1.Never Been In Love
Lyricist：T.kweli Greene, J. Smith
I know there's a first time for everything
First time I let her in my bed she got wetter than the perfect
storm
That we weathering together and this the first time
That I've ever considered wedding rings but first things first
yo
I met her at the bar rolling with three wise men like I followed
the star
There she is shorty bi-coastal
Thick like bifocals, stacked like 2Pac vocals her body so loco
Jewel of the Nile so I'm romancing the stone
The rhythm is in the words and I watched her dance to my poems
The way she move them hips let me know in advance that she grown
I pictured it like Paris Hilton when she answered the phone, yo
Dancing alone because she extra fly
But I got a good look so I catch her eye
Gave the rest a try now give the best a try
Leave your nest to fly make you testify
Damn baby
I know we've got some haters and
I don't care what people say
As long as you and me okay
'Cause I've never been in love before
See I use to be a player and
All of this is new to me
And this ain't what I'm used to see
'Cause I've never been in love before
You running back to the kid like this was home base
Or a marathon I let you set your own pace
Your own space and the beautiful struggle
Now baby tell what's it gonna take to prove that I love you
When I'm gone you be missing me too
It let me know that my prayers is the music God be listening to
Don't get it confused I'm trying to get religious with you
I never thought I feel like this it's like a miracle you
You, you stole my heart like a crook in love
Crossing the bridge to the Brooklyn love
When I look above it's clear skies that's surrounding my earth
Your love is drugs and I'm down to serve let's deal with it yo
We go to the spot and you still get it low
I get excited fast and still love to hit it slow
Till the walls come tumbling down like Jericho
And you hear the sound is stereo hear we go
I know we've got some haters and
I don't care what people say
As long as you and me okay
'Cause I've never been in love before
See I use to be a player and
All of this is new to me
And this ain't what I'm used to see
'Cause I've never been in love before
You looked good when I tried you on so I had to write a song
Use to be the guy that always made her cry when I'm gone
Always kept a stable and we never spent a night alone
No cable or no hard line phone, why？
I'm never home scared of commitment ready to forever roam
We at war like Sister Souljah and she welcome to my terror dome
Head strong our connection proved them haters dead wrong
From now to all the people see my name upon the headstone
Leave her be for five minutes dudes try to dive in it first
They want to spit on my name and tarnish my image
I tell them dude you I don't care who she speaking with
'Cause I already know she made it clear who she's living with
Yeah and it feels so beautiful
Put it in a rhyme because it feel so musical
Plus you ain't no groupie hoe, sitting in the studio
Before we do this though there something and now you should know
I know we've got some haters and
I don't care what people say
As long as you and me okay
'Cause I've never been in love before
See I use to be a player and
All of this is new to me
And this ain't what I'm used to see
'Cause I've never been in love before
I know we've got some haters and
I don't care what people say
As long as you and me okay
'Cause I've never been in love before
See I use to be a player and
All of this is new to me
And this ain't what I'm used to see
'Cause I've never been in love before
I know we've got some haters and
I don't care what people say
As long as you and me okay
'Cause I've never been in love before
See I use to be a player and
All of this is new to me
And this ain't what I'm used to see
'Cause I've never been in love before
I don't care what people say
As long as you and me okay
'Cause I never been in love before
All of this is new to me
And this ain't what I'm used to see
'Cause I've never been in love before
2.I Try
Lyricist：Mary J Blige, Talib Kweli, John Stephens, Kanye Omari West
Yeah, yeah
New Talib Kweli
You know what it is
Come on
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
K West, Kweli
Got searched on the plane, Arabic first name
Disturbed by the fame just like Kurt Cobain
Breath of life, kiss of death, my lips pursed the same
You flirt 'til she came
Nothin' hurt like the pain and torture
Daughters of the dust lookin' for a vein
Something to take in vain like the Lord's name
Put your hands together, got 'em all sayin'
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
Yo, it's all ghetto in gear higher, the floor settle
More metal for beef that we don't let the law settle
I try to navigate the treacherous waters of
America's ghettos that set up the slaughterers
But there's more of us
Although we speak in different languages
We all pretty familiar with what anger is
Young and dangerous, trick a strangle is
Get up on some gangsta shit
Guns to bang ya wit'
And we put it on records to entertain ya wit'
I'm grown with pains way deeper than my receivers
Our uniforms is white sneakers and white T-shirts
On top of wife beaters, we like to light reefers
The 'hood need us for rappers, just ain't the right leaders
I put a lot into it
This is my product and I gotta move it
Stop the industry but you can't stop the music
An upside down kingdom where life is just not fair
Some many sufferin' 'cuz deep inside they're scared
Fear pumped into their veins to keep them from their destiny
Where would they be if you and I don't care？
I try, I try
You know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
Yo, the things I'm seein' on the news is insane
A stock broker shoot his kid and throw himself in front of a
