Too Late
Hi Tek Res & Talib Kweli Lyrics

Yo, when the bass thump, the place jump
The high energy of the music causes the crowd to become excited and move vigorously

Like it's way crunk, yeah
The excitement in the air is reminiscent of the style of music known as 'crunk'

Fake punks get they face lumped
Those who pretend to be tough or hard but are not, will suffer physical harm from those who are truly so

Sent to the most high, by the most fit
Those who are beaten or killed in this environment are considered to be sent to the afterlife, judged by a higher power and taken by the strongest or fittest of the group

You gotta do, fuck that almost shit
One must commit to their actions and not waver, disregarding hesitation or doubt

The fam is close knit
The group of people involved in this lifestyle are tightly bonded like family

You diggin', know the clock don't stop tickin'
If you're paying attention, you'll realize that time is always passing and doesn't pause for anyone

Glocks still spittin', the whole block politickin'
Gun violence remains a consistent issue and the neighborhood is constantly involved in political or power struggles

Like presidents with they minds dead on arrival
Leaders who lack mental flexibility or creativity are bound to fail

Leaving no evidence of a struggle for survival
Those who are eliminated from power or killed will leave no trace of any resistance or attempt at survival

Songs relevant to the times like the psalms read in the Bible
The music being created is reflective of current events or societal issues, much like the messages conveyed in biblical psalms

Stepping to this leaves thoughts in your head 'it's suicidal'
Attempting to challenge or oppose the individuals involved in this lifestyle is considered dangerous and potentially fatal

It's the T to the A-L-I-B the deep rooter
The singer is announcing themselves as Talib Kweli, a person who is true to their roots and values

Rolling with my wanna battle cats who chief buddha
The singer is with a group of individuals who are looking to engage in conflict and are devoted to smoking marijuana

And see through the overspecialized, underpressurized
The group is aware of individuals who are too tightly focused on one aspect of their lives and those who lack motivation or drive

No lie texturized, emcees who got the masses mesmerized
Many rappers are fake or inauthentic, but still manage to captivate large audiences

With empty rhetoric, they better quit
These rappers lack substance or meaning in their lyrics and should stop

Niggas so hollow that they echo like sentiments
These rappers are so lacking in substance or meaning that their words merely echo like meaningless phrases

Nowadays rap artists coming half-hearted
Most current rappers do not show a full commitment to their craft, either in terms of their lyrics or their presentation

Commercial like pop, or underground like black markets
The current rap scene is either overly commercialized or exists on the fringes of the industry

Where were you the day hip-hop died?
The artist is questioning the listener's loyalty to the genre of hip-hop and whether or not they were present for a hypothetical event representing the death of the genre

Is it too early to mourn? Is it too late to ride?
The artist is uncertain about whether it is too early to be sad about the current state of hip-hop or too late to actively try and make changes

Kwa is chillin', Tone is chillin'
The singer and their companion are relaxed and at ease

What more can I say, we stay building
The artist and their group continue to persist and grow stronger over time

And make killings
They are able to earn money and gain power through their activities

Take children through the wilderness, by the hand
The singer feels a sense of responsibility to guide and mentor younger individuals who are inexperienced in their lifestyle

It's a great feeling, show 'em how to be a man
The singer takes pride in being able to teach the children under their care important life lessons and values

Exactly, pack trees in my khakis
The artist is carrying marijuana on their person

My sound fat like a Neve while you thin like a Mackie
The artist's music has a rich, full sound, while their opponents' music is thin or lacking in substance

C'mon, shine so bright when I walk by
The singer radiates confidence and power when they enter a space

You got ta squint like the motherfucking sun in your eye
Those around the singer are unable to look directly at them because they are so powerful and intense

What! Say somethin, you stay frontin
The artist is challenging their opponents to speak up or give up their false facade

It ain't nothing, let off like I'm big game hunting
The artist is confident and unafraid, ready to take on any challenge like a seasoned hunter

Me and Tek stay way blunted
The artist and their companion are consistently high on marijuana

Wave running on beaches with white sand
The singer and their companion enjoy leisure activities like running on beaches

With a slight tan
The artist has a light skin tone due to sun exposure

Smack the mic stand with my right hand
The singer is excited and energetic, physically hitting the microphone stand for emphasis

When I'm excited
The singer becomes even more enthusiastic and intense when they are emotionally charged

Leave you so far in the dust that you forced to bite it
The singer will defeat their opponents so thoroughly that they will be left in the dust, reduced to biting the ground in frustration

On fire like property lost to riots
The artist is full of energy and intensity, much like a building that has been set on fire during a riot

Yo, ain't no stopping us when we all united
The group is strong and powerful when they work together, nothing can slow them down or stop them