The year is 1975 (yeah, hahaha!) Brooklyn, New York City (stand up) A child destined for greatness is born (we goin' in) Let's go! Get your hands in the air (get em up!) Put your hands in the air (put em up!) Get your hands in the air (get em up!) Put your hands in the air (put em up!) Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) Say something, say something (what was that?) Say something (I dare you), say something (Talib Kweli) The lord chief rocker, I'm colder than meatlockers My people keep throwin' it up like cheap vodka I smack internet emcees and beat bloggers You can see my black thought like ‘Riq Trotter It's deep – go ahead and sleep They know in the street Kwe' gon flow on the beat proper Composin' complete operas Longer than a cigar thats godfather Tap into heart chakras im harder than gobstoppers People comin' for the throne not knowin' the seat hotter Than fish grease, criminal names on police blotters You convinced me, I hit targets like top shottas Out in the mideast like m**ms takin' Shahada I'm sayin' makin' a profit a product of Reaganomics Awake and I'm stayin' conscious to radio playin' garbage, yeah Blacksmith Music, if you don't pay homage I'ma show you how we break an artist That's a threat, I'm not makin' a promise Speak to the people like Barak Obama They worship like a black Madonna, c'mon n***as talk sh**, but they ain't got sk**s I'm the type of n***a to put lead in your grill Number two pencil is sharper to bruise mentals, and Beatin' in my chest is the heart of a true gentleman Still spit right in your face f** a Top 8, back up, gimme my space, you're not safe Yeah, they say I'm back, but I ain't go nowhere though Been here the whole time Where you been? You back Matter fact, apologize Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) C'mon Say something (g'head), say something (uh huh) Say something (what?) (who is it?) say something (Jean Grae!) (Jean Grae) Yeah, open your mouth, say something, I f**in' dare you Chokin' you out till you can't s** any air through f** with your man too, thinkin' I can't do what I plan to Vet vandal, n***as are brand new Ain't knew I was bad news? Look at the tattoos Get ran through like you was fingers through Sa**oon Horror chick in the bathroom, off the backstage room sh** you couldn't imagine, n***a I'll hara** you I'll Ras Ka** you, soul on ice and body cast dude Past due, Jean and Kwe the last two action heroes Actually had the capacity to be the ones in a cla** of zeroes Hip hop's not dead, it was on vacation We back, we bask in the confrontation You can ask me, have any conversation You talk sh**, Blacksmith, Jean, I'm waitin', n***a Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) What? Talk sh** now (now…now…now…) Say something (g'head), say something (what was that?) Say something (I dare you), say something (Talib Kweli) We not fallin' for your trick ‘cause your image is like a gimmick Forget it, every rhyme is bitten, you like a mimic I'm talkin' to the lord and I'm askin' him for forgiveness Just for kickin' n***as out the club like Michael Richards Yeah, I admit, I'm guilty, the way I spit is filthy I keep it gritty, so they get it, they feel me, the flow Is known for touchin' the soul of street hustlers I speak in the language - you know I keep customers The writing therapeutic, it's due to the pain and sufferin' While these dudes get it confused and abuse the creative substance I'm givin' you a contact high, my name buzzin And I came in the game with nothin', stop frontin' n***a, talk sh** now! The year of the Blacksmith is not defined by any calendar Just thought I'd remind all you challengers Get the name right, Talib Kweli, BKMC, stand up! Get your hands in the air (get em up!) Put your hands in the air (put em up!) Get your hands in the air (get em up!) Put your hands in the air (put em up!)