[Verse 1: Nas]
Life is school for the soul and I'm in life seven already
Life’s simple but heavy, incomprehensible shit
Everything from sexy to deadly, I done been through that shit
Still goin' deeper like I grew a new inch on my dick
We looked at robbin' as a way of resolving our problems
My moms cooked food, but some of my n***as was starving
And whatever they was down to do, I was with ’em regardless
Turns out the Fed mouth started hittin' the hardest
Decisions was sharper, my predictions was on it
No fortune teller, just going off regular signs
N***as often tell ya they moves without a word
Just reading they mind, wasn't needin' my nine
Corner executive born in ghetto hell
Where metal yell especially over necklaces
Life lessons is karma
Whatever you dish out come back as blessings or to haunt ya
Could miss your kids and hit your grandkids for your dishonor
Generational curses, [?] let's break
Escape and reverse it, Escape and reverse it

[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]
Yeah, come on
Tried of rap fame, using my middle name
Had my little gang like M.O.P. we had a little fame
The hustlers had a twinkle in they eye
[Verse 3: Yasiin Bey]
Reversing the misfortune by moving forward
Every direction is determined by intention
Life is a school for all of us without exception
24/7, seminars are in session, ha
Some serious studious, some class clowns
The reality like gravity shut that ass down
They laugh now then cry later and longer, ha
They told me ain't nothing growing without some water
Look, we sacrifice for what we needed and wanted
If it was righteous exact or was out of order
Everything is not for sale, everybody pay a price
You can run away and not escape, that's the way of life
Nobody makes it out alive, wow
Nobody ever really dies
Ain't it crazy how the contrast coincide?
Ain’t it strange how I’m amazed but I'm not surprised
They say that they don’t understand it but it's not a lie
And indeed the understanding is not required
'Cause as long as the soul is born and you feel a vibe
Don't trouble your mind, it’s quite alright
More will be revealed in time

[Verse 4: Common]
My soul walks through old parks, it goes dark like ozark
Ghetto stories with no art
Black mozarts, composing street symphonies
The charts read poverty, mahogany, and hennessy
Energy of the struggle
Bubbles in our stomachs
What he's running from
Watch him become it
The summit, used to be of Benz and rims
Now we peak at night dropping [?] and gems
This is just around the way
Of the lost and found today
'Tryna move a pound today
Though sometimes it sounded gray
My people still down to pay, dues for freedom
Wash your hands, save your grace, new rules for eating
It's moods and seasons, I keep my head high on some earth, wind reasons
The fire that I'm breathing, inspired by the babies and the way that we lead them
It's our turn at the table to see them
Yeah