"Shallow Days"

I just keep moving on... (moving on...)
I just keep moving on... (moving on...)

Time and time, a brother asks why
The rhyme is not laced with a gangsta touch
I said "Simply because I don't live that way
Still kickin' them rhymes rugged and rough"
"But that won't sell,
cause you gotta keep it real
so that we can feel
where you're coming from
Because these streets is ill so if you ain't
killing niggas in rhymes
your whole sound's just bubble gum"
I said "I won't contribute to genocide;
I'd rather try to cultivate the inner side
and try to evolve the frustrated ghetto mind
The devil and his army never been a friend of mine"
"But niggas don't wanna hear that shit" said the brother
Who was obviously totally misled and yelled out
"murder murder, kill, murder" instilled in the influential (walks ?)
Of our kids' heads

Shallow days, you never wanna
Let a brother be a brother
Fully inner to the outer
Caught up in all them hollow nights
Can't escape cause everywhere that I look
People front, and it just ain't right
[repeat]

I said "Don't you know the powers that be
are using people as pawns, devouring we
until they see us all gone and outta the scene"
And as I passed the chronic, he said "look at where I be,
I tried to get a job for real,
but all the homies (hit licks?) and rob and steal
and keep fat pockets caught in a rut to catch ground
this way's in, plus who could you trust?"
I said "I'm all about protecting mine,
but neglecting minds for getting left behind.
Why don't you change your environment?"
He said "This is all I know,
plus my fam's all that I got, I can't go"
I said "You gotta make it for the fams"
"Damn," he said "I didn't make the ghetto,
The ghetto made the man"
I said "You're more than just that,"
Shook his hand, said "Damn, you gotta find a way
To break the devil's master plan, peace"

Shallow days, you never wanna
Let a brother be a brother
Fully inner to the outer
Caught up in all them hollow nights
Can't escape cause everywhere that I look
People front, and it just ain't right
[repeat]

The word "peace" is just an expression
Used to say bye when it's time to jet
And them red black and green medallions
Was all just part of the trend, I guess
Hardly ever them around brothers' necks no more
Instead of that gold (gats ?)
Inspiring gangstas and macks
Who at the young age of four
Be seeing more drama than war veterans
Instead of learning God's laws
And hip-hop is ((all the ways ?) till we enlist that ??)
To express how we be feeling about this and that
But music does reflect life
And kids look up to what you're portraying
And mimic what you act like
It's time for a new day
An era in rap, conscious styles,
Makin' them aware of the happenings
But their ears seem more steered towards
Self-annihilation so then they might laugh
And write this off, like I'm out here just
Blowing wind, maybe label us soft or unreal,
Something they just can't feel, while they yell
"murder murder murder, kill kill kill"

I just keep movin' on (moving on ...)
I just keep movin' on (moving on ...)

Shallow days / hollow nights
[repeat]

"If I May"
(feat. Lateef)

[Erinn Anova (Chorus)]

Come along and reap
I need my song
We're climbin' over
Beneath the sea
March on
Time is almost gone
It's all in me
No maybe

[Gift Of Gab]
Here we go again
Slip into my conscience, come along an take in
A story bout a battle, in this corner, Satan
Cunning, baffling, and jumping into half the drink
And suddenly disasters and catastrophe
And acting unrationally
Reacting savagely
To passionately
Bask in everlasting like escapes from just what its creating
Jeopardizin' love
Look at all the people that you took advantage of
See your hypnotized
Rom be gone, take another cup
In consequences lurk
While the reaper got your shirt size
Nigga wack up
Times overdue for the birth of a power that the universe grew from

[Chorus 2X]

[Gift Of Gab]
You search for the answers outside
Refocus causin' time and time again, backslide
You've noticed times before the presence of that "I"
But never did submit to it and let it apply
Whatever be his will in this present life time
Or essence like mine
Know the blessings you might find
If you let your higher power inside
Emerge and apply to every single thing in your balance
You will truly find
Who you really are
Die and become reborn
When God is present in your life than you can come reap on
And ain't a storm that you can't weather
You got a purpose you was born to create
Destiny is waitin' for you
Arms open, take with ya
Knowledge bestowed by the great giver
Lakes, rivers
Mountains and steams
Now reality's the dream wraitha
No more searchin' for truth that was always wit' cha
It had to hit ya through the struggle and the turmoil
Ya soul was planted and it sprouted out above soil
And let the sun shine freely down
At times it looked like it wouldn't
But the plant came to flourish
Now it's standin' on solid ground

[Chorus 2X]

[Lateef]

Sun rises like water up in my eyes
I'm watchin' changing times but like a changing tide
Tryna to keep my head above the ed if I could be

[Lateef & Erinn Anova]

The sun rises like water up in my eyes
I'm watchin' changing times but like a changing tide
Tryna to keep my head up
Above the ed if I could be
Least
If I may

[Chorus 4X]

"Trouble (Eve Of Destruction)"

{mc's are in..} [x2]

Ripping you to shitzo
Get you on your tiptoes
I'm a drama dropper stomping all up in your zipcode
Schizophrenic your panniced running from my epilogue
Rap is like an insect crushed that I be steppin on
Lethal weapon armed deafen all yall heads
Up to the point of where your nervous smoking pall mall grits
I'm coming at ya busting at ya like a sawed off bit
You feel the horror of the slaughter
Then your halued off wrecked
I'm breaking all yall necks in half flex
Know the mathmatic formulas of fury
Hey lets go the path of the terror dome zone dwellar
Never goin gold
Nigga better phone home
Tell them mail a chrome tombstone
Head up on a pedastal
A medical attention couldnt ever make it better from the metaphor of lynching
Now get up out the kitchen before you burn from the diction
With your head up in this bitch until you learn with conviction
I'm addicted to inflicting you with your self-doubt
Sticking the key to the ignition and I blow men down
Facillities belittle mc's
We killen 'em
Squeeze the mental trigger when i enter
Spittin venom with ease
Bring it

{mc's are in..} [x2]

Faster than a speeding bullet power of a BART train
Naturally the coolest when I'm rolling with my thought train
Fill me up with octane
Mentally are my brains coming down the chimeny slipping gifts up in your stocking
I came to win not just to play because I got game
Niggas playing hard and cant identify with my pain
Clean the hemoglobin off your sweater after I stain
Fit condition lyracisim like jack lalanne
My main point is to show you i'm the jizoint
Rappers never captitvate i d rather hear a pig oink
Pin point precision impairin yalls vision
A lyrical wizzical microphone magician
Pull a rabit out a hat and send him back to his habitat
Your buried in the pages of my rhyme flow avalanche
Put your smak down on your candy ass critics
The extravagant battle cat totallin your cadillac
Matter factly blackalicious in your factory
Fatter raps be bustin puss out your acne
Planned a wack scheme to attack me
Shattered that dream at a rapid ass speed black
Bring it back trouble

{mc's are in trouble} [x3]

"Smithzonian Institute Of Rhyme"

[Gab:]
yeah yeah [2x]

[Lateef:]
Blackalicious
Lateef the truth speaker

[Gab:]
A little somethin

[Together:]
Now if you want some you best come with a gun
You cant fuck with the tongue or the way the song is sung
By lateef and blackalicious we keep it fat, delicious
Complete and grant your wishes
So peep the rap and listen
You cant be idle you best come trifle
But even with a rifle your stylell get stifled

[Lateef:] quick

[Gab:]
Lateef and blackalicious we coming for that dough to get
The lyrics that we wrote again
Are sounding rather vicous beyond scientific
I'll snap like a doberman I'm unable to hold it in
I really hope you feel it, check it out
Droppin the topic and me apocaplypse
Hip hop metroplis we stalkin mcs
Dont stop this marvelous three partners
This bottomless beat has opened wideness
Invitin us inside of its deep rhythmic enviroment
A labryinth its violent beings just won't be silent
And higher, and higher means to a world (?)
Where all I need is prez
And that is my rent
Just by fatting the rest
Who wont admire it
Wont rule as a tyrant
Dont condone viloence
Till the next man trys it
Dont tax no pirate
Just watch as I begin to shape your world
All mcs in the land spanked and baked and broiled
Charred and seasoned in a pan - damn
Awakened world stagnant even though they always been there
Laggin about exposing it to the hearing impaired establishment
Raw energy they cant be compared
Tag em then we drag them then we finshed - yeah

[Together:]
Now if you want some you best come with a gun
You cant fuck with the tongue or the way the song is sung
By lateef and blackalicious we keep it fat; delicious
Complete and grant your wishes
So peep the rap and listen
You cant be idle you best come trifle
But even with a rilfe your stylell get stifled

