The Roots

[fox69]

"Atonement"
(feat. Jack Davey)

"Atonement"
(feat. Jack Davey)



[Intro / Chorus: Jack Davey - singing]
As I wait for atonement
Trapped in the heat of the moment
Feelin like I can't control it
As I wait for atonement
Trapped in the heat of the moment

[Black Thought]
Uh-huh, feelin the steam from the cauldron
With tension runnin deep as the ocean
Many are called, but so few are chosen
As I go through the motions, of medication uppin my dosage
Bangin Earth, Wind & Fire "Devotion" as I admire the focus
Takin the city with a grain of salt
Where they tastin foul, chase it down, with the latest malt - liquor
Roll and hit it, knife did it, hope you got some smarts wit'chu
Hope you got some heart it ain't no stoppin when it start - nigga
Feel somethin bigger got a hold on me
And I ain't trippin not a Bobby Brown, lippin with my nose runnin
Basically I had two, options I just chose one
And then got ghost, like my picture was on a most wanted
Coast to coast, from L.A. to Chicago
Now I'm faced, with the weight of survival, plus the taste
From the way I been lied to while the preacherman spittin his gospel
I can win if I try to

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Baby"

"Baby"


[Black Thought]
Slow down when you're hitting them corners
Fuck around, spill this 'gnac on my two hundred dollar suit
(stop being a backseat driver man)

(turn him up)
Your ma don't like to jitterbug, said this unholy music
Hip hop just so ridiculous, everything sounds so confusing
Nowadays ain't nothing like it was, one thing that showed the blues
Is this system so mysterious, can't let that stop the movement
Can't get no satisfaction, they all laughing, glad it's happening
All wings hot for the main attraction
Acting a fool with a lust for action
Young girl caught in a crime of passion
Sitting there crying in designer fashion
Didn't blow, didn't have time for asking
Somebody call for the ambulance, girl

[Hook]
Baby, baby, baby
Baby let me live, please girl let me slide
Baby, baby, baby
Baby if you let me go, I swear I'll change, just change your mind

Your old man don't like to jitterbug, said this old dirty music
Hip hop just so ridiculous, them stories too confusing
Nowadays he ain't loving you like he was
And you ain't there just for using
Could have sworn that was him with another girl
And they wasn't out just for cruising
Can't get no satisfaction
He out late nights, probably smashing
Leaving a trail like Charlie tracks
Or the train on the ground, downtown Manhattan
Everybody seen him run around and you bound to catch him
The condoms, you found and asked him, was all this just for practice?
He didn't realize what he had
Now your heart got fractured girl

[Hook]
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby

 

[fox69]

"Becoming Unwritten"

"Becoming Unwritten"


[31 seconds of instrumental]

[Black Thought]
The son won't face the father
The gun won't erase the drama
Why you wait 'til your time's up

 

[fox69]

"Birthday Girl"
(feat. Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy))

"Birthday Girl"
(feat. Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy))


[Chorus: Patrick Stump]
What is it we wanna doooo..
now that I'm allowed to be alone with you?
Bir-thday girl, it's your birthday
Wherever you wanna go
Now you're old enough to go and see the "R"-rated show, now
"R"-rated show

[Black Thought]
Yo, she said she was a magazine editor named, Janine
Backstage in high-heels and painted-on, jeans
Probably had the most, devious eyes I'd ever sene
Told me she was twenty-two, she was only seventeen
She had sum'hin to hide she snuck in from out-side
and got, everybody gassed like the car I, drive
With all that grown-lady ass and my far-out, vibe
She said she came to see them Roots boys +Fall-Out+ live, but listen...

[Chorus w/ ad-libs]

[Black Thought]
You see the girls look good, but they brains not ready
I talk to a woman, her mind is mo', steady
Probably sum'hin in the way they designed, that's mo' steady
I just let you inside 'cause the line so, heavy
But I shoulda know, better 'cause now I feel like America's
underbelly R. Kelly gutter smut peddlers
Internet predators, chat-room irregulars
This not my twist, you tryna send me to the therapist, miss

[Chorus w/ ad-libs]

[Black Thought]
Now, she told me cheddar cheese grits, two tomato fried fish
'Cause she heard it's my dish, tryna be my sidekick
All the people all around thinkin she was my chick
Sayin, "Damn, the girl thick, but she ain't no twenty-six"
Lookin at me like I'm up to sum'him on the funny tip
Like I ever really been the one to try the honey drip
It's your birthday so let me know the gift you wanna get
In fact, blow out the candles on the cake and make a wish for me

[Patrick Stump]
They can't really seem to look away
so they try, asking her to stay
Fake I.D., you won't get turned away!
You look, lovely toniiiight...
Now you're old enough to buy a gun
So many better ways of having fun
Right now I can only think of one...
You look lovely toniiiight...

