[Time]
Jail over windows, bricks inserted
A cop's being promoted the same time a man is murdered
The beginning and end, as far as rap goes
It's only natural, I explain my plateau
And also what defines my name
Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Kropot was like Jesus, Zinn wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
Big Sole my mentor now let the story begin
I remember back in high school we used to bump Dead Prez
We were saying f** they schools, for what they represent
They said Columbus was a hero and Malcolm was Taliban
This was after 9/11 they wanted me to go k** a man
On lunch break they tried to recruit us, their lies were foolish
They said you got to fight for freedom, a fatigue wearing Judas
I was raised on Fresh Prince, Common, Rawkus, and Blackstar
Then Kweli dropped the proud, I listened in awe
Ras Ka** told me bout the nature of the threat
I started to understand privilege but not fully yet
I used to say f** the pigs but I didn't know why
Then I bought hip hop for respect and did the Ghostface cry
I kept on making music, I wanted to sell out shows
My actions were selfish, I didn't know my heart froze
I saw the ghost of Zinn, he said he heard my new song
He said why you trying to go pop? That sh** sound wrong
I saw Bakunin out my window, the guilt hit me 10 fold
Emma Goldman shook her head at me then my pen broke
Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Kropot was like Jesus, Zinn wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
Big Sole my mentor now let the story begin
School was full of propaganda and co*ky jocks
I read my first Chomsky book downtown at a coffee shop
I used to bump sole, wondering if I'd ever meet him
Who would have known, years later, we'd perform at the same theaters
He put me on to Graeber, Wark, and Tiqqun
Not to mention, Scott Crow and other anarchist friends
We didn't start this war, we started talking provocateur
Next thing I know, lawsuits knocking on my door
Chomsky had our back, he said it was routine
I'm still ignorant though, everyday I learn a new thing
Zinn said when you care about others the state attacks
Shout out to Chelsea manning for wikileaking the facts
Rappers are still h*mophobic, now they just hide it
Patriarchy rules everything around me, cla** so childish
Aaron Swartz is dead, Jeremy Hammond's in jail
Amiri Baraka just pa**ed, democracy's stale
I saw Bookchin out my window, the guilt hit me 10 fold
Vonnegut slapped me in the face but he gave me a new pen though
Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Kropot was like Jesus, Zinn wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
Big Sole my mentor now let the story begin
Now days rappers be talking sh** about Macklemore
Yeah there's contradictions, but he opened some doors
I mean where would rap be without Chuck D?
Without Stic and M1 and Immortal Technique
I'm waiting on the day for my heroes to drop a single
But I don't think anti-capitalists and charts mingle
There's a war on the poor, the news likes to ignore
You can't even sleep outside, these mayors are carnivores
sh** is fracked up, fracked up and bullsh**
But respect to Sole man, that homie don't quit
There's blood from the tar sands on the president's hands
Shout out to all the blockades for taking a stand
Now day's it seems solidarity's extinct
Cause all I ever see is Rick Ross with a mink
I wanna go back in time and liberate it
Then shut down clear channel and delete the hatred
I saw Zinn out my window, his smile hit me 10 fold
He gave me a brick and said it was a memento
Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Kropot was like Jesus, Zinn wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
Big Sole my mentor now let the story begin