Champion Requiem

(album: The New Danger - 2004)

Bismillah ir Rhman ir Raheem
Peace, peace what's up y'all this is Mos Def
And this is a message to the people
If you see or hear goodness from me
Then that goodness is from The Creator
You should be thankful to The Creator for all of that
'Cause I'm not the architect of that
I'm only the, the recipient
If you see weakness or shortcoming in me
It's from my own weakness or shortcoming
And I ask The Creator and the people to forgive me for that
Thank you Brooklyn, thank you world
Yeah, yeah there it is, turn my voice up in the top a little bit
It feel good to be back, what's up ochenta
It's the Black Dante in your headphones
Speakerbox, freaky radio
Everywhere on the dial, tell you a little bit about me
For my hometown, break down a little history for you
Myrtle and Broadway, Roosevelt projects, Marcy projects
Listen

I stepped on the field from no league, just home team
I jumped out the stands and I snatched the rock
With the final seconds one, two, land on the clock
Mos post up to throw up the tie-breaking shot
I put it through the net and let the world's jaw drop
Then fled the arena before they called cops
Tell the players and the coach I wasn't trying to blow spot
But the way they was balling made it difficult to watch
I was taught when there's something you can change around
Keep quiet, you got nothing to complain about
You got work to do, I don't know if that work for you
But that's how Mos work it through
And my work is personal, I'm a working person
I put in work, I work with purpose
I get it there, on the water, air, the surface
You feel the impact, niggas yeah it's working
Listen God did not make me a fearful person
The only fear I have, is my failure to adhere his path
I would love it just to hear this back
On the ghetto streets where y'all at
On the ave's where the Jeep's go past
In the coupes where the seats go back
In the parties where it be so packed
And the atmosphere be so black
And them black things be so phat
If I could I would be so glad
But if not I won't be so mad
I'm still being a man, still feeding my fam
And even if you don't see it my fam
I believe that I am, truly gifted, truly blessed
I'm yours truly, Brooklyn's own, Mos Def
I'm rocking the hard right, ground zero, to far left
I'm, well balanced, with immense talents
Burn the script, then flip it to keep myself challenged
And that's the mark of a true champ-ine
That's whether I'm in or outside the ring
No fights, no title, no crown or reign
Feel my presence even when I'm up out this thing
Just trust, that's what I'm about to be
But until then settle in and rock with me

Ha, that's what it's about to be
Ghetto people look alive with me
And say, we gon' stop by
Then we just keep moving on
Ghetto people, look alive and
Feel free, we just keep moving on
For Aaliyah, Left Eye, Jam Master Jay
All the great hero's who have passed away
Scott Laraque, BIG and Pac, Feaky Tah, Big L
All the soldiers locked down in the cell
Lock up the flesh, but the spirit will prevail
To our loved ones, and deceased
Dying in the street, or quiet in their sleep, BIG
Rest in peace, your living in the mansions of our memory
Rest in peace, your living in the mansions of our memory
And that's real, 'cause everything in life gon' come to an end
Because it must, and when it does
I hope that y'all remember me with true respect
And ghetto love, now raise it up
'Cause everything in life gon' come to an end
Because it must, and when it does
I hope that y'all remember me
Black Dante, from Myrtle and Broadway, yeah, yeah y'all
Let me hear it back
Freaky radio (freaky radio) ha
Freaky radio (freaky radio) everywhere on the dial