Mathematics
Mos Def feat. Busta Rhymes Lyrics
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Ha ha
You know the deal
It's just me, yo
Beats by Su-Primo for all of my people, Negros and Latinos
And even the gringos
Yo, check it one for Charlie Hustle, two for Steady Rock
It's five dimensions, six senses
Seven firmaments of Heaven to Hell, eight million stories to tell
Nine planets faithfully keep in orbit
With the probable tenth, the universe expands length
The body of my text posses extra strength
Power-lift the powerless up, out of this, towering inferno
My ink so hot it burn through the journal
I'm blacker than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle
Hip-hop past all your tall social hurdles
Like the nationwide projects, prison-industry complex
Working class poor better keep your alarm set
Streets too loud to ever hear freedom ring
Say evacuate your sleep, it's dangerous to dream
For ch-ching cats get they cha-paow, you dead now
Killing fields need blood to graze the cash cow
It's a number game, but shit don't add up somehow
Like I got, sixteen to thirty-two bars to rock it
But only fifteen percent of profits, ever see my pockets like
Sixty-nine billion in the last twenty years
Spent on national defense but folks still live in fear like
Nearly half of America's largest cities is one-quarter black
That's why they gave Ricky Ross all the crack
Sixteen ounces to a pound, twenty more to a key
A five minute sentence hearing and you no longer free
Forty percent of Americans own a cell phone
So they can hear, everything that you say when you ain't home
I guess, Michael Jackson was right, you are not alone
Rock your hardhat black 'cause you in the Terrordome
Full of hard niggas, large niggas, dice tumblers
Young teens and prison greens facing life numbers
Crack mothers, crack babies and AIDS patients
Young bloods can't spell but they could rock you at PlayStation
This new math is whipping motherfuckers' ass
You wanna know how to rhyme you better learn how to add
It's mathematics
(The Mighty Mos Def)
(It's simple mathematics)
(Check it out)
(I revolve around science)
(What are we talking about here?)
(The Mighty Mos Def)
(It's simple mathematics)
(Check it out)
(I revolve around science)
(What are we talking about here?)
(Do your math, do your math)
(One, t-t-two, three four)
(What are we talking about here?)
Yo, it's one universal law but two sides to every story
Three strikes and you biddin' for life, mandatory
Four MC's murdered in the last four years
I ain't trying to be the fifth one, the millennium is here
Yo, it's six million ways to die from the seven deadly thrills
Eight-year olds getting found with 9 mill's
It's ten P.M., where your seeds at? What's the deal?
He on the hill pumpin' krills to keep they bellies filled
Light in the ass with heavy steel, sights on the pretty shit in life
Young soldiers trying to earn they next stripe
When the average minimum wage is $5.15
You best believe you gotta find a new ground to get C.R.E.A.M
The white unemployment rate is nearly more than triple for black
So front liners got they gun in your back
Bubbling crack, jewel theft and robbery to combat poverty
And end up in the global jail economy
Stiffer stipulations attached to each sentence
Budget cutbacks but increased police presence
And even if you get out of prison still living
Join the other five million under state supervision
This is business, no faces just lines and statistics
From your phone, your zip code, to SSI digits
The system break man, child and women into figures
Two columns for who is and who ain't niggas
Numbers is hard and real and they never have feelings
But you push too hard, even numbers got limits
Why did one straw break the camel's back? Here's the secret
The million other straws underneath it, it's all mathematics
(The Mighty Mos Def)
(It's simple mathematics)
(Check it out)
(I revolve around science)
(What are we talking about here?)
(The Mighty Mos Def)
(It's simple mathematics)
(Check it out)
(I revolve around science)
(What are we talking about here?)
(Mathematics)
The lyrics to Mos Def feat. Busta Rhymes's song, Mathematics, are loaded with political and socioeconomic criticism that belie the title. The chorus emphasizes that everything is just simple mathematics, and the verses detail the many ways in which numbers factor into the ongoing systemic oppression of people of color, especially Black Americans. Mos Def's lyrics on this track are among his most powerful, and even today, over 20 years after its release, the issues addressed in Mathematics remain relevant.
The first verse begins by establishing that there are many layers to the universe that can't be seen with the naked eye, and that there are myriad stories that are still unknown. Then, Mos Def delves into gritty social commentary, touching on the prison industry complex, racism in public housing, and the ways in which poverty perpetuates itself. The verse ends with Mos Def declaring that he uses his art as a means of lifting up those who have been beaten down by society.
The second verse continues the criticism, but focuses more on the criminal justice system, economic inequality, and systemic oppression. Mos Def's use of wordplay here is impressive, as he manages to pack a lot of complex observations into a small space while still maintaining a strong poetic and rhythmic flow.
