Rock On
Talib Kweli Lyrics


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C'mon let's go! Yeah
It's beautiful, c'mon, keep marchin'
Everybody say hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey (Hey, hey!)

Now if you got toast, you keep your shots low
You hug the block close, we rock on and on
Now if you got dough, your shit is not low
You duck the five-oh, we rock on and on (ladies!)
Now if you real fly, fuck with a real guy
Give them your real eye, we rock on and on
You keep yo' heels high, keep it real tight
Who gettin' real high? We rock on and on

Yeah, I flow beautiful like a Zab Judah blow
(Traffic) like Benecio, (Suspect) is (Usual)
Cut checks like cuticles, bust tecs at funerals
My sound freak you out like rough sex in the studio
I blow the back out the track when I black out
Got the spot maxed out, people in the front pass out
Security carry that ass out
Get in the zone when I'm stoned like I live in a glass house
Last bout I was in started to get real serious
Homeboy got dropped and spazzed out like mysterious
The boy in the hood with the furious style
We in the age of Aquarius now, yo
I show pain in the manner of Coltrane's "Alabama"
Niggaz wanna blaze a hammer
"Real girls get down on the flo'" like David Banner when I handle my shit
I go banana clips you walkin where the animals live

Now if you got toast, you keep your shots low
You hug the block close, we rock on and on
Now if you got dough, your shit is not low
You duck the five-oh, we rock on and on (ladies!)
Now if you real fly, fuck with a real guy
Give them your real eye, we rock on and on
You keep yo' heels high, keep it real tight
Who gettin' real high? We rock on and on
[Talib Kweli]
Now everybody say (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!)

Yo, the way I spit is ghetto
Like when niggaz pray over beef like Khalil
And get the metal 'til the shit is settled
I pull strings like Geppetto did Pinocchio
Y'all niggaz sing to po-po like, K-Ci and JoJo or Sisqo and Nokio
LeLe and Coco y'all, Sisters With Voices
Y'all, lyrics are pointless
My lyrics anoint like, oils and ointments
I had a big death but I missed my appointment
Y'all walkin' through the valley while I run through it
Every party we come through makin the "Gun Music"
Practice the (Art of War), don't make me Sun Tzu it
I put them knots in yo' head 'til you can't undo it
You can't unscrew it, ladies wanna take it off
All they want is piece of mind so I break 'em off
I grab the game by the balls until I made it cough
And made these bitch ass niggaz take they make-up off

Now if you got toast, you keep your shots low
You hug the block close, we rock on and on
Now if you got dough, your shit is not low
You duck the five-oh, we rock on and on (ladies!)
Now if you real fly, fuck with a real guy
Give them your real eye, we rock on and on
You keep yo' heels high, keep it real tight
Who gettin' real high? We rock on and on





Everybody say (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!)
Yeah, get it right, Talib Kweli

Overall Meaning

The song Rock On by Talib Kweli is a call to action for people facing different types of adversity in their lives. The chorus encourages listeners to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles they may encounter. The verses touch on various themes including street life, music, and personal struggles.


The first verse speaks to the survival tactics of those living in dangerous neighborhoods. If you have weapons ("toast"), you keep them concealed and use them cautiously ("keep your shots low"). If you have money ("dough"), you avoid drawing attention to yourself ("your shit is not low") and avoid contact with the police ("you duck the five-oh"). If you have confidence and style ("real fly"), you attract the attention of other confident and stylish people ("real guy") and keep it real ("give them your real eye").


The second verse delves into the art of hip hop and the struggles faced by those trying to make it in the music industry. The lyrics reference famous rap groups and singers, but ultimately focus on Talib Kweli's unique voice and style. He describes how he puts his heart and soul into his lyrics, invoking images of ghetto life and conflict, but also offering hope and encouragement to his listeners. The song ends with another powerful chorus, repeating the message that no matter what life throws at you, you can keep moving forward.


Line by Line Meaning

C'mon let's go! Yeah
The artist is calling for an energetic response from listeners to appreciate his music, inviting them to join him in celebrating the music.


It's beautiful, c'mon, keep marchin'
The artist feels that the music is beautiful and inspires people to move to its rhythm, encouraging listeners to continue enjoying the song.


Everybody say hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey (Hey, hey!)
The artist asks the audience to participate actively in the performance by shouting out a refrain at particular intervals.


Now if you got toast, you keep your shots low
The artist advises people to be low-profile and not to draw too much attention to themselves if they have a weapon (toast), as that could land them in trouble with the law.


You hug the block close, we rock on and on
The artist encourages people to remain within their comfort zones, overcome challenges faced, and march forward while enjoying the music.


Now if you got dough, your shit is not low
The artist warns people with money not to lower their guard or allow their wealth to be exposed in public if they want to avoid attracting the police and enjoy the music.


You duck the five-oh, we rock on and on (ladies!)
To avoid law enforcement, the artist says people must continue to resist the temptation of criminal activities, especially ladies who need to be more cautious, and continue to have fun listening to and enjoying the music.


Now if you real fly, fuck with a real guy
The artist is challenging people to associate with the right type of people, particularly if they consider themselves suave (real fly) and interact with genuine friends (real guy).


Give them your real eye, we rock on and on
The artist emphasizes the importance of remaining true to oneself, particularly when interacting with friends, and encourages people to groove to the beats of the music.


You keep yo' heels high, keep it real tight
The artist invites females to elevate their status and not lose sight of their goals while keeping safe and looking their best (keep it real tight), all while enjoying the music's rhythm.


Who gettin' real high? We rock on and on
The artist invites listeners to enjoy the music, elevate their state of mind (real high) while enjoying themselves, and encourages them to keep rocking to finer heights continuously.


