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Strength

by Leftist

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1.
Alchemy 04:09
Never learned the alchemy If Stevie couldn’t save us, how can we? Somebody teach us how to die If Marley couldn’t save us, how can I? Quit trying to be the calvary If Lauryn couldn’t save us, how can we? Everybody makes it out alive If Michael couldn’t save us... How come every record on the radio's feel good But nobody feels good We used to wanna be alive Surely we still should Burying ourselves Indebted in variants of wealth Lord we pray this bloody paper weigh heavy on scale The undertaker love a faker just as much as a real one No one gets away ain’t no extra minutes to steal from You ain’t gotta be real slum for you to feel something You could have all ya lil wants and it’s gon still come That’s how I know my name will be engraved with the greats Cuz we all goin to the grave don’t you pour me a thing Ain’t no poor me, its sobering to soak in this pain (No man copes with fame) Yet we all remain next And it was success, til access became excess The game is to gain interest to gain entrance (Come with people like you Stay if people like you) I got the bag...same cycle Got the bad chick...same cycle Ima savage...insane white folk ...it’s madness, yeah same psycho Then imagine when you finally get that platform Everybody think those last four was talking bout a rap song So they gon cheer and they gon clap on Act strong, act norm I ain’t on this track to spit, I’m on to ask forgiveness From snatched women, Mac Miller, Flint, the Palestinians Blacks, indigenous Cuz we’re enraptured in it It’s rapture And they’d rather that I can rap, you serious? Take a hip hop beat and take that to Syria Does master lyricism matter in mass hysteria Lord, But we gon cheer and we gon clap on Cuz we still think this talking bout a rap song Bad form Never learned the alchemy If Stevie couldn’t save us, how can we? Somebody teach us how to die If Marley couldn’t save us, how can I? Trying to be the calvary If Lauryn couldn’t save us, how can we? Everybody makes it out alive If Michael couldn’t save us, how can I? If Marvin couldn’t save us, how can I? If Chuck couldn’t save us, how can I? If Nina couldn’t save us, how can I? If Kobe couldn’t save us, how can I? If Martin couldn’t save us, how can I? If Malcolm couldn’t save us, how can I? If Isa couldn’t save us, how can I? If Muhammad couldn’t save us... Who’d have thunk it’d be me on EBT But then my Hooyo was a refugee So picture me being pressured to impress who thinks less of me When I’m the one with the legacy So who’s a victim The use of its reduced to euphemism Was so scared you’d never hear me Now I’m fearing all you’d do is listen The truth is the truth is missing Abuse is vicious Alcohol and accolades, they act the same Got us attending award shows in a war zone The promise is commas don’t conquer your karma So who’s really going broke What’s really good? What’s really ghetto? What’s really hood? Somebody gotta explain what’s been misunderstood There’s no such thing as nothing to something, that’s sustaining Hollywood And this won’t save you Won’t medicate you No better aid This ain’t the safe route for you to escape to This is strength for the shaken This how we break through Just breathe And this rappers can’t save you Breathe These entertainers can’t save you breathe You waiting for the chorus ain’t you? Just breathe
2.
