The Birth
AZ Lyrics

Yeah, you knowwhatimean?
Do you understand the knowledge I'm about to drop?

Cuz yo, this right here Is called Knowledge of Self
This song is about self-awareness and understanding.

When you apply that to yourself, you know yourself
By applying self-knowledge, you gain true insight into yourself.

You understand, yo, it's gonna get your third eye opened
Self-awareness and knowledge can unlock spiritual or mystical experiences.

You can see things for what they are, and not what they appear to be
Through self-knowledge, you can see past illusions to the truth behind them.

Wanna kick the knowledge and pass this information to you?
Do you want me to share knowledge and insights with you?

Peace God (Peace what up Bobby?) Yo, yo... don't even call me Bobby no more, man (What I call you?) My name is Prince Rakeem (Today's Mathematics?)
A conversation about knowledge and self-awareness using language from Five Percent Nation teachings.

I see Today's Mathematics is being wisdom Let me explain to you this way, God, the way I see it
Today's Mathematics refers to the teachings of Five Percent Nation, and specifically to the concept of wisdom.

Ever since my Birth (no one there!) I've had no one to care (worried all I know... yeah!)
AZ is reflecting on his lonely childhood and lack of familial support.

They say wisdom, is the wise words spoken By a brother attemptin' to open The graves, of these mentally dead slaves Who've been lost on a cross, for decades
Wisdom is the knowledge shared to liberate those who are trapped mentally and socially.

And centuries, lookin' for the liberty But receive nothin', but misery
Throughout centuries of oppression, those seeking freedom have only encountered suffering.

And hard times, and things of that nature By the devil in a genocide caper
Oppressed people face hardships and violence caused by their oppressors.

Little Boy Peep, has lost his sheep But I found 'em, in a deep long sleep Nine thousand miles away from home Livin' the life of a modern-day Flintstone
AZ is describing his own journey to find himself and his value as a black man in a society where he feels lost and alone.

We the people, supposed to be equal But the men who wrote that, they was evil Slave owners, who did not include us They just used us, and abused us
The founding documents of the United States were written by slave owners who did not truly believe in equality, but only used and exploited black people.

First they trick you, then mentally kill you And use technologies, to rebuild you This whole plan was a perfect scam See that's why they called it, the Six Million Dollar Man
Institutionalized racism and oppression work to trick, control, and exploit people. This system seeks to remake people into what it wants them to be as part of a grand scheme.

Six is the limitation of the Devil In the Million square miles of land that he settles Put you in a three piece suit, give you loot Chemicals in your head to make you look cute
The devil, symbolizing the oppressive system, has limited power despite its vast reaches. It seeks to control people through superficial means like material wealth or beauty standards.

They use you as a fool to deceive your own people And fillin' my children head with pins and needles But I'll take out the pins you inserted And I'll avenge all my mothers that you murdered
Oppressors use some black people to deceive and control others. AZ will work to undo their harmful influence and avenge the harm they have caused.

And brutalized, by this modern form of slavery To speak the truth it takes bravery And no man could stop my flow Because I know what I speak and I speak what I know
The modern forms of systemic oppression may not be visible, but they exist and continue to harm. Speaking truth requires courage and conviction, and AZ is confident in his message and abilities.

What, becomes of a broken family? Dreams are crushed and there's no more family
The effects of oppression extend beyond the individual and harm entire families and communities.

Yo, as a life can be slowed down 20 frames per second Seen through Panavision The inner light inside my mind's shines expands the prism
Life can often feel chaotic, but with introspection and focus it's possible to find clarity and expand one's perception.

A man of wisdom, victorious and the glorious Sight beyond sight we stand up as Divine Warriors Who smite with the mighty right hand of God Yield the holy sword, swings the holy rod
By embracing wisdom and spiritual power, one can become a warrior for good and smite evil.

Then bathe in the pond of Nirvana, escape the realm of Karma Allow the true grace of God to shine through my persona
By freeing oneself from the cycle of suffering and bad karma, one can become an embodiment of grace and goodness.

And build the reconstructional terms that's constructive As we destroy the negative germs that's destructive Productively, sincerely, we uphold the righteous banner With the gold touch of Midas, mold the righteous hammer
Through constructive action and destroying negativity, we can build a just and righteous society, symbolized by a golden hammer.

And anvil, to the sound of Man-drill Ignite to the speed of light cause time to stand still Rewrite the script of Egypt, who made the Holy Bible Or Koran, how long ago, who made the Holy Title?
The reference to Man-drill is unclear, but AZ seems to be suggesting that with force and energy, history can be rewritten to better reflect the contributions of black people.

Of I Self Lord And Master, who control the vital Parts of your heart, who wrote the wise recitals? Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah, Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head Still puzzled like the jigsaw
AZ invokes Five Percent Nation mythology to address the power of the self and how knowledge can help one solve the puzzle of life.

[Chorus x2]
The chorus reflects on the pain and harm caused by broken families and a lack of support, particularly in black communities.