Yeah, I flow beautiful like a Zab Judah blow
The artist boasts of his lyrical abilities, stating that his flow is beautiful and inspiring, similar to how a Zab Judah blow would dazzle boxing audiences.


(Traffic) like Benecio, (Suspect) is (Usual)
The artist compares the traffic he faces as a rapper to a congested traffic situation in LA, saying that being under suspicion of criminal activities is also usual when one is in the music industry.


Cut checks like cuticles, bust tecs at funerals
The artist is skilled and proficient in monetary matters but is violent when the situation calls, just like he is gentle when dealing with cuticles but ruthless when the occasion demands it.


My sound freak you out like rough sex in the studio
The artist's music, like rough sex, oozes with raw energy and passion that can unsettle listeners but also captures their attention and leaves them breathless.


I blow the back out the track when I black out
The artist's creativity is exceptionally explosive, to the extent that he can produce something genuinely remarkable without even knowing how he did it, just as it happens when one experiences a blackout or loses consciousness.


Got the spot maxed out, people in the front pass out
The artist has such massive appeal that his shows attract so many fans that once the front area is filled, people start passing out due to suffocation.


Security carry that ass out
The audience gets carried out by security personnel if they pass out due to being crushed by the crowd and not drinking enough water.


Get in the zone when I'm stoned like I live in a glass house
The artist is always focused and driven while under the influence (in the zone) and treats people carefully, understanding the danger posed by such scenarios hence living in a metaphorical glass house.


Last bout I was in started to get real serious
The artist recalls a previous encounter where he found himself in a heated situation that might have turned out badly.


Homeboy got dropped and spazzed out like mysterious
The artist's friend got into a fight (maybe with him) and lost it, probably due to being high on drugs.


The boy in the hood with the furious style
The artist identifies himself as someone growing up in impoverished and tough neighborhoods while possessing exceptionally aggressive and artistic sensibilities.


We in the age of Aquarius now, yo
The artist references the zodiac age of Aquarius, symbolizing liberty, free-spirt, and innovation, indicating that society is currently enjoying a period of free thought and expression that he intends to leverage to his advantage.


I show pain in the manner of Coltrane's 'Alabama'
The artist invokes a John Coltrane tune recorded in memory of the four black girls killed in the 1963 Birmingham, AL bombing as a representation of the shared grief he feels over the state of the world.


Niggaz wanna blaze a hammer
The artist insists that his fellow artists value gun violence and want to increase it (blaze the hammer).


'Real girls get down on the flo'' like David Banner when I handle my shit
The artist is confident in his abilities and knows he will impress women (real girls), using David Banner's rap lyrics as a reference to when he is performing to his potential.


I go banana clips you walkin where the animals live
The artist warns that people in dangerous areas must be cautious (use a banana clip, i.e., a magazine-fed weapon that can hold more rounds) and avoid putting themselves in danger by walking into places where animals roam freely.


Yo, the way I spit is ghetto
The artist's rap style reflects the street smarts and rawness of the ghetto, appealing to listeners from similar backgrounds.


Like when niggaz pray over beef like Khalil
The artist compares the way people pray over conflicts in the ghetto, invoking Khalil's name, a reference to the assassin of Malcolm X.


And get the metal 'til the shit is settled
The artist asserts that the only way to retain peace and earn respect is to use violence and acquire guns until the situation is finally worked out.


I pull strings like Geppetto did Pinocchio
The artist boasts that he is the architect of his own destiny, just like Geppetto made and influenced Pinocchio's life.


Y'all niggaz sing to po-po like, K-Ci and JoJo or Sisqo and Nokio
The artist implies that his competitors are snitches and unwilling to defend themselves by comparing them to K-Ci and JoJo, Sisqo and Nokio, possibly referring to their commercial pop music success.


LeLe and Coco y'all, Sisters With Voices
The artist references LeLe and Coco, founding members of a successful female R&B group, to show that his music is hip-hop but universally inclusive.


Y'all, lyrics are pointless
The artist believes that his competitors have no meaningful message or substance in their lyrics that will excite listeners as his does.


My lyrics anoint like, oils and ointments
The artist is confident that his lyrics are like sacred oils and ointments that can heal and inspire his listeners.


I had a big death but I missed my appointment
The artist probably missed a significant event due to poor time management or other commitments, although this is left ambiguous.


Y'all walkin' through the valley while I run through it
The artist implies that while his competitors are taking the slow and easier path and being content with minor successes, he is running through out of obscurity and straight to the top.


Every party we come through makin the 'Gun Music'
The artist suggests that his music is a reflection of the harsh realities of life, with gun-related lyrics ensuring that his music blends seamlessly into party atmospheres.


Practice the (Art of War), don't make me Sun Tzu it
The artist warns his competitors to read Sun Tzu's book, the Art of War, to win battles (build a long-lasting career) and implores them to take him seriously.


I put them knots in yo' head 'til you can't undo it
The artist is confident that he can hurt his competitors' pride so much (put knots in yo' heads) that they will never recover from the experience.


You can't unscrew it, ladies wanna take it off
The artist asserts that his music attracts female admirers who want to undo the frustration and sadness within themselves, and by hearing his words, they will not want to turn back.


All they want is piece of mind so I break 'em off
The artist understands his female listeners deeply, knowing that they want to escape and not think too much, so he offers them his music as an escape route.


I grab the game by the balls until I made it cough
The artist is confident in his musical prowess and tenacity (grabbing the game by the balls) and has left his mark on the music industry by making it his own and forcing it to adapt to his style.


And made these bitch ass niggaz take they make-up off
The artist's no-nonsense attitude and direct approach has apparently scared his competitors, causing them to abandon fake personas and reveal themselves as they truly are.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLEVELAND BROWNE, WYCLIFFE JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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