The Show
Talib Kweli & Madlib Lyrics

Five something in the morning going on six
It's early in the morning and nearly sunrise.

It's daylight, sunrise time
The sun is coming up.

Time to free yo'self, free your soul, free your mind
It's a new day and an opportunity to set yourself free from the past or any negative thoughts.

Ladies, free that ass, yeah
Women should embrace their beauty and be confident in their bodies.

Coast to coast it's the most, we don't brag and boast
We are popular across the country, but we don't need to boast about it.

We just leave 'em comatose
Our music is so good, it leaves people in awe and speechless.

It's your boy Talib Kweli
I am Talib Kweli, the performer of this song.

Yeah, flow is tight though I got a couple screws loose
My rapping skills are impressive, but I may be a little bit crazy.

It's cuckoo, my rep in this game is bigger than Bruce Bruce
My reputation in the rap industry is impressive and comparable to Bruce Bruce's fame in the comedy industry.

Who you? Your name smaller than five grains of couscous
I don't even know who you are and your reputation is insignificant.

It's the highest caliber, your caliber is deuce deuce
My talent is top-tier, but your talent is only mediocre.

Shoot, y'all niggas can't hang like a loose noose
You can't keep up with me and my circle because you lack the skills.

I get on stage, niggas in my ear like a Bluetooth
People are always trying to talk to me when I'm performing, like they have a wireless device in their ear.

And that's the triple truth Ruth, they lips is loose like
This is really the truth, people talk too much and can't keep their mouths shut.

The Señor Love Daddy in the bulletproof booth, kuff
A reference to the movie 'Do the Right Thing', where Señor Love Daddy broadcasts from a bulletproof booth.

My rhymes is full of truth, and the business full of lies
My lyrics are honest and reflect reality, unlike the music industry which is often deceitful.

Try to look a Masai kid in his eyes for the flies
It's hard to face the reality of poverty in Africa and the resulting consequences.

And tell him how he fucked up our environment daily
It's hypocritical to blame African countries for environmental issues when the developed world is often the cause of them.

The only thing we know about Africa is from Nas or Belly
Many people's perceptions of Africa are based off pop culture references rather than actual knowledge and understanding.

But go off like a Hutu or Tutsi, from Rwanda or Burundi
A reference to the Rwandan Genocide and the division between the Hutu and Tutsi people.

Over drums like Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji was a famous Nigerian drummer, and this line is a reference to his music.

Saying nigga just to keep our teeth white, like Paul Mooney
People use the word 'nigga' too casually and without understanding its historical context, like comedian Paul Mooney addressed in his comedy routines.

Fighting spiritual wars, like the Shi'ite or the Sunni
A reference to the division between the Shia and Sunni denominations of Islam and the conflicts that have arisen from these differences.

Yo, our music went from tap dance to the lapdance
Music has evolved from traditional forms like tap dancing to more sexualized forms like lap dancing.

Try to get me to sell out and that's a fat chance
I will not compromise my values or artistic integrity for money or fame.

You see black faces in my rap pages
My music celebrates black culture and black people.

Larry Davis, Angela Davis or Ossie Davis
Shoutouts to Larry Davis, who stood up against police brutality, Angela Davis, who was involved in the Black Panther Movement, and Ossie Davis, an actor and activist.

Yeah, welcome to the show, it's Talib Kweli, so amazing
This is my show and I am Talib Kweli, an amazing performer.

Live from California it's the Madlib Invasion, let's go!
Madlib, a popular producer, is here and ready to perform.

This exercise in freedom is called The Liberation
This song is about freedom and liberation.

I keep it fly by a process of elimination
I stay cool and on top by only keeping the best things in my life.

When it come to paying the kid, sometimes it's hesitation
People may be hesitant to pay me sometimes.

Til I make 'em check it in like they got reservations
I am so impressive that people will eventually pay me what I deserve.

But there ain't no reservations about copping this
People have no hesitations about obtaining and enjoying my music.

Even though it's free for the people there ain't no stopping this
Even though my music is free, it's still going to be popular and unstoppable.

Popping fresh, caking up, I'm breaking up the, monotonous flow
I am making fresh music and making money, while also breaking up the monotony of the rap industry.

That can't write or plant life like a botanist grow
Other rappers don't have the same skill or creativity as me and can't create something beautiful like a botanist plants life.

A new crop and just roll, it up, blow it out whoa
I am creating a new form of music and enjoying the process.

Excuse the cockiness though, I'm just showing out, no
I may come off as arrogant, but I'm just showing off my skills.

You can't go without this, now what'chu know about that?
You can't live without my music, it's that good.

Now what'chu know about now what'chu know about
I'm asking what do you really know or understand about my music.