train
A mother leave her baby home for two weeks all by himself
Three years old, eatin' ketchup and mustard, cryin' for help
Tryin' to bring your struggle to life
The label want a song about a bubbly life
I have trouble tryin' to write some shit
To BANG in the club through the night
When people suffer tonight, Lord knows I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
Life is a beautiful struggle
People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle
Some people usin' the noodle, some people usin' the muscle
Some people put it all together, make it fit like a puzzle
Come on, say it now
Life is a beautiful struggle
People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle
Some people usin' the noodle, some people usin' the muscle
Some people put it all together, yeah
I try, I try
You know I try
I try, oh Lord I try
Everyday I
Upside down kingdom
Oh, they're so scared
Everyday on the news we can't look around with
something somewhere
I try, I try
You know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
Lord knows, Lord knows we try, yeah
3.Back Up Offa Me
Lyricist：Tony Cottrell, Talib Kweli Green
Woe, yeah, yeah, when you doing you and you real fly wit it
It's like niggas always wanna check you, no what I'm sayin'？
Always wanna make sure you keepin' it real, keepin' it real
nigga
Nigga, do you
Back up offa me
(Hi-tek)
Back up offa me
Won't you, get out my face？ Better stay in ya place
Fed up, how much can I take？ Yo, you need to just
Back up offa me
(Here we go yaw)
Back up offa me
I got money to make and not a minute to waste
I need space when I'm trying to create, you need to just
Back up offa me
(See me in the cut)
Back up offa me
(Tryin' to roll up)
Back up offa me
(Oh we can roll up)
Back up offa me
(Hey yo, muthafucker hold up)
Tone, what is this？ I know he ain't talkin'
This is grown man business, be your own man
Stand up on ya feet, I thought we was homies
But ya coming at me like you don't know me
You think you do,well you're probably wrong
I'm surrounded my babies than Ashanti songs
Oh baby, I know ya don't get it
Ya trying to walk in my shoes, I know you won't fit it
Just 'cause I know you and ya flow too
There's more to it, you won't get it
I don't owe you, you want Hi Tek to do a record for you
So niggas is checking for you
Comfortable, 'cause niggas get respected for you
Get your own respect Duke, that ain't mean or evil
(Nope)
Ain't no crutches in the crew, my crew a crew of equals
(Yup)
Shit was cool when we was teen-agers, we grown men
You my people, but I don't need you moanin' and groanin'
I can't feed you, I already gotta kid
How a nigga try to regulate that's not his？
I ain't trying to sign I'm just the artist nigga
I'm just trying to rhyme and go the hardest, nigga
Back up offa me
(Hi-Tek)
Back up offa me
Won't you, get out my face？ Better stay in ya place
Fed up, how much can I take？ Yo, you need to just
Back up offa me
(Yeah)
Back up offa me
I got money to make and not a minute to waste
I need space when I'm trying to create you need to just
Back up offa me
(See me in the cut)
Back up offa me
(Tryin' to roll up)
Back up offa me
(We can roll up)
Back up offa me
(Hey yo, muthafucker hold up)
Radio suckers never play me 'cause I don't let them
They're like a pimp only hoes sweat them
When I do a show I like to catch the ladies eyes
Dodge the paparazzi, I don't want to see no lady die
Sports, entertainment, academics, business or politics
Ya find hoes that swallow dick for dollars quick
Young broads, roll up in gangs, like the Young Lords
Jump off, statutory rape, now you done for
What, you thought that your shorty was going to act her age？
No, right now, somebody's daughter is backstage
(Yup)
It's a master-slave relationship, but guess who's Toby？
(Yup)
It's the white girl in Colorado, but guess who's Kobe？
Tried to tell you not to fuck with these debutants
That's more Kobe beef than Japanese restaurants
Don't need diseases or cases, ain't trying to catch nothing
And when they're throwing pussy best believe you catching
something
(Hey)
Back up offa me
(How hot is that？)
Back up offa me
(Hey)
Won't you, get out my face？ Better stay in ya place
I'm fed up, how much can I take？ Yo, you need to just
Back up offa me
(Yeah, hey)
Back up offa me
I got money to make and not a minute to waste
I need space when I'm trying to create you need to just
Yeah man, this nigga
(Shh)
Back up off you
Nigga, you talkin' bout me, know what I'm sayin'？
I know that nigga talkin' bout me, know what I'm sayin' man？
Who you think put him on？ Okay, I put him on
(Back up offa me)
Talib Kweli
That's supposed to be his rap name or somethin' like that？
Nigga's name is Henry Abernathy, that's his real name
Henry Abernathy, from 51st Street
He just gonna go out there and get money with out me
(Ya know)
But I gotta book of rhymes, I gotta book of rhymes
Ya know what I'm sayin'？
(Back up offa me)
Back up off you, you need to back up off me
But I'm serious, if he come back around the block
If he come back around the block
If he comes in my line at the grocery store
I tell ya right now, as soon as I bag his groceries
Ya know what I'm sayin'？ I'm a take lika-lika little snapple
bottle
And just crack him across his forehead
And I'll be like, yeah Talib
4.We Got the Beat
Lyricist：T.k. Greene, Waynne Nugent, Kevin Risto
Yeah! Come on! What it is？
It's the P-L-A -N-E-T R-O-C-K
Kweli, B-K S E-L A- V I
You could tell I be Hell a free like college radio
W Q H T gonna play me though
This hot shit is to fly like the cockpit
Got spit like a french kiss chicks lock lips
Coming from the deep black like the Loch Ness
Now bring apocalypse like the heart of darkness
It's like the heart of the artist become a target
