Talib Kweli

Released: September 28, 2004

Songwriter: Phil Da Agony J. Smith Hi-Tek

Producer: Hi-Tek

(Kweli)
Whoa, yeah, yeah
When you doing you, and you real fly with it
It's like niggas always wanna check you, know what I'm saying?
Always wanna make sure you keeping it real, keeping it real
Nigga, nigga do you

[Hook: Talib Kweli & (Hi-Tek)]
(Back up offa me, back up offa me)
Won't you get out my face, better stay in your place
I'm fed up, how much can I take
Yo, you need to just
(Back up offa me, back up offa me)
I got money to make, not a minute to waste
I need space when I try to create
Yo, you need to just
(Back up offa me)
See me in the Cut'
(Back up offa me)
Trying to roll up
(Back up offa me)
Or we can roll up
(Back up offa me)
Ay, yo, motherfucker, hold up

[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]
Ton', what is this?
I know he ain't talking, this is grown-man business
Be your own man, stand on your own feet
I thought we was homies
But you comin' at me like you don't know me
You think you do, but you're probably wrong
I'm surrounded by more babies than Ashanti songs, oh baby
I know you don't get it
Try to walk in my shoes, I know you won't fit it
Just cause I know you and your flow, too
There's more to it, you won't get it, I don't owe you
You want Hi-Tek to do a record for you
So niggas is checking for you
Cut the bull, cause niggas get respected for you
Get your own respect dude, that ain't mean and evil
Ain't no crutches in my crew
My crew a crew of equals (yup)
Shit was cool when we was teenagers, we grown men
You my people, but I don't need you moanin' and groanin'
I can't feed you, I already got kids
How a nigga trying to regulate some shit that’s not his?
I ain't trying to sign, I'm just an artist, nigga
I'm just trying to rhyme and go the hardest, nigga

[Hook]

[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]

Radio suckers never play me cause I don't let them
They like a pimp only hoes sweat them
When I do a show, I love to catch the lady's eye
Dodge the paparazzi, I don't wanna see no lady die
Sports entertainment, academics, business, or politics
The fine hoes swallow dicks for dollars quick
Young broads all up in gangs like the Young Lords
Jump forward, statutory rape, now you done for
What, you thought that shorty 'bout to act a her age
Right now, somebody's daughter is backstage
It's a master-slave relationship, and guess who Toby
It's the white girl in Colorado, and guess who Kobe
Tried to tell you not to fuck with these debutantes
That's more Kobe beef than Japanese restaurants
Don't need diseases or cases, trying to catch nothing
And when they throwing pussy, best believe you catching something
Say "hi" to Tek

[Hook]

If skills sold, Talib Kweli would have been one of the most commercially successful rappers of his time. As it was, however, the earnest MC became one of the most critically successful rappers of his time, which dawned in the late ‘90s when he rapped alongside Yasiin Bey (then known as Mos Def) and DJ Hi-Tek as part of the group Black Star.

Talib is known for his numerous collaborations with other artists like Kanye West, Common, Madlib, Bilal, The Roots, Dead Prez, Q-Tip, John Legend, the list is endless. He has also embraced a whole new generation like Blu, Kendrick Lamar, Curren$y, and Ab-Soul.

Kweli has recently spearheaded a direct-to-fan means of distributing his music via his new site #KweliClub. Check it out to get his latest music including many free downloads.

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