(Chorus 4x) I’m loving life, the mystery and the riddle of it I had a dream and I’m living in the middle of it (Verse 1x) Making reality of my fantasy Before it ends in it’s inevitable tragedy No matter when I go it’s not the right time Or find myself in the wrong place without my right mind Or lose the person I swore I couldn’t live without My little light shining creates a shadow of doubt But I’mma bask in the glow while the light’s shining I’m living in the now, no fast forward or rewinding So much beauty in a world that’s so ugly I got teenage sons who hug me while saying they love me Got a daughter whose a toddler who’s the apple of my eye An intelligent wife with a big heart and some thick thighs She’s got knowledge of self, she is my true wealth, Through sickness and health With books on her shelf as thick as herself I said that before, I had to say it again When I fail she holds me so when I lose I win (Chorus 4x) (Verse 2) I’m not saying this to gloat I know the storms of life will once again rock my boat It could all change tomorrow, could be crumbled and be ruined My good fortune has little to do with my own doing I just want to mark this moment in time When the world is getting sick but i’m feeling just fine I’mma say this part a capella so you feel it Not a self made man, I’m a product of my village I’mma take this next moment to thank my ancestors My family and my friends are my biggest investors My mother and my father, my sister and my brother And my community who always got me covered They love me no matter what and yeah that’s deep I get with this instead of that because I’m the black sheep My past is preppin me for what’s coming next Hey y'all I’m even cool with my ex (Chorus 4x) (Verse 3) I breath easy but sometimes I’m stressed Atheist say I’m lucky church folk say I’m blessed You wanna know why, let me tell you my philosophy I live with no animosity and a spirit of reciprocity It’s not giving back ‘cause we're one not two Looking out for me means looking out for you We’re all from the same stardust I’ve given so much love and so much trust I give the children all the wisdom that I’ve borrowed I take from yesterday and I give it to tomorrow I’m in the middle just like in my dreams Reaping what I sow is my daily routine Eating up life like a meal at thanksgiving Enjoying every moment ‘cause I live for a living There are people who laugh at my plans They’re not haters they just don’t know that they’re fans

(chorus 2x) I break it down and cook it up to the highest degree I spit and make history, from sea to shining sea Online doses for free, in person costs a fee A teacher hustlin’ Hip Hop out the rental, Pusha T (verse) I break it down and cook it up to the highest degree You know what product you getting when you call Bomani My Name Is My Name, I learned that from Ali Feel my butterfly effect on your spelling bee A monarch with words but it went wrong, A kings ransom off one song, I had no where to belong, After my queen was gone, royalties only last but so long My folks helped me to be strong They said “King Push, It’s Darkest Before Dawn" The Prelude now flights to California To Texas and then to Florida Driving down 95 like Daytona Ain’t afraid of being pulled over Got ancestors on my shoulder Besides I drive the speed limit, like my dad as I get older He’s an ancestor now, sometimes I drive and cry It’s been years you’d think well of tears had ended, It’s Almost Dry But it’s not and now I know why, My life is so fly from lessons he gave that I now apply That’s why I (chorus 2x)

Karibu, nice to see you Welcome to Ujamaa let me give you a preview We incubate and percolate A Black market where the Black dollar circulates Black dollars blue or white collars Investing or barter, we adding more commas Black shoppers putting money in Black coffers Ujamaa, Ujamaa, Ujamaa, Ujamaa Ujamaa, yeah we’re open for business A work out, not physical, but fiscal fitness We don’t ask oppressors for loan forgiveness We depend on each other to increase our riches A real Black market Where we put money in a real Black pocket Where Black business owners hit all their targets Looking for Black power Ujamaa is the socket Power a Black Wall Street We must fill in the GAP so Black business competes Provide places to sleep and food to eat Go from red to black on your accounting sheet We’re not far from making Black cars But John Henrik Clark said the real Black Star Is buying underwear from one of ours Let’s make boxers and bras for that real Ujamaa Ujamaa, economic cooperative It’s the way we got to live Ujamaa, economic cooperative It’s the way we got to live Ujamaa, economic cooperative It’s the way we got to live We gave this country all we got to give Look at our net worth, something has got to give Black business don’t get disheartened Keep that spirit, make sure to guard it Through the fees and charges those slim margins While people looking for bargains I see who you are We out here raising the bar We are what make our people go far Ujamaa, Ujamaa, Ujamaa, Ujamaa

W’zup famly. This is Bomani Armah aka the Watermelon Man. Being the Watermelon Man is all about creating a safe space for Black people, where our humanity and intelligence go unquestioned. I’m not about proving to other people what we’re worth. Like the church folk would say, that’s not my ministry. (chorus 2x) Life is short so I protect my energy I won’t fight to be accepted by my enemy And no, long suffering ain’t the remedy Teaching them to love me is not my ministry (verse one) Let me keep it real, say exactly how I feel I was born into this world to be a modern day griot In the matrix I was born to be a Neo To Black Americans and Afro Latinos and every type of creole As I reflect on my mission, my purpose It’s not to entertain in this three ring circus For the people who plot to hurt us with some “How can I be of service?” I know that makes some nervous, but look below the surface We're told to work twice as hard to get half Don’t blame white supremacy, they only gets them mad Be the most model employee they ever had "It’s better than the past so be glad Compared to grandad this ain’t half bad" Micro-agressions and bigotry Break the truth without fracturing white fragility And sacrifice our bodies as our highest nobility Y’all killing me, ‘cause that’s not my ministry (chorus 2x) (verse two) My people have a longing for some sense of belonging In a country that’s treated us so appalling On my life I feel a calling, a part of a new day dawning I come from a community that’s sprawling where Black Power isn’t just talking So listen I ain’t trying to be smart This ain’t “it wouldn’t be me”, or “bless your heart” For generations we played our part, followed the rules that we were taught, In this rat race that we’re caught the fight for freedom ain’t a science, it’s an art I understand the sentiment to be a part of a grand experiment But they use us an instrument to our own detriment Not the best use of my talent, time and temperament To lead Everyday People to Arrested Development I’m trying to be the Family Stone A rock that we can rely on where bigots leave us alone Some got to fight the war to show that we belong The days are hard, the nights are long, my ministry is a safe space to come home (chorus 2x) (verse three) We try to please the stars and the stripes Joining the system might be our kryptonite We never picked a fight but we all got gripes, white supremacies grip is tight Avoiding stereotypes fighting for all of your rights But wait the fight to integrate was not a waste We showed that we were as capable as any race That we belong any place, we showed strength we showed grace My people stared death in the face, pushed back the line I live in that space For me to not appreciate would be insane But what do we gain, joining this country that caused us pain Treats the world with disdain. What’s our end game? You want me praising its name? For that I wasn’t ordained I’d rather lift my people up Prove right the people that we love Take back energy ’til we equal up The light that I’m the beacon of, the church that I’m the deacon of A free Black space you’ll always hear me speaking of (chorus 4x)