Roots

There was a time when only Africans existed
So if you hating black people, you must have it twisted
If you don't like it, take it up with God or evolution
If we cannot do either... is it time for revolution?
Be honest. You lucky we ain't seeking retribution
Just too smart for that, revenge is not a solution
It starts with the mind. Then we can nation build
Don't consume all the time, produce what they can feel
It gives me chills when our people ascend
Through a system sending us to the depths
My sentence is death for any life breathing
Wanting the end of my steps
Was on that ledge, but stepped back to finish my test
Now I say, Ase
Nun
Amun-Ra
Hetheru
Djehuty
Maat
Sekhmet
Ptah
Bring the gods down, we gon' have to even the odds
Look to the stars now. I don't have to see your facade
I tell em'

Where ya' Roots at? Mine run deep
From a town where so many crews drown over beef (I see)
Where ya' Roots at? Ours run deep
In this country where they hunt us, want us dead in the street
(All we wanted was peace...)
Don't that sound like America
(No we want us a piece...)
Don't it sound like America
(Till we resting in peace...)
Y'all wasn't preparing us
Oh, right... no wonder you scared of us

Yea, I be saying gods. Yea, I be saying devils.
Cause most believe in God, most believe in the devil
Want you to realize the story plays around you
I want you to realize the truth is where the found you
Now, put one and one together. Don't it make duality
From it comes creation - whether babies or a galaxy
And to keep it. We need Maat - meaning balance
Without her we hang from it loose, like strange fruit
Void of seed, GMO, no life produced
I can't breathe! Hands up, don't shoot - Arms up my sleeve
It seems you were right, you tryna make peace without a piece
Ain't no use. Hope you hear me
But carpe diem, look they seizing up
Summer then fall (some of them fall), you know their seasons up
The people had enough. It's obvious that you evil
Necklace with the hawk, but I ain't far from a desert eagle

Where ya' Roots at? Mine run deep
From a town where so many crews drown over beef (I see)
Where ya' Roots at? Ours run deep
In this country where they hunt us, want us dead in the street
(All we wanted was peace...)
Don't that sound like America
(No we want us a piece...)
Don't it sound like America
(Till we resting in peace...)
Y'all wasn't preparing us
Oh, right... no wonder you scared of us

I return to oral tradition, knowing light
Came from darkness and made the world contrasted
I met Clark Kent. He gave me his glasses
I passed em' back, said I don't need em'
That's your lens. How could I see my freedom
Thinking I need saving, from your God or a haven
That's external to the body and soul I was placed in
Amen... Ra
That's hidden to the seen
Whether you believe Adam or atoms - we in between
Seems you divine, yet somehow still nigga
Cause after all this time they still tryna' steal niggas
Nah, it ain't over. Was never in the past
We better move over or catch up, we getting passed
In a race against racists. Life is but a cycle
We can't be so rightful we afraid to pull a rifle
In spite you... we might fuck around and separate
Reparations or not like Chris Rock the Head of State
Dead awake; meditating daily till I find the facts
Writing my wrongs, guess I'm paying through syntax
So each sentence and rhyme gotta be structured
For those in the job grind or ducking undercovers
So we can hear something deeper and reach for it
Bottom line - we gon' build... or destroy

If you ain't hear not one word from me tonight... not one
I need you to feel this
Look at these people on your left, these people on your right
YOUR people. Look em' in the eyes... realize this is where the power is
It's on us. Yea, it's on us
Yea... it's on us
I love you
Said, I love you
Don't put nothing above you
Roots