Pop music is the black market
Recently we witness bizarre shit
The war hit the same time as sars hit
Terrorists send bombs at the concert
The show must go on yo regardless
We're just made hip hop kid to pop shit
And get on some rock shit and start a mosh pit
Yeah we got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Yeah we got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Just one
We got the planet to rock, kweli's standing on top
I'm like a panther when I answer to cops
And bust back before the man get a shot
And the blood on their veins run cold like the cannibal lox
And bring heat like the blood of the mammal that's hot
And keep fighting like the boy with the mechanical heart
And watch time count down on the hands of the clock
Till the hour when the pinnacle start
Wow, and go fast like the bullet that ran through the dark
The hollow tip ripped a man apart, blaow
Yo these soldiers die in petroleum wars
Think they fighting for the holliest cause
It don't matter if you muslim, hebrew, or you a christian
Information is the newest religion, is a true way of living
Ain't no rule to a surpestition stop me
If you're going through with my mission come on man
We got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Yeah, we got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Just one
We got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Yeah we got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Just one
Come on get down, get down, get down, get down
Go ladies, go, go, go ladies, go, go
Come on all my ghetto people stand strong
We rocking on and on
One for me, now rocking with the best and is Kweli
You ain't no mc like me, you just a clone like K F C
Come on, B boys, B girls, we rocking the world
We got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Yeah, we got the beat to make the planet rock
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Just one
Don't belive niggaz running the place
Man everything is dangerous nothing is safe, nigga
Think you a man with a gun in your waist
Let the cops disrespect you right in front of your face
Take it out on your girl, punch her in the face
You ain't a thug you a waste of space
Nigga get out the way, B boys gonna rock till the break
How much can a planet take？
We got the beat
We got the beat
We got the beat
Right up to beat
We stuck the beat
We fuck the beat
We got the beat
We got the beat
We got the
5.Ghetto Show
Lyricist：Talib Kweli Greene, Lonnie Lynn, David West
Ghetto to ghetto, backyard to yard
We tear it up y'all, bless the mic with the Gods, come on
Precious metals round our necks and arms
We tear it up y'all, bless the mic with the Gods
Ghetto to ghetto, backyard to yard
We tear it up y'all, bless the mic with the Gods, come on
Precious metals round our necks and arms
We tear it up y'all, bless the mic with the Gods
Whatever's in your heart is where you wanna be
My hood is the ghetto
Even when you look, it's never what you see
My hood is the ghetto
I've been down before, up is just a reach
'Cause my hood is the ghetto
Catch a second wind, then begin again
My hood is the ghetto
Black magic in the hood, it's tragic but understood
Crack addicts, crack windows, crack wood
Even what's bad becomes good, status becomes stood
Upon the pedestal welcome to the ghetto show
Federal buildings, pissy hallways filled with children pushin'
children
Fiends lips peelin', shit seems real and
What's real is the estate of mind that we're in
The situation feels great
My man peels weight, so we can fill plates
You might get love but you still feel hate
Through and chain plates, we communicate
Chicago to Brooklyn, niggas real ones do relate
If lyrics sold then truth be told
I'll probably be just as rich and famous as Jay-Z
Truthfully I wanna rhyme like common sense
Next best thing I do a record with common sense
'Cause it's the music, the blues, it's the jazz, it's acoustics
Soul, rock and roll, the hip hop that we producin' yea
It's the gear, it's the flare, it's the stare
Nowadays they'll shoot you where they used to shoot the fair
Remember the lost soldiers, pour a beer, shoot the air
We got our own elected officials, no matter who the mayor
I know you know what I'm talkin' about, from New York to the
South
Take off your shoes when you walk in the house
Whatever's in your heart is where you wanna be
My hood is the ghetto
Even when you look, it's never what you see
My hood is the ghetto
I've been down before, up is just a reach
'Cause my hood is the ghetto
Catch a second wind, then begin again
My hood is the ghetto
Yo, I grew up where they're playin' skele in the parkin' lot
And sell paintings of Aaliyah, BIG and Pac up in the barbershop
Buildings too big so you don't really see the stars a lot
But rappin', drinkin', and goin' to prison you see them bars a
lot
I feel the spirit in the dark and hear it in my heart
And always keep my ears to the block till I dearly depart
Hip hop is really the art, we have to express the part of
ourselves
That make us want to martyr ourselves
It ain't harder to tell when somebody stick you up
And put the hammer to you
They want them dead presidents like Stickman and Mutulu
With a gun to your jaw, these kids don't run anymore
Kicks is a hundred or more
A man in front of the store, beggin' for money and mercy
I told him say a prayer under his breath, he cursed me
Niggaz is thirsty, I heard it's a drought
Up early, servin' from their grandmother's house
Sometimes the ghetto feels desolate
The eyes of the hood, yo, is desperate, effected by the deficit
Times and lessons get hard, either get by or get God
But you try to get by, it's like the block keep blockin'
You try to make moves, it's like the car just keep stoppin'
