Respiration
Mos Def Talib Kweli Lyrics

What'd you do last night?
Casual conversation, setting the scene for the song

We did umm, two whole cars
Graffiti art, describing the act of painting two entire subway cars

It was me, these, and Main Three right?
Naming the people involved in the art project

And on the first car in small letters it said "All you see is" and then you know Big, big, you know some block silver letters That said "crime in the city' right?"
Describing the graffiti art, including the phrases "All you see is crime in the city" on one of the cars

"It just took up the whole car?" "Yeah yeah, it was a whole car and shit..." [Repeat: x3]
Reiterating the size and impact of the graffiti art

Escuchela, la ciudad respirando [Listen to it, the city breathing] Escuchela
Spanish for "listen to the city breathing", setting a contemplative mood for the song

[Mos Def] The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis Shining, like who on top of this?
Describing the beauty of the city under the night sky, while questioning who controls the city

People was hustling, arguing and bustling Gangsters of Gotham hardcore hustling
Depicting the daily hustle and bustle and harsher realities of life in the city, including gang activity

I'm wrestling with words and ideas My ears is picky, seeking what will transmit The scribes can apply to transcript, yo
Mos Def is an artist who carefully chooses his words and seeks to convey a message through his music

This ain't no time where the usual is suitable Tonight alive, let's describe the inscrutable
The current state of the world demands deeper contemplation and new ways of thinking

The indisputable, we New York the narcotic Strength in metal and fiber optics
Describing the city's power through industry and technology, as well as its addictive nature

Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets
Highlighting the corrupt and cut-throat nature of business dealings and the crime that goes with it

Hard knuckles on the second hands of working class watches Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living Is preposterous, stay alive, you play or die, no options
Describing the struggle of the working class in the face of expensive city living and the high stakes of survival

No Batman and Robin, can't tell between The cops and the robbers, they both partners, they all heartless With no conscience, back streets stay darkened Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened
There is no clear division between good and bad, and the darker side of humanity prevails in the shadows

My eagle talons stay sharpened, like city lights stay throbbing You either make a way or stay sobbing, the Shiny Apple Is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat
One must stay sharp and vigilant to survive in the city, but it still holds a certain allure despite its challenges

Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down Spotlight to savages, NASDAQ averages My narrative, rose to explain this existence Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance
People are drawn to sensationalized news stories and statistics, but Mos Def seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the city's complexities through his own narrative

So much on my mind that it can't recline Blasting holes in the night til she bled sunshine Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Mos Def is restless and contemplative, finding solace in the city's beauty and his own creative expression

Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathing Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening
The city's music is an instinctual and powerful force, and Mos Def feels intimately connected to its energy

Sigh before we die like the last train leaving
Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the constant motion of the city

[Talib Kweli] Breathing in deep city breaths, sitting on shitty steps We stoop to new lows, hell froze the night the city slept
Kweli is also reflecting on the city's energy, describing a moment of stillness that is rare in the hustle and bustle

The beast crept through concrete jungles Communicating with one another And ghetto birds where waters fall From the hydrants to the gutters
Referring to the police as the "beast", Kweli depicts their watchful presence throughout the city, even in its poorest areas

The beast walk the beats, but the beats we be making You on the wrong side of the track, looking visibly shaken
Despite the presence of authority figures, Kweli asserts that artists like him make their own mark on the city

Taken them plungers, plunging to death that's painted by the numbers With crime unapplied pressure, cats is playing God But having children by a lesser baby mother but fuck it We played against each other like puppets, swearing you got pull
Describing the consequences of crime and the struggle to survive, even in adverse circumstances

When the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes Getting knowledge in jail like a blessing in disguise Look in the skies for God, what you see besides the smog Is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene
Revealing the false illusions of power and the possibility of redemption through education, while acknowledging the omnipresent smog and pollution of the city

Thoughts that people put in the air Places where you could get murdered over a glare But everything is fair It's a paradox we call reality
Contemplating the destructive thoughts and actions of people, and the paradoxical nature of reality

So keeping it real will make you casualty of abnormal normality Killers Born Naturally like, Micky and Mallory Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary
Being true to oneself in this environment can be dangerous, and violence can strike at any moment

Some cats be emceeing to illustrate what we be seeing Hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shakin what you believe in
Hip-hop can serve as a reflection and commentary on life in the city, but it can be difficult to maintain one's spirituality in the midst of chaos

For trees to grow in Brooklyn, seeds need to be planted I'm asking if y'all feel me AND THE CROWD LEFT ME STRANDED My blood pressure boiled and rose, cause New York niggaz Actin spoiled at shows, to the winners the spoils go
Kweli reflects on the struggle of making a positive impact in the city, and the disappointing behavior of some of its inhabitants

I take the L, transfer to the 2, head to the gates New York life type trife the Roman Empire state So much on my mind I just can't recline
Describing his daily routine and general feeling of restlessness

Yo don't the bass ride out like an ancient mating call I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathin
Kweli is again moved by the beat of the city's music, feeling its energy as if it were an instinctual call to action

Escuchela, respirando ? [Common] Yo, on The Amen, Corner I stood looking at my former hood Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good
Common starts a new verse, recalling a specific moment in his neighborhood and the loss of a friend

Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it Mixing down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered
Reflecting on the pain of loss, and the difficulty of emotionally processing it

I choreograph seven steps to heaven And hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leavened Veteran of a cold war It's Chica-I-go for
Describing his own artistic process, and referencing his hometown of Chicago

What I know or, what's known So some days I take the bus home, just to touch home From the crib I spend months gone Sat by the window with a clutched dome listening to shorties cuss long Young girls with weak minds, but they butt strong
Common reflects on his own knowledge and experiences, as well as his sense of displacement and the people he is surrounded by

Tried to call, or at least beep the Lord, but didn't have a touch-tone It's a dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on Some of this land I must own Outta the city, they want us gone
Emphasizing the cut-throat nature of life in the city and the desire for ownership and autonomy

Tearing down the 'jects creating plush homes My circumstance is between Cabrini and Love Jones Surrounded by hate, yet I love home
Reflecting on the changes and gentrification of certain neighborhoods, and Common's continued connection to his hometown

Ask my God how he thought traveling the world sound Found it hard to imagine he hadn't been past downtown
Considering the idea of travel and exploration, and the limitations of one's perspective

It's deep, I heard the city breathe in its sleep Of reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep Deep, I heard my man breathe in his sleep
Reflecting on the quiet moments of the city, and its intimate connection to its inhabitants

Kiss the Ide's goodbye, I'm on the last train leaving
Ending the song with a contemplative yet melancholy reflection on life in the city