[Chorus w/ ad-libs and variations 'til end]

 

[fox69]

"Black Rock"
(feat. Dice Raw)

"Black Rock"
(feat. Dice Raw)



[Intro:]
Black Rock

[Verse 1 - Dice Raw:]
Hey what's for breakfast?
Same as yesterday
Oh that's right cheeseburger and a 40 ounce
Hey, what's for dinner? Nothing nigga
But last night I had dreams of a porterhouse
Ay yo for real I feel like
Cattle in a slaughterhouse
But fuck that grow another here's a quarter ounce
It ain't no hydro, but it gets you high though
Them niggas look like casper what the fuck do I know

[Hook:]
At the end of this tunnel, it's red and blue lies
Once you pay the price you can never do right
One thing I know all I did is wrong
Maybe there ain't nowhere I belong
The only thing in front of me is a bullet in the head
They hoping one day that they find me dead
Until then I make a place in this world
For me and my baby girl

[Verse 2 - Black Thought:]
Got the dead drop way until the A.M
Mumbo Jumbo niggas onomatopoeian
Call it how I see them ain't no rhyme or reason
I'm on some different bullshit everyday just like per diem
I damn with animal anguish
So love no bitch die richer than language
Guilty of sin depending on the reeds shaking in the wind
Just a question not an answer out here depending on its end

[Hook]

 

[fox69]

"Boom!"

"Boom!"


Hold your flix, I'm not for the photo op's
It's Black, code name Yaphet Kotto ock
My twist like a ratchet in an auto shop
Since granddaddy old Desoto stopped and he got the Caddie
I been gladly servin, any y'all cats wanna act determined
Spit pesticides for rats and vermin
Seem like none of y'all chumps is learning
Y'all hopeless, and I'm a little better than dope is
Far from a brand new kid to show biz
Tryna hold on, maintain my focus
Coming out a room with a could of smoke
Smokers rolling with the punches
I survive and rock
Cause I keep the crowd alive
And the texture of my voice
Is course and kind of hoarse and cut
Like I'm throwing a thousand knives

[Hook:]
Party people gather round what we have here is a brand new sound
Reach for my waist you hit the ground
You better duck when that awful sound goes
Boom
Thats what's happenin in the parking lot
Thats whats happenin on stage

[Repeat Hook]

The man at hand that rule the school
And reach and teach the blind and find a way from A to Z
And be the most to boast I'm load and proud
The game and reign that remain
The heat is on so feel the fire come off the empire or the
More higher level of depth one step beyond dope
To suckers all scope and hope to cop a note
Cause I could never let em on top of me
I play em out like a game of Monopoly
Let it speed around the board like an astro
And send them to jail for tryna pass go
Shaking them up
Breaking them up
Taking no stuff
But it still ain't loud enough
So quest love let the fire roast
So I can flow and we can kill the whole show cause

[Repeat hook]

I'm live
Design a finer rhyme that's right on time
One step beynd and not behind the line
That seperates thought from divine
You can take it as a caution or a warning sign
Look for antonyms
Words I'm sending em
Homonyms, synonyms good like M&M's
You know the time when it's Riq Gees slicing
I turn a Mic's last name into Tyson
My brain like a factory constantly creating
Materials stitch by stitch for decoration
My lyrics one fabric the beat is a lining
My passion of rhyming is fashion designing
Now it get sorted cause people wanna sport it ya bought it
If you didn't then you couldn't afford it
Poetry full of surprises it's like a game show
And my brain go
I do my thing yo

[Repeat Hook]

 

[fox69]

"Break You Off"
(feat. Musiq)

"Break You Off"
(feat. Musiq)



[Chorus 2X: Musiq]
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
Yeah Baby

