However, it is “bruised”, as it is full of conflict and people struggling to survive. The city is also "sweet", as many people have a certain attraction towards it that is not easy to resist. Mos Def says if you fall into the trap of the city's superficial glamour, you'll end up falling prey to the city's rough and tough side. There is definitely also a reference to the Garden of Eden and the forbidden fruit with this phrase. All knowledge, good and bad, is represented by the forbidden apple. Once eaten, man became “fallen” and subject to the hardships of earthly life. Likewise, knowledge and all other activities are tempting, but at the same time dangerous as they often lead us to unpleasant things