Definition
Blackstar Lyrics

Lord, lord have mercy
Lord, please have mercy on us

All nice and peace and true, follow me now, we say
We are spreading positivity and truth, join us in our movement

Say Hi-Tek yes you're ruling hip-hop
Hi-Tek is dominating the hip-hop scene

Say J. Rawls yes you're ruling hip-hop
J. Rawls is also dominating the hip-hop scene

Redefinition say you're ruling hip-hop
The concept of redefinition is leading the way in hip-hop

Say Black Star come to rock it non
Black Star is here to rock the hip-hop world

Yo, from the first to the last of it, delivery is passionate
We pour our hearts into every aspect of our music, from start to finish

The whole and not the half of it, vocab and not the math of it
Our music is complete and well-rounded, focused on lyrical skill rather than just numbers

Projectile that them blasted with, accurate assassin shit
Our rhymes hit hard and accurately, like skilled assassins

Me and Kweli close like, Bethlehem and Nazareth
Kweli and I have a strong bond, like the historical cities of Bethlehem and Nazareth

After this you be pressing rewind on top your master disk
Our music is so good, you'll want to listen to it over and over again

Shining like an asterisk for all those that be gatherin'
We stand out prominently, attracting attention and admiration

Connectin' like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenements
We have a strong connection that reaches from upscale homes to poorer housing areas

Cause all my Brooklyn residents, heavy regiments
We represent the people of Brooklyn who have a strong presence and influence

Don't believe, here the evidence, where Brooklyn whoa
If you doubt us, just look at the evidence of our impact on Brooklyn

See that? Bound to take it all kid, believe that
We are confident and destined for success, trust in that

From where they sellin' tree at, to where the police be at
Our influence spans from neighborhoods where drugs are sold to areas where police are present

Talib Kweli e-Kweli-ty yo tell them where we be at
Talib Kweli represents the true essence of hip-hop, let him show you where we are

Brooklyn, New York City where they paint murals of Biggie
Brooklyn, specifically New York City, is a place that honors and embraces the legacy of Biggie Smalls through murals

In cash we trust cause it's ghetto fabulous, life look pretty
We rely on money because the glamorous lifestyle of the ghetto may seem appealing, but in reality, it may not be as glamorous as it appears

What a pity. Blunts is still fifty cents, it's intense
It's unfortunate that the price of marijuana cigarettes (blunts) is still low, which reflects the intense conditions of the environment

Tree scents is dominant can't be covered with incense
The smell of marijuana is prevalent and cannot be masked by incense

My presence felt my name is Kweli from the Eternal Reflection
My impact is evident, my name is Kweli from the timeless reflection of music's essence

People thinkin' MC is short hand for Mis Conception
Some people misunderstand the true meaning and role of an MC (Master of Ceremonies)

Let me meditate, set it straight, came to the conclusion
Allow me to reflect and clarify, I have reached a firm decision

That most of these cats is featherweight, let me demonstrate
The majority of these artists are lightweight and lacking substance, let me show you

Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
Navigating the streets is akin to engaging in a constant battle, protect yourself

You must know karate or think your soul is bulletproof like Sade
In order to survive, you need to have self-defense skills or possess an unwavering confidence in your own invincibility

Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
Stop behaving in a weak and fearful manner, instead, be forward-thinking and innovative

And maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary
If you continue to act cowardly, you may end up seeing your own name in the list of the deceased

Third rate teacher readin' and talkin' about 'I knew he'd amount to nothin''
An inferior teacher is speaking negatively, predicting a person's lack of success

Neighbors like, 'He was the quiet type Who'd have thought they was frontin'?'
Neighbors express surprise at someone's quiet demeanor, not realizing they were pretending or hiding their true potential

Talkin' and loud like you in RCA, get carted away
Speaking loudly and arrogantly like you're in control, but in reality, you'll be removed from the situation

With body parts and treys, what a way to start your day
Your day begins with violence and danger, encountering severed body parts and gunshots

It's kind of dangerous to be an emcee
Being an emcee comes with inherent risks and dangers

They shot Tupac and Biggie
The tragic deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G highlight the violence that plagues the hip-hop industry

One, two, three Mos Def and Talib Kweli
Together, Mos Def and Talib Kweli form a powerful duo

We came to rock it on to the tip-top
We are here to take our music to the highest level

Best alliance in hip-hop, Y-O
We are the greatest partnership in hip-hop

It's kind of dangerous to be an emcee
Being an emcee comes with inherent risks and dangers

Hold your head when the beat drop, Y-O
Stay strong and resilient when the music hits hard

Manhattan keep on makin' it (Bo!), Brooklyn keep on takin' it (Bo!)
Manhattan continues to produce great music, while Brooklyn takes what it deserves

So relax we're takin' it back, Redhook where we're livin' at
We're reclaiming our rightful place in the hip-hop scene, representing Redhook, the neighborhood where we reside

Plenty cats be strugglin' not hustlin' and bubblin'
Many individuals are facing hardships and difficulties, rather than engaging in successful and prosperous endeavors

It ain't about production and, what else we discussin'?
It's not just about the music production aspect, what else are we talking about?

When the cock crows, my crop grows, enable me to rock flows
When the rooster crows, my talent flourishes, allowing me to excel in my rap skills

Strivin' for perfection ever since I was a snot-nosed
I've been striving for excellence and perfection in my craft since a young age, even when I was inexperienced

Colossal, true original B-boy apostle
I am a massive and influential figure, a genuine and original representative of the B-boy culture

Standin' on the rooftop with the, Zulu gestapo
Standing on the rooftop with the Zulu gestapo, symbolizing strength and unity

You think you the shit
You have an inflated sense of self-importance

Somebody in the wings'll force you to quit
There are people waiting in the shadows who will make you give up

It could be your crew or click
It could be your own group or associates who will turn against you

Or some random kid you smoked Buddha with
Even someone you casually smoked marijuana with could be the cause of your downfall

Consider me the entity within the industry without a history
View me as the prominent force in the music industry, despite not having a lengthy and traditional background

Of spittin' the epitome of stupidity, livin' my life
I am here to present the epitome of intelligence and wisdom, living my life accordingly

Expressin' my liberty, it gotta be done properly
I am expressing my freedom of speech, ensuring it is done in a proper and respectful manner

My name is in the middle of e-Kweli-ty
My name is at the center of authenticity and truth in hip-hop

People follow me and other cats they hear him flow
People follow me as a leader, while other artists are merely imitating my style

And assume I'm the real one with lyrics like I'm Cyrano
They mistakenly believe that I am the true artist with lyrical skills, similar to Cyrano de Bergerac

Still sippin' wishin' well water, imported, from Pluto
Despite success, I remain humble and grounded, drinking water from a wishing well that seemingly comes from another planet

Three hundred and sixty milliliters for all our believers
We offer a full serving of inspiration to all our supporters

In miles or kilometers, most cats cannot proceed us
No matter the units of measurement, most other artists can't surpass us

In the jungle with the leaders we the lions you the cheaters
In this music industry jungle, we are the powerful leaders representing the lions, while others are deceitful cheaters

A cypher will complete us if we come through your receivers
A true hip-hop cypher will complete us, resonating with listeners who tune in

You can play us and repeat us and then take us home and read us
You can play our music on repeat, even taking it home to analyze and dissect our lyrics

Good Jesus, Mos Def and Kweli just make a pussy freeze up,
Wow, our skills as Mos Def and Kweli are so powerful that it shocks and intimidates others

thinkin' we will ease up
Assuming that we will relax or loosen our grip, but we won't