[Chorus: Mos Def]
Shout it out from East-West✦ (from South to Northern)✦
From Cackalack (to California)
From the coldest (to the warmest)
To the borders ('cross the waters)✦ understand..✦
And know that I love you
We got love in the place
Shout out to all the Queens (all the Seeds)
To all the teams (that's gettin' cream)
From outlaw (to emcees)✦
Make it happen✦ (do your thing) understand..✦
And know that I love you
Ladies✦ and gentlemen,✦ ladies✦ and gentlemen,✦ ladies✦ and gentlemen✦
[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]
Guess who? The illest MC in the atmosphere, yeah the Soul Controller
Who roam the frontier✦ like a Buffalo Soldier✦
I follow✦ the code of honor like a real man gonna✦
Never✦ disrespect no women✦ 'cause I love my momma✦
These cats be giving✦ us praise but it ain't that accurate✦
I give it up to God, all that love and attachment get
Scary✦ well-prepared with the shears when it get hairy✦
Like how these niggas✦ is looking like some fairies✦
And singing like canaries✦ to the beast
And anybody who will listen✦ to 'em clearly
Y'all don't hear me though, even✦ when I'm coming✦ through in stereo✦
You make a mockery of what I represent properly, yo, why you starting me
I take that shit straight to the artery✦
Intellectual✦ property I got the title and the deed
I pay for rent with the tears and sweat and what I bleed
MCs imitate✦ the way we walk, the way we talk
You cats spit lyrical pork with no spiritual✦ thought
Plus your flow a little bit off, you come across✦ soft
Back in the days niggas✦ like that on stage got tossed✦ off
Need to get crossed off the guestlist
It's like you gotta✦ be disrespected and thrown out the exit✦ to get the message
Sometimes your sunshine get snatched like a necklace
When you get too drunk on power✦ and your drive get reckless
Check it, MCs in my face after✦ I slug you then I hug you
If I gotta✦ dead you, know it's only✦ 'cause I love you
[Outro: Mos Def]
Shout it out from East-West✦
(From South to Northern)✦
From the richest (to the poorest)
To the elders✦ (in the coffins)
Living✦ native✦ (dying for it) understand✦
And know that I love you
Yea, yea, we got love in the place
Shout out from up top (to the middle)
To black bottom (sky high!)
Whether you colder✦ than December
Or hotter✦ than July✦
It don't stop til we complete this
And know that I love you
Keep this fly
It's so much to life when you just
Stay black
My people, my people
And know that I love you