[Lateef:] quick

Let it hit them
The suffocation begins your soul it gets engulfed in
The sound like its emotion it works just like a potion
It hurts just like thats only motion gotta think about some rules
See it cant just all be coastin
Get to get the spectrum of the wave
Whenever you know its flowin
Got a notion and its deep keep it growing like the ocean dont get salty
Its just me get a dose thats instantaneous essential constantly
Fits like a constellation glowing natrually in facts you see the past
The future marches on triumphantly defiantly relentlessly
If it aint one thing its somethin something else
The instrumental that contributes to your mental health
As for most mcs we moving like a ninja that is killin ya stealthily
Handle your bizness candidly fool we gigantic globally locally
And organically aint nothing you gonna do thats gonna damage me
In this currency its tragedy we value beyond champion originality
Is this shit thats happen
We trigger an emotional response causes you to react violently
Yeah we trigger an emotional response causes you to react violently

[Together:]
Now if you want some you best come with a gun
You cant fuck with the tongue or the way the song is sung
By lateef and blackalicious we keep it fat; delicious
Complete and grant your wishes
So peep the rap and listen
You cant be idle you best come trifle
But even with a rifle your stylell get stifled

[Lateef:] quick

[Together:]
Lateef and blackalicious is coming for that dough to get
The lyrics that we wrote again are sounding rather vicious
Now if you want some you better come with a gun
You cant fuck with the tongue
Or your ass'll get stung by lateef and blackalicious
We keep it fat, delicious
Complete and grant your wishes we move just like eclipses
You cant be idle cause even with a title
And even with a rifle your styell get stifled - yeah

[Sample:] The king is going home to get his throne
From the root to the flute that's where everything started at...
...[echo]

"As The World Turns"

"Now, I thought I would talk about today
For your consideration, as the world turns
As the world turns, you read in all these scriptures
About the world, find out that the world does turn!"

As the world keeps spinning, we live these days
Dollar bill done drove the whole world crazy
While sitting on the porch letting ganja blaze
Never hesitate a moment to enhance my phrase
Since I needed that escape I take my pull
Seen the thugs on the corner trying to act all cool
Pretty much out of character
I look right through, their transparent exterior
You in my book getting written and I'm the derriere
Thought you was peeping me but I was aware of ya
You peep my ill expressions, how I just glare about
Trying to trace my inner world and my whereabouts
Well try on, try on
I'm watching everything that's going down
And it ain't nothing that I ain't been around
The same ghetto but a different town
Weeell, I remember growing up in the P-a-c
It was a whole lot of love in my family
I had clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
Times we didn't have a lot but that was fine with me
In good times and even bad times
Whether rainy, grey sky or the sunshine
Life was so much simpler, I didn't realise it then
But time has definitely made me a wiser man

[Chorus 2x: Erinn Anova]
The world keeps turning round
And time just keeps on moving

Sunday morning in the church just singing a song
Mama gave much praise cause her soul was strong
When I was young I used to do lots of thangs was wrong
I never thought about till one day she was gone
Now my daddy passed on about a year before
Reminiscing as I glance at the fishing pole
But these things gotta happen so we all can grow
And now they spirits much freer than they was befo'
So fly on, fly on, fly on, fly on, fly on, fly on, fly on
Cause there's angels in the midst
And they're guiding and watching me every day
And even though at times I let it get to me
Just a little and I go astray
We keep marching on and on
Young militants will watch and now we're growing
With kids of their own, as it all unfolds
As the world keeps turning on, the world keeps turning on

[Chorus 4x]

This one goes out to family, y'all come first
G-A-B, Chief Xcel, Blackalicious, out

"Sleep"

(Sleep)

[chorus]
The hazy days go to nights returning on and on
The eye in the sky that don't lie be watching all y'all
The troublesome time filled anxieties just keep crawling on
And a dream world line up in your mind just keep on calling y'all

The shining lights of stages after the show are faded
The crowd is gone away, and now the dawning day
Gives way to creatures lurking, can hear the crickets chirping
Only the owls can see for this is when they start their prey
The homeless ask for quarters for shelter and some water
Say "sorry not today" and turn and walk away
The busy street is empty whistling winds are blowing gently
Listening intently to all of the things they have to say
A day of work completed a night of rest is needed
Almost done read a book but eyelids to heavy to read it
The fireplace is kindling, snug with your queen and building
About the victories tomorrow's gonna bring your way

[chorus]

(I hope that what I have written will be of some assistance)

Gazing outside the window the sunny skies dwindle
And now it's full of stars a hurling comet soars
While during the body slumber the soul begins to wander
To dream dimensions see the inner conscious doesn't pause
Keeps moving where it's bound to say now I lay me down to
After that stretch and yawn energy left and gone
The sandman's on your shoulder whispering in your ear he told you
Let all your problems go tonight I'm rapping hear my song
A day of work completed a night of rest is needed
Almost done read a book but eyelids to heavy to read it
The fireplace is kindling snug with your queen and building
About the victories tomorrow's gonna bring your way

