Testify
Talib Kweli & Styles P Lyrics

Time I testify, listen
I am about to speak truthfully and I need you to listen

Why Malcolm get killed by the N.O.I.?
Why was Malcolm X assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam?

I'm yellow but I'm dark for real
I may appear light-skinned, but I identify as a black person

And why nobody flip when Martin was killed?
Why was there not a greater outcry and reaction when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated?

Why Mandela did all them years All that blood, all that sweat, and all them tears?
Why did Nelson Mandela spend so many years in prison, endure so much hardship, and shed so many tears in the fight against apartheid?

And I can name thousands more That died in the struggle from Mr. Wallace to Mr. Shakur
There are countless other individuals who lost their lives fighting for justice and equality, from The Notorious B.I.G. to Tupac Shakur

That's why I stay influenced to "Kick in the Door" Bring the White House dudes around the blacks that's poor
That's why I am motivated to speak out and demand change, and to bring attention to the struggles of poor black communities

Notice that it's "unity" in "opportunity" Make a lil' cash, now the block is screwin me
It's ironic that the word "opportunity" contains the word "unity," as economic success often leads to division and tension within communities

Brand new E-Class, cops pursuin me Guess they wanna see me park it Lookin at my gun, they wanna see me spark it
Even as a successful artist, I am still the target of racial profiling and police harassment

But I'm the Ghost and if I could vote it would be for Sharpton
I am known as the Ghost, and if I had the right to vote, I would support activist and politician Al Sharpton

Yeah
Acknowledgement or agreement

We never stop like the news watch Still tryin to fill the void of Biggie and Tupac
We continue to make music and try to honor the legacies of rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur

We on them avenues with the red and the blue tops Dudes hot to shoot cops from the rooftops
We are on the streets selling drugs and guns, and some people are so angry at law enforcement that they are willing to commit violent acts against the police

Too many snitch niggaz TESTIFY Warrior kings sent to the bing and left to die
There are too many people who cooperate with the police and provide information against their own communities, while leaders and activists are incarcerated and forgotten

Girls confuse sex with love so they extra dry And got birth control stuck to they necks and thigh
Young women often mistake sexual activity for emotional attachment, leaving them feeling empty and unfulfilled. They also face the burden of preventing unwanted pregnancies through birth control methods.

Whoa, it ain't a game, they want the blacks all killed off Our caps all peeled off, nigga this real talk
The forces of oppression and discrimination are not to be taken lightly, as their ultimate goal is the extinction of black people

What's ill is y'all niggaz still caught up in them battle raps There's beef in the hood, +Escaladin+ like Cadillacs Monkey on your back livin like a junkie Addicted to a dream, wanna die for your country
It is concerning and counterproductive that some rappers are still focused on dissing each other through music, when there are much larger issues at hand. Gang violence and drug addiction are rampant in our communities, and people are willing to die for a dream related to patriotism or nationalism.

Tear down the prison walls, set everyone free From freedom fighters to Askari X to Pimp see
We need to break down the systemic and physical barriers that keep people locked up, and release all those who have fought for freedom and justice, from political activists like Askari X to rappers like Pimp C

Damn right I make gangster music But I still spit poetry like Langston Hughes did
My music may be hard and gritty, but I still strive to have a literary quality and poetic depth, like legendary author and poet Langston Hughes

Pressures of the ghetto might make you lose it Grab AK's and go and make the news kid
The constant stress and danger of living in the inner city can lead people to make irrational and violent decisions, like grabbing an AK-47 and becoming a headline on the news

Might lose control, but not my soul Won't sell for the white man to buy me some white gold
I may be pushed to my breaking point, but I will always maintain my spirit and integrity. I refuse to sell out my community and my values to benefit a system that is built to oppress us

Sell for the black man, to buy me control P, Tek and Kweli, the shit come from the soul why'know?
I am willing to work and invest in businesses and institutions that are owned and operated by black people, and my music always comes from a place of honesty and authenticity

scatting to the end
Vocal improvisation or nonsense syllables, used to end the song