Introduction:
"What I'm saying is; we deal with reality right now, I'm saying let's build with the basis of right now. We talking about how we was Kings and Queens, that's all good. We discovered math and science, but now let's master math and science for right now so we can have economic power. We have to deal within ourselves, and eliminate them from our equation completely. We keep on dealing like the white man, you know? As soon as you say 'the white man took everything away from me, took everything away from me', that means you have to give him props for everything that you do have. Cause every time he took something away, that means he let you...he left, you know what I'm saying. He took his noose out, and took his pressure off just a little bit so you could win" - Lauryn Hill
[Verse One]
From now on
If you ain't bustin at corrupted cops or a politician
Then you a coward when you rap about who you k**in
That dope-dealin ain't impressing me when you talk in your rhymes
I've seen the cleanest n***as get turned
On alert like they was one time
After one line
The f** is your purpose when talking reckless
n***as quick to knock the government
But never the heart to settle it
I bet on this
So give me the loop in the form of freedom
We was crying over Treyvon
In the hood they're still beefin
Creepin
Cause George Zimmerman's corrupted like you
They lose a fight up in the ghetto
How many gunners gon' shoot?
How many brothas down to ride out
Like a Panther Party's night out
Or a reckless crew of nightowls
That be bangin for their sector
The battle of Kings is dependent
On the destiny you created
And it's a shame because them n***as in your circle
Will be the fakest
They smiling in faces
And laughing with them n***as that you came with
While they plotting on your loyalty
Like a snake in women's clothing
I can feel it man
[Chorus]
I can feel it
All up in my soul man (4x)
[Verse Two]
I'm in the lobby of the hotel
Remanence on many farewells
Sparking the "L"
How many wishing the god's gon' fail
I'm Al Pacino up in Scarface
That's an underdog in a rat race
Jacking the safe
While I'm blastin at helicopters
With the chopper
To the melodies of the river bed
For the glory is what my n***a said
Ima do this sh** for all of yall
With the hopes of living larger dawg
My n***as who be shooting dice
In the alleyways of apartments
My cuzzo is a don to small timers
Quick to spark it
They locked in emotions
And numb from the styrofoam
That they're holding
And lately I've been thinking
What's the point of all the smoking
See I be heading out to New York
Like one day Ima run with this
Knowing that could never happen
I'm from Cali reppin proudly
And I'm needing yall to understand
That I'm the best from the west
I'll put your soul on ice like 96 to 97
Peep the message
I'm hoping for a change for all this work I did
And if not, well
That's simply not an option kid
[Chorus]
I can feel it
All up in my soul man (4x)