[Verse 1: Mos Def]
The way I feel, sometimes it's too hard to sit still
Things are so passionate, times are so real

Sometimes I try and chill, mellow down, blowin' smoke
Smile on my face but it's really no joke
You feel it in the streets, people breathe without hope

They goin' through the motion, they dimmin' down their focus
The focus gettin' clear and the light turn sharp
And the eyes go teary, the mind grow weary

I speak it so clearly sometimes you don't hear me
I push it past the bass, kno nations gotta feel me
I feel it in my bones, black I'm so wide awake

That I hardly ever sleep, my flows forever deep
And it's volumes or scriptures when I breathe on a beat
My presence speak volumes before I say a word

I'm everywhere: penthouse, pavement and curb
Cradle to the grave, tall cathedral of a shell
Universal ghetto life, holla black you know it well

Quiet storm, vital form, pen pushed it right across
Mind is a vital force, high level right across
Soul is the lions roar, voice is the siren

I swing round, ring out and bring down the tyrant
Shocked a small act could knock a giant lopsided
The world is so dangerous, there's no need for fightin'

Suckas trying to hide like the struggle won't find 'em
And the sun bust through the clouds to clearly remind him
Everywhere penthouse pavement and curb

Cradle to the grave, talk'll lead you on a shell
Universal ghetto life, holla black you know it well


[Hook]
What it is, you know, they know
What it is, we know, y'all know

What it is, Ecstatic, there it is
What it is, you know, we know
What it is, they know, y'all know

What it is, you don't know? Here it is

And always on time and rockin ya mind


[Verse 2: Slick Rick]
Sit and come relax, riddle off the mac

It's the patch, I'm a soldier in the middle of Iraq
Well say about noonish, comin' out the whip
And lookin at me curious, a young Iraqi kid

Carrying laundry, "What's wrong G? Hungry?"
"No, gimme my oil or get [$#&@] out my country"
And in Arabian barkin' other stuff

'til his moms come grab him and they walk off in a rush
Distrust, feeling like I've pissed upon wound
I'm like, "Surely hope that we can fix our differences soon!" Bye!

Buying apples I'm breakin' on
You take everything, why not just take the damn food, black monster? Like I don't understand it, on another planet
15 month of this stuff, how I'm gonna manage?

And increasing the sentiment, gentlemen
Getting down on their middle eastern instruments
Realized trapped in this crowd

Walk over kicked one of my fabulous raps (la dee da dee)
Arab jaw drop, they well wish, they glad rap
Now the kid considered like an Elvis of Baghdad


[Hook