Released: October 12, 2004

Featuring: Kanye West

Songwriter: Yasiin Bey Kanye West

Producer: Kanye West

[Intro: Mos Def + (Sample)]
(Let the sun shine)
Yeah yeah it's a brand new day y'all (Let the sunshine in)
Turn me up in the top a little bit dog
I want you to know, I want you to hear this one (The sun's shinin')
Loud and clear, bright and early
Listen

[Verse 1: Mos Def]
I don't hate players, I don't love the game
I'm the shot clock, way above the game
To be point blank with you, motherfuck the game
I got all this work on me, I ain't come for play
You can show the little shorties how you pump and fake
But dog, not to Def, I'm not impressed
I'm not amused, I'm not confused, I'm not the dude
Grown man business, I am not in school
Put your hand down youngin', this is not for you
On my J.O. with beats by Kan-ye yo
My name on the marquee, your name off the payroll
Style fresh like I'm still a day old
And it's been like that since the day 0
On more time than a Roley or Seiko
Step on deck, your neck do what I say so
Get up or get out, get down or lay low

[Hook 1: Mos Def + (Sample)]
(Let the sun shine)
Standing in the shadow of a fabulous man
Brooklyn nigga I am, Black Dante (Let the sunshine in)
That nigga, that dude
Black People, Let's Move (The sun's shinin')
Shout out to my man Talib Kweli, yes
We on top-a top-a, shout-a shout-a
Check it out

[Verse 2: Mos Def + (Sample)]
Slim nigga to cast a big shadow
Cherokee red to shoot the long arrow
Got more skill, more aim, and more ammo
You can get it all from a big or small barrel
Like, hail Mary, full of grace
Niggas come in and shoot up the place
And make you pull up your face
The deck, I'ma pull out the ace
From the jungles of the empire state
Where it ain't no escape, 247, 718
And thats like every night, every day
From the place that I settle and stay
To the states, I'm collecting my pay
Blast off then I'm back to the K
Hold it down so my family straight
Represent in a family way
Proball not for amateur play
Been raw since the amateur stage
Before the press had the cameras raised

[Hook 2: Mos Def + (Sample)]
(Let the sun shine)
Like a long time man of the way
You understanding me straight (Let the sunshine in)
Yes, yes, no doubt, excellence
It's what it is, it's what it is
And that's what it is, you see? (The sun's shinin')
Ha, Fire..

[Verse 3: Mos Def]
Cause it is deeper, sweeter, richer, crisper
Stronger reception and sharper picture
Revolve around God, and involve with niggas
These elements help evolve my scripture
And make Mos Def a classic martyr figure
Brooklyn it don't matter if you holler or whisper
You're coming through clear, cause I'm right here witcha
Ain't gotta edit your slang, I got it, I get ya
Yo, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers
The lovers, the leavers, the doubters, believers
The stayers, the quitters, the bitches, the niggas
Rebel guerrillas to ghetto civilians
Y'all 'gon feel it from the first to the millionth
It's extra, ordinary and plain
I walked a thousand paces of light ahead of the game
By the time that you get where I'm standing, I'll be gone
Y'all make moves, but y'all just move wrong

[Outro: Mos Def + (Sample)]
(Let the sun shine)
I move in, and y'all must move on
Cause I'm molto strong
And I know what my feet move for (Let the sunshine in)
Make it go without a brand new car
I was fresh without a brand new song
Don't give a fuck about what brand you are (The suns shining')
I'm concerned what type of man you are
What your principles and standards are
You understand me y'all
Be good to your family y'all
No matter where your families are
Cause everybody need family y'all
Raise a hand, you understand me y'all
Everybody need family y'all
Be good to your families dog
Understand, no matter where your families are
Everybody need family, dog
Raise your hand, you understand me pa
That's what it is, that's my man
Family of my family Pencil Pete
My man too, all our loved ones behind the walls
All of those who still in the struggle
Assata, Mumia, Sundiata, my man Jamil
(Let the sun shine)
Life is real
To all the real soldiers, black people (Let the sunshine in)
We family y'all (The sun's shining')
Let it be bright..

Yasiin Bey

Yasiin Bey, (born Dante Terrell Smith) formerly known by his stage name Mos Def, is an actor and hip hop artist from Brooklyn, New York. He is one of the founding fathers of conscious hip hop and half of the duo Black Star. Beginning in 2012, he ditched his stage name Mos Def in favor of Yasiin Bey,

I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I’ve been going by Yasiin since ‘99. At first it was just for friends and family, but now I’m declaring it openly.

He made his musical debut in 1998 as a part of Black Star (see Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star), and then released his first solo album in 1999, Black on Both Sides.