Penny For a Thought

Cancel the apocalypse

Cartons of the Milky Way with pictures of a missing planet

Last seen in pursuit of an American dream

This fool actually thinks he can drive his Hummer on the moon

Blasting DMX off the soundtrack of a South Park cartoon

Niggas used to buy their families out of slavery

Now we buy chains and links, smokes and drinks

They're paying me to record this, even more if you hear it

Somebody tell me what you think I should do with the money

Yes, friend, tell me what you think I should do with the money

Exactly how much is it gonna cost to free Mumia?

What's he gonna do with his freedom?

Talk on the radio?

Radio programming is just that

A brainwashin' gleamed of purpose

To be honest, some freedom of speech makes me nervous

And you looking for another martyr in the form of a man

Hair like a mane with an outstretched hand

In a roar of hearts, thoughts, reactionary defensiveness

And counter intelligence

What exactly is innocence?

Fuck it, I do believe in the existence of police brutality

Who do I make checks payable to?

A young child stares at a glowing screen transfixed by tales of violence

His teenage father tells him that that's life, not that Barney shit

A purple dinosaur that speaks of love, a black man that speaks of blood

Which one is keeping it real, son?

Who manufactured your steel, son?

Hardcore, ancient elements at the Earth's core

Fuck it, I'mma keep speaking 'til my throat sores

An emcee told a crowd of hundreds to put their hands in the air

An armed robber stepped to a bank and told everyone to put their hands in the air

A Christian minister gives his benediction while the congregation hold their hands in the air

Love the image of the happy Buddha with his hands in the air

Hands up and feel confused, define tomorrow

Your belief system ain't louder than my car system

Nigga walked down my block with his Rottweiler, a subwoofer on a leash

Each one teach one

The DJ spins a new philosophy into a barren mind

I can't front on it

My head nods as if to clear the last image from an Etch-A-Sketch

Something like Rakim said,

"I could quote any emcee, but why should I?

How would it benefit me?"

Karmic repercussions

Are your tales of reality worth their sonic laced discussions?

Suddenly, the ground shivers and quakes

A newborn startles and wakes

Her mother rushes to her bed side to hold her to her breast

Milk of sustenance heals and nourishes

From the depths of creation life still flourishes

Yet we focus on death and destruction, violence, corruption

My people, let Pharaoh go

What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out?

What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out?

What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out?

"How much it gonna cost to buy you out of my mind?

Penny for a thought, y'all niggas is half steppin' wastin' my time

Please, nigga what? You talkin to me?

Please baby, baby, baby can I borrow...baby, can I borrow a nickle, a dime, and

that quarter?

Penny for a thought, penny for a thought

How much will it cost to buy you out of buyin' into a reality that

Originally bought you?

Dime a dozen, y'all niggas a dime a dozen

Penny for a thought, nigga, c'mon, penny for a thought

Think fast, think fast, c'mon, time is money"

Time is money, money is time

So I keep 7 o'clock in the bank and gain interest in the hour of God

I'm saving to buy my freedom, God

Grant me wings, I'm too fly not to fly

I soared further past humans without wings so I soar

And fine tickling the feathers of my wings

Fying hysterically, over land numerically

I am seven mountains higher than the valley of death

Seven mountains higher than the valley of death

Seven dimensions deeper than dimensions of breath

[x12, background]

We're performing an exorcism on all this keep-it-realism

Violence, sensationalism

In the name of the hip-hop that nurtured me, cultured me

We are ordering all evil entities to exit this body, leave this body

In the name of microphone fiends and a young boy's b-boy dreams

We draw you to leave this body, leave this body

All evil entities, all wannabe emcees

Decoys, decoys, send in the true b-boys

The true b-boys be men, motherfuckers

Be men in the name of Scott La Rock

In the name of T-La Rock

Motherfuckers don't remember how to do the Reeboks

Walk, hop, I told you to leave this body

Leave this body

Leave this body

I told you to leave this body

Leave this body

Motherfuckers must think I'm crazy

Shit, I think y'all motherfuckers is crazy

I want my fuckin' MTV

Penny for a thought, nigga, penny for a thought

The fuck have you bought into?