Talib Kweli – Self Savior lyrics

Preacher's playing foul in the system now listen now
It's more hate in the religious now ain't it foul
Gotta be a better way to figure out
How to be a self savior plus help my niggas out
These pigs playing foul in the system now listen now
Every poor person is a nigga now
There's gotta be a better way to figure out
How to get this paper cause they locking all my niggas down

How do expect to live dealing with savages its damaging
Somebody gotta lose although you play to win
You know these niggas hate despite the color of your face
Well I say nigga I'm just speaking on your mental state

Life ain't a game if it is I can't participate
Maybe I've changed but my mind is in a different state
'Cause now it seems more like a plan
I'm striving for perfection so that's where I'll begin

Your tallies and peaks and valleys can't describe who I am
This music is therapeutic I define who I am
Through the actions I portray as a man
In combination with impressions I leave on people
Through things that I've said

I've had it up to here with the bullshit
So when I rap I sound like I'm in the pulpit
Yeah, they say that I be preaching too much
But I know that through the music's how you teach it to us
It's all real

Preacher's playing foul in the system now listen now
It's more hate in the religious now ain't it foul
Gotta be a better way to figure out
How to be a self savior plus help my niggas out
These pigs playing foul in the system now listen now
Every poor person is a nigga now
There's gotta be a better way to figure out
How to get this paper cause they locking all my niggas down

True indeed Chace, they tried to get rid of me
But they can't write me off, I'm not a charity that's a parody, right?
You kidding me,
There really ain't no challenge my authenticity
Virtually guarantee me a flawless victory you kidding me

I'm lethal I'm from a people who was forced into captivity
Original man there was often a facsimile
I give a little bit more than your metaphors whack similes
Thousand yard stare say a prayer for my enemy

I'm international half of these rappers laughable
It's tragic how the other half so vaginal
They put the style over substance, their counsel bother me
My style married my substance and now they living in harmony

But any substance can be abused
Especially when the style is so seductive the substance consider leaving you
You gotta get back to your essence use your gifts and share your presence
Don't count your dollars til you count your blessings

Preacher's playing foul in the system now listen now
It's more hate in the religious now ain't it foul
Gotta be a better way to figure out
How to be a self savior plus help my niggas out
These pigs playing foul in the system now listen now
Every poor person is a nigga now
There's gotta be a better way to figure out
How to get this paper cause they locking all my niggas down