How To Speak 07:36
This is your story, story, story Don’t let them take your glory This is your story, story, story In ways they have not heard This is your story, story, story Don’t let them take your glory This is your story, story, story It’s just that I know every word Consider this inspiration For the pain and frustration we are faced with We’ll get there, know that we will make it Even in anguish Its bitter, still we can taste it Living is such a sweet sensation That’s why when life gives us nectarines we savor All it’s flavors, recipes, arrangements From this angle see everything seems adjacent Ah! But there’s this other side where nothing comes aligned Some people come alive Other’s want to die I just write, I only summarize what someone’s eyes Couldn’t disguise though their mind wanted otherwise Life is a code The perfect combination deciphers your soul We see it in your face that it lightens your load That we can take this stage, your pain, a smile and with it Unlock an algorithm to your heart How to speak, ah! How to speak, ah! How to speak, ah! How to speak, ah! This is your story, story, story Don’t let them take your glory This is your story, story, story In ways they have not heard This is your story, story, story Don’t let them take your glory This is your story, story, story It’s just that I know every word So pardon us as we do intrude The one digging the deepest tends to lose his tools It’s a sequence of cue and clues It’s...it’s mathematical, its rubix cube And there’s no rubric No rules to rule with Just who produces, who consumes it So we get why humans feel in tune As these grooves can move And we maneuver through them But I’m not gonna lie, there’s little special here Just trying to survive and for that we’re endeared So every word you hear comes from many years of dying to exist And you finally let it live So yeah, Here’s your story, all its gain and glory As we exhaust all your possibilities performing Forgive me for all of your secrets I leak See I know how to talk, I’m still learning how to speak I know how to talk, I’m still learning how to speak I know how to talk, I’m still learning how to speak I know how to talk, I’m still learning how to speak I know how to talk, I’m still learning how to… This is your story, story, story Don’t let them take your glory This is your story, story, story In ways they have not heard This is your story, story, story Don’t let them take your glory This is your story, story, story It’s just that I know every word
3.
(Diabate) C’est ça Leftist, Est de retour D’une manière dont vous n’aviez jamais entendu Ah La Gloire! (Nurideen) Ok so They want us dead we got that (got that) If it ain't the prez then it's pop rap (pop rap) A misguided lil kid with a glock strapped (glock strapped) Or a neighborhood watch with a complex (murderer) Somebody watching I fear no man Say the world is a monster to keep us scared Say it's hiding in the closet beneath your bed All this blame it on the boogie At least go dance What? Y'all can't keep up with the rhythm? (the rhythm) Enough with the gimmicks just give up (just give up) Now that I know I gotta die I'm gon live up Disappear, take this inner fear interfering with us Get up Get up, get up The moment you get down Get down, get down And don't ever give up Give up, give up They want you to give out Give out Trust ya boy just get up Get up, get up The moment you get down Get down, get down And don't ever give up Give up, give up They want you to give out Give out Glory to the World's people The ones we lose and love Before we lead we must believe in mercy, freedom, us Where will you be when they come for you Now that you got a little comfortable and unruly (unruly) The fun police They come to shoot You either run or become the news It's your choosing It's all gon get us It's all gon get us Mama said just as long as you don't come with it How pitiful You thought that you could come home didn't you Now internet got you checking for a chip in your tennis shoes And New World Order taking over (taking over) Take a soul and make a soldier (make a soldier) But here we come to shake the globe With enough positive energy to wake Chernobyl Get up Get up, get up The moment you get down Get down, get down And don't ever give up Give up, give up They want you to give out Give out I said just get up Get up, get up The moment you get down Get down, get down And don't ever give up Give up, give up They want you to give out Glory to the World's people The ones we lose and love Before we lead we must believe in mercy, freedom, us Just get up Get up, get up The moment you get down Get down, get down And don't ever give up Give up, give up They want you to give out Give out, give out i said just get up Get up, get up The moment you get down Get down, get down And don't ever give up Give up, give up They want you to give out (nah) Give out, give out But you’ll never give out (nah) Give out, give out I said we’re not gonna quit now (nah) Give out, give out Cuz we're gonna get up Get down Get up Get down Get up Get down Get up Get down, yeah Glory to the World's people The ones we lose and love Before we lead we must believe in mercy, freedom, us Glory to the World's people The ones we lose and love Before we lead we must believe in mercy, freedom, us Glory, Glory Glory, Glory Glory, Glory Glory, Glory Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Oh! Glory Ah! (Glory, Glory) Glory, Glory Glory, Glory Glory, Glory Glory, Glory (Nurideen) They keep coming for your heart They keep coming for your soul If you ain’t ready now you ain’t ever gonna be ready Oh yeah Tell somebody to tell somebody Rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated We here
4.
