Beneath The Surface - GZA/Genius, Killah Priest

On a man-made lake there’s a sheet of thin ice

Where unskilled skaters couldn’t figure-8 twice

That’s sixteen uncut direct from the cult

Head on assault, the result death by the bolt

In a vault, they spoke about the average loss per mission

That was seen by a king in a prophetic vision

Like a plane crash from a bomb blast

Special broadcast, slot time with comcast

They kept the jury quiet and now the riot will form

While satanic man now hang in his dorm

I swing on you fake radio personalities

Who boost ya ratings with hypes behind casualties

And fire shots with low-pressure water gun play

But instantly slap ya five like it’s Palm Sunday

I fashion the first tool, from the elements the Earth use

And built it to a complex network of communications

You’re up against a hopeless situation

I screen every vehicle from enemy observation

Swarming unpredictably, we spread terror

Increase the fog significantly, change the era

Check my wind pattern, it’s heading west

Success is freedom but failure can mean death

Humans sweat and aim shovels, dig up the debris and rubble

Permanent damage caused by the W

Now who cowardlessly urge you to merge through

And think the workers will serve you?

The sonic marvel who just dropped the next novel

Worldwide, rapidly marred in marble

It’s a countless amount of emcees I saved

And them same niggas wanna squander those gifts I gave

Scratch underneath the surface, where does your purpose lie?

It seems our will is worthless, like we’re pawns beneath the sky

Fate’s erased by reason and passion’s just a whim

Feel empty so I breath in, keep myself from giving in

Love and hatred, moments most sacred

Both species, they lay naked in the tombs of oasis

Think back on niggas I ate with, spent the day with

Guns we played with, niggas I relate with

We broke bread, I heard through a vine niggas worked for the Fed

Sent out secretly to take my head

I laid back and meditate to the words they said

Skipped town for a month and grew some dreads

Had a friend tell my family I was dead

Returned at the last fall of the autumn leaf

Operate the plan accordingly in case the Feds are recording me

Sign all documents using forgery cause just a mere thought of me

I’m like Solomon, spoke bluntly, told the world, «I'm black and comely»

Howls from the grave haunt me, the smell of death’s upon me

I dwell in the Hills like Gandhi

Been in the presence of mad peasants and old kings

Who sold everything on a quest for God’s Divine

Slept in caves to get a clear mind

Who prayed three times, when the Moon lit and when the Sun rise

I met dwellers in the desert, talked to shepherds

Been in the mouth of many leopards

Felt the death kiss of Satan’s mistress

Walk through vacant districts, before religions I studied pagan scriptures

True philosophers and physicians on the cure missions

Who harden their hearts toward the weak, sick and inflicted

Candles lit, gamble with a bitch

Who made me love her when I touch her

Soft paws hide claws

Bees with sweet honey in they mouth

Have bitter stingers at they tail

Walk through the chambers of death, take a hole onto Hell

Embracing her was like embracing the third rail

Scratch underneath the surface, where does your purpose lie?

It seems our will is worthless, like we’re pawns beneath the sky

Fate’s erased by reason and passion’s just a whim

Feel empty so I breath in, keep myself from giving in

Scratch underneath the surface