“I Need All That” is the second track off of Ka’s eighth studio album, A Martyr’s Reward. Ka sounds especially bitter on this track, speaking about how his culture was stolen and the anger he feels due to that.
[Intro]
"We see them... and they see us.. what faces me has never frightened me"
[Verse 1]
It's a pity we lodge in the city of dodge, but not dodging
Some slung bars to become stars, I did it to stop starving
How they done us was fungus, hung us, none of us got pardoned
If asking, wasn't basking to scoop, we was youth out robbing
Took obvious toll, mind body and soul is where the scars been
Not blessed as every source necessary, when the Gods send
Just missed it, being that statistic I was doomed to be
Hearts far too heavy to make light, and try to humor me
Sad and trash, ain't had no class, way before the truancy
Fight in the night, dragging the magnum, if any try to slewin' me
Everyday we face the waste, its disgrace what the sewer see
Pray I ain't back to hard knocks, trying to get a new degree
Trying to provide fruitfully for those few that root for me
This music used to be how I got my news as youth, truthfully
Back when they did it for the good of the hood, exclusively
You can make it from the basement, proof is me
[Chorus]
I want back everything they took
My culture, my music, my look
They rook how we greet, how we speak, how we cook
I want back everything they stole
My braids, my waves, my gold
My chance, my dance, my stance, my soul
I want back everything they claimed
My glory, my story, my reign
My divas, my Jesus, my credence, my name
I want back everything they scammed
My rights, my spice, my land
My hide, my pride, my tribe, my fam
I can't fall back, I need all that
[Interlude]
"You not listening, that's what it is"
[Verse 2]
Enemy to many, wasn't equipped to be a friend
Don't fear death, 'cause every peer left, I get to see again
Long as we jell, I don't care if we in hell or we ascend
What I cook's a guidebook, to how to be as men
What you pop is impossible, never been in true beef
Every gangster I know either died, or turned a new leaf
Who rule the day or prey the crude streets, now was due east
Life changing moments with dangerous opponents, every few weeks
Need true peace where better gaze predicates who eats
Plus the newbies' niche be thinking they zoo-keeps
[Chorus]
I want back everything they took
My culture, my music, my look
They rooked how we greet, how we speak, how we cook
I want back everything they stole
My braids, my waves, my gold
My chance, my dance, my stance, my soul
I want back everything they claimed
My glory, my story, my reign
My divas, my Jesus, my credence, my name
I want back everything they scammed
My rights, my spice, my land
My hide, my pride, my tribe, my fam
I can't fall back, I need all that
I can't fall back, I need all that
I need all that, B
I can't fall back, I need all that
All that!
I can't fall back, I need all that!
[Outro]
"I was needed. I would sing to help my people, and that became the main stay of my life"
I Need All That was written by Ka.
I Need All That was produced by Ka.
Ka released I Need All That on Fri Aug 13 2021.