We shorties in the court, need Cochran, yea
I tell them why the weed seeds poppin', in the game you need
options
No time for feet watchin', me and Kwe keep rockin' for the
ghetto
Whatever's in your heart is where you wanna be
My hood is the ghetto
Even when you look, it's never what you see
My hood is the ghetto
I've been down before, up is just a reach
'Cause my hood is the ghetto
Catch a second wind, then begin again
My hood is the ghetto
Whatever's in your heart is where you wanna be
My hood is the ghetto
Even when you look, it's never what you see
My hood is the ghetto
I've been down before, up is just a reach
'Cause my hood is the ghetto
Catch a second wind, then begin again
My hood is the ghetto
It's the, it's like the world is ghettos, ghettos 'round the
world
Be rockin' for the universe and the world, yea
For me personally I feel like, you know I see
I travel from city to city, state to state
Heavy rock gold and check out, the hood
You know I'm sayin' it's like the ghetto show
6.Black Girl Pain
Lyricist：Talib Kweli Greene, T. Ibrahim, A. Mcintyre, Waynne Nugent,
Kevin Risto
My mama said life would be this hard
Growin' up days as a black girl scarred
In every ways till you've come so far
They just know the name they don't know the pain
So please hold your heads up high
Don't be ashamed of yourself know I
Will carry it forth till the day I die
They just know the name they don't know the pain black girl
Yeah I do it for the people, I do it for the love
I do it for the poet, I do it for the thug
This is for victory, and this is for the slaughter
I do it for my mother, I do it for my daughter
Promise I'll always love ya, I love to kiss and hug ya
You and your brother should be lookin' out for one another
I'm so blessed, man, y'all the reason I got up
Somebody put his hands on you I'm gettin' locked up
I'm not playin', that's the prayer I'm sayin' for Diani
And if I die then she'll be protected by Amani
That's her bigger brother and I love the way he love her
She a girly girl, she love to imitate her mother
But she a Gemini, so stay on her friendly side
She'll put that look on you, it's like somebody' friend just
died
My pretty black princess smell sweet like that incense
That you buy at the bookstore supporting black business
Teach her what black is, the fact is her parents are thorough
She four reading cornrows by Camille Yarborough
I keep her hair braided, bought her a black Barbie
I keep her mind free, she ain't no black zombie
This is for Aisha, this is for Kashera
This is for Khadijah scared to look up in the mirror
I see the picture clearer through the stain on the frame
She got a black girl name, she livin' black girl pain
This is for Makeba, and for my Mamacita
What's really good, ma？ I'll be your promise keeper
I see the picture clearer through the stain on the frame
She got a black girl name, she livin black girl pain
My mama said life would be this hard
Growin up days as a black girl scarred
In every ways till you've come so far
They just know the name they don't know the pain
So please hold your heads up high
Don't be ashamed of yourself know I
Will carry it forth till the day I die
'Coz they just know the name they don't know the pain black girl
This is for Beatrice Bertha Benjamin who gave birth to
Tsidi Azeeda for Lavender Hill for Kyalisha
Althelone, Mitchells Plain, Swazi girls I'm rep pin for thee
Mannesburg, Guguletu where you'd just be blessed to get through
For beauty shinin through like the sun at the highest noon
From the top of the cable car at table mountain I am you
Girls with the skyest blue of eyes and the darkest skin
For cape colored allied for realizing we're African
For all my cousins back home, the strength of mommy's backbone
The length of which she went for raising, sacrificing her own
The pain of not reflecting the range of our complexions
For rubber pellet scars on Auntie Elna's back I march
Fist raised caramel shinin in all our glory
For Mauritius, St. Helena, my blood is a million stories
Winnie for Joan and for Edie, for Norma, Leslie, Ndidi
For Auntie Betty, for Melanie, all the same family
Fiona, Jo Burg, complex of mixed girls
For surviving through every lie they put into us now
This world is yours and I swear I will stand focused
Black girls, raise up your hands, the world should clap for us
My mama said life would be this hard
Growin' up days as a black girl scarred
In every ways till you've come so far
They just know the name they don't know the pain
So please hold your heads up high
Don't be ashamed of yourself know I
Will carry it forth till the day I die
'Coz they just know the name they don't know the pain black girl
Momma said that the day's like this
Momma said that the day's like this
Momma yeah momma said
That the day's like this
Momma said every day's like this
Momma said that the day's like this
Momma said that the day's like this
Momma yeah momma said
That the day's like this
7.Beautiful Struggle
Lyricist：Tony Cottrell, Talib Kweli Greene
{This is a tear jerker}
The revolution is here
The revolution is here people
I said it once, I'll say it twice
You gots to be ready
The revolution is inside of you
People, the revolution is here, yeah
The revolution's here
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
No one can change your ways
(Rock with me for a second)
No one can lead you off your path
(Come on)
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
Yo, I heard it's said the revolution won't be televised
But in the land of milk and honey
There's a date you gotta sell it by
Otherwise it just expires and spoils
And these folks jump out the pot
When the water too hot
'Cuz the fire boils inside
You go to church to find you some religion
