[Verse 1: Yasiin Bey] I resolve, me and mine involved A lot of cats talk live, they ain’t live at all Sideline check, hush when it’s time to ball Said you was charged an' all, I’m surprised at y'all You could have a thousand rhymes, a thousand dimes The house to shine, coupes on the routes recline Be on Greenwich Mean, Beech Street, or Mountain time But weigh it up, duke – your pound ain’t a ounce of mine You’re down for mine, ashy and ground for mine Yasiin so clear, true, pronounce divine Pull down the blinds, shade them out or shine Everything from Bangkok to Bucktown is mine Say Black Star, great things sprout the mind Full moons and starry nights, new life and true light Desert flames and ancient names, cinematic classic frames Beautiful and fantastic things Like peace, equality; Allah see everything Don’t call it a comeback, I was home anyway Ain’t mister measure for all any time we been away Travelling man I carry home with me every day Bey, slim body push heavy weight Fix up look sharp, elevate And I don’t mean Copperfield or David Blaine We on solid ground and far above the clouds, Black Star
[Verse 2: Talib Kweli] The wait is over, or is it overweight The game is bloated, there’s no escape They sub-standard, we substantial We got the great names, they got the love handles We slimming down, trim the fat Sit it down with all that chitter-chat You talking this and that – simmer down Got my name in your mouth, spit it out, son The music so powerful, use it to see the parallels I could make it rain but I make it plainer than Malcolm does Black Star, baby powder fresher than the talcum, yup People charged up, yup, we good with or without the plug You doubted us, but you’re still hating – wow, I’m proud of ya! Committed to your cause and it’s caused you to be a sourpuss Ain’t a number that could measure your level of cowardice You Power Puff, you pale in comparison, don’t get out enough Turn up the motherfuckers, the speakers ain't nearly loud enough Black Star rocking it, Chaka would be proud of us You had enough, callous as shallow and narrow-mindedness Preparing for the battle, the shadows is where you finding us You tryna bust – you dead, you synthetic as a designer drug The populace is ignorant, thank you for reminding us Separate myself from these rappers who hustle backwards Yup, they got zero property, like the laws of algebra
[Hook] Fix up look sharp Black Star, good God And when the sky look dark Shine a light, look ahead, look up
[Verse 3] Malcolm X and Marley Marl, the word of God, the works of art (Portraits of the brain and other unexplained phenomenon) Shut down Babylon (Smash all automaton) Feel the beat (Got 'em feeling geeked like it's Comic-Con) Far from the hardy-har (more like a Tomahawk) Rocket launch, Ali right cross knock they choppers off (Kweli and Mr. Bey) Fresh not from concentrate Looking very sharp today (Thank you brother, Danke Schoen) Craft working more than German engineering (And all the frequency that don't adhere to interference) Flashes of the spirit (Seekers of the clearing) They say that the tongue is the mirror of the heart so mirror mirror (Look, in that window is a freedom fighter’s grandson) Fixed up looking sharp, automatic handgun Look, parade, caravan (Diplomat, degenerate) Messiah (Pariah) The leader of the syndicate (Peace treaty written in) loophole penmanship (Same rows, two sides) Palaces and tenements Dispossessed native tongue noble open the lonely heart (Peel apart) Come together (Come together) peel apart, come together