Memories Live
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek Lyrics

Yo, you know what we got to do, man, we need to get a whole cd
Let's compile a complete album of all our works to cherish the memories

Get a collection of all the music and everything we've ever done
We need to gather and preserve all our musical creations for future reference

Bringing back sweet memories
Remembering the past and relishing the memories

Life, living in flatbush and going to house parties
The life in Flatbush neighborhood, attending fun-filled house parties

Red lights, bumping, life is what you make it, then sorry
The flourishing nightlife, hustle-bustle, and gratification with regrets

In my lifetime, ain't done too many things
I haven't accomplished a lot of significant things in my life yet

Better than watching your first son put his sentences together
Nothing compares to witnessing your child's initial attempts at forming sentences

Yo, it kinda make me think of way back when
It triggers the memories of old times when I look at my son

I was the portrait of the artist as a young man
I identified myself as an artist when I was young

All them teenage dreams of rapping
Remembering the teenage aspirations of becoming a rap artist

Writing rhymes on napkins
Composing rap lyrics on paper napkins

Was really visualization
It was a visualization of the lyrics and the music composition

Making this shit actually happen
Turned the dreams into reality

It's like something come through me
It feels like an outside influence guiding me

That truly just consume me
I am entirely immersed and engulfed in it

Speaking through the voices of the spirits speaking to me
The lyrics come through me and verbalize as the voices of the spirits

I think back in the day, I absorbed everything like a sponge
In the past, I imbibed everything earnestly, like soaking water in a sponge

Took a plunge into my past to share with my son
Reminiscing the past to share stories and experiences with my son

Like thoughts out the back of my mind
Memories seeping out from the back of my mind

Going back in some time
Revisiting the past and reminiscing the sweet memories

Like when you used to cut and had to go to the back of the line
Recalling times when I had to wait in line after being away briefly

Look back and you find
When you reminisce the past and analyze, you discover

Tracks that make you relax and recline
Music that soothes and calms you down

Now cats rap about packing a nine
Currently, rappers talk about guns and violence

When they lacking divine
When they are lacking the divine and spiritual element

Inspiration
The divine influence that triggers creative ideas

Running out of topics of conversation
Artists struggling to come up with new subjects to talk about

Well I drop it in the pocket because rocking's my occupation
I have mastered the art of producing music, and that's my profession

I do it remarkably, spark up a leaf
I make music quite effectively, and I light up a joint

And possibly you could follow me
Follow the vibe, follow the music

Tap into your chi
Discover and channelize your inner spirit or energy

Utilize your memory
Make use of your memories to fuel your creativity

To help you see clearly, then get back to me
When you recall your past memories, it gives you clarity, then share it with me

Actually, nothing's new under the sun
There isn't anything new; we are just rediscovering and reinventing the old

So when life be stressing me
When life becomes too much to handle

My remedy is 'bringing back sweet memories'
Reliving cherished moments acts as a remedy for my stress and anxiety

Like the faces that are woven in the fabric of my consciousness
Memories that are an integral part of who I am and my thought process

From cities where making 21's a big accomplishment
Memories of cities where even reaching 21 years of age was a big achievement

Like when my people understood their prominence
Moments when my folks realized their importance and worth

And my past life visions of the continent
Recalling the experiences and visions from my past life in the continent

Like the first time I saw krs live, rockin' it
Memories from the first time I saw KRS-One perform live

I heard resurrection by common sense
Remembering the song 'Resurrection' by Common Sense

Dominant in my psyche
It's a significant memory that has occupied my mind

I chose my direction like spike lee
Like Spike Lee, I channeled my creative energies and chose my artistic direction

To speak my life through mics, and I never take it lightly
I'm passionate about rapping and expressing my life through music, and I take it seriously

It might be something you did to bring you down when you were high
You may have done something to sabotage your success and happiness in the past

But that karma's a bitch, you steady asking god why
You are now paying for your past mistakes, and you wonder why God is punishing you

Like when my parents first split up
When my parents divorced for the first time

Yo, I was illin'
I was suffering and feeling sick about the ordeal

Seems like some years they was together for the sake of the children
It appears that my parents were only together for the sake of us kids for some years

And I love them for that
I'm grateful to my parents for holding on for our sake

I don't know if they saw that
I'm unsure if my parents realized how grateful we kids were for their sacrifice

So I'mma say it, and convey it when the world play it (3x)
I'll express my feelings and gratitude in this song, and the world will hear it multiple times

Like black is beautiful, names from the seventies
Remembering the 'Black is Beautiful' movement and the popular names of the seventies

Let me tap into your energy
Let me connect with your vibes and energy

Fields of dreams become my property
My creative ideas become my property and are realized as music

When I reach my destiny like a prophecy
When I achieve my goals as if it was destined and prophesied

Especially when I 'm 'bringing back sweet memories'
Cherishing past memories makes reaching the future goals sweeter

I got deep into my mind, see I got a treasury
I delved deep into my mind and found a treasure-trove of memories and ideas

That float through my head like a sweet melody
Memories and creative ideas flow through my mind like a pleasant tune

What you telling me
Is this what you are conveying to me?

Reflection is a collection of memories
Memories are an intrinsic part of self-reflection

Definitely this is how hiphop was meant to be
Hip Hop is all about memories, self-expression, and channeling inner spirit

Eventually, I knew I'd run into hi-teknology
I was sure that I'd eventually collaborate with Hi-Tek

It was only a matter of time like centuries
It was inevitable, and the wait felt like centuries

Check the recipe or technique to how it sound so sweet
Analyze the artistry and technique used to create such sweet music

I freak with word power, my man speaks with beats
I excel in lyrics, and Hi-Tek does wonders with musical beats

If I could make it in new york, I figured anywhere I'd make it
If I could succeed in New York, the center of the music business, I could succeed anywhere

Came to cincinnati linked with mood, and we did sacred
Collaborated with Mood and created some great music in Cincinnati

Hi-tek beats became my favorite
I love how Hi-Tek composes beats

Hustle on the side was the cut
We worked hard and earned extra income

We started to put songs together like 'what!'
We began creating music fast and furiously

Traveled the world, came back to the crib
Toured worldwide and returned to Cincinnati

And hit the motherland
Travel to the African continent

Yeah, this year we put in work and got some other plans
This year, we focused on creating music and achieved some other goals too

In fact, that's where I'll take the fam
In fact, that's where I'll take my family

When the reflection joint is done
Once our album 'Reflection' is complete

By the time you hear this, I'll be basking in african sun
When you listen to this song, I'll already be enjoying the sun in Africa

Like wow!
Expressing amazement, astonishment, and excitement

We made it
We accomplished our goals and succeeded

We here
We are here now, and we made our name in the music industry