Artist: Talib Kweli Album: Gravitas Song: Rare Portraits Typed by: Nickolye16@aol.com [Intro: Talib] "Gravitas", ha, ha, light it up uhh Ha, ha, lighten it up, brighten it up, yeah You want the grown step your bars up You brag about the scrilla them killers lighten your cars up Welcome to the complete history, of the one known as, Talib Kweli Yeah, yeah [Talib Kweli] Such a blessin, I'm makin the bread leaven Descendant of Terra Firma, I'm from the era of legend The blind on my side, you scared of the world endin My men of spiritual essence be walkin right into heaven Ascendin without the stairs, expressin without the fears We diamonds, but our minds are corrupted just like De Beers Unravellin minds, travellin through time, "Langoliers" Standin with the flow like the man in the gondolier In the park of Washington Square, locks in my hair Louder than the bull horns we was lockin 'em there Cops would prepare to lock us up, they was scared like "Tales From the Darkside" Summer of the Central Park five 1989 was the number, the year that I started rhymin From Brooklyn to Staten Island them Decepticons was whylin Music soothin but the imagery violent as bomb threats Therapy for the prison industrial complex Provided the context for Laquan{?} with a tec-9 At Brooklyn Tech I spit it the best so they had to respect mine I did it to death, on my grind on a +Quest+, to get signed Sorta like the +Tribe+ would always suggest, we +Check the Rhime+ And I'm turnin with Puff Daddy, confronted the buff patty Rollin with Hi-Tek in the MPV through the streets of the 'Natti Before graduatin to Caddies was carryin crates Shoutout to Flex all day doin records with John Forte We were standin outside the tower devourin prey Powerful display of bullet points that we shower and spray the block with, back in them solid days these rappers was appetizers I played it like I was David, I was tacklin that Goliath Attackin them open mics 'til the victory was decisive This life it was so enticin, my surgery so precise it would chop it like thin slices at parties we politic At the country club, lightin up dutches with 'Pac and Big At the crib of Supernatural battlin back and forth Back before Jean was in the Unsigned Hype in the back of The Source Rest in peace to Allah Son, Shabar{?} was like they don't call you son Cause you mine; I call you son cause you shine What's up Ali Asha{?}, this is O.G. Brooklyn shit Not for impostors - pour out a shot of vodka for, Big L (Big L) Big Poppa (Big Poppa) Big Pun (Big Pun) 2Pac, what? Word, the jungle is too savage Rap true master producin the new classic (yea) Shit is too classic, it's blow to vacant to spinal tap I started with the Rawkus Recording, we work the vinyl backwards From Def Jux to Loaded Lux I'm the +Underground King+, like I'm rollin with Bun, the vets know what's up (word) The flow is nuts, it's solid, I got the golden touch Plus my +Iron Sheik+ and I got the game in a cobra clutch (yeah) This the highest calibre, do the algebra From Yasiin Bey to Jean Grey to Pharoahe Monch Black Thought to Common Almost 20 years after the release of "Soundbombing" and it still sounds timeless I'm out and on tour with the greatest, A Tribe Called Quest and the De La's Opened for Jay Z and Nas, who else could say this? In Vegas with Tech N9ne gettin faded before the gig Only later to hit the Rio and hop on the stage with Prince (true story) I always knew the importance of great shows Since 1992 I seen Ice Cube play cold (word) Way cold, continue to pave the road for the Kendricks and J. Coles, continue to stay gold From makin the way for Kanye to meetings with Mr. Harry Belafonte All started on park benches with Dante Predictin the future, so observant we clairvoyant The frame can't contain it, I'm paintin a rare portrait {*echoes*}