[Verse One: Black Thought]
Bad Misses, Throwing raspberry kisses on me
You looking for directions?
Girl I feel your vision on me
Just don't let him see you sweat'n
and we ain't suppose to be involved
Knowing when we get it off, Girl I mean it all
Keeping you fiending 'til you taking it tossed
And when I'm breaking it off
Its no denying the fact it's wrong
'Cause you got a man who's probably playing his part
You probably breaking his heart
He trying to figure the reason you gon'
Is it because he's superficial
Or is he too submissive
Or did I come along and hit you with the futuristic
Or is it 'cause you really couldn't see a future with him
All he about is paper, never took the time with you to listen
You want it gripped up, flipped, and thrown
And get stripped and shown, the way to get in the zone
The cost, dealing with this you won't be takin' a loss
You need to leave him alone
And roll with the one who's breaking you off

[Chorus 2X: Musiq]
Off...
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
Yeah Baby

[Verse Two: Black Thought]
Brother down the hall
The one you bound to call
Workaholic so really I'm rarely around at all
What we started got serious repercussions in court
We had a chance to turn back, but love that was long
Late nights, twistin' somethin' listenin' to niecey sing
She got the beefy, you tellin' me you deeply appreciate the company,
the time we spend 'I feel the same; It's a shame you ain't my girlfriend'
'Cause listen: you need a brother with that physical fix
that come through in a mix for you with no head tricks or fraud
you need a new position, somethin' to get you open like its Eucalyptus got you ready to go for your's
Come on and work wit' meh', you won't get hurt wit' meh': Just keep it real and you'll get broken off certainleh' (certainly)
Dealing with this you won't be takin' a loss; you need to leave I'm alone and roll with the one whose breakin' you off.

Rollin' down the highway, listenin' to Sade sing the way the smooth operator move my way
You sitting beside me
Looking like Friday Foster
Pam Grier structure look at your body
Keep each other thirsty
Kisses like Hershey
But lips is sealed
'Cause we don't need the controversy
I say I'm in town, You say you want it in the worst way
You probably told your man it was your it was ya lil's birthday
Meanwhile, Its champagne chilling in ice
You ready for the freakiest things you done in ya life?
We breaking down like we Road dogs pullin' a heist.
You making sounds like the vibe got you reaching your heights
Prepare for flight, this is your captain
I'm getting strapped in
Theres no denying the strength
Of'dis attraction girl
Working with this you won't be taking a loss
So stop fooling your man and roll with the one
Who's breaking you off

[beat started]

[Bridge: Musiq]
Baby, Baby, Baby... don't you worry bout...
Nothing 'cause I'm coming to handle you no doubt.
Whenever you want, that thing you need, I got it
I'm there and I aim to please
I'm coming over to give it to you..
Baby.. baby..

[Chorus 2X: Musiq]
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
I'm coming to break you off (beat started.....start-started..)
Yeah Baby

 

[fox69]

"Can You Hear Me?"
(with The Roots)

"Can You Hear Me?"
(with The Roots)



Signal fading
Listen to what I'm saying

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Testing, testing

Can you hear me?

This better be worth all of the breath I'm wasting

Hear him coming through loud and clear
Hear him treacling in your ear

Well, you know your time has come
And you're sorry for what you've done

All you gangsters
You should have never have been playing with a gun

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Hear him coming through loud and clear
Hear him treacling in your ear

Next week there'll be some fashionable new sin
For each harlot and each puritan
Pull off their wings, stick 'em on a pin

Can you hear me?

And just let the money roll in

Can you hear me?

Signal fading
Listen to what I'm saying

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Testing, testing

Can you hear me?

This better be worth all of the breath I'm wasting

Hear him coming through loud and clear
Hear him treacling in your ear

There's a line that you must toe
And it's time for you to go
All you gangsters
It's darker than you know

Can you hear me?

Hear him coming through loud and clear
Hear him treacling in your ear

The hands of the helpless are raised
Your dead little secrets are praised
The people stand dumbstruck and dazed

Can you hear me?

By the inches that you have erased

Hear him treacling in your ear

Do those drug dealer still polish women made of wax

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Gangsters and world leaders
Require the same protection from attack

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Libraries filled up with failed ideas
There's nothing more for me there
I trust in tender ink and gentle airs

Tape starts running
He's going to tell you something

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Strings start strumming
Another humdrum conundrum...

