After These Messages (feat. Talib Kweli & Amani)

Ya ever wonder why members of the Klan wore hoods
Well it's because they wanted to hide their identity
See they knew what they were doing was wrong
But they wanted to be shielded and protected
From the consequences of they're criminal activity
That same energy is the reason why
Some of you create blank fake profiles
To dispute racist rhetoric online
You know what you're doing is wrong
You just don't want anybody to know it's you
You want to be protected
From the consequences of your actions

Let's make a toast to creator pros in the days of old
You play your role, your lies'll ring out hollow like they plated gold
They say they know but just because they say it, that don't make it so
Maybe so, but if it's less travel, I'ma take the road
Let's make a toast to the life of the party and the greatest host
The greatest show on Earth that take your souls dressed in the latest clothes
The natives so restless, it's stressin', the pressure take a toll
They made us so the way to go is to break us off and make us hope
Mother Earth is modest but she never has a veil to wear
They followin' my sister but weapons drawn when she conceal a hair
Through the malls of America, past the Chick-fil-As and the Build-A-Bears
The fall of America was prob'ly triggered by the Trail of Tears
Or wait, and I say so, yeah
But you would know it thoroughly, went from native and indigenous
To marginalized minorities, our stories be inspirin'
The greatest songs you've ever heard, we used to hang from trees
Now they hangin' on our every word
The levees burst open when the storm is ragin'
We call our base and then pray before we hit the stage, every performance sacred
These lyrics are them prayers them devils hate to sing
These miracles are waitin' on our spiritual awakening
The winter comin', got 'em huntin' for scraps
I'm ready for war, I'm like a soldier with his gun in his lap
Under attack, that's where we shine, them cowards run to the back
We gotta become the good energy we want to attract

I'm singin' this message to you
Listen to my song
I'm singin' this message to you
Listen to my song
I'm singin' this message to you
Only way that I can

The only thing out of pocket be how they profit
At this point, leniency not an option, let's get it poppin'
Tired of seein' my people sobbin', least I'm goddess
They movin' ores like hemoglobin
I made a lie out of whoever settlement an island
I made a fire from a pen, pad, and perfect timin'
Reverse the curse, worst come to worst, the pressure birth a diamond
This no church but we got gospels that are certain lament
Deemed impossible to rock the bull without tottlin'
Ya'll some toddlers, where ya mom n'em
I'm in rare form, say a prayer for him, amen
Niggas dare score, all ya'll share of corn is drop gems and read airborne
Or sneeze out ya need for top ten, uh
Thoughts, we all got them, the cause of all our sin
Look at the floor, get your jaw knocked in
Wired up, locked in, the spirit hot is not zen
I fear this not what God meant
So languid a response, yeah, we prolly nearin' our end
Rearin' our head, endearin' our dread
Stackin' bread, we good money as 'long we not dead
Fuck what you feel in yo heart, you ain't gotta fear what I said
Niggas equate a fear with the art
Like, I just create and heal with the art
From what I can tell, they just tryna weigh a bill with the art, uh

I'm singin' this message to you
Listen to my song
I'm singin' this message to you
Listen to my song
I'm singin' this message to you
Only way that I can