The other day, me and XP opened for Souls Mischief
 I'm like "Yo, let's get on some angry MC showmanship and hit 'em"
 Rocked all the [bad word] songs and not too many soulful lyrics
 Even a couple dissin' women callin' 'em groupies, hoes, and [bad word]  Got off stage, and I'm like "Yo, I know that we killed it"
 Ran into a familiar face, a female [bad word] in and supports us
 I said "Peace!" She said "Wait! Let me talk to you for a minute
 I know it's none of my business, but I wasn't impressed by your performance."
 I said "Word? [bad word]  I love feedback and criticism"
 She said "I miss the passionate spirit, your political vision
 Quite honestly I wasn't offended by those references to women
 But you're only continuing society's conditioning"
 It hit the heart of me
 I told her that this was part of me
 I stand up for human rights, and treat others how I would wanna be treated
 But every song can't be seepin' with freedom
 'Cause the other side of me is ist then people will feel that I'm preachin'
 "Everything's peace and love?" uhh, that's somewhat misleading
 Because this world is [bad word] up and I'm a pro-duct to what I'm seeing
 Not to justify, but just to touch on my being
 I learn from these verses and my purpose gets surfaced with demons
 Now I am ist, I'm prejudice, I put that in my music
 She said she heard that perspective, but before she turned around
 She said "We have a flame, your fire's ignited with sound
 Are you building the empire up, or using your fire to burn it down?"
 [bad word]  x2]
 Consumption, contradiction. I'm conflicted with being a hypocrite,
 And through these songs you can witness it.
 The differences, I admit this [bad word]  because I'm just like you;
 Walking a fine line between saying and living it.

[Overvoice:]
 Light it up to burn it down, light it up to burn it down
 Light it up to burn it down, down, down
 Light it up to burn it down, light it up to burn it down
 Light it up to burn it... down, down, down, down, down, down, down

 Now one thing that I've always [bad word] on
 Is how to incorporate [bad word] and alcohol into my music
 Outside of sober songs
 'Cause on that perspective, that's all over my records
 But the other side isn't represented unless it sessions with XP
 How can I admit that I love to smoke weed
 Knowing the kids are listening and many of 'em look up to me?
 Not to say that I'm a role model
 But I know that words are power
 And if I condone bottles and chronic, I am sending out the
 Message "It's okay," hey I believe that it is. Chronic can be medicine
 But it's all about your relationship with it
 See I'm either off in the wagon riding and everyday with the spliff
 Constantly looking for a balance but habit turns to addiction
 And hip-hop music & weed: they're inseparable
 So MCs that don't smoke or drink, talking about it to me seems questionable
 It proves how much people just want to be accepted
 And not seem straight-edge to their audience, so keeping it real is neglected
 'Cause when I'm smoking, I wouldn't wanna bump a song like this
 Put on some Devin, break out the Swishers and a bong and some licks
 See that's a part of me too
 And I know that I would make more money if I wasn't as [bad word]  To all the stuggles of the blunted consumption I'm going through
 Make music for the party, and the people support you
 I burn Brother Ali and buy 50, what does that say to you?
 Bring it back around
 I building the empire up or using my fire to burn it down?
 [bad word] x2]