Talib Kweli

Little Brother

Talib Kweli


'Now listen' 
[Mos] 
..doin this song for you. 
all my little brothers.. out in the street. 
strugglin to survive.. keep your eyes on the prize, you know 

[Kweli] 
Yeah, the revolution will not be televised 
Or broadcast live on the net 
My man Mos said it's personal.. knamsayin? 
It's gotta start from right up in here, you know 

[Mos & Kweli] 
You can't stop, you know [3x] 
You can't stop when we rep 

[Kweli] 
We rep the ain't-gots 
Ain't nobody can't start no party like us, we crush the faint hearts 
From Hallsey to St. Mark's, walk in the main blocks 
Painted with blood that's still hot, so deep it stain socks 
The pain spark frustration, situations lead to hatin 
Some deal with drug distribution, others walk the plantation 
Some know the code a' the streets, some got a college education 
Come down on the weekend, and peep the conversation 

[Mos] 
Yo 
On the corner, units stormed out 
Ghetto lookin bombed out 
Police waited to roll, for those who walk the wrong route 
Shorties goin all out, they got they swords drawn out 
Ready to brawl out, gettin fought til they fall out 
Black like Morehouse, 40 o'z is tossed out 
For brothers that they mourn bout, get wrecked til it's dawn out 
Whether they broke or flossed out, honeys pass they draws out 
Lookin for a ticket out the poor-house 
A jungle out here 
Lions keep they claws out, fangs and jaws out 
Weak just get forced out 
Names is called out, ghetto-fame is sought out 
You wanna be the man that they talk bout 
I walked out 
I had some things on my mind to sort out 
I thought bout the wild circumstance we born out 
Remember myself at your age, when I was just like you 
If that was now, I don't know what I would do 
My answer's? closest to me 
So what I say to you is goin for me 
Son we both still growin indeed 
But where you at, I was, and where you been, I left 
Utilize my experience to guide your step 
Some people get love but don't command respect 
It's somethin that you can't ride with a check 
Over-rollin your lex or icy links that hang from your neck 
If it's real, who need to deal with the special effects? 

[Kweli] 
Come here, come here, yo 
Lemme drop this on ya, look they gotchu cornered 
The corner of the block is hot, I ain't got to warn ya 
'Cause I see you every day, trapped in every way 
'Shit, I'm a thug, and that's all that I can say' 
Who are you anyway? 
Mary J.? I spend, many nights awake, watchin you while you sleep 
Tryin to figure out how to be the example, 'cause talk is cheap 
As you walk the streets, study cats on the real 
In a convo, just make your point to relax and chill 
[Niggas] wanna destroy each other in a cypher instead a' build 
Be a- man of will, don't be- standin still 
If you- don't plan ahead, then you- plan to fail 
Do ? in a daze when the ways reveal 
Like they funny style but I'm not laughin 
Serious [niggas] makin money while the police is passin 
Can't wait for opportunity to knock, you gotta make it happen 
It ain't about no spectacular ways a' rappin 
Just immaculate ways a' action.. dig? 

[Mos sings] 
Little Brother 
I know that times is hard 
Keep your mind on guard 
Stay clear of things that are harmin 
You'll get along 
I sing my song 
For little brothers 
Out there in the street 
Strugglin to make ends meet 
Gotta hold the heat 
Strugglin so hard to compete 
Stay clear of things that harm 
Do it for y'all 
Try to stay strong 
Keep movin on [6x] 

[shoutin out Little Brothers all over the area, simultaneous singing]