Black Star - Thieves In The Night Lyrics
[Talib Kweli]
Yo Dee (What?)
Come on (Yeah..)
What? What? Come on
(Yeah)
"Give me the fortune, keep the fame," said my man Louis
I agreed, know what he mean because we live the truest lie
I asked him why we follow the law of the bluest eye
He looked at me, he thought about it
Was like, "I'm clueless, why?"
The question was rhetorical, the answer is horrible
Our morals are out of place and got our lives full of sorrow
And so tomorrow comin' later than usual
Waitin' on someone to pity us
While we findin' beauty in the hideous
You know what I mean, pesos, francs, yens, cowrie shells, dollar bills
Or is it the mindstate that's ill?
Creating crime rates to fill the new prisons they build
Over money and religion there's more blood to spill
The wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal
What's the deal?
A lot of cats who buy records are straight broke
But my language universal they be recitin' my quotes
While R&B singers hit bad notes, we rock the boat
of thought, that my man Louis' statements just provoked
Caught up, in conversations of our personal worth
Brought up, through endangered species status on the planet Earth
Survival tactics means, bustin' gats to prove you hard
Your firearms are too short to box with God
Without faith, all of that is illusionary
Raise my son, no vindication of manhood necessary
[M.D.] Not strong
[T.K.] Only aggressive
[M.D.] Not free
[T.K.] We only licensed
[M.D.] Not compassionate, only polite
[T.K.] Now who the nicest?
[M.D.] Not good but well behaved
[T.K.] Chasin' after death
so we can call ourselves brave?
[M.D.] Still livin' like mental slaves
[both] Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
[both] Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
[Mos Def]
Yo, I'm sure that everybody out listenin' agree
That everything you see ain't really how it be
A lot of jokers out runnin' in place, chasin the style
Be a lot goin' on beneath the empty smile
Most cats in my area be lovin' the hysteria
Synthesized surface conceals the interior
America, land of opportunity, mirages and camouflages
More than usually -- speakin' loudly, sayin' nothin'
You confusin' me, you losin' me
Your game is twisted, want me enlisted -- in your usary
Foolishly, most men join the ranks cluelessly
Buffoonishly accept the deception, believe the perception
Reflection rarely seen across the surface of the lookin' glass
Walkin' the street, wonderin' who they be lookin' past
Lookin' gassed with them imported designer shades on
Stars shine bright, but the light -- rarely stays on
Same song, just remixed, different arrangement
Put you on a yacht but they won't call it a slave ship
Strangeness, you don't control this, you barely hold this
Screamin' brand new, when they just sanitized the old shit
Suppose it's, just another clever Jedi mind trick
That they been runnin' across stars through all the time with
I find it's distressin', there's never no in-between
We either niggaz or Kings
We either bitches or Queens
The deadly ritual seems immersed, in the perverse
Full of short attention spans, short tempers, and short skirts
Long barrel automatics released in short bursts
The length of black life is treated with short worth
Get yours first, them other niggaz secondary
That type of illin' that be fillin' up the cemetery
This life is temporary but the soul is eternal
Separate the real from the lie, let me learn you
Not strong, only aggressive, cause the power ain't directed
That's why, we are subjected to the will of the oppressive
Not free, we only licensed
Not live, we just excitin'
Cause the captors.. own the masters.. to what we writin'
Not compassionate, only polite, we well trained
Our sincerity's rehearsed in stage, it's just a game
Not good, but well behaved cause the ca-me-ra survey
most of the things that we think, do, or say
We chasin' after death just to call ourselves brave
But everyday, next man meet with the grave
I give a damn if any fan recall my legacy
I'm tryin' to live life in the sight of God's memory
Like that y'all
[Mos Def]
A lot of people don't understand the true criteria of things
Can't just accept the appearance
Have to get the true essence
[Talib Kweli]
They ain't lookin' around
[M.D.] Not strong
[T.K.] Only aggressive
[M.D.] Not free
[T.K.] We only licensed
[M.D.] Not compassionate, only polite
[T.K.] Now who the nicest?
[M.D.] Not good but well behaved
[T.K.] Chasin' after death
so we can call ourselves brave?