Line by Line Meaning
Bucka, bucka, bucka, bucka, bucka, bucka
The opening sound effects of the song
Ha ha
The artist laughing
You know the deal
The artist addressing the listener
It's just me, yo
The artist introducing himself
Beats by Su-Primo for all of my people, Negros and Latinos
Giving credit to the person who produced the beats and addressing his people
And even the gringos
Including the non-Hispanic/Latino listeners in the audience
Yo, check it one for Charlie Hustle, two for Steady Rock
Introducing two different people as a tribute
Three for the forth-coming live future shock
Counting up to the future event
It's five dimensions, six senses
Mentioning abstract concepts
Seven firmaments of Heaven to Hell, eight million stories to tell
Mentioning different levels of existence and vast number of stories
Nine planets faithfully keep in orbit
Referencing the solar system
With the probable tenth, the universe expands length
Speculating about the existence of the tenth planet
The body of my text posses extra strength
Claiming that the lyrics have a deeper meaning
Power-lift the powerless up, out of this, towering inferno
Lift up those who feel powerless to face their problems
My ink so hot it burn through the journal
Metaphorically expressing the passion put into the lyrics
I'm blacker than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle
Describing oneself as being extremely black/dark-skinned
Hip-hop past all your tall social hurdles
Hip-hop has overcome many social challenges
Like the nationwide projects, prison-industry complex
Mentioning social issues faced by the country
Working class poor better keep your alarm set
A warning to the working class poor
Streets too loud to ever hear freedom ring
The streets are too chaotic to ever hear true freedom
Say evacuate your sleep, it's dangerous to dream
Urging listeners to take action instead of dreaming
For ch-ching cats get they cha-paow, you dead now
Those who only care about money are living a spiritually dead life
Killing fields need blood to graze the cash cow
The wealthy need the poor to maintain their wealth
It's a number game, but shit don't add up somehow
Pointing out the flaws in the system
Like I got, sixteen to thirty-two bars to rock it
Referring to the technical aspects of rapping
But only fifteen percent of profits, ever see my pockets like
Not receiving a fair share of the profits
Sixty-nine billion in the last twenty years
The amount of money spent on national defense
Spent on national defense but folks still live in fear like
Despite the money spent on national defense, people still live in fear
Nearly half of America's largest cities is one-quarter black
Mentioning the racial composition of some of the largest cities in the US
That's why they gave Ricky Ross all the crack
Referencing the government's role in distributing drugs
Sixteen ounces to a pound, twenty more to a key
Referring to drug measurements
A five minute sentence hearing and you no longer free
A small mistake can result in a lengthy sentence
Forty percent of Americans own a cell phone
A statistic regarding cell phone usage in America
So they can hear, everything that you say when you ain't home
Privacy concerns regarding cell phone usage
I guess, Michael Jackson was right, you are not alone
Referencing a Michael Jackson song
Rock your hardhat black 'cause you in the Terrordome
A reference to a Public Enemy song
Full of hard niggas, large niggas, dice tumblers
Describing the people in the 'Terrordome'
Young teens and prison greens facing life numbers
Young teenagers facing long prison sentences
Crack mothers, crack babies and AIDS patients
Referencing the negative effects of drugs and disease
Young bloods can't spell but they could rock you at PlayStation
Playing video games is valued more than education
This new math is whipping motherfuckers' ass
The new way of doing things is proving difficult for some
You wanna know how to rhyme you better learn how to add
Referring to the importance of understanding the fundamentals
It's mathematics
Summing up the theme of the song
(The Mighty Mos Def)
An interjection indicating who is speaking
(It's simple mathematics)
Reiterating the theme of the song
(Check it out)
Urging the listener to pay attention
(I revolve around science)
An affirmation of the scientific approach
(What are we talking about here?)
Asking the listener to join in the discussion
(Do your math, do your math)
A literal instruction to do math
(One, t-t-two, three four)
Counting along to the beat
(What are we talking about here?)
Asking the listener to focus on the message
Yo, it's one universal law but two sides to every story
Mentioning the concept of duality
Three strikes and you biddin' for life, mandatory
Referring to the 'three strikes' law in California
Four MC's murdered in the last four years
Referencing the deaths of several hip-hop artists
I ain't trying to be the fifth one, the millennium is here
Not wanting to become another victim
Yo, it's six million ways to die from the seven deadly thrills
Describing the many ways people can die due to vices
Eight-year olds getting found with 9 mill's
Highlighting the problem of weapons being too easily accessible
It's ten P.M., where your seeds at? What's the deal?
Asking where someone's children are at night
He on the hill pumpin' krills to keep they bellies filled
Drug dealers exploiting poverty to make money
Light in the ass with heavy steel, sights on the pretty shit in life
Being focused on superficial things while ignoring the realities of life
Young soldiers trying to earn they next stripe
Military personnel trying to advance
When the average minimum wage is $5.15
The low minimum wage in America
You best believe you gotta find a new ground to get C.R.E.A.M
Encouraging people to find alternative ways to make money
The white unemployment rate is nearly more than triple for black
Comparing the unemployment rates of different races
So front liners got they gun in your back
The police being perceived as a threat by some communities
Bubbling crack, jewel theft and robbery to combat poverty
Illegal activities being used to fight poverty
And end up in the global jail economy
The prison system being used for profit
Stiffer stipulations attached to each sentence
Tougher penalties for crimes
Budget cutbacks but increased police presence
Less funding for social programs but more for law enforcement
And even if you get out of prison still living
The difficulties of re-entering society after being incarcerated
Join the other five million under state supervision
The number of people on probation or parole
This is business, no faces just lines and statistics
Treating people as numbers rather than individuals
From your phone, your zip code, to SSI digits
The ways in which personal information is used and tracked
The system break man, child and women into figures
The system can dehumanize individuals
Two columns for who is and who ain't niggas
The black and non-black categories that society has created
Numbers is hard and real and they never have feelings
Numbers are objective and have no emotions
But you push too hard, even numbers got limits
Even objective data can be manipulated or misinterpreted
Why did one straw break the camel's back? Here's the secret
Pondering the reasons why a small thing can cause a big problem
The million other straws underneath it, it's all mathematics
The factors that contribute to problems can often be found in the numbers
(Mathematics)
Summing up the theme of the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Gates, Christopher E Martin, Dante Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind