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?