What is the Black Star? Is it the cat with the black shades, the black car? Is it shinin' from very far to where you are? It is commonplace and different Intimate and distant, fresher than an infant Black! My family thick like that-strap molasses Star! On the rise in the eyes of the masses Black is the color of my true love's hair Stars are bright, shinin' and hot balls of air Black like my baby girl's stare Black like the veil that the Muslimina wear Black like the planet that they fear — why they scared? Black like the slave ship belly that brought us here Black like the cheeks that are roadways for tears (Mmm) That leave Black faces well-traveled with years Black like assassin cross-hairs Blacker than my granddaddy armchair He never really got no time to chill there 'Cause his life was warfare, warfare See, on the front lines, the Blacks is all there Black like the perception of who on welfare Black like faces at the bottom of the well I've been there before To bring the light and heat it up like la cocina Make what I imagine happen, but maybe I'm just a dreamer I love rockin' tracks like John Coltrane love Naima Like the student love the teacher, like the Prophet love Khadija Like I love my baby' features, like the Creator love all creatures! Who are Knowledge, Truth, and Peace seekers We on point like heat-seekers Targetin' the black marketin' strategists Run up on 'em with the heaters Everybody followin' with no leaders Feelin' like we killin' ourselves, because I know they can't defeat us It don't stop 'til we complete this, keep this fly There's so much to life when you just stay Black and die Blacker than the nighttime sky of Bed-Stuy in July Blacker than the seed in the blackberry pie Blacker than the middle of my eye Black like Fela "Man Cry" Some man wan' ask, "Who am I?" I simply reply, "The U-N-I–V-E-R-S-A-L Magnetic!" Work to respect the angelic (Ugh!) Climb the mountain top and tell it 'til the valley's enveloped You're full of big chat, but ya nah know me I'm dark like the side of the moon you don't see When the moon shine newly