Know That

[Intro: Mos Def]

I strike the empire back

I strike the empire back

Fuck the empire

High flying like the Millenium Falcon piloted by Han Solo

I never roll for dolo, fronting on me's a no-no

Understand, doing this for my family

Haha, check it out y'all

[Verse 1: Mos Def]

Yo, I'm tryna 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 watching me, I watch back, that's the policy

Moving along my odyssey like blood through the artery

Navigate the treacherous and make it seem effortless

Let those who make the exodus seekin' the North beacon

From beating and hog-eating, from punishment all season

From hands cracked and bleeding, cotton thorns in your palms

It's for y'all that I sketch these songs, and it goes

Yay, though I walk through the valley of the shadow

I fear no man, because faith is the arrow

My vocal chord travel worldwide to block narrow

We can blow with the ammo or go mano-a-mano

Kweli is you with me (What up? What up?) Let's make it happen

I burn through your argument with action

My eyes stay fastened to tomorrow, looking for a brighter day

When y'all wanna leave y'all

Right away

[Chorus: Mos Def]

Shout it out from East-West (from South to Northern)

From Cackalack (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 emcees)

Make it happen (do your thing) understand..

And know that I love you

Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen

[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]

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 giving 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 niggas is looking like some fairies

And singing like canaries to the beast

And anybody who will listen to 'em clearly

Y'all don't hear me though, even when I'm coming through in stereo

You make a mockery of what I represent properly, yo, why you starting 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

MCs 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 niggas 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, MCs in my face after I slug you then I hug you

If I gotta dead you, know it's only 'cause I love you

[Outro: Mos Def]

Shout it out from East-West

(From South to Northern)

From the richest (to the poorest)

To the elders (in the coffins)

Living native (dying 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

And know that I love you