So many emcees focusin on black people extermination
 We keep it balanced with that knowledge of self, determination
 It's hot, we be blowin the spots, with conversations
 C'mon let's smooth it out like Soul Sensation

 We in the house like Japanese in Japan, or Koreans in Korea
 Head to Philly and free Mumia with the Kujichagulia TRUE
 Singin is swingin and writin is fightin, but what
 they writin got us clashin like titans it's not excitin
 No question, bein a black man is demandin
 The fire's in my eyes and the flames need fannin (3X)

 With that what? (Knowledge Of Self) Determination
 *repeat 4X*

 [singer]
 Things I say and do, may not come quite through
 My words may not convey just what I'm feelin

 [Talib Kweli]
 Yes yes come on, yes yes
 Knowledge Of Self is like life after death
 With that you never worry about your last breath
 Death comes, that's how I'm livin, it's the next days
 The flesh goes underground, the book of life, flip the page
 Yo they askin me how old, we livin the same age
 I feel the rage of a million niggaz locked inside a cage
 At exactly which point do you start to realize
 That life without knowledge is, death in disguise?
 That's why, Knowledge Of Self is like life after death
 Apply it, to your life, let destiny manifest
 Different day, same confusion, we're gonna take this
 hip-hop shit and keep it movin, shed a little light
 Now y'all bloomin like a flower with the power of the evident
 Voices and drums original instruments
 In the flesh presently presentin my representation

 With that what? (Knowledge Of Self) Determination
 *repeat 6X*
 - - - - these two parts overlap - - - -
 Things I say and do, may not come quite through
 My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
 *repeat 2X*

 [Talib Kweli]
 The most important time in history is, NOW, the present
 So count your blessings cause time can't define the essence
 But you stressin over time and you follow the Roman calendar
 These people enter Cona like Gattaca, you can bet
 they tryin to lock you down like Attica, the African diaspora
 represents strength in numbers, a giant can't slumber forever
 I know you gotta get that cheddar whatever
 Aiyyo I heard you twice the first time money, get it together
 You must be History, you repeatin yourself out of the pages
 You keepin yourself depleatin your spiritual wealth
 That quick cash'll get your ass quick fast in houses of detention
 Inner-city concentration camps where no one pays attention
 or mentions the ascension of death, til nothing's left
 The young, gifted and Black are sprung addicted to crack
 All my people where y'all at cause, y'all ain't here
 And your hero's using your mind as a canvas to paint fear
 With, broad brush strokes and tales of incarceration
 You get out of jail with that Knowledge of Self determination
 Stand in ovation, cause you put the Hue in Human
 Cause and effect, effect everything you do
 and that's why I got love in the face of hate
 Hands steady so the lines in the mental illustration is straight
 The thought you had don't even contemplate
 Infinite like figure eight there's no escape..

 From that what? (Knowledge Of Self) Determination
 *repeat 4X*

 Things I say and do, may not come quite through
 My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
 *repeat 2X*

 ..

 Things I say and do, may not come quite through
 My words may not convey just what I'm feelin
 *repeat 2X*

 What I'm feelin, what I'm feelin, ooooh, what I'm feelin