Yo, the way I feel, sometime it's too hard to sit still Things are so passionate, times are so real Sometimes I try to chill, mellow down, blowin' smoke Smile on my face but it's really no joke
You feel it in the street, the people breathe without hope They going through the motion, they dimming down the focus Their focus get cleared, then their light turn sharp And the eyes grow teary, the mind grow weary
I speak it so clearly, sometimes ya'll don't hear me I push it past the bass, no nations got to feel me I feel it in my bones, black, I'm so wide awake That I'm hardly ever asleep, my flow forever deep And it's volumes or scriptures when I breathe on the 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 Shoulders, the lions raw 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 fighting Suttins trying to hide, like the struggle won't find him And the sun bust through the clouds, to clearly remind him He's everywhere: penthouse, pavement, and curb Cradle to the grave, tall cathedral of a shell Universal, ghetto life, holla black, you know it well
[Chorus: Mos Def and Slick Rick] What it is You know, they know What it is We know, ya'll know What it is Ecstatic, there it is
Huh, what it is You know, we know What it is They know, ya'll know What it is You don't know? Here it is
What it is You know, we know What it is They know, ya'll know What it is You don't know? Here it is
[Ad lib: Mos Def] Peace, power, fantastic, original And always on time, and rocking your mind, it's like
[Verse: Slick Rick] Sit and come relax, riddle of the Mack It's the patch, I'm a soldier in the middle of Iraq Well say about noonish, coming out the whip And lookin' at me curious, a young Iraqi kid (Awww) Carrying laundry, whats wrong G? Hungry? No, give me my oil, get fuck out my country In an Arabian market, other stuff Till his moms come grab him, and they walk off in a rush
Distrust, bitter like I's pissed off on moon I'm like "Shorty, hope that we can fix our differences soon! Bye!" Buying apples, I'm breaking 'em Brooklyn take everything, why not just take the damn food like I don't understand it, on another planet? 51 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 jaws dropped, they well wished, they glad wrapped Now the kid considered like an Elvis of Baghdad
[Mos Def and Slick Rick] What it is What it is
[Chorus: Mos Def and Slick Rick] What it is You know, they know What it is We know, ya'll know What it is Ecstatic, there it is
Huh, what it is You know, we know What it is They know, ya'll know What it is You don't know? Here it is