Reflection Eternal

Released: October 17, 2000

Songwriter: Talib Kweli Hi-Tek Weldon Irvine

Producer: Weldon Irvine Hi-Tek Talib Kweli

(talking)
If you can talk you can sing
If you can walk you can dance
That's an old proverb from Zimbabwe
You know what I mean
If you can talk you can sing
If you can walk you can dance
Yeah, and the trumpet is blown
Yeah, alright, C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Alright, Wooh!

(talking)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, uh, one more time
Yo, anybody can tell you how it is
What we putting down right here is how it is and how it could be
Reflection Eternal for real
And with that-

These cats is no match—plus they lack a certain knack for rapping
Chasin' but they never catch the wagon like Re-run and "What's Happening"
Since back when they had potty issues and snotty tissues we been rockin'
Think you poppin' next year nobody will miss you
My thoughts is too advanced for the artists on these labels
They come sweeter than sabal and softer than mashed potatoes
I tried to told you the rhymes run over emcees like Land Rovers
Took 'em back in time like Sankofa, Sankofa

We stand over the Atlantic, looking broad like a man's shoulders
The fire is trapped in a belly, ready to pop like canned soda
We outlasting, from middle passage
Touched down in New York
Cincinnatay! Big Ohio status what you thought
Money it's classic these bastards try to treat us like cattle
So life has been a constant battle, battle
Rising above the crabs in the barrel
Way too used to living in death's shadow
We stay on point like the best arrow, arrow
We hit the target accurate
Star shit, back it up
When we hit town, y'all niggas pack it up
That's how we get down, straight smash it up
Like a whip, hydroplaning
Hydro on the brain and maintaining
Game changing into subtle shit, we remain blatant
Yo, got to tell you to your face
You get replaced in this game, by Kweli
Place the face with the name
These cats drink champagne and toast to death and pain
Like slaves on a ship talking about who got the flyest chain

(talking)
Yo, we the reflection of our ancestors
We'd like to thank you for the building blocks you left us
Cause your spirit possessed us
Yo, you blessed us
Thank you very much (7x)

Yo, we the reflection of our ancestors
We'd like to thank you for the building blocks you left us
Cause your spirit possessed us
Yo, you blessed us
Thank you very much
God bless you (7x)

Reflection Eternal is a rapper/producer duo consisting of Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli and Cincinnati-born producer Hi-Tek.

After first collaborating on Black Star, which Hi-Tek produced various tracks for, the duo released their debut album Train of Thought in 2000 to critical acclaim.

Though Hi-Tek and Talib would continue collaborating on each others albums, the duo would not release another album until 2010. Their 2010 effort, Revolutions Per Minute, though not quite matching the acclaim of their first effort, was very well received and featured perhaps their best-known single—“Just Begun,” featuring Yasiin Bey, J. Cole and Jay Electronica.

more tracks from the album

Train of Thought

From the albums

Train of Thought (2000)
SpitKicker Presents: The Best of Talib Kweli (2004)

Reflection Eternal popular songs

Africa DreamReflection Eternal

Reflection Eternal

Train of Thought