And all you hear is connivin' and gossip and contradiction and
You try to vote and participate in the government
And the motherfuckin' Democrats is actin' like Republicans
You join an organization that know black history
But ask them how they plan
To make money and it's a mystery
Lookin' for the remedy
But you can't see what's hurtin' you
The revolution's here
The revolution is personal
They call me the political rapper
Even after I tell 'em I don't fuck with politics
I don't even follow it
I'm on some KRS, Ice Cube, Chris Wallace shit
Main source, De La Soul, bumpin' 2 Pacalypse now
The revolution's here
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
No one can change your ways
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
Yo, I speak at schools a lot
'Cause they say I'm intelligent
Nervous cause I'm dope
If I was wack I'd be irrelevant
I'm like the dope in your tracks
Until your high is settled in
You leanin' to the left
The laughter's the best medicine
But the troubles you have today
You just can't laugh away
Stay optimistic, they can change
It's gonna come like Donny Hathaway
You have to pray, on top of that, act today
'Cuz opportunity shrivel away
Like Tom Hanks in Cast Away
Everybody passed away
The past will pay, the family mournin'
Everybody act accordin' to the season
That they born in
You fight in the streets
Start bleedin' 'til the blood is pourin'
In the gutter, mothers cry 'til the Lord be livin'
By the sword and all that folks want is safety
They goin' gun crazy
The same reason Reagan was playin'
War games in the '80s
The same reason I've always rocked
Dog chains on my babies
The struggle is beautiful
I'm too strong for you to slave me
The revolution's here
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
No one can change your ways
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
The revolution's here
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
No one can change your ways
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world
So please excuse me while I laugh
Yeah, let's go
So please excuse me while I laugh
8.Broken Glass
Lyricist：Chad Hugo, Talib Kweli, Pharrell Williams
(Kweli)
Yeah, they wasn't expecting this, that's why ya
(Hahaha)
Gotta hope for the best and play 'em for the worst, c'mon
(Muhfuckers is history)
C'mon
This the story of Lucy In The Sky Wit Diamonds
Ask her why she crying, she wanna live, she got no time for
dying
Was a science, dreams too big for a small town
She gotta get to New York and watch a door fall down
Hopped off the Greyhound, gotta make her way now
She's sleeping on the park benches in the playground
But cash burn quick, don't wanna have to turn trick
Ready to quit 'til she met the super pimp
Flashing his toothy smile that drove little Lucy wild
She quick to hop up on his dick straight Hoopie style
She let the fella hit but she sang, she sell-a-bit
He ain't buying that, she ain't selling it
She looking for love in all of the above
Believing videos, just trying to back up all on a thug
Who wanna put it in her, withdraw like a Citi card
But now she shake that ass for tips at the titty bar
Broken glass, everywhere
(It's louder)
Louder than a bomb shattered in the air
(It's louder)
Try to hold back your tears baby
(It's louder)
Wait a second, what happens here baby？
(It's louder)
Broken glass, everywhere
(It's louder)
Louder than a bomb shattered in the air
(How many of y'all think you can do what we do？)
Yeah, wait a second
(One, two, three, c'mon)
Dreams shattered like broken glass
Press ignore it and your hopes get broken fast
You complain for the life you supposed to have
But when you try to make plans God is known to laugh
Throw a song on the phonograph, and Lucy start wilin'
The trick start smiling, watch the loot start flying
The Gucci start pilling up, she live designer plush
Start lining up the coke so she could find a rush
Time's up, she's about to turn 33
Her shit started to sag, she got surgery
Now cats are used to drive past her like a Church van
Acting on thirst, 'She Wants To Move' like a N.E.R.D. fan
Bigger house, 10,000 dollar purse fam
She let you in, she wanted rent by the 1st man
She the ring leader in a clique of birds
And they shadowy, like the silhouette behind the curtain
Broken glass, everywhere
(It's louder)
Louder than a bomb shattered in the air
(It's louder)
Try to hold back your tears baby
(It's louder)
Wait a second, what happens here baby？
(It's louder)
Broken glass, everywhere
(It's louder)
Louder than a bomb shattered in the air
(How many of y'all think you can do what we do？)
Yeah, wait a second
(One, two, three, c'mon)
She was a small city girl with big city dreams
Niggaz try to figure how to get up in them jeans
Put her in them scenes, get her on the team
Hit her wit the cream 'til they figured out the schemes
Now she all up in the club looking for a new love
Really like Huey Lewis looking for a new drug
'Cause coke's getting old, started free basing
Graduated to crack, smack on occasion
Not catching the bus, but back at the station
Back and forth pacing, acting all impatient
Last hundred dollars, she got to 'Get By'
Now gotta make a choice, go home or get high
Mommy and daddy miss her, she left for the fame
Now what's left is the dirt that's thrown on her name
She need a ticket home if it's the right course
Instead she bought a ticket to ride the white horse
Broken glass, everywhere
(It's louder)
Louder than a bomb shattered in the air
(It's louder)
Try to hold back your tears baby
(It's louder)
Wait a second, what happens here baby？
(It's louder)
Broken glass, everywhere
(It's louder)
Louder than a bomb shattered in the air
(How many of y'all think you can do what we do？)
Yeah, wait a second
(One, two, three, c'mon)
