Supreme Supreme
Talib Kweli Lyrics

Ghet-to p-pole it's time to ride (Supreme, supreme)
It's time to take action and make a change, the oppressed need to rise up and fight for their rights

Bay-b get involved go side to side (Supreme, supreme, yeah, yeah)
Everyone needs to unite and work together, regardless of their differences or backgrounds

'Bout to slap box with the beat
He's ready to battle the rhythm with his lyrics

The shit I spit is a snapshot of the street
His rhymes reflect the harsh realities of life in the ghetto

You can see the crack spot in the backdrop
Drug addiction is prevalent in the community and it's a visible part of the landscape

The heat in the stash box of the black drop
Guns are readily available and stashed in cars

You wonder why there's more crime
People turn to crime out of desperation and lack of opportunities

Free food, or a check the only time niggas on line
People line up for government assistance because they are struggling to make ends meet

Getting information from the nigga-net
News and gossip spread quickly within the community through word-of-mouth

The trickle-down theory guess it ain't reached niggas yet
Economic policies that benefit the rich don't necessarily help the poor

Kweli 'bout to be a bigger threat
He's gaining momentum and becoming more influential

'cause there's hardly any real niggas left
There's a lack of authenticity in the rap game and society in general

What the fuck these niggas talking 'bout
He's questioning the relevance and truth behind other rappers' lyrics

Living a movie but the audience is walking out
Their glamour and entertainment appeal is fading because they're not saying anything meaningful

I fight the temptation to rip the heart from your chest
He has a lot of anger and aggression but tries to restrain it

'Til there's only five hard beats left
He won't stop fighting until the very end, even if it takes everything out of him

It's like a dead man walking
People in the community are struggling and disheartened

I turn on the radio and I hear dead men talking
Radio stations play music that is uninspiring and devoid of substance

I got my headphones up like I'm listening close
He's tuning out the world and focusing on his craft

Face blank with expression it isn't a joke
He may be serious but he's not taking himself too seriously

Start fire, sit back and spit its smoke
He's lighting a fire within himself and lettings his rhymes speak for themselves

Mad problems, take all the niggas you know
He has a lot of issues to deal with and he's not alone in that regard

Add that number up with every nigga you don't
There are even more people struggling that he hasn't met yet

Final number, some total of the niggas that won't
The number of people who won't back down or give up is significant

Break me down, shake me of my fame, my style
He won't be deterred by criticism or attempts to bring him down

What time it is, crew you can hate me now
He's aware that some people may not like him but he doesn't care

And ten minutes from then you gon' love me again
He's confident that his talent will win over even his critics

Find out what happens when the artist in tact
He's going to show what he's made of and what he's capable of

Be sharp as a tack, fall back you smarter than that
He's challenging people to step up and prove themselves

Or perhaps you just ain't as smart as you think
People who doubt him may not be as clever as they believe

Figure 8'n on the thin ice part of the rink
They're playing with fire and putting themselves in danger

You a vessel that's promised to sink
They're doomed to fail and go under

Terra Firma ain't as hard as you think
The ground beneath them is bound to shift and give way

Stare down, and you starting to blink
He's calling out their bluff and making them nervous

Like 182 this for fellas and the ladies who
He's dedicating this song to everyone

Don't need to be spoon fed like baby food
He's creating music that requires active listening and engagement

I take a bite out the track like a Sabre-tooth
He's tearing into the beat with ferocity and skill

And spit out the truth
His lyrics are honest and reflect his experience

'Til the cops come and spray the booth
He won't stop rapping until he's shut down by the authorities

Its all right with you its all right with me
He's giving people permission to be themselves and do what they want

Do the damn thing what you wanna be(Supreme, Supreme)
He's encouraging people to take control of their lives and strive for greatness

That's right, that's right that's right that's right
He's affirming his message and emphasizing its importance

Talking
No meaning