This is not a plea I don’t ask for your consensus you don’t gotta lie to me I know the precedent you set for protection was not for me I know your services are not for free The word is Ferguson’s confirming this for some But really what’s the purpose of manufacturing guns It’s murderous Add up the brown and the black blood that’s spilled Then the bad blood we feel Isn't bad, it’s just real Now, why are you drawn if I’m supposed to be calm? Complied with my rights then how the hell am I wrong? I’m tired; I've forgiven, fought against Marched alongside, I've forfeited Rioted, Lost Inspire new laws Survived, and I won’t be your target, my life isn't yours I don’t buy your remorse Cuz if all’s well that’s ending well How could Sean Bell be Emmitt Till? Somebody let it wail They say it ain't so pretty But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don't get me A stranger in my own city But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don't get me I don’t care if you don’t feel me But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don't get me I got the beast stalking me Why do they seek war with me? I know it seems so silly But I don’t need your pity I got to keep on living And I’ll be good as long as the Police Don't get me Hands up, so shoot I believe in chickens coming home to roost And I’m no longer disillusioned, I don’t have to prove that I’m human That’s God given and Whether ya’ll get it, this is not a Western Your perceived threat is your agenda And I demand nothing less than respect cuz Put that weapon to my chest, there’s a heart in it I know this life’s not fair You get to stab me in the front and say the knife’s not there And I may never see justice cuz you’re not my peer But to me it means nothing not if I stop caring Because you can’t deny me, can’t sell me your pipe dreams I know how much my life means despite you despising I place everything I sing on Abdur Rahim The ghetto in my speech, my hoodie, and Iced Tea I’m free They say it ain't so pretty But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me A stranger in my own city But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me I don’t care if you don’t feel me Cuz I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me I got the beast stalking me Why do they seek war with me? I know it seems so silly But I don’t need your pity I gotta keep on living And I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me Left him lying in the streets for fo’ Cops caught a body bout a week ago Applying an illegal choke Cops caught a body bout a week ago Even caught on a video Cops caught a body bout a week ago Aiyana Jones while she sleep at home Cops caught a body bout a week ago (another black man shot dead bout a week ago) They say it aint so pretty But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me Stranger in my own city But I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me I don’t care if you don’t feel me I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me I got the beast stalking me Why do they seek war with me? I know it seems so silly But I don’t need your pity I gotta keep on living And I’ll be good as long as the Police Don’t get me
5.
Mariam 05:21
Habibi Zaman ma 7akayna Shta2tilak ikteer Mistha2a la lamsit eedak Aymta bidee a shoofak? Inta 3omri w inta 7ayatee Inta il dunia kolha W il dunia kolha inta Bahibak, Habibi (she's always gettin away) Ok so I was about nineteen when miss thing Mariam moved to my side of town from a bigger city said she was six weeks from eighteen had big dreams of being a teacher smiling really pretty average height, with the brownest eyes born in Newark but her family from Palestine said they came there for better lives Pops built his own restaurant moms was his treasured wife, second wife she loved a rap of mine that's how we got to rappin I got to tap her mind that's how we got attracted she loved fashion, and my accent and she was bad, uh was she bad and back then I knew I was the man in these streets respect her family so I demanded we meet but honey was like "nah I'd rather you met mom you can win over her heart her word is like God" cool...but right around that time we went away to school I was at Howard, she went to Zaytuna soon as the year was closed and we were home though moms told her to bring your boy over I put on my best shtick fended off questions it got tense til I told her I loved her Mansaf from that night on me and yama were best friends said "baby that's him" gave us her blessing, I'm