[chorus x2]

(Sleep)

"Blazing Arrow"

Amazin phase your days your hazy ways my Blazing Arrow
The rays that range from Asia way to Rio De Janeiro
A craze you crave? but work today's the day that in a major way
I'll make you say oh look he saved the day and also paved the way (hooray)
Rockin? my crew like razor blades today and days away from now okay, okay
I'm like a laser ray keepin the stains? away
and dangerous ways rappin the phrase that pays
all things just ain't a phase but ageless ways a cagey great displays
yo hey, this ain't a game, so stays awake
cause if you came to play you'll all behave insane
After we change the game it won't reamin the same
(I'll fade away!!!) So make your disc and play this tape in your Camaro
Amazin phase your days your hazy ways my Blazing Arrow

The verbal God, I throw a murder all my foe and kill 'em
But learnin all and so I'm gorowing while I'm learnin wit em
Infernal I'll explode returnin out the globe about to blow
Now get up out here yo, see head on out the zones that I patrol
Rock and roll might tear you out the soul like blunts and alcohol
I knock your whole toboggan for a loop and now the doubt will flow
I'm not the pro you wanna knock cause on the real I got the glow
Cosmic flows as I suppose thats how its supposed to be
and got to go!!! How'd ya know? Intuition
I was on the old safe surface figure out your purpose that's impossible
But logic will disturb the thought or focus what its not is all about
the grow about the kind of onus only god can know
I rock it for the chocolate, for the awkward for the thoughtless
in your home or at your office
I'm your early morning coffee so who got the ball?
We roll with Navajos with double barrels
Amazin phase your days your hazy ways my Blazing Arrow

"Sky Is Falling"

Rain and thunder and lightning
Crumbling buildings
Falling hurricanes
Earth shattering membranes
Scattering insane
Happening
Souls keeps burning
And the sky keeps plummeting
Now--

The sky is falling, life is appalling
And death is lurking, niggaz killing each other
Leaving bodies nobodies searching for
And youth announced ..., catching a bit of murder one
And mothers is drinking and drugging, hoe-in; searching for their son
And liquor stores upon every corner
And younger people done accepted defeating
The melting pot of lavas seeping
And the hood is all the mic can conceive when your foes bleeding to their death
And you picking their pocket
Wanna just get even
Niggers is banging and coppers is banging punk snuggin
Highly intelligent Africans lowered to punk smuggin
And capitals of the planet, planets run by the government
And genocide 's overwhelming, devil is loving it
And children in highschool go 'n smokin their classes up
And people thats rich don't be checking for what is happening
Degrading all women, knock em up, leave em, now smack em up
And ain't no way to reach us we're sleeping like hells castle
Sky is falling

Rain and thunder and lightning
Crumbling buildings
Falling hurricanes
Earth shattering membranes
Scattering insane
Happening
Souls keeps burning
And the sky keeps plummeting
Now--

Rain and thunder and lightning
Crumbling buildings
Falling hurricanes
Earth shattering membranes
Scattering insane
Happening
Souls keeps burning
And the sky keeps plummeting
Now--

Rain and thunder and lightning
Crumbling buildings
Falling hurricanes
Earth shattering membranes
Scattering insane
Happening
Souls keeps burning
And the sky keeps plummeting
Now--

The sky is falling, no one is watching
Tornadoes twisting wheres nobody is listening
And fires no one pays attention
Energies are erupting
Blurring the intentional vision
Doctors and lawyers and scientists all are locked in the prison of the mind
And all the youth are unreachable but they teachable
But emcees don't be teaching them too
Down deep down in their soul
Amongst the prostitution and pimping, robbing and stealing
We give a name
sab-a truth
This is nigger-land
Glad to knew ya
But give a damn
For the future
Religions is institutionalized
Hittin truths, even youths...alized
You got two pistols at the head of your own people
Its lethal but its living proof
Instead of leaving smiles leaven death inside of our living room
And instead of college they got us slangin after highschool
For the love of the money and everything that it will buy you
Everybody out for that
And they kill you if you a rival
20 lines and 1 stake on the table
Its about survival
The sky is falling

Rain and thunder and lightning
Crumbling buildings
Falling hurricanes
Earth shattering membranes
Scattering insane
Happening
Souls keeps burning
And the sky keeps plummeting
Now--