Hear him coming through loud and clear
Hear him treacling in your ear

Barricaded in the talk radio station
Hostage taken
Can you hear me
The red "On-Air" light shines on

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

All you gangsters

So pay the ransom
Before the run-out groove

Hear him coming through loud and clear
Hear him treacling in your ear

Get my wife down here
A helicopter on the roof

No police marksman
Maintaining radio silence from now on

Signal fading
Listen to what I'm saying
Mystery voices drowned out by too much choice

Testing, testing
Maintaining radio silence

 

[fox69]

"Cinco Minutos Con Vos"
(with The Roots & La Marisoul)

"Cinco Minutos Con Vos"
(with The Roots & La Marisoul)



I stood at the kerb trying not to disturb
The dark carnival crew and a glittering voice
Far off there said, "Rejoice"
"As the casualties are but few"

Going to tell you now
Before I forget myself
I could let you loose
But the key won't undo the lock
And the face of the clock
Seemed to merrily mock
These five minutes with you

Mi padre sabía
Y me lo susurro
Vete a Montevideo y espérame ahí
Por dónde empezar?
Escuchando siempre están
Por cinco minutos o mas
Si te atreves

La sirenas lamentan
La plaga que encuentran
Las balas caen
Y te harán desaparecer
El faro oscurece hay poca esperanza
Cinco minutos con vos

[English Version:]
My father would know
So he whispered it low
"Go to Montevideo and wait for me there"
How can I begin?
They're always listening in
For five minutes or more if you dare

Now the sirens wail
There is a fever in the winding sheets
And the bullets hail
And they pull you right off the streets
Our chances are slim but the searchlights will dim in five minutes for you

The propeller was droning, I woke up alone
They opened the door and they threw me through
And down I went down, like the twist of a screw
Down into the silver, above me the blue
And you stood there waiting but you never knew
Five Minutes With You

They can scatter the earth and find nothing of worth
Wipe out those years of triangular tears
The colours will fly
And the wild wind will cry I'm strapped to that mast
Knowing they wouldn't last for
Five Minutes With You

 

[fox69]

"Clock With No Hands"

"Clock With No Hands"


[Black Thought]
Yeah, sitting in the staircase, holding back tears
Looking over mad years worth of photographs
Pictures of some places I ain't never going back
Some people I used to love, why I ain't show them that?
The skies was overcast, when I was sober last
My head is spinning, couldn't tell you if it's slow or fast
It's starting to get too clear, I got to go and grass
To y'all it's a shame but life is what we know it as
Waiting, navigating the plot, without plans
In the car, it's hard to read as a clock with no hands
How your man's goin' get up and stop with no yams
All it take is one break, it could pop the program
Whether sinning or not, my back bending like I'm sentenced a lot
I feel some brothers is beginning to plot
It might have been a close friend I forgot
Who started up and ain't remember to stop
I bet these niggaz going remember the shop

[Hook]
People think that I'm crazy, just cause I wanna be alone
You can't depend on friends to help you in a squeeze
We all deal with shit on our own
And sometimes the beef can grow, get out of hand
Yeah, you know it gets full blown
I never said that you mean the world to me
Maybe it's best that you never know

Yo, I'm like Malcom out the window with the weapon out
Searching for somehow to find a minute or the second now
Precious time is money that I ain't got to mess about
Need it from the horse's mouth or from my eye with less account
Lessons with my back to the wall, scoping my session out
Stay a little edgy at times when I ain't stressing bout
Haters don't know shit about me, they the ones that talk shit
Those that love me send it out, so I ain't got to force quit
Cause I'm doing better now, don't mean I never lost shit
I was married to a state of mind and I divorced it, man
I'm from where brothers moving product from the porches
People locking their doors, clutching to their crosses
The block hot by the law, there ain't too many choices
So what I do is for y'all, there ain't too many voices left
I watch my back, and watch my step
And I might forgive, but I will not forget come on

[Hook]

Yo, living in turbulent times
The blind leading the blind
Some call it evolution, some say intelligent design
You say you want a revolution, you out of your mizind
Your sons' destitute, and their pops all in the prison
My man's back in the jam, he like the back of my hand
He just attracted to scam, he right back in the can
I never sleepwalking, you dig
You get your shuteye
I'm on the first thing in, I'm leaving on the red-eye
My brother back in rehab, just had another relapse
But fin himself, it's been like he's been fighting an energy
Half telling me nobody true when they pretend to be that
So closer than friends, that's where I keep my enemy at
To many parties concerned, it's time to live it and learn
Until we're able to grow, forever bridges we burn
My thoughts free as a bird, that's just about to emerge
And every action is heard, it speaks louder than words, yo

[Hook]