"Rising Up" lyrics - THE ROOTS

THE ROOTS

"Rising Up"

feat. Chrisette Michele & Wale

[Intro: Questlove & Chrisette Michele]
Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying
Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying
I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
She told me that the radio's been playing
The same song all day long
So I told her I got something you've been waiting for
I got something you've been waiting for

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]
Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying
I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
She told me that the radio's been playing
The same song all day long

[Post-Hook: Black Thought]
So get your glass, lift it up in the toast position
We getting paper like John Travolta get it
'Cause we focused with it, we supposed to get it
You know me and my whole squad, we so committed
We not the kids cooling out on the sofa with it
We 'bout to dominate the globe like Oprah did it
We getting paper like John Travolta, nigga

[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Well I'm a downtown shooter, who that?
The crown ruler is back, he kind of grew into the shape of a mack
Look how I do it, yo I'm taking you back
This how you rise down to the foundation, how sacred is that?
I'm from the number one place on the map
The generational gap, with yet another sensational track
And we don't stress for nothing, I just press the button
It's as simple as just making it hap'
To all the frauds stop faking, relax, and to the broads if you caking
Then clap then shake it without breaking your back
I know the world been waiting for that, you been aching for that
'Cause what they playing on the station is wack
And I'm a legend in the flesh that dress to impress
The best is that which I accept and nothing less
My stacks is grotesque, my squad so fresh
You know it's Black Thought, and your boy the bro Quest, but

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]
Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying
I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
She told me that the radio's been playing
The same song all day long

[Verse 2: Wale]
Hip-hop ain't dead 'cause the pulse is in us
I got the Everclear flow, they mimosa with it
We are the hope of the culture, they 'posed to listen
And I'm supposed to pivot like I'm a forward in the league
I'm Oden with it
Yet don't owe them niggas nothing but potent lyrics
But if you ain't got the dance, they revoke your spinning
So good rappers ain't eating, they Olsen twining
But I'm so committed, they have grown familiar
With the counterfeit hitters, they so-so with it, but they are Sosa with it
They Mark McGwire with the written, I'm Rodriguez
On the road to riches this is the fork I'm hitting
This is the trial-and-error era, no co-defendant
I push the seed every time like I'm Cody with it
I said the one-hit wonders pneumonia to us
I don't know you niggas, hit the road, my nigga

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]
Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying
I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
She told me that the radio's been playing
The same song all day long

[Verse 3: Black Thought]
Where my grimy figures at? Look lively addressing the captain
Show me where your first impression is at
And where your dedication to the true profession is at
How you laugh? Answer me, what kind of question is that?
I'll show you where my rare essence is at
The adolescence of rap, the real muscle in the message of that
My name trouble I'm a blessing to rap
And you can check my stats 'cause worldwide, they attesting to that
So nigga listen, you can probably learn a lesson perhaps
How I'm like Bobby DeNiro, Joe Pesc' and them cats
Am I the unsung hero? Oh yes
If you asking anybody that's aware of the classics
They'll tell you I'm a legend in the flesh that dress to impress
The best is that which I accept and nothing less
My stacks is grotesque, my squad so fresh
You know it's Black Thought, and your boy the bro Quest, but

[Hook: Chrisette Michele]
Yesterday I saw a B-girl crying
I walked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
She told me that the radio's been playing
The same song all day long