9.Going Hard
Lyricist：H. Charlemagne, T.kweli Greene, C. Smyth
I got a part to play, we going hard these days
Fuck the harder way, we're doing it the smarter way
To my God I pray, that's how I start my day
The bullets starts to spray the revolution starts today
I say the shit these people ain't got the heart to say
Fuck the harder way, we doing it the smarter way
To my God I pray, that's how I start my day
The bullets starts to spray the revolution starts today
You say you never scared there's kids in other countries
Making jerseys, jeans, and sneakers they could never wear
Parents never there, they're busy building homes
They can't afford to buy, cars they can't afford to drive
Working jobs that don't support their life
You busy screaming gangsta, gangsta all that talk is strife
You already know lost the fight if you don't know the cost of
life
These kids is forced to fight a war they can't outrun
Ain't got no shoes but got a gun
Now where the fuck he pulled that out from？
People ask me how we wearing diamonds
When there's little kids in Sierra Leone
Losing arms for crying while they mining
Probably an orphan who's momma died of aids
He built a coffin working often but he never paid
Forever slaving in the world that's forever cold
Becoming the man of the house at 11 years old
This reality rap, I get inside the mentality that
Terrorize you like a cowardly act
I got a part to play, we going hard these days
Fuck the harder way, we're doing it the smarter way
To my God I pray, that's how I start my day
The bullets starts to spray the revolution starts today
I say the shit these people ain't got the heart to say
Fuck the harder way, we doing it the smarter way
To my God I pray, that's how I start my day
The bullets starts to spray the revolution starts today
I was sold to a sick European by a rich African battlin'
Middle passages, I can't go back again
Battlin' years of denied history, lies and mysteries
Wives with misty eyes watchin' their husbands be beaten
viciously
Battle in the wilderness of North America
Run by the river, only stoppin' to pray chased by predators
Terrorists with etiquette who vote and kill their president
Their capacity for evil so evident and prevalent
Ain't no hesitation involved, a nation dissolved
While we sit back waitin' to evolve
Those who would trade in their freedom
For their protection deserve neither
Not a name, not tradition
Religion, you learn Jesus, turn the other cheek
Inherit the earth, just stay meek, fuck the way you speak
Try to run, we chop off your feet, fast forward to 2004 we
selling
Yo this ain't what I'm settling for, I want more, yo
I got a part to play, we going hard these days
Fuck the harder way, we're doing it the smarter way
To my God I pray, that's how I start my day
The bullets starts to spray the revolution starts today
I say the shit these people ain't got the heart to say
Fuck the harder way, we doing it the smarter way
To my God I pray, that's how I start my day
The bullets starts to spray the revolution starts today
10.We Know
Lyricist：T.kweli Greene, K. Ross, Dave Nathaniel West
Hey y'all
I feel good, right？
Yeah, ok
Now what that make me talk about？ Love
Yeah, that's what the world need, ha
Yo, that's what your girl need
Alright, we gon' put it down like this
I'll tell you about myself
My name is Kweli, and I like to spit it homie
I rap about love and life, ladies get to know me
If you feeling lonely, I could be your one and only
I put it out in the world, so people show me love
Yeah, I always get it back
This ain't no pimp game here, thats a different track
You talking this and that, you need to get with this
I keep it realer than most, this is our business
What we gotta do to make them see
We got a good thing going on
Wanna tell the world if they don't know
That what we have is real
Wanna shout it from the mountains baby
That I love you, but if they don't hear me
I know, you know, we know
Yeah, yo, hey baby, look like you need a break tonight
Let me make it right, baby won't you stay the night
I got a lot of love as you know you're my favorite, right？
Hey my lady, what we gon' make tonight
That's the dream, but I never sleep
Across the crowded room, our eyes forever meet
But without doubt and gloom, 'cuz we can never be
That's why I got to go, you're my impossible love
Your the horizon, I can see but never ride off into
I write my lyrics to you, you the perfect instrumental
I sound better than the cat who rappin' to you now
That's between me and you, what happened to us now？
Got you hopin' for the glorious
Waitin' for that victorious feelin', wanted by all of us
Kneelin' and praying that the Lord in us will help us love
ourselves
So much that the confidence attract to someone else
What we gotta do to make them see
We got a good thing going on
Wanna tell the world if they don't know
That what we have is real
Wanna shout it from the mountains baby
That I love you, but if they don't hear me
I know, you know, we know
Yo, rockin' Los Angeles, house of blues in sunset
Performin' like an orgasm, my girl ain't even cum yet
Seen her by the side of the stage givin' me energy
Potentially, wife material connectin' mentally
I felt like Heaven sent for me, you're meant for me
The doubters and the haters had to acknowledge eventually
You was a non-believer too if memory serves
And a heart that gives shit, tryin' to play your boy for the her
The harder that I run to you, the farther you become
It's like my heart was part of some movie, that hadn't yet begun
This woman moves me and I'm a mountain of a man
You pull me in like the waves do the grain of sand
Yeah, I love the way you bring it to me
I wrote a song for you, I love to hear you to sing it for me
