Unto the Dust
Ka Lyrics

I was saying the other day like
The singer has been reflecting on recent experiences and observed that no one they knew had died naturally.

I don't know none of my people's just dying
None of the people the singer knows died from natural causes.

From natural causes, you know
Death by natural causes was not observed.

Just passing away, you know I'm saying?
The artist is emphasizing that the observed deaths were not caused by natural courses, but were sudden.

I'm saying none, none of my people ever
The artist reiterates that death by natural causes was not seen amongst their acquaintances.

Liked passed away, you know what I'm saying?
None of the people the singer knows died from natural causes.

Had to man up, another man down
The singer is preparing themselves for the death of another member of their community.

Achilles, we stand fast, never stand down
The artist is using the story of Achilles to motivate themselves to remain steadfast in the face of death.

My tool's fire move quiet, but the plan sound
The artist's weapon is capable and effective, but their plan is cautious.

Born headfirst in that damned land, I wand that damn crown
The artist was born into a difficult and unfair situation, but still desires success.

The boys in blue clothes got new holds, new submissions
Law enforcement agents have developed new tactics for capturing and incarcerating people.

I give the grey youth straight truth, no euphemisms
The artist tells children the harsh reality of their circumstances, without any sugarcoating.

Y'all played the dozens, my favorite cousins spent they youth in prisons
The singer's cousins were incarcerated during their youth as a result of playing a game called the dozens.

They names known, came home, now the house got two religions
The singer's cousins returned home after being imprisoned and their experiences caused a division in their family's religious beliefs.

Peace be with you, wa alaikum salaam
A common Arabic greeting wishing for peace.

Make sure that piece be with you, laced in your palm
The artist wishes others strength in the form of a firearm so they may protect themselves.

No one here's linear, danger 'round every bend
The situation is unpredictable and there is danger everywhere.

On a path for power, when half a dollar was hated by many men
The singer is pursuing power even though they recognize that it has caused others to hate them.

Street live, we die, we don't pass away
The singer emphasizes the suddenness of death within their community.

Take any task if you got cash to pay
In a world where everything is monetized, one can buy success.

Descended from baddest slaves, barricades only aggravate us
A reference to the artist's ancestors who were among the toughest slaves and suggesting that barriers will not impede them.

Friends and foe dying, no lying, grew up fighting gladiators
The artist grew up in a harsh environment where people die, and where they must fight to survive against even their friends.

Whoever left son soakin', it's unspoken, you gotta see 'em
The singer implies that it is better to see a dead body than to discover a son's shirt soaked in blood.

We don't do rest 'til death, rules of the coliseum
The artist and their people must remain vigilant and fight to survive or else they will die.

For those concerned, I learned from jailbirds
The singer learned important lessons from those who were once incarcerated.

Not from no failed curbs, over here the crack sales surged
The singer did not learn their lessons on the street, where deals often fall through; they learned from those who were incarcerated due to high drug sales.

Our engine bingin' for years, black males purged
The system has been working against black males for a long time - the engine has been running for years.

Want progress, now digest bullets, inhale words
If progress is desired, it requires one to take in what is not always comfortable.

Before semis air, shot plenty fairs before I shot a gun
The artist experienced and survived many shooting incidents before ever firing a gun.

My heroes talk, take zero shots, of course I'm not the one
The singer's role models never had to fight because they were able to avoid it altogether.

Mommy preached peace, but in grief, I'm my papa's son
The singer's father was likely impatient and aggressive, and despite having a mother who advocated for peace, the singer takes after their father.

Marshal the land that's never ran, man, even when the coppers come
The artist is able to stay calm and collected, even when the police arrive.

(Even when the coppers come, never stay around when the coppers come)
It's best to escape when the police arrive.

The problem is we at the bottom, that's where all the tops is slung
The artist and their people are at the bottom and are viewed as dispensable and only good for carrying out unwanted tasks.

Hate the pull, but in beef, take no bull, only ox is brung
The singer hunts down those who try to take advantage of them, they do not let anything stand in their way.

They blessed me with 20 FD, pray I don't have a toxic lung
The artist is grateful for the opportunity to get an education in Fire Department work but at the same time, recognizes the risks from exposure to toxic substances.

I'm from the seventies, mentally it had us boxin' young
The singer was brought up in the 70s, which was a tough environment that forced kids to grow up quickly and prepared them to fight for their survival.

I don't leverage hate, I educate, you better ask around
Rather than letting anger and hate drive their actions, the singer focuses on educating others and spreading information.

I'm taskin' babes passin' grades, what you passin' down?
The singer asks others what knowledge and values they will pass down to younger generations.

On this earth, brave known to earth
Being brave on this earth is common and something that people know and embody.

Birth to gravestone to urn
Life follows a cycle from birth to death to cremation.