Everything Man
Talib Kweli Lyrics

I don't remember the first time I heard Kweli
The singer cannot recall when they first heard Talib Kweli's music.

I don't remember what I was doing
The singer cannot remember what they were doing when they first heard Talib Kweli's music.

There were no remembered witnesses to my doings
The singer cannot recall anyone else who was around when they first heard Talib Kweli's music.

But it seems like I've known him forever
The artist feels a deep connection to Talib Kweli's music.

He who has moved through mornings and midnights
Talib Kweli has experienced many highs and lows in his life and has used these experiences to create his work.

Through deaths and dawns
Talib Kweli has seen life and death, both figuratively and literally, and has used these experiences in his music.

To document our bones, our blood, our lives
Talib Kweli's music serves as a record of the lives and experiences of his listeners, as well as his own.

Listen, listen to his exact wings
The artist implores the listener to pay attention to the precise way in which Talib Kweli delivers his message through his music.

Strumming mists from clouds
Talib Kweli's music is like the fingers of a skilled musician plucking the dewy mist from the clouds.

Listen, listen, a man always punctual with his mouth
Talib Kweli is always consistent in the way that he delivers his message through his music.

Listen to his revolution of syllables
The way that Talib Kweli integrates complex and innovative rhyming patterns into his music is revolutionary.

Scooping lightning from his pores
Talib Kweli's music is electric and has the power to charge up listeners.

Keeping time with his hurricane beat
The rhythm and pace of Talib Kweli's music is powerful and intense, like a hurricane.

Asking us to pick ourselves up and become thunder
Talib Kweli's music encourages listeners to be bold and assertive, like thunder.

Yeah, they say you can't please everybody
The singer acknowledges that it is impossible to make everyone happy.

Let's go, yeah
The artist is ready to move on to the next idea.

Ay, they ain't know what that sound like
The artist is suggesting that others who criticize Talib Kweli's style do not truly understand it.

Feel the heartbeat, feel the heartbeat
The singer implores listeners to pay attention to the rhythm and pace of their own heartbeats.

On your eardrum, we got a new heartbeat
Talib Kweli's music has the power to move listeners and create a sense of excitement and exhilaration.

Yo, what becomes of a dream deferred
The artist is referencing a poem by Langston Hughes, asking what happens when a person's dreams are delayed or never realized.

That never makes it to the world to be seen or heard?
The artist is asking what happens to those dreams that are never brought to fruition or shared with others.

Do it breathe? Do it got a heartbeat? Is it alive?
The artist is questioning whether unrealized dreams have any life or energy behind them.

Do it leave only to become a star in the sky?
The singer is asking whether unfulfilled dreams become immortalized in some way, even if they are never realized while the dreamer is alive.

I believe the scratch that I know, this ain't my full potential
The artist believes that they are capable of much more than what they have already achieved.

Only usin' ten percent of my mental on instrumentals
The singer feels that they are only using a small portion of their creative abilities when making music.

But incidentally, my energy heavenly
The singer's creative energy is inspired by a higher power.

Can he be so ill? There ain't no, pill or no remedy
The singer's talent and skill cannot be learned or acquired through any sort of medication or treatment.

The maker of memories posses the recipe to your fate
The person who creates the memories in your life has the power to shape your destiny.

Make no mistake, there ain't no escapin' your destiny
The artist believes that people cannot escape the fate that has been predetermined for them.

Especially when 'til death do us part, like wedding rings
The singer compares the inevitability of fate to the vows made in a marriage ceremony.

I'll be here forever, put that on everything
The singer is committed to pursuing their creative endeavors for the rest of their life.

Your alpha and your omega, your beginning and your end
Talib Kweli's music has the power to influence the listener's entire life, from start to finish.

Your father, your brother, your lover, your friend
Talib Kweli's music can serve as an emotional support system for the listener, fulfilling many roles in their life.

The blood in your vein that gets spilled and, runs in the drain
Talib Kweli's music is intimately connected to the listener's life and the struggles they may face.

That's right, my flow one and the same, the joy and the pain
Talib Kweli's music contains both elements of joy and pain, representing the full spectrum of human emotion.

My name, the burner that destroy the toy and the train
The artist's name is like a weapon that can dismantle the false narratives in society and the childish expectations placed on individuals.

All city, all night I'm enjoyin' the fame
The singer enjoys the attention and recognition that comes with being a successful musician.

I'm a hustler, I'm a gangster and a rebel with the rank of a general
The singer sees themselves as a multifaceted individual who can switch between different personas and still maintain a sense of control over their life.

In the battle between God and the Devil
The singer is referencing the ongoing struggle between good and evil in the world.

I lay claim to your spirit, your religion, your belief system
The artist believes that they have the power to influence the listener's beliefs and ways of thinking.

I'll do your hit in your kitchen and you're relief pitchin'
The artist is versatile and adaptable, able to thrive in any situation or setting.

This kid proficient in every position
The singer is skilled and capable in all areas of their life, not just music.

The man of your dreams and your nightmares commandin' your vision
The singer has the power to influence the listener's thoughts and dreams, whether positively or negatively.

'Til it's quite clear like light beer, yeah, I'm standin' right here
The artist is confident and unapologetic about their skills and message, and they are committed to standing by their work.

I get you hot but stay cooler than the night air
The artist is able to generate excitement and enthusiasm in listeners while simultaneously remaining calm and composed.

I try to fit it in the same rhyme
The artist is attempting to convey multiple ideas or emotions within the constraints of a single verse or stanza.

But realize, I can't be everything to everyone at the same time
The singer acknowledges that it is impossible to please everyone, and they must stay true to their own voice and message.

First time I heard him, I was in Japan
The artist first discovered Talib Kweli's music while they were in Japan.

Seems like the first time I heard him was like
The singer has a strong sense of nostalgia associated with the first time they heard Talib Kweli's music.

Like when Kanye came out
The singer is referencing a specific time in their life when they discovered Talib Kweli's music, comparing it to the impact that Kanye West had when he first emerged as a popular artist.

I guess was when I started to listen, I hate to say that but
The singer is expressing some regret or embarrassment about not discovering Talib Kweli's music sooner.

New York native and serious Talib fan
The artist is a native of New York City and has a deep appreciation for Talib Kweli's music.

I came all the way from Puerto Rico just to see Talib Kweli
The artist is expressing their intense dedication and enthusiasm for Talib Kweli's music by traveling a significant distance to see him perform.

Him, Mos Def, all of them man
The singer is referencing other artists from the same era and genre as Talib Kweli, indicating a larger movement or cultural context for his music.

I need them out here in my life
The singer feels a strong emotional connection to Talib Kweli's music and views it as an essential part of their life.

It's a rainy morning in New York City
The artist is providing contextual information about the setting of the song, indicating a specific time and place.