[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