in She's always gettin away She's always gettin away No matter how much I beg, stay baby She's always gettin away She's always gettin away No matter how much I pray on my knees (I pray so much about it need some knee pads) Now we headed back off to college the promise of being items weighing heavy on our conscience to be honest we'd already started between our talks and the infinite amount of time spent I visited for Spring Break, my sister came to block and to make sure the team straight tried to stay away from trouble but we were young so lust taught us a lesson love had to overcome, wait said "I don't wanna waste these moments" her retort? "if you want it you better put a ring on it" what can I say? she loved Beyonce plus like pops say "finance before fiancee" Got my mind straight, finished the semester Got my bread up just to buy her what she meant came home, she never takes this long to answer texts something's wrong, I'm calling but only get the voice message bout 7pm I get a call his first words are "now I'm involved" said "stay away from my daughter who do you think you are, sir? bringing shame to my hard work you disgrace to your father" hold up...homie don't know us he was about to get told but I could hear her crying and I froze he said "say your last byes this is your last time have pride in your culture you and this black guy are over" She's always gettin away She's always gettin away No matter how much I beg, stay baby She's always gettin away She's always gettin away No matter how much I pray on my knees (I pray so much about it need some knee pads) She's always gettin away She's always gettin away No matter how much I beg, stay baby She's always gettin away She's always gettin away No matter how much I pray on my knees (I pray so much about it need some knee pads)
6.
Let it Live 04:12
When will the calls stop I can’t sleep Sallie Mae’s my alarm clock Yet I’m still here, still real, still hurt and fear, still love And I been out of work for years They say greatness comes with perseverance That our best and worst is to find out what our purpose here is That’s everyday for twenty-eight If my love is labor I feel I’m underpaid Don’t really want to be yall, rather be unafraid See I ain’t in the ghetto but I suffer it’s rage Young colored boys coming of age stuck in these cages Shuffling in chains, shucking for change and education One of these days my college degree will mean something Other than slavery, other than leading this country Other than pay me, other than maybe Something then wakes me It’s a dream There is no escaping, save me Do they love me? Or do they understand? I’m not sure that I need them to love me I just need them to understand So when I tell it I tell them to dream big Then let it live It is what it is So let it live When I tell it I tell them to dream big But let it live It is what it is Said it is what it is It’s winter, 6:06am Up trying to make end for FAM I got a wife who feels slighted every time that I’m away And I’m reminded all the time I’m from a line of great men So I know who you think I am but I aint them I’ve gone to great distances to prove that London, Côte d’Ivoire, the Carribean to prove that There just aren’t many men who do that So you rap, I came to bring the blues back A dream deferred, unseen, unheard I’m bringing Langston Hughes back So if it ever do matter that’s one master, two doctors, two bachelors Do they love me? Or do they understand? I’m not sure that I need them to love me I just need them to understand So when I tell it I tell them to dream big Then let it live It is what it is So let it live And when I tell it I tell them to dream big But let it live It is what it is Said it is what it is I hate that I slept this long Dreamt so hard til all that’s left is gone I could be up writing better songs I could be up getting ready for em I could be up in that echelon The World at my beck and call I’m so afraid of being Dave, Eddie, or worse Lamar I wasn’t sent here to be a star I was just meant to work really hard and see where the cards would fall So excel as I exhale Survived and failed and now I finally get Chappelle In order to live my life and live it well I gotta give up something So might as well give em hell Let it live So when I tell it I tell them to dream big Then let it live It is what it is So let it live When I tell it I tell them to dream big But let it live It is what it is Said it is what it is Egypt to Elizabeth to prove that You rap I came to bring the blues back
7.
