The Roots — Universe At War

[Intro: Common & Black Thought] When you and I verse at war, motherfucker We gonna do this Chi-town style (verse at war) Illadelph, you know how we get down You know the business Illadelph, Illinois Bringin' it straight to your chest Comin' thru with the ill convoy Yes, sir, hah, yeah Lieutenant with the Com Break it down one, two We about to drop the bomb, check it [Hook: Black Thought] When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or [Verse 1: Common] Rappers, get on the mic talkin' about cars and clothes Soundin' like hoes Ain't been exposed to the foes, the most disciples I'm from the state that is ill The rap son of man rotated down to Phil To say what I feel, get it off my bird chest, my word becomes flesh War, goin' on between the West and the East Of the lands, niggas don't own a piece Grease is the word, Murray slides some pimp oil to me My lady friend sneaks my beer in the movie Throw your hands in the air, if you the true and livin' Beware - The New World Order, the devil's new religion Sent my homie to the number two division Sellin' bootlegged movies, got my VCR on a oove' smoove' Be at Fat Tuesday's, drinkin' tropical and just sittin' At a table with sophisticated bitches Nah, that ain't nothin' I would call my mother Nor do I call every nigga my brother Gotta have Black Thought, it sorta B like Malik So, don't Question a Brother, to The Roots, I get deep [Verse 2: Black Thought] Yo, enter the last era Your scholarship into the world of politics and mascara We operate within this artificial op-era I bring hip-hop terror like the Führer The Ace Ventura into the horror Laboratory labor-er, venture beyond the border I'll struc-ture a style, destroy your whole aura Plus, your a-drenalin'll rise before your eyes Immortalize my image in the skies Deceive the devil in disguise My music I parenthesize, represent the wise Through this be how we enterprise Kid, no compromise (Yeah, yeah) I'm thinkin' fast like Rama- Dan, I wear your mind away like Alzheimer I pull a mic up out my mama, big up to Bahama- Dia, a-yo, this year we leavin' 'em in trauma Then after me, I plan to leave behind the legacy Or history of the family, the Fifth Dynasty For humanity to bear witness to this Del-Val' sylla-ble stylist, you know the time, kid [Hook: Black Thought] When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or [Verse 3: Black Thought] Yo, the general flows, kids compose on tablets Expose how they was average and they thoughts not rapid Here comes the hot package through your block like traffic The rock was type graphic, now watch the mic blast it Shootin' at the stars with emphatic rap static See the mirror shatter from thoughts, I'm bustin' back at it The Lieuten-ant, the eleph-ant, sippin' automatic Mic rippin' Asiatic, architects out to have it The turn of the century The planet's like a penitentiary exaggerated Niggas is livin' highly medicated I Used To Love H.E.R., now she violated Hip-hop holocausts and camps, old champs are concentrated They outdated and incarcerated Loved and appreciated, hated and very debated For every career created, one's eliminated And that's the way the balance of Yin and Yang is related, fa' real! [Verse 4: Common] Every block is divine, niggas swing on in a safari Wild niggas, like I'm high on latari Some let the block block they mind, if they could see what I see Get out the city for a sec, be at the places I be Hey, I'mma be back on the deck Openin' businesses in places, for you to cash yo' cheque My neck of the woods ain't all good, ain't all bad You can live in the 'burbs and still get had The sad part about it — niggas had houses on the lake They tryin' to move us out, the land we ain't appreciate For peace we skate, crackers be rollerbladin' on hate Call each other "Cuz" 'cause of how we relate I seen weight turn into Cadillacs with dopeman plates Through the wind and blow-ups is how niggas communicate Harmonizin' through beepers and reefer The city got my peoples in a sleeper, talk is gettin' cheaper [Hook: Black Thought] When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or When you & I verse at war And your verse at core for what you thought before Steppin' up into a zone you should never explore The next step or level of the whole concept or