The latest from the Chicago-born rapper, actor and activist both political and personal mix of unusual rhythms and rhymes and is taken from his seven-track album project with guests, A Beautiful Revolution (Pt 1). The album will have full physical full release in the new year to celebrate Black History Month in America, and includes collaborations with Black Thought of The Roots, Lenny Kravitz and Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter PJ aka Paris Jones. More of the album can be streamed or bought here. The single is below, including a live version on the Jimmy Fallon show, as well as a full performance of the album.
PJ:
Say peace, we don't really want no trouble
Tell me, is you down with the struggle?
All they really wanna do is cuff ya
They don't love ya (No)
Say peace, we don't really want no trouble
Tell me, is you down with the struggle?
All they really wanna do is cuff you (Hell no)
They don't love you (No)
Common:
Starin' into the darkness like Marcus
Garvey, I'm an artist, respect to the goddess
Some say I'm too modеst because I'm the hardеst
On this path to progress, there's been carnage
Regardless, this is a harvest for the world to harness
Elder's dreams, creator's promise
Bein' free is like payin' homage
I've been on that peace, black Dalai Lama
My college was between Stony and Cottage
The knowledge, I got it because niggas was 'bout it
Knew I had to pull it, the bullet or the ballot
It's like the parable of the story of the talents
Want my people to get paper, with no margin
Turnin' ghettos to gardens like Ron Finley
Through stages of life, the world's my Wembley
I emcee, from the point of entry
Of peace, some find it all through their paper routin'
And some find their peace, their peace through praise and shoutin'
And some find their peace through pullin' the shades like Malcolm
I found my peace, my peace makin' these albums, peace
PJ:
Say peace, we don't really want no trouble
Tell me, is you down with the struggle?
All they really wanna do is cuff you
They don't love you (No)
Say peace, we don't really want no trouble
Tell me, is you down with the struggle?
All they really wanna do is cuff you
They don't love you (No)
Black Thought:
In dystopian ground zero from xenophobia
They love to trope me and misquote me, they even wrote me
Out of all accounts other than shoulderin' small amounts
'Til I called them out, I'm what this story is all about
My arrival wasn't willingly, nah, but that's chillingly
The truth, now I fear from shots from cops killin' me
They on the hunt for the plug, and we the auxiliary
The Black power and love, I'm all the above
We'll find peace in the culture I'm responsible to save
And every piece of the puzzle, every article, the page
I'm at peace in the struggle, I'm awake and not afraid
While I'm channelin' my energy from particle to wave
The peace, like Mandela seated on Robben Island
Wise like a prophet arrivin' from the highlands
Look, I'm not here for any kind of problem
Keep me out of your gossip column
Thank you, I'm calm and tranquil at the time and place too
I shine, word to God, I'm divine, and graceful
The grind could break you, if you concentrate
You could find your faith, where the higher conscious takes you
That's peace
PJ:
Say peace, we don't really want no trouble
Tell me, is you down with the struggle?
All they really wanna do is cuff you
They don't love you (No)
Say peace, we don't really want no trouble
Tell me, is you down with the struggle?
All they really wanna do is cuff you
They don't love you (No)
Say we done lost
We say we dey pon the right path
Big life only
Liberty, freedom
You hear me?
Tell me what they fightin' for?
Tell me what they fightin' for? …
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