[Hook: Nas]

When we start... the revolution... all they'll probably do is squeal

But chill

[Verse 1: Asheru]

It's been a long time coming, had a long rhyme running

Through my head all morning since the early crack of dawning

Seeing omens as a warning, sticking out like an awning

In places they don't belong, my premonition is strong

This shit don't feel right when bammers know better

But do the opposite they're claiming they're go-getters

But what does profit get but mo' money, mo' problems

We break bread as if we have pockets with no bottoms

Can't be further from the truth like words spit in the booth

Mixed down, packaged and shipped then marketed to the youth

But the real disconnect is when shit goes unchecked

Words become acts and kids lack respect

Society points the finger, artists collect the check

Any attempts to balance things out, we reject

We celebrate death like we know the end is near

I can't tell if it's fear or if we truly don't care

But me, I'm for the living, live the art that I'm giving

Give my heart; that's a given, do my part cause I'm driven

From the start I been hittin' with anti-nonsense

And critics be so quick to label it conscious

OK, you got me, even though it's not me, completely

I see you want to box me neatly

Treat me as if what I'm saying ain't really real

[Hook]

[Verse 2: Asheru]

I wanna see hip-hop expand

I wanna show these little Black boys what it means to be a Black man

I wanna see us take pride in ourselves

And not be so goddamn quick to rely on somebody else

I wanna be able to turn on the TV

And not see caricatures of people that are supposed to be me

I wanna take full advantage of the things that I've made

And maintain multiple ways for me to get paid

I wanna put all my peoples on; who wouldn't?

If you had my head, you would see the roof is in the pudding

I wanna own my own, my master's, my home

My destiny, my peace of mind, my quiet time alone

For once, I wanna see the good guy get rewarded

And the masses afforded opportunities to support it

I'm recording with intentions of showing another side

At the end of the day, I wanna know who's gonna ride

Cause me, I'm for the livin'

Live the art that I'm givin', Give my heart, that's a given, do my part, cause I'm driven

From the start, I've been hitten with anti-whackness

[B-M-I G-A Racist/Races?] is pro-blackness

You shouldn't offend, just like you shouldn't pretend

Shit it hot when it's not really how you feel in the end

Don't let these fake dictators tell you what's real