And let the melody carry me through the jealousy
And we can cruise like Tom and Phenelope
What we gotta do to make them see
We got a good thing going on
Wanna tell the world if they don't know
That what we have is real
Wanna shout it from the mountains baby
That I love you, but if they don't hear me
I know, you know, we know
What we gotta do to make them see
We got a good thing going on
Wanna tell the world if they don't know
That what we have is real
Wanna shout it from the mountains baby
That I love you, but if they don't hear me
I know, you know, we know
11.Around My Way
Lyricist：Talib Kweli Greene, Sting
Around my way
Around my way
All the corners filled with sorrow
All the streets are filled with pain
Around my way
Around my way
Around my way
All the corners filled with sorrow
All the streets are filled with pain
Around my way
People let me paint a picture, you know I ain't a Christian
I ain't a Muslim, ain't a Jew, I'm losing my religion
I speak to God directly, I know my God respect me
'Cause he let me breathe his air and he really blessed me
I ain't knocking you but I don't fuck with hospitals
Spit the gospel, truly knowing Jesus like apostles do
Return like the prodigal son to honor Mohamed too
Stay away from Him, like Abraham, Lord I'll follow you
Even when you took my man Chaka God and what I'm a do
You gave the hood a modern day martyr in Brother Amadou
I'm on the block, I'm tracing your footsteps, I keep the faith
in you
Your love, plus hard work and ambition, we gonna make it through
My songs is psalms I'm spiritual when I'm lyrical
This is for my soldier niggaz looking in the mirror who
Sitting home scratching off serials eating cereal
The way we find a way to survive, shit is a miracle
We got mice in the crib and roaches in the toasters
Rice in the fridge, bread in the oven by the roaster
We be takin' gypsy cabs and chasin' 50 bags
They be laced with shitty swag and it really get me mad
The way we be saluting flags, wrapping them around our heads
When niggaz ain't become American till 9／11
Feeling like you gotta sneak into Heaven
When the reverend looking like a pimp
And the pimp look like the reverend
Around my way
Around my way
All the corners filled with sorrow
All the streets are filled with pain
Around my way
These conditions make us strong
And we create our own businesses so later on
Our children have things in their name that they can say their
own
A mix tape, freestyle become your favorite song
No place like home
When the cops ask you, 'What about your neighbors？'
Beat on you, threaten to incarcerate you
Till you spill your guys like you a Garcia Vega
We roll blunts not the papers
Cop the greatest take it coast to coast
L.A. to Chicago like smooth operators
Cop the dro and cop the blacks
Cop the four, cock it back
Drop the flow, rock a hat on top a stocking cap
Be a doctor or a lawyer or make your Momma a promise that
You'll finish school but when you got a dream you gotta follow
that
And make sure when you make it out the hood you always holler
back
Think about what you got from that and always put your dollars
back
On top of that, this is a legacy and we a part of that
The hood is where my heart is at, catch me around my way
Around my way
Around my way
All the corners filled with sorrow
All the streets are filled with hate
Around my way
Around my way
Around my way
All the corners filled with sorrow
All the streets are filled with pain
Around my way
12.Work It Out
Lyricist：Tony Cottrell, Talib Kweli Greene, Jonathan Rotem
The temperature got tempers flaring people sweat, the weather
hot
They argue and they fret a lot, then set up the plot, to wet up
the block
Whether or not the blood is red up in the gutter
Music is my bread and butter
I got a show in Brooklyn 'cause the ghetto love us
Pulled up in Mtulu's truck, I'm suited up, I'm cool as fuck
Security tripping on my baseball hat promoter knew what's up
Plus Chaps had on some Denim shorts and white T-shirt and
I told the bouncer they being disrespectful 'cause like you we
working
I ain't a custy or a patron and trust me no one would be paying
To come in this crusty ass club, if I ain't playing
He's like 'I'll put you the fuck out'
And when you put your words like that
It's like third strike black you struck out
His man tried to rush me from behind Chaps stuck out a size nine
Seen him trip, face first into the line
Cats is cowards with no spine and they power tripping too
The next level is the violence, so what y'all niggaz wanna do？
Work it out, we should try to work it out
People lie, people cry, people die to work it out
Read the book, pray to God
Look inside to work it out
We should try to work it out
Yo what y'all ladies wanna do？
Work it out, to get fly she work it out
People lie, people cry, people die to work it out
Read the book, pray to God
Look inside to work it out
Show the love, lose the hate
Work it out, work it out
People placed in situations they can't take' what they facing
Is the trials and tribulations to make them say
The Lords forsaken them
Their loved ones intervening but they always blaming them
For problems they don't realize what they part is in creating
them
Like men who so insecure they think they women cheating on them
And women who think the proof
That they man love them is they beating on them
Keep sleeping on them soon they partner creeping on them
Committing crimes of passion they in caskets mothers weeping on
them
With her head in her hands
There's only one thing that the dead understand that it's better
to be alive
Now what you gonna do stick your head in the sand
You probably the type to fall for anything
And take that instead of a stand
Now that's a mouse instead of a man
I cherished the role as the head of my fam
