Lupe says that he “sheds tears” because of the intentional setup of the injustices within the American institutions are “so sad”

“[T]he ugly truth” is America’s institutionalized racism that contradicts the meaning of the flag that Lupe does not pledge allegiance to.

“[D]ecor” can mean scenery or the stage that America has built. Lupe is also referring to the flag that America uses as decoration.

“[F]alls down in tatters on the floor” is in reference to the The Flag Code section 6, which states that the American flag is not to touch the ground or be tattered in any kind of way. It’s considered treason.

Lupe is praying that the truth concerning America’s culture of racism, which conflicts with the American ideology that the flag and pledge of allegiance is supposed to represent, comes to fruition (or realized) and “shatters” the show or false image that America is always portraying. While the stage and scene falls apart he is also praying that symbol of America, the flag, is disrespected and betrayed the same way African American people were and continued to be, which may be a form of reconciliation. Or maybe not since Lupe does not “know what really matters anymore.”

“decor” here can also be refrencing a curtain, so when the ugly truth comes and hits america it will cause the curtain to fall cueing the end of the show, the show possibly being the performance being played by some Americans that thier is no racism present in our country today. The day the audience comes to the realization of this lie, Lupe says, will bring him tears of joy.

Token/Tokin’/Tolkien = Chucky Cheese Currency/Smoking/J. R. R. Tolkien extending the ‘thought provoking reeds/reads’ line.

Years later 😮‍💨

“Token” also refers to “tokenism”, in that for Lupe to “achieve” (get paid), he was forced to adhere to the record label’s restrictive demands. Lu was used by the white, domineering power holders to put out music that he otherwise wouldn’t have.

Going along with the weed metaphor, in order to achieve Lupe’s intellectual levels of thought, it took lots of “toking” on the “thought provoking reeds.” He is saying it took a lot of thinking and considerate thought and bouncing ideas off his intellectual friends' (“send it round the room…just spoken words, thought provoking reeds”) to reach his state of mind.

Eye low, like the lotion from the leaves.

Possibly also commenting on the people who are in ‘hood’ who are like the engines that are underneath a carhood, they are the foundation of which the rich are able to attain their wealth. Poor people encompass the working class and are the ‘engine’ which powers our society. However, they are often living in the hardest conditions, much like the dirty conditions underneath a car hood.

following this reference, the person “sitting high riding dirty, drag racing into danger” would be the leaders who are ‘sitting high’ (upper class) ‘riding dirty’ (corrupt) steering the society in the wrong direction.

It is a distorted process of controlling women. through her body and mind.Torture out her freedom and replace it with complacency.

Nas is saying I Fuck Hip Hop in that it is not The lOve of his life any more buy a whore he’s fucking.

The reference to the “medic” and “post traumatic stresses” are obviously a reference to the extended metaphor of war. But, in addition to that, the Post traumatic stresses reference also ties into mental illness, and pain.

Continuation of the “(And I hope you never come back)” line. All that comes is the post-traumatic stresses.