This Means You
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek Lyrics

Yo, we keep it type raw, and know exactly what we fight for
We are unapologetically authentic, and we are aware of our purpose and the cause we fight for.

When the nightfall come, we in the right war
We are prepared for battle when the darkness falls.

Cats who spill blood for a cause, not just because
We are not violent for the sake of violence; we fight for what we believe in.

Defy the authority and follow god's law
We reject those in power who are unjust and instead follow a higher power's law.

Revolutionary entrepeneurs, who make the fans
We are not just musicians, we are visionaries who inspire our followers.

Clap they hands and stompin the floor not start the applause
Our music elicits genuine enthusiasm from our fans, not just polite applause.

Let me introduce the rest of my crew, mos def!
Allow me to introduce my partner in music, Mos Def.

Yo, I am the world renowned, verb adjective adverb
I am a very skilled lyricist, utilizing aspects of speech like verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.

Pronoun preposition suffix prefix
I make use of various language components in my artistry.

Original or remix, sunburst and eclipse
I am equally skilled with new and old material, with different styles that can either brighten or dim depending on the occasion.

Me and kwe' combine like strands on a double-helix
Mos Def and I have a hip-hop chemistry that is akin to the two complementary strands that make up DNA.

My speech seasoned, with dialect of my region
I speak with a dialect influenced by the region I come from.

Booga-nam brooklyn bed-stuy eastern
I come from Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, located in the eastern part of the borough.

Where youth and policemen, they nah reach agreement
There is a conflict between the younger residents and police in my community.

Pressure in the mornin, pressure in the evenin
Living in my neighborhood is stressful day in and day out.

Yeah, alright yeah, alright yeah, alright yeah
An expression of agreement or affirmation.

Things changed since we came out, been some shit in new york
There have been some significant changes in New York since we gained recognition.

Niggaz stopped gettin jig in new york, bloods and crips in new york
The hip-hop dancing scene has decreased while gang affiliations have become more prominent in New York.

The y-2-k celebration wasn't big in new york, Babylon live in new york
The Y2K celebration of the year 2000 wasn't a big deal in New York, but the oppressive system known as Babylon is still present.

Should I keep a crib in new york or just v.i., to handle my b.i.
Should I stay in New York or rent a place in the Virgin Islands to manage my business interests?

When with my a-alikes we see with three eyes
When I'm with people like myself, we have a unique perspective on things.

Smog in the city ain't no good for your health
Air pollution in New York can be harmful to one's health.

Type strange in new york, forty-deuce don't look the same in new york
Things can be unusual or different in New York.

Just politics, tricks and big games in new york
There are a lot of political schemes and games played in New York.

Switched trains a writer can't get fame in new york
It's difficult for a writer to become famous in New York if they take different routes.

Internet and wall street got paid in new york
The internet and Wall Street have thrived in New York and made people wealthy.

Poor folks and workin class got slayed in new york
Poor people and the working class have been heavily impacted by New York's harsh realities.

Even still, everyday they make weight in new york
Despite the difficulties, people persist and fight to survive in New York.

Flashlights lookin for a brighter day in new york
People hope for a better tomorrow in New York.

In new york they say it's red hot
People say that New York is exciting or intense.

Will the temperature ease up? black I guess not
Things won't change anytime soon, unfortunately.

It's multi-lane traffic, no sign for rest stops
There are no breaks or stop signs in the busy and hectic New York.

No corner breaks, put on your gloves and just box
There are no free rides in New York; you have to fight for everything you have.

Better get up in the booth, hop up and just rock
You need to perform well and impress people in order to succeed in New York.

If you think it's like that, it's not so just stop
If you have unrealistic expectations of New York, you should reconsider.

All mankind time runnin down on one watch, just watch
We're all running out of time; it's only a matter of time until the clock runs out.

Yo mos def and talib kweli bring disaster to the industry
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are shaking up the music industry.

We best-sellin authors writin great chapters in history
We are noteworthy and influential artists who are making our mark on history.

These cats undercover like gay rappers dealin with mystery
Some musicians are secretive, much like closeted gay rappers.

My platinum grey matter spray batter that's specifically
My mind is a valuable asset, and my lyrics are powerful and precise.

Designed to make rappers break faster than eggshells in the mornin
My fast-paced rhymes are meant to challenge other rappers and make them crack under the pressure.

Inhaled the divine in that's laid dormant
I have taken in a higher power and allowed it to awaken within me.

Water from the well stay pourin
My creativity and artistic ability never seems to dry up.

I answer back when I hear fate callin
I am ready to answer the call of destiny when it comes my way.

Freedom fighter ready to attack at the crack of a new day dawnin
I am a warrior for freedom, always ready to fight for what is right with each new day.

Way more than necessary skills for the application
I am more talented than is required to achieve success.

My flow is great like the lakes and it rocks like applachains
My rhyming style is fantastic, much like large bodies of water or rocky mountain chains.

My facts more than make up for what you lack in imagination
My rhymes are based on solid facts and don't rely on simple imagination.

You more confused than tiger woods when he made up cabalaysian
You are more confused than Tiger Woods, known for his marital affairs, when he gave the alibi of playing golf in Cabalaysia to cover up his infidelity.

Break bounds like the jet concorde
I am breaking boundaries, much like the supersonic airplane, the Concorde.

Win awards before I leave for my world award tour
I have already achieved noteworthy success before embarking on my worldwide tour.

When they scream encore, that's when they want more
When the crowd demands an encore, they are eager for more of my music.

Flow steadily, whether I'm on or off shore
I keep my rhymes consistent whether I am at home or traveling abroad.

High potent, zone coastin, no jokin
My rhymes are powerful, and I stay focused regardless of the situation.

Safecracker sniff gon' keep the joint open
My enthusiasm and energy will keep the party going.

Peep the focus, high resolution, high reception
Take a look at my sharp focus and deep understanding of the world, amplified by the attentiveness of my followers.

My 'train of thought' connectin with my bredren from reflection like
My thought process is directly linked and aligned with the thoughts of my peers and contemporaries.