And on the road I meet incredible fans
I rock with singers an a DJ instead of a band
We at a theatre near you
So what y'all niggaz wanna do？
Work it out, we should try to work it out
People lie, people cry, people die to work it out
Read the book, pray to God
Look inside to work it out
We should try to work it out
Yo what y'all ladies wanna do？
Work it out, to get fly, she work it out
People lie, people cry, people die to work it out
Read the book, pray to God
Look inside to work it out
Show the love, lose the hate
Work it out, work it out
Stay civilized when they try to kill my high
I try to think through problems
Bring honesty to rap like Cam'ron brought the Pink to Harlem
You could be on the brink to stardom and suddenly you sink to
bottom
Tell the truth about the war and suddenly you linked to Saddam
Hate the topic but the closest people, get to patriotic
Is Red Bull white vodka mixed with the straight hypnotic？
Paper prophets sell the revolution so they make a profit
Trust they got it fucked up with your taxes started making
rockets
Take it off the top like politicians, speaking proper diction
Stuffing dollars in they britches, like they do a lotta
stripping
Got the top position bitching about the quality of life
All that bullshit get exposed as soon as Kweli sees the mic
They cutting down the tree of life, the sun rays is running out
The babies ain't eating right, the guns stay coming out
See how they play the streets at night
They slap the taste out your mouth
To show you what they work about
So what y'all niggaz want to do？
Work it out, we should try to work it out
People lie, people cry, people die to work it out
Read the book, pray to God
Look inside to work it out
We should try to work it out
Yo what y'all ladies wanna do？
Work it out, to get fly, she work it out
People lie, people cry, people die to work it out
Read the book, pray to God
Look inside to work it out
Show the love, lose the hate
Work it out, work it out
13.A game
Lyricist：Talib Kweli Greene, Antwan Thompson
7-18 stand up, Talib Kweli, BK MC
Turn it up
We 'bout to drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
It's the lava flow strictly A game
Rock it fast, rock it slow
You got to rock it fast, rock it slow
Rock it fast, rock it slow
You gon' rock it fast, rock it slow
Black rock and roll, black hotter flow
At the end of the black brick road, lets get it goin' yo
Geffen don't fuck the shit up, ship it gold
So I could sell like the whole Jigga back catalo'
Matta fact I'm tryin' to sell out, concerts and merch' fam
Always get the story straight accounts first hand
That nigga, the crack spitter, the black fitted low
Give you that bit of information so
You could know what you see when it's your time to go
The diamond flow cut glass, crack binary code
You're kinda slow, you need a new career
You're kinda old, you need to hang the mic up on the wall like a
souvenir
Don't blame the mangers, be all you can be
Join the army like Canibus, niggaz avoid me
Like the draft and run to Canada, flash like a camera
That's when his girl asked me to dance with her so we gon'
(Hop to the beat and then stop)
Yeah, drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
(Ladies I know I get hot)
Like lava flow
Strictly the A game, rock it fast, rock it slow
(Hop to the beat and then stop)
Yeah, drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
(Ladies I know I get hot)
Like lava flow
(That's how we do it all the way live)
Strictly the A game, drop it fast
I put it down so hard that I developed a rep
From the punchlines to cave in your delicate chest
The fella can test, let's see how jealous it get
I smell the fear in the air and I could tell he was pet'
Kweli look in my eyes and you could tell I'm a threat
I wet my throat and get bent like a pelican's neck
I make a gentleman's bet with my ghetto connect
And got a 9 in my mind you can't metal detect
I pull it out, put it to your head and shoot from the hip
I fired 13 shots and left 2 in the clip
I spit the truth, that's it, I'm not confused one bit
I'm so New York City streets that I'm abusin' your whip
Cruisin' the strip, sunny day sky blue like a crip
For the rush hour Enuff threw this in the mix
Quarter to six, Amadeus is producin' the hits
To get a screw loose in your chick, son she losin' her shit
(Hop to the beat and then stop)
Yeah, drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
(Ladies I know I get hot)
Like lava flow
Strictly the A game, rock it fast, rock it slow
(Hop to the beat and then stop)
Yeah, drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
(Ladies I know I get hot)
Like lava flow
(Check me out)
Strictly the A game, drop it fast
Get your ass up on the dance floor
No we don't stop when we in the dance off
Baby girl whatchu wanna get into？
I wanna get into, bring your friends too
Get your ass up on the dance floor
No we don't stop when we in the dance off
Baby girl whatchu wanna get into？
I wanna get into, bring your friends too
Get your ass up on the dance floor
No we don't stop, when we in the dance off
Baby girl whatchu wanna get into？
I wanna get into, bring your friends too
Get your ass up on the dance floor
No we don't stop, when we in the dance off
Baby girl whatchu wanna get into？
I wanna get into, bring your friends too
(Hop to the beat and then stop)
Yeah, drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
(Ladies I know I get hot)
Like lava flow
Strictly the A game, rock it fast, rock it slow
(Hop to the beat and then stop)
Yeah, drop it low
Baby I got the flow to work your abdominal
(Ladies I know I get hot)
Like lava flow
(Check me out)
Strictly the A game, drop it fast
Hop to the beat and then stop
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