400 Years (Seth P. Brundel / Algorithm Mix)

By CYNE

On Movements

Released on January 1, 2002

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[Verse 1 – Akin]

I'm passing God's conception

Approaching near the land deception

Adjust the mirror, in my rearview I see reflection

At times my highways lead to bleak direction

So I seek confession speaking to beats

I call it resurrection cause I got my soul back

Some call me pro-black

Really, I'm just playing my part—I could've sold crack

It's not for me. My old man thought of prophecy

Kwame Nkrumah's vision live in my odyssey

For real. But not your Homer in Greek mythology

Akin devise schemes to conquer this trickology

The time is now to forsake the faking

I'm freedom in the making

God's kitchen chef rock a frigid apron


[Hook x2]

Ayo, for 400 years we shed tears

And when it's death among peers, we pour beers

But now what?

Just look what the world made me, enslaved me

But at the end, yo what the fuck is gonna save me?


[Verse 2 – Cise Starr]

My pulse quickening as my heart became a simile

I drift into the reaches of self, I felt panicky

Hoping for anarchy, liberation from this insanity

Tears running down my cheek hit the canopy

Wall of self doubt, shout scream and wail

At the pain coursing through my being—I'm in a hell

Of thought. Caught between a rock and hard place

My personal space violated, catching a case

I can even taste the bittersweet smell of defeat

I’m feeling the heat of blood running down in the street

Then look where I stand

My shadow is the trace of a man

That endured the hardships, formulating a plan


[Hook x2]

Ayo, for 400 years we shed tears

And when it's death among peers, we pour beers

But now what?

Just look what the world made me, enslaved me

But at the end, yo what the fuck is gonna save me?


[Verse 3 – Akin]

System ridiculous, they fabricate lies. Now I'm sick of this

Like people with syphilis still trying to cripple this will

Revolution rap attack Pope Nicholas. Chill. Don't ever tell me that

Lies, they try to sell me that

I can't afford it

Your evolution get aborted

Let it be known I don't condone thrones in Rome

Call it prejudice, I sever this mic with a poem

Folks will hate to see this, mercenaries out for Jesus

Live from the pearly white gates about to squeeze. Is

Godly back? Confederate flags, I'm held hostage

No forty acres and mule. Abused profits

No forty acres and mule. Abused profits


[Verse 4 – Cise Starr]

I’m breaking these shackles they got me chained away from my liberty

Look at the history, how they treated us through the centuries

Like inanimate animals only given annual holidays

Representin' hardships we endure today

That’s not enough

What the fuck we getting comfortable now

Looking like clowns while industry is taking our crowns

And tarnishing our soul

Trading our worth for platinum and gold

Our souls are undersold, for what?

Semiprecious pieces of metal, value changing with time

Open your eyes we need to rise

Open your eyes we need to rise

Open your eyes we need to rise


[Outro]

"The mere possession of knowledge is not enough. It is the ability to use knowledge that matters."