[Chorus: Kanye West]
The paper✦ read, "Murder,✦ Black-on-Black✦ murder"✦
The paper✦ read, "Murder,✦ Black-on-Black✦ murder"✦ again✦
"Murder"✦ again✦
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
Is it genocide?✦
'Cause I can still hear his mama✦ cries
Know the family✦ traumatized✦
Shots left holes✦ in his face about✦ piranha-sized✦
The old pastor✦ closed✦ the cold casket✦
And said the church ain't got enough✦ room for all the tombs
It's a war going on outside✦ we ain't safe from
I feel the pain in my city✦ wherever✦ I go
314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago
[Verse 4: Jay Z]
I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died, uh
Real niggas✦ just multiply
And they say by 21, I was supposed to die
So I'm out here celebrating my post-demise
If you put crabs in a barrel✦ to ensure✦ your survival
You gon' end up pulling down niggas✦ that look just like you
What up, Blood? Uh, what up, cuz? Uh, it's all Black, uh, I love us
[Chorus: Kanye West]
The paper✦ read, "Murder,✦ Black-on-Black✦ murder"✦
The paper✦ read, "Murder,✦ Black-on-Black✦ murder"✦ again✦
"Black-on-Black✦ murder"✦ again✦
"Black-on-Black✦ murder"✦ again✦
[Part II: Excellence]
[Intro: Jay Z]
It's a celebration✦ of Black excellence,✦ black tie, black Maybachs
Huh, yeah, uh
[Verse 1: Jay Z]
Black excellence,✦ opulence,✦ decadence✦
Tuxes✦ next to the president, I'm present
I dress in Dries, and other✦ boutique stores✦ in Paris✦
In sheepskin coats, I silence✦ the lambs
Do you know who I am, Clarice?
No cheap cologne whenever✦ I "shh-shh"
Success✦ never✦ smelled so sweet
I stink of success,✦ the new Black elite✦
They say my Black Card bear the mark of the beast
I repeat,✦ my religion✦ is the beat
My verse is like church, my Jesus✦ piece
Now please, domino,✦ domino✦
Only✦ spot a few Blacks the higher✦ I go, uh
What's up to Will? Uh, shout out to O, uh
That ain't enough,✦ we gonna✦ need a million✦ more, uh
Kick in the door, uh, Biggie flow
I'm all dressed up with nowhere✦ to go, uh
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Yeah, it's all messed✦ up when it's nowhere✦ to go
So we won't take the time out 'til we reach the T-O-P
From parolees that hold G's, sold keys, low keys
We like the promised land of the OG's
In the past if you picture events like a black tie
What the last thing you expect to see? Black guys
What's the life expectancy for Black guys?
The system's working effectively, that's why
I'll be a real man, take care of your son
Every✦ problem you had before✦ this day is now done
New crib, watch a movie
'Cause there ain't nothin'✦ on the news but the blues
Hit the mall, pick up some Gucci
Now ain't nothing new but your shoes
Sunday✦ morning, praise the Lord
You the girl that Jesus✦ had been saving✦ me for
So let's savor✦ this moment and take it to the floor
Black excellence,✦ truly✦ yours