Tell us what the math is
Judge me like I'm Elvis to the ma**es
(Chuck D's devil with the masters)
Or any degree thirds preferred
Burn, Hollywood, burn until all of you learn
Until all of you earn your pa**es
You want to write a pa**age you need a right of pa**age
A rose is just a rose when only seen through colored gla**es
Some make the honor roll even though they skipping cla**es
Ain't ever gonna blow unless you see a roll of cash
Or be a brown nose (do you sniff or kiss a**?)
This is how it goes unless you beat a different drum
Watch me beat you with these drums mother f**er whiplash
I don't normally use f** but I had to write this
I don't usually give ones for the self-righteous
I'd rather confuse them to try and enlighten
Cus in their own way they've all abused us with silence
Now are you listening then turn about face
If it ain't about religion its about race
And if you ain't up on your sh** then it's about chase
They wanna run you till you quit it ain't about race
Guess I'm an alternative christian
Cus I ain't tryna alter natives to be christian
Offering no ultimatum to be christened
I'm saying we're all AllttA mate are you listening
African kinsman traveling inland
Maybe after millions of years of being fish man
Maybe after millions of years we'd coexist and
Act like we're listening man are you listening?
Let's take it back to this rap and my skin tan
I'm saying pigment fact or a figment
Now let's take back to when none of that existed
Now let's take it back to something that Rakim said
It ain't where you from it's where you at
That's if you see yourself clearly on the map
Now are you listening then turn about face
If it ain't about religion its about race
And if you ain't up on your sh** then it's about chase
They wanna run you till you quit it ain't about race