Baldwin

Lyrics

[Intro: James Baldwin] When I was growing up I was taught an American history book That Africa had no history And neither did I That I was a savage Who had been saved by Europe And brought to America And of course, I believed it I didn't have much choice Those were the only books there were [Verse 1] If ima spit it it's slow pace And cookin with raw base The gray on my coal face Don't become cold case Keepin it too real Wavin that blue steel Only a few dare For all of you crabs I got old bay I had a feud mix of scavengers 'cept by day the bottom feeders Before I consume filth I pray a born leader Out the womb born freer Than my father on the same day can look at the block the same way My AK my spray god bless Ndeeba Straight outta the head of Medina, Ms Omotunde took us to see Sarafina Gifted and talented overachiever Word to Monster, Shakur Sanyika, Nathan McCall and Ms McMillin got me through the ill in a man child In the promise land time Kill em with words as the pages I turn James Baldwin quotes made the rhymes extra dope The Native Son, the negroes, the caged bird singing for the heroes Wanna see accounts with zeroes From maids and sharecroppers with blades To doughboys with high top fades and truck chains I'm amazed from the visions The greatest empire that was ruled by Egyptians The richest man still Mansa Musa made a Three fourths of the [oma?] Poverty is the tumor that the evil find humor in Sometime reptilian skin blends don't let em smear your third eye lens The barrier reef coming to the end The foundation of the food chain gone in the wind Pay attention to the why and henchmen with no respect You don't shit where you sleep for a check (for a check, for a check, for a check…) [Verse 2] From the land where you learn to read a man before a book Like paranoia with every step was a chance that you took Posttraumatic secrets that I'm taking to my grave From an early age they put that poison in my brain To have to say I'm doing it to myself nowadays Jack and Mary Jane are the only ones who know my pain Too many nights Too many days Too many times I've seen the same Too many play it to brothers with no one to lead the way Play the game but know that it ain't I say play the game but know that it ain't I roll the dice bet my fate that no matter the hand the only thing I lay is my cards Took a loss that took me back to the start I took a second with my thoughts Never second guessin', feelin' introspective Reminiscin' bein' knuckleheaded learning lessons Refused to learn that I was only equal if I'm less than I really got them answers to my questions Why they took our last name that's where my name was born? Why we second guessing our complexion hatin our reflection indirectly? Ain't a muthafuckin' thing thats wrong It just like I understand it cus we movin misdirected was miseducated We ain't know no James Bond when where I'm from Barely taught us 'bout the King on so we could overcome We was numb and dumb, youngins had no compass on the run Snatch us from the roots Took my people's stumps I need their growth though Thirsty for understanding Between the world and me like I'm Ta-Nehisi Coates Fight to bridge gap and stay afloat Cus that's how we know Me and Awon keep that A-1 flow when it don't sleep