Revelation
From the Now ...
To the Temptation
Calm ... the Fury
All .... .....
Drown the confusion
Through the devastation
Live in the trees of elimination
Truth is absolute
Prophets Cant wait long
...... ....
Cant take long
Revelation
Devastation
Better stay strong

"First In Flight"
(feat. Gil Scott-Heron)

[CHORUS:]
First in flight [repeated 4X]

[Gil Scott-Heron:]
(Cause all we got is rhythm and timin'
We go beyond the edge of the sky)

[Gift of Gab]
FREE! Like a bird out in the wind in the night
Like a 747 to LA that's in flight
FREE! Like a garden flourishing in the wind
Like a student bout to do it when he's graduatin
FREE! From any of the energy perception
Can never be defined create the definition within
FREE! Just lovin life itself and never pretend to be
Anything other than the man I was meant to be
Travel through time and get a glimpse of the centuries
To come a better day is promised remember
FREE! Like my nephew in a few months about to be out the penitentiary
Meditation [repeated 9X]

[Chorus]

[Gift of Gab]
UH! I never hesitate about a reluctant mind
Just put the peddle to the metal see what ya find
You back there slouchin over won't you pick up your spine?
Let's make it really really happen live up this time
Cause you can choose to say "Good morning God" or "Good God, morning"
With black clouds storming
I walk without umbrellas into these woods
Don't need em cause the mighty trees will shelter me good
I'm eating berries from the bushes of the heavenly good
From the ?stakes/steaks? the power came to us whenever we stood
Reverberatin out we're reachin each and every hood
Whenver we could the spiritual anatomy fool
But never take the credit for it B cause that'd be rude
It's just the way in life we searchin for that had to be new
You gotta work it though cause everyday ain't Saturday fool
Evolve into a better life and be happy with you and me

[Chorus]

[Gil Scott-Heron]
The first to fly
The first to strive
The first to fight to stay alive
The first to win
The first to strike
The first to live
The first in flight

[Gift of Gab]
RISE! Like the sun up at the crack of the dawn
Like a wakin child in the morning stretchin and yawnin
RISE! Like an infant being held in the light
Like the smoke from an incense when it's ignited
RISE! If you're sleepin won't you open your eyes again
The greatest high be that natural high within
No need to force the progression just ride the wind
You'll know the answer to the where and why and when
If you keep workin for your search you will find the end
Though at the end you find it only begins again
See at the end you'll see it only begins again
And everything you learn you're only rememberin
Cause you're

[Chorus (repeat 4X)]

[Gift of Gab: repeat 2X]
It's me
Let your mind and your soul be free
Work to shine meet your goal believe
Spread that kind of L-O-V-E
Take some time off the lonely

[Gil Scott-Heron: repeat to end]
Cause all we got is rhythm and timin'
We go beyond the edge of the sky

"Green Light: Now Begin"

[Chorus:]
Green light, now begin
Green light oh-way
Ee-yah-oh-way [x3]
Green light, now begin
Green light oh way
Ee-yah-oh-way [x3]
Green light, now begin

The verb annihilator pen, every animator blend
Thought exaggerate a win, comin' at ya made ya thin
Diabolically I grin as I'm frolicking within your anatomy again
Makin' people higher into infinity from sin where your remedy
For them who are feelin' where your friends don't intend to be
A trend but a symphony of hymns lyrics sent to me
From Him I extend to thee the tims of intensity
Lend your attention see is whence your invisions
Of a mental division full of internalisms and again and again
I'm gonna win this division we a men on a mission, green light now begin

[Chorus]

No more of that sittin' in a slump and uh
No more of that coulda-woulda-shoulda junk (nope)
No more of that waiting for the inspiration, innovation
Or a green light--now begin
No more of that lettin' all your time pass (uh-uh)
No more petty illusions of the mindless (nope)
It's time to expand, power from within, you're takin' over this dominion
Green light, now begin

I be the heat of the night (don't fear the leader?)
I'm hear to strike light reveal the meteorite
Eating your readings and pens bleeding intense feeling
Appealing sentence in dents in just reeling 'em in
I'm merely a chameleon amid your elementary
Elements of the century tell 'em that it was me that sent ya
Tell 'em a-visually they'll be in to me until they sleep
And hell I'm an entity bailin' well and a felon, I'm free
Millin' and rousin' and I'm (rollin' and killin'?) from filtering
Hell of intelligent diligent heaven-sent benevolent relevant medicine
Poetry pedestrian peddelin' mad adrenaline to lyrical gentlemen
Okay?
Alright

[Chorus]