Know That (Feat. Talib Kweli)

[Mos Def] Hey, hey, heyyy man I Strike the Empire Back.. I Strike the Empire Back.. Fuck the Empire!! High flyin like the Millenium Falcon, piloted by Han Solo I never roll for dolo, frontin on me's a no-no Understand? Doin this for my family Ha ha, check it out y'all Yo I'm tryin 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 watchin me, I watch back, that's the policy Movin along my oddesey like blood through the artery Navigate the treacherous and make it seem effortless Let those who make the exodus seekin the North beacon from beatin and hog-eatin, from punishment all season from hands cracked and bleedin -- 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 aarow My vocal chord travel worldwide to block narrow We can blow with the ammo or go mano-a-mano Kweli is you wit me? (Whattup whattup?) Let's make it happen I *BURN* through your argument with action My eyes stay fastened to tomorrow lookin for a brighter day When y'all wanna leave y'all? Right away Shout it out from East-West (from South to Northern) From Cakalak' (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 emcee's) Make it happen (do your thing) understand.. ".. and know that I love you.." Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen [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 givin 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 niggaz is lookin like some fairies and singin like canaries to the beast and anybody who will listen to em clearly Y'all don't hear me though, even when I'm comin through in stereo You make a mockery of what I represent properly Yo why you startin me? I take that shit 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 MC's 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, niggaz 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, MC's 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) Livin native (dyin 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 (10X) My people, my people, my people people p-people (8X) My PE-ople, oh-oh-OH-oh-OHH, oh-OHH...