Cover art for Root of All Evil by ​dead prez

Root of All Evil

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Root of All Evil Lyrics

[Spoken Intro]
What is the root of all evil?

Many people of color believe that if you have money, you can do any and everything. You cannot. Other people believe that if you don't have money, you cannot do anything. They're also wrong. Money is only the visible effect that shows what is going on in your mind. The richer, stronger, and clearer your thoughts, the greater your supply of currency. Money doesn't only show up as dollar bills and coins; people you can call on, resources you can draw upon, thoughts and attitudes—these are also money. What you yield in your physical life is a result of how you think. You are your own money. Money is my own natural energy field. Your thoughts, words, feelings, and actions determine your own wealth. The quickest way to make money appear is to love yourself, respect yourself, and put yourself to work. I am money. Money is me

[Verse 1: M-1]
I read a book that said that money is power, which is corruption
Destruction is its one and only function

But where we live, it seem you got to die to be king
So we supply to the fiends 'cause, see, the ends justify the means
Politics is war without guns. War is politics with guns
You know what I mean? You better get one
The cash make us equal. Babylon can't fool the people
It's hidden in the symbol of the evil

[Verse 2: stic.man]
We're at the end of the world, boy, with no sight and no direction
They passin' gun laws so we can't have no protection
It don't even matter who win the '96 election
'Cause it's already planned and every man'll be affected
I'm a real nigga, but not the type to spend my life in prison
I don't believe in no gods and no form of religion
My way of livin' is based on pure reality
Far much more than just a crack-sellin' mentality
I sharpen my brain. Karate keep my body trained
I think of my brother and how the crack tighened the veins
In his arms. Wish I could take the stress off my moms
'Cause she harmless, y'all. She don't deserve no part of this
[Hook: stic.man]
What is the root of all evil?
Money is the root of all evil

From the pyramid to the eagle
Check your dollar bill, boy—there it is

Money is the root of all evil—period
What is the root of all evil?
Money is the root of all evil
From the pyramid to the eagle
Check your dollar bill, boy—there it is
Money is the root of all evil

[Verse 3: stic.man]
Picture this illegal rock crackin'
Make sure it's dry before you try and bag it
This is when the iron start jumpin' out of jackets
And you plot like the dead cop—the plot thickens
Chicken heads in the parking lot sparkin' chocolate
You take your place in the mix—domino tricks
You crazy 'bout them New York Knicks. It's like a Newport fix
You caught six fiends jonesing right off the bat
One grabbed his dome when he smoked the crack, stood back
And began to scream, swingin' his fists up at the wind
Gave a devilish grin and fell dead with his eyes open
Involuntary homocide. He died hoping for a blessin'
Murdered by his obsessions
[Verse 4: M-1]
Yo. You could use your forty as a weapon
A little bit of gas ignite fire underneath the heavens

That could reach around the universe, purify the Earth
Dollar bill on this reverse side—see, what is it worth?
It seem the number thirteen is a curse if you accept it
It's thirteen letters in Annuit Coeptis
Thirteen rows of granite blocks on the pyramid of Giza
Thirteen stars above the eagle
Holdin' thirteen fig leaves and thirteen arrows
Thirteen berries on the branch and one pharaoh
Watchin' you with the all-eye-seein'
Announcing the beginning of the end
Of all human beings...

[Hook: stic.man]
(What it is) What is the root of all evil?
Money is the root of all evil
From the pyramid to the eagle
Check your dollar bill, boy—there it is
Money is the root of all evil—period
What is the root of all evil?
Money is the root of all evil
From the pyramid to the eagle
Check your dollar bill, boy—there it is
Money is the root of all evil—period

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