The ink of a scholar is worth a thousand times more
Than the blood of a martyr

from Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Matthew Santos) – American Terrorist Lyrics on Rap Genius

The pen is mightier than the sword, my lord. This metonymy has been stated by many in the past, one being the prophet Muhammad. Lupe’s Muslim faith has obviously instilled this belief

A martyr is one who dies for ones cause — Lupe is saying not to die needlessly for your cause, but to try and improve the world.

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