[Kendrick Lamar:]
What did the Asian say?
A peace of mind,
That's what the Asian said, I need a divine
Intervention was his religion, and I was surprised –
Him believin' in Buddha, me believin' in God.
Asked him, “What are you doing?” He said, «Taking my time.
Meditation is a must, it don't hurt if you try.
See you thinking too much, plus you too full of yourself,
Worried about your career, you ever think of your health?”
What did the Indian say?
A piece of land,
That's what the Indian said, I needed the man
Tellin' me longevity is in the dirt, should buy some property first,
Should profit a better dollar with generational perks,
Equity at his best, really, you should invest.
These tangible things expire, don't you expect?
Income with so much outcome, and, yes,
Look at my heritage, we blessed!
Now, what the black man say?
A piece of pussy,
That's what the black man said, I needed to push me
To the limit to satisfy my hunger,
We do it all for a woman from hair cut to a war,
We like to live in the jungle, like to play in the peach.
What you sayin' to me?
He said, “Nigga, come back to reality for a week:
Pussy is power, fuck on a new bitch every night!
I wouldn't be prouder, you should allow it.”
What the white man say?
A piece of mine's,
That's what the white man wanted when I rhyme,
Tellin' me that he sellin' me just for $10.99,
If I go platinum from rappin', I do the company fine.
What if I compromise? He said, “It don't even matter,
You make a million or more, you living better than average.
You losing your core following, gaining it all.”
He put a price on my talent, I hit the bank and withdraw,
Hit the bank and withdraw, hit the bank and withdraw,
Put myself in the rocket ship and I shot for the stars,
Look at what you accomplished and what he said to the boy:
“I'ma make you some promises that you just can't ignore,
Your profession anonymous as an artist,
If I don't target your market,
If you ain't signin' your signature when I throw you my wallet,
A lot of rappers are givin' their demo all in the toilet,
Your world tour, your master's, mortgage, I need a piece.”
[Bilal:]
I holler, «What you do? What you say?»
I shall enjoy the fruits of my labor if I get freed today.
I holler, «What you do? What you say?»
I shall enjoy the fruits of my labor if I get freed today.
What the black man say?
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die,
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply!
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die,
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply!
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die,
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply!
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die,
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply!