Yasiin Bey - Know That lyrics

[Mos Def] I Strike the Empire Back I Strike the Empire Back f** the Empire High flying like the Millenium Falcon Piloted by Han Solo I never roll for dolo, fronting on me's a no-no Understand, doing this for my family Ha ha, check it out y'all [Verse 1: Mos Def] Yo I'm trying to make a dollar out of what makes sense Add it up, told my daddy I'd be a rich man You never know when your fate gon' switch hand Get today's solid ground out of yesterday's quicksand I was a young boy who dreamt about being a big man On small looseleaf sheets I sketched a big plan Gotta handle business properly, boost up my economy Store it up and get my mom some waterfront property Yesterday was not for me but nowaday it's time for me The streets is watching me, I watch back that's the policy Moving along my odyssey like blood through the artery Navigate the treacherous and make it seem effortless Let those who make the exodus seekin the North beacon From beating and hog-eating, from punishment all season From hands cracked and bleeding, cotton thorns in your palms It's for y'all that I sketch these songs, and it goes Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow I fear no man, because faith is the arrow My vocal chord travel worldwide to block narrow We can blow with the ammo or go mano-a-mano Kweli is you with me (What up, what up) Let's make it happen I burn through your argument with action My eyes stay fastened to tomorrow looking for a brighter day When y'all wanna leave y'all Right away Shout it out from East-West (from South to Northern) From Cackalack (to California) From the coldest (to the warmest) To the borders ('cross the waters) understand.. ".. and know that I love you.." We got love in the place Shout out to all the Queens (all the Seeds) To all the teams (that's gettin cream) From outlaw (to emcees) Make it happen (do your thing) understand.. ".. and know that I love you.." Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen [Verse 2: Talib Kweli] Guess who The illest MC in the atmosphere Yeah the Soul Controller Who roam the frontier like a Buffalo Soldier I follow the code of honor like a real man gonna Never disrespect no women cause I love my momma These cats be giving us praise but it ain't that accurate I give it up to God, all that love and attachment get Scary well-prepared with the shears when it get hairy Like how these n***as is looking like some fairies And singing like canaries to the beast And anybody who will listen to em clearly Y'all don't hear me though, even when I'm coming through in stereo You make a mockery of what I represent properly Yo, why you starting me I take that sh** straight to the artery Intellectual property I got the title and the deed I pay for rent, with the tears and sweat and what I bleed MCs imitate the way we walk, the way we talk You cats spit lyrical pork with no spiritual thought Plus your flow a little bit off You come across soft Back in the days n***as like that on stage got tossed off Need to get crossed off the guestlist It's like you gotta be disrespected and thrown out the exit To get the message Sometimes your sunshine get snatched like a necklace When you get too drunk on power and your drive get reckless Check it, MCs in my face after I slug you then I hug you If I gotta dead you know it's only cause I love you [Mos Def] Shout it out from East-West (From South to Northern) From the richest (to the poorest) To the elders (in the coffins) Living native (dying for it) understand And know that I love you Yea, yea, we got love in the place Shout out from up top (to the middle) To black bottom (sky high!) Whether you colder than December Or hotter than July It don't stop til we complete this And know that I love you Keep this fly It's so much to life when you just Stay black My people, my people