[talib kweli]
So many emcees focusin on black people extermination
We keep it balanced with that knowledge of self, determination
Itand's hot, we be blowin the spots, with conversations
Cand'mon letand's smooth it out like soul sensation
We in the house like japanese in japan, or koreans in korea
Head to philly and free mumia with the kujichagulia true
Singin is swingin and writin is fightin, but what
They writin got us clashin like titans itand's not excitin
No question, bein a black man is demandin
The fireand's in my eyes and the flames need fannin (3x)
With that what? (knowledge of self) determination
*repeat 4x*
[singer]
Things i say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what iand'm feelin
[talib kweli]
Yes yes come on, yes yes
Knowledge of self is like life after death
With that you never worry about your last breath
Death comes, thatand's how iand'm livin, itand's the next days
The flesh goes underground, the book of life, flip the page
Yo they askin me how old, we livin the same age
I feel the rage of a million niggaz locked inside a cage
At exactly which point do you start to realize
That life without knowledge is, death in disguise?
Thatand's why, knowledge of self is like life after death
Apply it, to your life, let destiny manifest
Different day, same confusion, weand're gonna take this
Hip-hop shit and keep it movin, shed a little light
Now yand'all bloomin like a flower with the power of the evident
Voices and drums original instruments
In the flesh presently presentin my representation
With that what? (knowledge of self) determination
*repeat 6x*
- - - - these two parts overlap - - - -
Things i say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what iand'm feelin
*repeat 2x*
[talib kweli]
The most important time in history is, now, the present
So count your blessings cause time canand't define the essence
But you stressin over time and you follow the roman calendar
These people enter cona like gattaca, you can bet
They tryin to lock you down like attica, the african diaspora
Represents strength in numbers, a giant canand't slumber forever
I know you gotta get that cheddar whatever
Aiyyo i heard you twice the first time money, get it together
You must be history, you repeatin yourself out of the pages
You keepin yourself depleatin your spiritual wealth
That quick cashand'll get your ass quick fast in houses of detention
Inner-city concentration camps where no one pays attention
Or mentions the ascension of death, til nothingand's left
The young, gifted and black are sprung addicted to crack
All my people where yand'all at cause, yand'all ainand't here
And your heroand's using your mind as a canvas to paint fear
With, broad brush strokes and tales of incarceration
You get out of jail with that knowledge of self determination
Stand in ovation, cause you put the hue in human
Cause and effect, effect everything you do
And thatand's why i got love in the face of hate
Hands steady so the lines in the mental illustration is straight
The thought you had donand't even contemplate
Infinite like figure eight thereand's no escape..
From that what? (knowledge of self) determination
*repeat 4x*
Things i say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what iand'm feelin
*repeat 2x*
..
Things i say and do, may not come quite through
My words may not convey just what iand'm feelin
*repeat 2x*
What iand'm feelin, what iand'm feelin, ooooh, what iand'm feelin...
