paper like John Travolta get it

'Cause we focused with it, we supposed to get it

You know me and my whole squad, we so committed

We not the kids cooling out on the sofa with it

We 'bout to dominate the globe like Oprah did it

We getting paper like John Travolta, nigga

So let's go!