Penny for a Thought

Cancel the apocalypse! Cartons of the milky way with pictures of a missing planet Last seen in pursuit of an American dream This fool actually thinks he can drive his hummer on the moon Blasting DMX off the soundtrack of a South Park cartoon Niggas used to buy their families out of slavery Now we buy chains and links, smokes and drinks They're paying me to record this, even more if you hear it Somebody tell me what you think I should do with the money Yes, friend, tell me what you think I should do with the money Exactly how much is it gonna cost to free Mumia? What's he gonna do with his freedom? Talk on the radio? Radio programming is just that - a brain washed and gleamed of purpose To be honest, some freedom of speech makes me nervous And you, looking for another martyr in the form of a man Hair like a mane with an outstretched hand In a world of harsh thoughts, reactionary defensiveness, and counter-intelligence What exactly is innocence? Fuck it, I do believe in the existence of police brutality Who do I make checks payable to? (How 'bout I pay you in prayers?) A young child stares at a glowing screen, transfixed by tales of violence His teenage father tells him that *that*'s life, not that Barney shit A purple dinosaur that speaks of love, a black man that speaks of blood Which one is keeping it real, son? Who manufactured your steel, son? Hardcore, ancient elements at the earth's core Fuck it, I'mma keep speaking 'til my throat soars An emcee told a crowd of hundreds To put their hands in the air An armed robber stepped to a bank and told everyone To put their hands in the air A Christian minister gives his benediction while the congregation Hold their hands in the air Love the image of the happy Buddha With his hands in the air Hands up if you're confused. Define tomorrow Your belief system ain't louder than my car system Nigga walked down my block with his rottweiler, a subwoofer on a leash Each one teach one The DJ spins a new philosophy into a barren mind I can't front on it My head nods as if to clear the last image from an etch-a-sketch Something like Rakim said: I could quote any emcee, but why should I? How would it benefit me? Karmic repercussions Are your tales of reality worth their sonic laced discussions? Suddenly, the ground shivers and quakes A newborn startles and wakes Her mother rushes to her bed side to hold her to her breast Milk of sustenance heals and nourishes From the depths of creation life still flourishes Yet we focus on death and destruction, violence, corruption My people, let Pharaoh go What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out? What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out? What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out? (spoken) How much it gonna cost to buy you out of my mind? Penny for a thought. Y'all niggas is half-steppin', wastin' my time Please, nigga, what? You talkin to me? Please baby, baby, baby can I borrow - canIborrow a nickle, a dime A dime, a quarter? Penny for a thought. Penny for a thought How much will it cost to buy you out of Buyin' into a reality that originally bought you? Dime a dozen. Y'all niggas a dime a dozen Penny for a thought, nigga. C'mon, penny for a thought Think fast, think fast. C'mon, time is money Time is money, money is time So I keep 7 o'clock in the bank and gain interest in the hour of God I'm saving to buy my freedom, God, grant me wings I'm too fly not to fly I soared further past humans without wings so I soar And fine tickling the feathers of my wings Flying hysterically over land. Numerically I am seven mountains higher than the valley of death Seven mountains higher than the valley of death Seven dimensions deeper than dimensions of breath (x12, gradually mixed out) We are performing an exorcism on all this keep-it-realism Violent sensationalism In the name of the hip hop that nurtured me, cultured me We are ordering all evil entities to exit this body, leave this body In the name of microphone fiends and a young boy's b-boy dreams We told you to leave this body, leave this body All evil entities, all wannabe emcees Decoys, decoys Send in the true b-boys, the true b-boys Be men, motherfuckers. Be men In the name of Scott La Rock In the name of T-La Rock Motherfuckers that remember how to do the reebok Walk, hop I told you to leave this body Leave this body, leave this body I told you to leave this body Leave this body, leave this body Motherfuckers must think I'm crazy Shit, I think y'all motherfuckers is crazy I want my fuckin' MTV Penny for a thought, nigga, penny for a thought What the fuck have you bought into?