The Message

Expand Your World with Literacy

by Sanni Brown

September 11, 2025

  Play Now [1:01:11]
Aaliyah attending the 2001 MTV Movie awards in Los Angeles.
Aaliyah attending the 2001 MTV Movie awards in Los Angeles.CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images

Ok class, take out your pencils. Don’t write nothing, that’s instrumental. You ‘bout to reach your full potential. Write down this message, it’s quintessential. 

It’s literacy, legitimately. And we need out here con siderately. Write a 4-page letter ‘bout it rigorously. Do the math like Mos Def, literally. 

The life of a boss gotta stay on ‘em books. C-notes, keynotes, that’s a good look. Tryna stay alive and survive all these crooks. Cross T’s, dot I’s keep a hater shook!

Reading and writing is a really dope flex, it helps you write bars and helps you cash checks. Expand your world with literacy, The Message will be there, quite literally.

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Yasiin Bey performs during the Black on Both Sides 20th Anniversary concert at The Greek Theatre on October 25, 2019 in Berkeley, California.
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Teyana Taylor attends the world premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "One Battle After Another" at TCL Chinese Theatre on September 08, 2025 in Hollywood, California.
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