No Great Pretender
The Roots Lyrics

Check it out, one two
Listen up, pay attention

M-illi-tant
Introducing the artist, who goes by the name M-illi-tant

I be the, alias Malik B
Also known as Malik B

Internationale rationale
Addressing all the people across different streets and neighborhoods

All the people up 68th Ave.
Referring to people living on 68th Avenue

And across Broad Street
Also referring to people residing across Broad Street in Philly

Or Silk Lane in South Philly
Further mentioning people on Silk Lane in South Philly

And on, et cetera
Including all people everywhere

Here on this agenda, there is no pretenders
On this mission, there is no room for fakeness

So when we begin to assassinate your cast members
When we start to take down your team members in this rap game

Dig it, cool calm collect in my perspective
I keep a collected and calm outlook on things

Search the premises, I leave no clues for detectives
I'm careful and thorough, leaving nothing to be discovered by detectives

My verbal impact across your back slap
My words hit hard, like a slap to the back

You talk about you see me, but your vision's full of cataract
You claim to understand me, but your understanding is limited and flawed

It don't matter that, your glass house I shatter that
I don't care that you think you're untouchable, I can break you down

Bad luck I walk under now show me where the ladder at
I'm currently facing bad luck, but I still want to reach higher

Pull up the urinal organs up in your bladder cat
A boastful line about causing fear in his rivals

Approachin' you with shriller rhetoric, as if you had a sac
Challenging his opponents with confronting language

Now crews down for it, your gas pedal floor it
The competition is ready to face him, with everything they've got

With ammo and artillery and stash spots to keep and store it
They're carrying weapons and have safe havens to store them

I used the banner of a slant with a zort
A reference to using a unique style in his music

Change your strategic plan, my man's getting bored
My approach is making the competition adjust their gameplan, out of boredom

Your vocal chord is fraudulent, and not the true porcelain
Calling out the fake rappers, who are not genuine

I bring the fire, earth, and the source of wind
He brings a powerful force, made up of different elements

The force of sin will endorse the pen
His lyrics are strong enough to carry the negative energy of sin

We all search for sanity, but I think that it was lost again
The human race keeps looking for a sense of clarity, but it's lost again

Now which stick of artists, can be the smartest
Which group of musicians is the most talented

My beam of sunlight shines the brightest in the forest
Claiming to be the best in the game, no matter the competition

Regardless, artists dislike because I'm ?
Although he's talented, other rappers dislike him for unknown reasons

Control the temper, makin' MC's whimper
He keeps his cool, causing other rappers to fear him

I tilt the Earth from off the axis in the center
An exaggeration, stating that he has the power to cause major disruption

Next I'm in the womb like a placenta
A reference to being reborn; starting fresh

M-Illi-Tant the city ninja, uplift
The artist's identity, bridging the gap between the city and the art form

Cause I'm the soul avenger, remember I'm no great pretender
He's the one to bring back the real essence of rap, reminding others that he's not fake

Strategis, I bet y'all niggaz can't believe this
Introducing another artist, Strategis, and mocking others who don't believe in his talent

I read you like a whole avenue that's filled with meters
He understands the competition like he's reading a street filled with parking meters

Parked, fuck your back talk, I watch how niggaz cat-walk
The competition's empty brags and boasting don't mean anything, he's watching to see how they truly stand

Over my pit of venom and send em to the asphalt
He's ready to take down the competition with his powerful lyrics

For inquisitives, who want to try to test me
Those curious enough to challenge him are welcome to try

What protects me, will make you shake like epilepsy
He's fully protected and capable of making the competition tremble

Plague your neighborhood with lyrical le-prosy
His music can spread like a disease and affect the competition's reputation

Stimulate more than Ecstasy y'all niggaz check my recipe
His music creates an ecstatic sensation, and he challenges others to check out his recipe

Dig it, I must observe it, analyze when I'm chillin'
He takes time to observe and analyze his surroundings, even when he's relaxed

Peep out who's the villain then make your whole pavilion
He identifies the competition, who he sees as the 'villain', and takes them down

Of a Sicilian, excuse the greed don't want a mill'
A reference to a mafia boss, but he doesn't want money, just success

I want a zillion - stacks of Franklins to the ceiling
He wants an immense amount of money, represented by stacks of hundred dollar bills

I counts stacks imported, fuck the yacht and the mansion
He cares more about his money than flashy possessions like yachts and mansions

I want Pluto and Jupiter, political, universal expansion
He wants power and influence that spans beyond Earth itself; expanding his presence to other planets

Buy out Tommy and Halle Hanson
He wants to buy out major companies and brands, like Tommy Hilfiger and Halle Berry's shoes

Kidnap America, ? you hold it for ransom
An extreme statement, suggesting that he wants to take America hostage until he gets what he wants

Pass it down to my grandson, I got no time to be romancin'
He's focused on making a lasting impact, passing it down to the generations that follow him

Only time's for mental food and advancement
He's prioritizing mental growth and self-improvement over anything else

This game of Life is strictly chancin', get to know
Life is unpredictable, and it's important to understand that

The nature before I get know the nigga while I'm glancing
He's taking the time to understand the larger nature of the world before assuming anything about someone based on a quick glance

Enhancing, is my mental - I play in the midst
He's always looking to grow and improve his mental abilities, putting himself in challenging situations

A squad a team most crews is not in the halfs of rentals
His team is unique and stands out above the rest, especially those just renting their success

My utensils, display a whole variety
His music is diverse and multi-faceted

Even when in the cut niggaz can't cut they anxiety
Even when isolated from others, his music still causes anxiety in the competition

Peep, I fill your brain with suspicion, pay attention
He's causing doubt in the competition's thoughts, telling them to be careful and aware

Like you paid tuition, and stop all your bull-ishin
Listen carefully to what he says, because it's worth it, and stop the empty boasts

The rap chemist in the lab to the finish
He's in a lab, working on his music, until it's perfect

The mic is my apprentice, cause I can't stand courts or tennis
The microphone is his tool, representing him better than sports like basketball or tennis

My pigmentation is the menace
His skin color is seen as a threat by those in power

That's why the system's always tryin to pursue with a blemish
The system tries to bring him down, citing any flaws or mistakes to discredit him

Pale asses, think a nigga in this
White people try to get involved in his culture, but don't fully understand it

My flow's tremendous, for the meal you can't replenish
His talent is unmatched, and not something that can be bought with money

The question you ask me, situation get worse
When asked about his opinion on a situation, he sees it as getting progressively worse

Fam I won't befriend ya, cause I'm no great pretender
He's not fake, and won't associate with those who are