'Now listen'

[Mos]

..doin this song for you.

all my little brothers.. out in the street.

strugglin to survive.. keep your eyes on the prize, you know



[Kweli]

Yeah, the revolution will not be televised

Or broadcast live on the net

My man Mos said it's personal.. knamsayin?

It's gotta start from right up in here, you know



[Mos & Kweli]

You can't stop, you know [x3]

You can't stop when we rep



[Kweli]

We rep the ain't-gots

Ain't nobody can't start no party like us, we crush the faint hearts

From Hallsey to St. Mark's, walk in the main blocks

Painted with blood that's still hot, so deep it stain socks

The pain spark frustration, situations lead to hatin

Some deal with drug distribution, others walk the plantation

Some know the code a' the streets, some got a college education

Come down on the weekend, and peep the conversation



[Mos]

Yo

On the corner, units stormed out

Ghetto lookin bombed out

Police waited to roll, for those who walk the wrong route

Shorties goin all out, they got they swords drawn out

Ready to brawl out, gettin fought til they fall out

Black like Morehouse, 40 o'z is tossed out

For brothers that they mourn bout, get wrecked til it's dawn out

Whether they broke or flossed out, honeys pass they draws out

Lookin for a ticket out the poor-house

A jungle out here

Lions keep they claws out, fangs and jaws out

Weak just get forced out

Names is called out, ghetto-fame is sought out

You wanna be the man that they talk bout

I walked out

I had some things on my mind to sort out

I thought bout the wild circumstance we born out

Remember myself at your age, when I was just like you

If that was now, I don't know what I would do

My answer's? closest to me

So what I say to you is goin for me

Son we both still growin indeed

But where you at, I was, and where you been, I left

Utilize my experience to guide your step

Some people get love but don't command respect

It's somethin that you can't ride with a check

Over-rollin your lex or icy links that hang from your neck

If it's real, who need to deal with the special effects?



[Kweli]

Come here, come here, yo

Lemme drop this on ya, look they gotchu cornered

The corner of the block is hot, I ain't got to warn ya

'Cause I see you every day, trapped in every way

'Shit, I'm a thug, and that's all that I can say'

Who are you anyway?

Mary J.? I spend, many nights awake, watchin you while you sleep

Tryin to figure out how to be the example, 'cause talk is cheap

As you walk the streets, study cats on the real

In a convo, just make your point to relax and chill

[Niggas] wanna destroy each other in a cypher instead a' build

Be a- man of will, don't be- standin still

If you- don't plan ahead, then you- plan to fail

Do ? in a daze when the ways reveal

Like they funny style but I'm not laughin

Serious [niggas] makin money while the police is passin

Can't wait for opportunity to knock, you gotta make it happen

It ain't about no spectacular ways a' rappin

Just immaculate ways a' action.. dig?



[Mos sings]

Little Brother

I know that times is hard

Keep your mind on guard

Stay clear of things that are harmin

You'll get along

I sing my song

For little brothers

Out there in the street

Strugglin to make ends meet

Gotta hold the heat

Strugglin so hard to compete

Stay clear of things that harm

Do it for y'all

Try to stay strong

Keep movin on [x6]



[shoutin out Little Brothers all over the area, simultaneous singing]