[Verse 1: Mos Def] The way I feel, sometimes it's too hard to sit still Things are so passionate, times are so real Sometimes I try and chill, mellow down, blowin' smoke Smile on my face but it's really no joke You feel it in the streets, people breathe without hope They goin' through the motion, they dimmin' down their focus The focus gettin' clear and the light turn sharp And the eyes go teary, the mind grow weary I speak it so clearly sometimes you don't hear me I push it past the bass, know nations gotta feel me I feel it in my bones, black I'm so wide awake That I hardly ever sleep, my flows forever deep And it's volumes or scriptures when I breathe on a beat My presence speak volumes before I say a word I'm everywhere: penthouse, pavement and curb Cradle to the grave, tall cathedral of a shell Universal ghetto life, holla black you know it well Quiet storm, vital form, pen pushed it right across Mind is a vital force, high level right across Soul is the lions roar, voice is the siren I swing round, ring out and bring down the tyrant Shocked a small act could knock a giant lopsided The world is so dangerous, there's no need for fightin' Suckas trying to hide like the struggle won't find 'em And the sun bust through the clouds to clearly remind him Everywhere penthouse pavement and curb Cradle to the grave, talk'll lead you on a shell Universal ghetto life, holla black you know it well
[Hook] What it is, you know, they know What it is, we know, y'all know What it is, Ecstatic, there it is What it is, you know, we know What it is, they know, y'all know What it is, you don't know? Here it is
And always on time and rockin ya mind
[Verse 2: Slick Rick] Sit and come relax, riddle off the mac It's the patch, I'm a soldier in the middle of Iraq Well say about noonish, comin' out the whip And lookin at me curious, a young Iraqi kid Carrying laundry, "What's wrong G? Hungry?" "No, gimme my oil or get [fuck] out my country" And in Arabian barkin' other stuff 'til his moms come grab him and they walk off in a rush Distrust, feeling like I've pissed upon wound I'm like, "Surely hope that we can fix our differences soon!" Bye! Buying apples I'm breakin' on You take everything, why not just take the damn food, black monster? Like I don't understand it, on another planet 15 month of this stuff, how I'm gonna manage? And increasing the sentiment, gentlemen Getting down on their middle eastern instruments Realized trapped in this crowd Walk over kicked one of my fabulous raps (la dee da dee) Arab jaw drop, they well wish, they glad rap Now the kid considered like an Elvis of Baghdad
[Sample] Omar: Men have two faces: one that laughs and one that cries Ali: They sent you? Omar: Yeah, so? Here