[M.D.] Still livin' like mental slaves
[both] Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
[both] Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
[both] Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
[both] Hidin' like thieves in the night from life
Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice
[Mos Def (singing)]
Stop hidin', stop hidin', stop hidin' yo' face
Stop hidin', stop hidin', 'cause ain't no hidin' place
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Black Star - Intro
- Black Star - Little Brother
- Black Star - Fix Up
- Black Star - Twice Inna Lifetime
- Black Star - Thieves In The Night
- Black Star - Respiration
- Black Star - Yo Yeah (Skit)
- Black Star - Hater Players
- Black Star - K.O.S. (Determination)
- Black Star - B Boys Will B Boys
- Black Star - Brown Skin Lady
- Black Star - Children's Story
- Black Star - RE: DEFinition
- Black Star - Definition
- Black Star - Astronomy (8th Light)
- Black Star - Respiration (Flying High Mix)
Rand Lyrics
Last Posts
Beyonce Shakes the Internet with Surprise Super Bowl Tease and New Music Release
Beyoncé once again set the digital world abuzz with her latest musical surprise. In an unforgettable move during the Super Bowl, a Verizon commercial served...Watch Usher’s Full Super Bowl 2024 Halftime Performance Usher, Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris,
At the 2024 Super Bowl, Usher redefined the halftime show with a dazzling, career-highlight performance that will be remembered for years to come. Taking the...Usher Unveils ‘Coming Home’: A Journey Through Sound and Soul in His Latest Album
Spanning three decades in the music industry, Usher has consistently mesmerized fans with his soulful tunes and magnetic performances. However, his most recent project, Coming...
Black Star Thieves In The Night Comments
2020 and for me this masterpiece of music still reigns as the greatest hip-hop song ever made
Whats the sample at the last few seconds? "Are you drifting or can you jump aboard the rifraf"
Pure FACTS ON FACTS !!! ✊🏾
2020 in this bitch still teaching me lessons throught the lyrics
2020... Who else is tryin to catch up and stay ahead
"Your fireARMS are too short to box with God." That's a fine wine line.
Its 2020 and im still bumping this.
Rings me back to high school days. Before I left for job corps. Miss this type of hip hop...real.....and relatable to everyone. Its gonna come back to this one day. Peace
One Of The Greatest Songs Ever Made.
This song is legendary and Mos Def verse was classic. December 2019
TOP TEN BEST HIP HOP ALBUM
Love the comments
"Your firearms are too short to box with God" Shhhheeeiiiitttt!
New black star is coming 😭😭😍😍😍
Reallyy ??? Tell me more
Thank you uploader
5:01????
Realest shit ive heard
These brothas were ahead of their time man word up Black Starr Foundation Forever 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🎧🎧🎤🎤🎶🎶🎵🎧🎹
Mos def verse is better than this whole new era on my mama a top 5 verse in hip hop history
Sitting in a 1986 honda civic, house speaker in the backseat. Broken cassette case under the emergency break with an stale french fry on the liner notes. Friend smoking a Swisher. I say, "This the new Mos..." Its quiet for a second, "Looord a'mercy..."
Who would hit dislike??!??
This album saved my mindset. Respect eternal
LOVED THIS THE YR. 1999!
Get yours first
Them other niggas secondary
That's the type of illin that be fillin up the cemetary
Damn!
Nobody has dropped more knowledge in a single career than Mos Def has dropped in too many singular tracks
Hood up, eyes closed for this one. Pure class
"Not compassionate only polite we well trained our sincerity's rehearsed on a stage it's just a game"
Ain't no hidin place
Um I don't care about any other songs anymore masterpiece thank god we are allowed to listen
Haha wow, incase anyone wants to know his message read upon a book named “The Bluest Eye”
“Let me learn you” 2019
Who love being black!!!!!!!!🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️
Mos def snapped, So underrated! SMH!
2019 is here
I just ordered CD on Amazon as a collector's item
@jamille daniel good guy supporting good artists +1
My man 88keys produced this
YO!!!!!!!
This song makes me sad. And that's a good thing.
Just heard this for the first time at 22 and I shed tears. In this week swat, fbi, Sheriff’s and cops hit my neighbors door. Single mother with three kids and now her 19- year old is charged with attempted murder of a police officer , attempted murder and 3 counts of robbery. This happened within a months time in this order. Shot and robbed a teenager in the projects for the attempted murder and a robbery , robbed two other guys, and got into a high speed chase in a stolen Dodge Challenger which led to a shootout with police at 1a.m. Bailed from the car after the spike strips, then he and a 15 year old ran off. He was able to make it back to his house on foot and they got him late that afternoon. So sad that he’s a month or two from 20 and his sentence will probably be longer than he has lived. He also leaves behind a 1-years old. I know his mom and two 14 year old brothers must be in pain over this, and 14 is an age that can send you down a dark path if your heads in a bad place. I almost feel some guilt since they’ve lived next door for 6 years since the 19 year old was 13 and never tried to give him advice when He was going down that path. Always thought it either wasn’t my problem or thought I’d come across as a lick for offering help. Then again , I was a teen then and not as mentality strong as I am now and might’ve added to the problem. Neighborhoods have to start communicating and helping each other out. We always say it’s not our problem, but we sit and watch it unfold until this happens.