This is music Revolution music For the people of this world It's just music Listen to it Then please use it for this World You are not alone in this game, this World we are together when it comes to this You are not alone in this game, this World we are together so pump your fist You are not alone in this game, this World we are together when it comes to this You are not alone in this game, this World we are together so pump your fist I'm not from the same place that you are Still I'm sure we share the same purpose So when it comes to walking same paths, we two are traveling different circles on the same surface It's like new gauze over same bruised heart New cloth over same skin, it's still the same skin What I mean is wherever you are we share the same destination I wonder don't they see that life goes unbothered? There's more food for the glutton than the starver Sometimes sacrifice doesn't mean martyr Those who lead with their heart tend to be the most slaughtered I know a girl, her name is Marwa Her mother and brother beat her Her father doesn't want her So living here is such torture And every time we begin to swim there's a bigger fish out to waterboard us Or there's a bigger ship out to cut the border or bigger businesses push you underwater So being here there's nothing for her and I ain't saying that she’s wrong but this is what we should've taught her You are not alone in this game, this World we are together when it comes to this You are not alone in this game, this World we are together so pump your fist You are not alone in this game, this World we are together when it comes to this You are not alone in this game, this World we are together so pump your fist With every hardship comes ease Try to bring us down there's too much air to drown Just breathe I know that sounds hard to believe but it's just as hard with Harvard degrees a wretched heart or a heart on a sleeve is still a heart whether hardened or free and I find at times I take this for granted like it's set in stone, I take it granite So no longer am I saving the planet From today we're just fam Let me be grateful and take full advantage How can I cover your sins? Be more equipped to field your tears? Cuz sympathy's important but empathy is more real So you can shame, you can kill, you can lie, you can hurt but at some point it's worthless That pain will rise to the surface Only devils are fire, we're all made of dirt and if it's one thing you'll find everywhere on this Earth, its us Nothing perfect but pertinent cuz You are not alone in this game, this World we are together when it comes to this You are not alone in this game, this World we are together so pump your fist You are not alone in this game, this World we are together when it comes to this You are not alone in this game, this World we are together so pump your fist I came to bring you all together We came to bring you something better I came to bring you all together We came to bring you something better (Don’t it feel real good, yeah yeah) If that don't feel good nothing does Some of us Gotta feel we're worthy of being loved just because (Don’t it feel real good, yeah yeah) If that don't feel good nothing does If that don't feel good nothing does (Don’t it feel real good, yeah yeah) If that don't feel good nothing does Some of us Gotta feel we're worthy of being loved just because (Don’t it feel real good, yeah yeah) If that don't feel good nothing does If that don't feel good nothing does
8.
This gon be an experience So through the roof We gon take soul to the moon / They gon say we inferior So? It ain't true Not when they loving the hue/ Renovate the interior Don't touch the view Redirect what they consume/ Ain’t Nothing to fear and Nothing to lose We don't make love for these fools/ We don't make love for these fools Viva la revolution Mama we are our resolution It's gon take justice to move us/ We are... Me and you girl We are... Just us two girl We are... Inseparable girl We are... So special girl We are... Me and you girl We are... Resolute girl We are... Next level girl We are... Incredible girl I know we good for the culture I know that's just a little indulgent But I’m in the midst of my woman So allow me to live in my moment/ That’s a critical component We take on all oppositions, opponents Who gon talk, who gon scold us Who gon get caught in they feelings, emotive/ As long as we believe in it I ain't really worried about who policing it Two hands, two feet in the streets with it Deep in it Dependent It’s deep innit (CHORUS X2) Shorty I'm here for you anytime you need me You ain't gotta ask no questions Cuz you worth it I put work in You ain't gotta stress me sweatin Let em give us they worst You ain't gotta even be threatened We were meant to be first It’s Us against the World The World ain't ready (CHORUS X2) We are... Me and you girl We are... Resolute girl We are... Next level girl We are… We're the future

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released October 23, 2020

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Leftist College Park, Maryland

Described by those who listen as Hip-Hop, Alternative, Rock and Soul wrapped up in one, the group Leftist consists of the diverse talents of Nurideen Bashir, Mouhamad Diabate, Mahir Maruf, Mark Hatcher and Ebadullah Ebi Ebadi. The group was formed in 2009 and draws inspiration from the likes of The Roots, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nas and Stevie Wonder.

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