Just Begun
[Intro: Talib Kweli & The Singers Unlimited]
We've only just be—...
Oh, yes indeed
I like this, I like this
...-gun
Ayo, Hi-Tek
Do me a favor, man—speed it up a lil bit
[Verse 1: Talib Kweli & Jay Electronica]
From the intro, you know I'm so influential
'Cause I'm glowin' like a candle
The focus is so essential, dog, what you tryna get into?
I steady the flow, ready to blow like snotty tissue
They snitchin' like Donnie Brasco, I'm countin' like Monte Cristo
The ghetto full of betrayal like Iago and Othello
Your fellow neighbor will slay you, they'll smoke you like cigarillos
Police want that info, they'll grill 'em like Portobellos
I'm murderin' instrumentals
'Cause I rap with the conscience of villains, killers and monsters
So revealin' and honest
I'm still fulfillin' the promise
So nice, I kill 'em with kindness
Hittin' like Muhammad Ali, you more like Tatyana
All this is probably karma, you dishonored the father
Whether it's God Almighty, or the almighty dollar
We follow the prophets like Islamics or the Dalai Lama
Your bullet points so hollow they could prolly pierce body armor (Ugh)
Look in the scope, my people still a target (Ugh)
[Verse 2: Jay Electronica]
Smile on my face, tears of a sad clown
Feelin' out of place as I whistle the cab down
"If I tip extra, can I huff a cig?"
Blow my smoke out the window, droppin' ashes on the bridge, ugh
I'm in New York now, like Akeem and Semmi was
Tryna get the lobby door open from a semi-buzz
I just wanna go to the slum
And throw my money on the floor like the Notorious BUM, ugh
Build a home, teach a class, start a revolution
Free the mind, heal the body, talkin' evolution
This that Black Elohim Anunnaki rap
That Farrakhan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Qaddafi rap
I dedicate this to my niggas in New Orleans
Rockin' black and gold stockin' caps, and fleur-de-lis Shockey hats
I'm in the courtroom screamin' "Who Dat?!" on the devil
Servin' gumbo with a shovel, dawg, I'm on another level
Me and Kweli come together like two pieces of metal
We magnetizin' the ghetto
[Verse 3: J. Cole]
Yeah! Now here's the memo:
I'm a rebel without a cause, a bezel without no flaws
And shawty, you straight, bet you look way better without no drawers
Let's sweat out this alcohol (Yeah), bet I'm about to ball
And never let up, look how I just crept up without applause
Fed up with all the frauds, and left y'all without a job
The center of attention, this is clever, I'm Pau Gasol
Really, though, I'm LeBron
Really, don't got my mind on this new school of rappers
I will really go Columbine (Uh-huh)
And throw up the diamond sign (Uh-huh)
Boy, you know I'mma shine (Uh-huh)
Flow is in Ramadan (Uh-huh)
'Cause couple years ago, the game had they pajamas on (Yeah)
But now they on my dick, man, I should throw a condom on
Ayy, 'cause a nigga comin' raw like I ain't got one on
And I ain't stoppin' nor coppin' no pleas
I just lock-and-load, squeeze
Dawg, I'm on a higher level, I'm on top of nosebleeds (Damn)
Niggas say they sick, but when they rock, they don't sneeze
Like that nigga on the block wavin' his Glock, but won't squeeze
Please... Hey!
[Verse 4: Mos Def]
Look, hold your applause until the ceremony end
Yours truly, truly blessed, yet again a noble pla-anted
Supermagic, abracadabra kid
Mysterious master djinn, blacker pen
Arrowhead with the long-barrel stem, and his apparel fresh!
Harbor lights shinin' out the black power grid
With the Black Power grip, and pure power don't power trip
Push the cellar ceiling up and make the tower tip
The Gladwell point and Babylon Palace
All about nothin', where it's all about the dollar
And mansions on the fault line of a shaky market
The Devil at the dance hall thirsty for a partner
Get off him, there is not a parcel or a portion
Or a measure of a fortune more awesome, gorgeous
The funky Four Horsemen and one more
With Hi-Tek on the score, once more, of course
You're welcome, thanks
Appreciation for your participation
Special dedication
Celebration, bitches!