[verse one]
How folks saying that I'm not authentic
I don't fake what I write, I just live how I pen it
Don't call me no sell out 'cause of my genetics
Got a fixed appointment like I'm seated in the Senate
Don't question the way I act, I have to stage a coupe
If you were stuck in my position, you would make a shift too
Now I'm a specimen, but I won't be put in a zoo
Mind the cotton pickin', free that slave in you!
[Interlude 1: Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]
You think I'm a sellout. Why? Because I live in a big house or dress a certain way? Being black isn't what I'm tryna be, it's what I am. I'm running the same race and jumping the same hurdles you are, so why are you tripping me up? You said we need to stick together, but you don't even know what that means...
If you ask me, you're the real sellout
[verse two]
Brothers say that I'm not black enough, that's enough
But racists call me nigg[er] too, oh yeah, damn it's rough
Came from many boats, some bought fur north, people south
I'm a bloody bee, Creole Coushatta coming out
My genes was gambled on, jackpot in the yard
I'll never drink alcohol, yet I'm aged in the bar
Banking on Casino talk, but I won't ramble on
I shall slow it down for ya', I'll let the words run on
[Chorus]
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
Who are you to say that I'm not authentic
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
Only in Christ can we be authentic
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
So ho are you to say that I'm not authentic
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
'Cause Christ the only who let me be authentic
[verse three]
This is just a warm up to what I get from the Sun
Faith in Christ ain't fake, but fake faith is a con
I'm from the state where we snack on alligator gar
And I do some things that may revoke my black card
I don't play the name game, but I get His out
I don't want the lame fame, sit still, shut ya' mouth
Not every dame same, both of my sisters tough
Yeah, we all came tame, but Five-0 put us in cuffs
[interlude- Randall Pearson from This Is Us S1x03]
You think I don't live in a black man's world. The one where that salesman there has been eyeballing us ever since we came in here. Or where that security guard has moved just a little off his mark so he can keep us in his sights. And where they'll definitely ask for an ID with my credit card when I got to pay. Plus a million things everyday, that I have to choose to let go, just so I'm not pissed off all the time!
[verse four]
I wake up at sunrise to climb the mountain so I can dew
What I need to finish daily, always gotta live new
I pray to Jesus everyday, and schedule what He needs to
I might pop up in time to say "Comment ta le Who?"
I feel like David in the booth, I am the tenant
Dressing how I want, that is my aesthetic
I'm here to bring His message, I always send it
So how you gon' tell me I'm not authentic
[Interlude: from Without Prejudice S1x01]
The only way that we're gonna survive as a people is that we work together is that we work together and understand that if there's one person that's oppressed...
And I don't mean as a people as black people, I mean as people on live here on this earth
If there's one woman that's oppressed, if there's one child that's abused, if there's one person that's discriminated against based on some superficial bullshit, ya' know, then we're not gonna make it
[Chorus]
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
Who are you to say I'm not authentic
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
Only in Christ can we be authentic
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
So who are you to say I'm not authentic
You ain't got no right to say I'm not authentic
'Cause Christ the only one who let me be authentic
[Interlude: Dwayne Wayne from A Different World S5x14]
My grandfather built this country man! He fought wars for it! And most places he went wouldn't let him sit down, and get a cup of coffee...
Ya' know, it doesn't matter how many degrees I get. all you people see is color. Your grandfather was a immigrant. You're American. My grandfather was born here, Duke! And you people still look at me as just another nigg[er]!
