This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
What what what, what what, what what, what what
Whoa
One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop,
I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
And Hi-Tek make the beat drop
RE Definition, turning your play into a tragedy
Exhibit level degree on the mic, passionately
Niggas is sweet so I bet if I bit I'd get a cavity
Living to get high, you ain't flyer than gravity
We Die Hard like the battery done in the back of me by the mad MC
Who think imitation is the highest form of flattery, actually
Don't be mad at me, I had to be the one to break it to you
You get kicked into obscurity like judo, no Menudo
Cause you pseudo, trying to compete with reality like Xerox
Towards destruction you spiraling like hair locks, wipe them teardrops
Chasing stars in your eyes, playing games with your lives
Now the wives is widows soaking up pillows, weeping like willows
Still mo' blacks is dying, kids ain't living they trying
"How to Make a Slave" by Willie Lynch is still applying
Regardless, the Mos is one of my closest partners
Rocking ever since before Prince was called The Artist
Rocker before Funkmaster Flex was rocking Starter
When 'Pac and Biggie was still cool before they was martyrs
Life or death, if I'm choosing with every breath I'm enhancing
Stop, there comes a time when you can't run
What, lyrically handsome, call collect a king's ransom
Jams I write soon become the ghetto anthem
Way out like Bruce Wayne's mansion, move like a phantom
You'll talk about me to your grandsons
Cats who claiming they hard be mad fag
So I run through 'em like, flood water through sandbags
Competition is mad, what I got, they can't have
Sinking they ship, like Moby Dick, did Ahab
Son I'm way past the minimum, enter a millennium
Where cats will hold a gat to your back, like Palestinians
Ancient Abyssinian, sure to hold the Gideon
Official b-boy gentlemen won't turn off at the interim
Born inside the winter one, day after December 10
These simpletons they mentioning the synonym for feminine
Sweeter than some cinnamon, the Danish rings by Entemann's
Rush up on adrenaline, and get they asses sent to them
(Gentlemen) you got tenement, well then assemble it!
Leave your unit trembling like herds of moving elephant
Intelligent embellishment, follow for your element
From Flatbush settlement, SKIN possess melanin
Hotter than tales of crack peddlin', making 'em woop
Like blue gelatin, swing like Duke Ellington
Broader than Barrington Levy, believe me
The hot Apache red who burn down your chief teepee
You see me?
One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop, wayoh
I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Because we rulin hip-hop, yes we is rulin' hip-hop
Talib Kweli is rulin' hip-hop
Say we Black Star we rule hip-hop-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Whoah!
Whoa
One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop,
I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
And Hi-Tek make the beat drop
RE Definition, turning your play into a tragedy
Exhibit level degree on the mic, passionately
Niggas is sweet so I bet if I bit I'd get a cavity
Living to get high, you ain't flyer than gravity
We Die Hard like the battery done in the back of me by the mad MC
Who think imitation is the highest form of flattery, actually
Don't be mad at me, I had to be the one to break it to you
You get kicked into obscurity like judo, no Menudo
Cause you pseudo, trying to compete with reality like Xerox
Towards destruction you spiraling like hair locks, wipe them teardrops
Chasing stars in your eyes, playing games with your lives
Now the wives is widows soaking up pillows, weeping like willows
Still mo' blacks is dying, kids ain't living they trying
"How to Make a Slave" by Willie Lynch is still applying
Regardless, the Mos is one of my closest partners
Rocking ever since before Prince was called The Artist
Rocker before Funkmaster Flex was rocking Starter
When 'Pac and Biggie was still cool before they was martyrs
Life or death, if I'm choosing with every breath I'm enhancing
Stop, there comes a time when you can't run
What, lyrically handsome, call collect a king's ransom
Jams I write soon become the ghetto anthem
Way out like Bruce Wayne's mansion, move like a phantom
You'll talk about me to your grandsons
Cats who claiming they hard be mad fag
So I run through 'em like, flood water through sandbags
Competition is mad, what I got, they can't have
Sinking they ship, like Moby Dick, did Ahab
Son I'm way past the minimum, enter a millennium
Where cats will hold a gat to your back, like Palestinians
Ancient Abyssinian, sure to hold the Gideon
Official b-boy gentlemen won't turn off at the interim
Born inside the winter one, day after December 10
These simpletons they mentioning the synonym for feminine
Sweeter than some cinnamon, the Danish rings by Entemann's
Rush up on adrenaline, and get they asses sent to them
(Gentlemen) you got tenement, well then assemble it!
Leave your unit trembling like herds of moving elephant
Intelligent embellishment, follow for your element
From Flatbush settlement, SKIN possess melanin
Hotter than tales of crack peddlin', making 'em woop
Like blue gelatin, swing like Duke Ellington
Broader than Barrington Levy, believe me
The hot Apache red who burn down your chief teepee
You see me?
One two three, Mos Def and Talib Kweli
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Best alliance in hip-hop, wayoh
I said, one two tree, Black Star shine eternally
We came to rock it on to the tip-top
Because we rulin hip-hop, yes we is rulin' hip-hop
Talib Kweli is rulin' hip-hop
Say we Black Star we rule hip-hop-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Whoah!
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
RE: DEFinition Lyrics as written by Talib Kweli Greene Dante Smith
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think its about how its a pity that so much violence occurs in hip hop. They are trying to say how the rappers are spending too much time in the streets instead of working to improve life. "Walkin the streets is like battlin, be careful with your body You must know karate or think your soul is bulletproof like Sade Stop actin like a bitch already, be a visionary And maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary" A great song.