When it - comes to writing you could say that I'm prolific
For every song I'm spittin' there's 10 more that I've already written
These days I haven't had much time for writing though
cause I've been too busy protesting and demonstrating yo
Maybe you can say I've been working too hard
but somebody's got to do it, time to stand up and take charge
take up the charge – of those who have been sitting
on the sidelines so long trying to (re)locate their beginnings
well I'm – calling you to task
time to do some research and get your brain up out your ass'
well you – move your body to the swing and ask
the spirit for guidance and knowledge and wisdom – ask
yourself what you blast yourself for
is the life of the pastor man really worth more?
Why you still playing the role of a pawn in this war
on the cultural blending, what are we getting' divided for?
A couple thousand dollars, maybe a million more?
Is it really worth the light in your soul and the lives of more?
The black on white, the red on yellow – the contrast
is more beautiful than monotonous green cash
no more slave to money system...come on fists in the sky now
no more economic terrorism...come on fists in the sky
private banks own the whole damn system...come on fists in the sky now
it's unbelievable why, with the costs so high, people still remaining complacent fists in the sky
Generations of your children's children while we save 'em
you can sit there and hate or grind for paper but I'm saying
chase a dream, whatever you've made your mind up
might not be ready today, but I promise you'll get there in time
But I'm – f*ck the lab I'm going back to the garden
where I learned life's most basic lessons and I play my part in
the growth and restoration – the manifestation of our wealth
not much more than eternal love can save' us from our selves
well...we're our worst own enemies
I'm not the first to say it or raise a pen to these my tendency is
slice through these partial lies give you the raw truth
with a little bit of mine to squeeze through to the lost youth
let's wake up young brothers, let's wake up young sisters
hear the alarm clock no more shaking – hitting
- snooze – we've got too much to lose
it's not personal views, what I speak is the truth
no more hate then the violence...come on fists in the sky now
no more rape then the silence...come on fists in the sky
no more bowing to the tyrants...come on fists in the sky now
it's unbelievable why, with the costs so high, people still remaining complacent fists in the sky
I've never been one to make many enemies
but I find the more I'm speaking my mind it takes energy
away from the negative...
argumentative executives are tentative
when they see the fire in my eyes it is indicative
contemplative alive wide awake representative
a younger generation won't be bought by paper sedatives
now I know that I'm a distant relative
but I don't care if your the king of California,
or the city of New York has adorned ya' let's turn the corner
the grass roots tend to grow in no particular order
they just spread like wildfire – let's go, I'm taking your order
what is it that you really want in this life? I'll show ya
how we can achieve it together – and keep it growing
keep it flowing – it's so silly – how we think we own it
how we think we did it all by our self – and I don't condone it
It's had nothing to do with your mom or dad that gave you a home
or the teacher that you gave you nuggets of gold that you can hold
in your head, or the poets that you read
or the dreams you had in bed or the people that you fed –
along the way it's satisfaction that can't be claimed
...it's selfless action that can't be tamed
you'll never be named – king of the lane for the feeding the lame
but if you looking close enough you'll see the world will start to change
see we – got to stop feeling so empty
that's the reason on this evening for the call of this Assembly
See alone I might only be able to feed 20,
if I spent up every penny, but there's still hundreds of millions going hungry
in different ways...some are starved for logic some for education
some for justice – yea you call it see we seem to fall a-
part, at this part of the story – it's getting gory
we just want to dance with hands up in glory
go to the club and celebrate the extorting
of our culture by the corporate owners, the corporate hoarding
Aftermath, Def Jam, Island, Cash Money
Roc-a-fella, Virgin Records all part of the same company
who owns your masters? Who is your master
when will we start to put a value on content? Faster
is the speed that we need to go
if we ever gonna change up this game and grow
elevate – local independent flow
pay attention to the lyrics and content – and how we use it
there's power in this movement if we don't confuse it
thank you! For making a space here for my words
and quit letting dollar signs define the value of your worth