Talib Kweli

Blackstar (1998)

• At exactly which point do you start to realize,
  that life without knowledge is death in disguise?
  • "K.O.S. (Determination)" (track 8)

• We played against each other like puppets, swearing you got pull
  When the only pull you got is the wool over your eyes
  Getting knowledge in jail like a blessing in disguise
  Look in the skies for god, what you see besides the smog
  Is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene.
  • "Respiration" (track 11)

• Creating crime rates to fill the new prisons they build
  Over money and religion theres more blood that spills
  Like the wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal
  Whats the deal?
  • "Thieves in the Night" (track 12)

Reflection Eternal (2000)

• These cats drink champagne and toast to death and pain,
  Like slaves on a ship talking about who's got the flyest chain
  • "Africa Dream" (track 8)

• Persistance, dedication
  Consistent, motivation,
  resistance to stagnation of information,
  distribute it free to the entire population
  No hesitation, makin it public
  No privitazation from corporations
  • "Name of the Game" (track 10)

• These niggas ain't thugs, the real thugs is the government.
  Don't matter if you're Independent, Democrat or Republican
  • "Ghetto Afterlife" (track 11)

Quality (2002)

• Niggas with knowledge are more dangerous than niggas with guns.
  They make the guns easy to get and try to keep niggas dumb
  • "The Proud" (track 11)

• We commute through computers.
  Spirits stay mute while our ego spread rumors.
  We're survivalists turned to consumers
  • "Get By" (track 3)

• Spit bars you can't touch, like tits in strip bars, get scarred, I drop hits to hit hard
  • "Waiting for the DJ" (track 6)

The Beautiful Struggle (2004)

• Fuck the harder way,
  I'm doing it the smarter way
  • "Going Hard" (track 1)

• Those who would trade in their freedom
  For their protection deserve neither
  • "Going Hard" (track 1)

• Yo, I heard it's said the revolution won't be televised
  But in the land of milk and honey there's a date you gotta sell it by
  Otherwise it just expires and spoils
  and these folks jump out the pot when the water too hot
  • "Beautiful Struggle" (track 13)

• Life is a beautiful struggle
  People search through the rubble for a suitable hussle
  Some people using their noodle
  Some people using their muscle
  Some people put it all together make it fit like a puzzle
  • "I try"

Singles and compilations

• Back in the day they stole our smile, so we clothe our teeth in gold.
  • "The Manifesto", Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1 (1998)

• Hip-Hop's last hope like Obi-Wan Kenobi
  Through your television I'm shining light like a train
  Comin out like earthworms when it rains, bringing it
  like the C.I.A. be bringing in crack cocaine bailing out of planes
  with the George Bush connections, I push Reflection
  like I'm selling izm, like a dealer building the system
  Supply and the demand it's all just capitalism
  Niggaz don't sell crack cause they like to see blacks smoke
  Niggaz sell crack cause they broke
  • "The Manifesto", Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1 (1998)

• Learn how to heal yourself and stop fucking with them hospitals
  • "Sharp Shooters", Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 2 (2000)