I miss this hip hop....they addressed the problems in black culture as opposed to amplifying them
really this goes well and far beyond black culture. this applies to every one. it did then, and it does now and most likely will in the future.
''I give a damn, if any fan, recall my legacy, i'm tryna live life, in the sight of God's memory like that y'all" That line is So Powerful.
At first, I didn’t really care for this song, but then it kind of outgrew me and I eventually realized that this is actually a really really great song.
One of their deepest songs.
It's been said a lot already here but, you can't underestimate how powerful in all facets Mos Def's verse is. I shiver everytime I hear it.
Dope mos def bangs
I think this is actually the greatest song I have ever heard (with words) across all genres of music. Such presents, Insight, honesty, and knowledge of self. Not a single word was wasted on this track.
Even in 2019 (20 years later) i still find myself listening to this classic song
Mannnn therapeutic !!! Timeless music fasho fasho
Mos Def's verse should be in inner city school books. Supreme being level
One of my favorite hiphop songs ever!
This is one of 5 albums across ALL forms of music that I put on and listen from beginning to end.
Bought this album in high school 2006. This song is beautiful and grimy and jazzy with perfect lyrics. Takes me back
Greatest rap song ever.
I gave these lyrics to one of my professors and he was jaw dropped
When Mos Def mentions usury... You know who he's talking about
love.❤️
I'm not anti white I'm pro black and of you can't see the difference than you are a racist
Mos Def's verse goes down as one of my favorite verses if all time. I really mean that.
Survival tactics means, busting gats to prove you hard
Your firearms are too short to box with God
2:53 to 3:27
Go here every time you need chills to run down your spine
This song is completely made from genius minds.
Mos Def was talking Master's ownership decades before most rappers started catching on, truly a timeless verse
Mighty Mos Def. Enough said!
2019 and lyrics still relevant
Black Starr Forever
every line is a banger.
literally every line is packed with meaning
A lot of cats who buy records are straight broke
But my language universal they be reciting my quote
RIP Toni Morrison
You can't rap better than this!!! Ever
Going back to my roots
Education over a dope beat...what more could you want....
Timeless... one of my FAV HIP HOP SONG EVER
pancada
Thank you
My dying wish would include this song.
Someone recommend me some discography from Mos def & his best associated acts plz
Thanks!
Mos Def's vocals, vocabulary, wisdom,mind, patience,and political and reaseing, science,with pyscology, to give you a heads up when, you have a ear for the syfa that he has at that moment in time at that moment, for you,if you miss it, then you must be down with Tiny brain, I'ma give you some advice dictionary and thesourese one
This should have more views
Listening to this, on top of whats on the radio and apps. 🤦🏽♂️ We fell beyond far off.
Conscious rap this is true rap not degrading women talking about clothes and materialistic things good lyrics and message makes you think.
they go together like lamb and tuna fish
Take me back to '07
we either niggaz or kings or bitches or queens. now let it simmer
The Earthly God's will probably never be together again but what a Blble they left us Thanku My Brooklyn Brothers !!!!!!!
This sample is the one of the biggest mystery of the man kind.
Which sample did hi tek used?
88 keys is on production. He probably played the chords himself.
@Thabo Thekooops, it was 88 keys. My mistake. Btw if this song was not sampled than it would be a huge pilot twist man....
This life is temporary but the (soul is eternal)
Lawd, I haven't heard this gem in years. I'm a lil' rusty on them lyrics, but I know that beat from anywhere. They put it down so tough on this gem. And it's still all good.
2019 and what Mos sayin here means even more now than when he said it
I do not know how I met this song only today.Very fuck.💕
came from Lauren?
great song
MOS DEF 🦉♐️🌌✨ETERNAL
Who’s here in 2019 and Infinitely?🦉🌌🌟
KAT STERLING Me
Praise God and thank him for blessing us with niggas most deff and talib kwali
We ain't free only LICENSED!!!