[Intro: Lezley McSpadden ]

“…doing too much. You don’t do a dog like that. You didn’t have to shoot him eight times. If he was doing something to you and you was trying to stop him, where do the police shoot you? In the leg. You just…shot all through my baby body…”

[1]

Raised in the streets. No surprise where we at

J’s on my feet—Bull’s eyes on my back. Listen

The thin line between better living and prison

Is where I happen to get it. Can’t write me out of existence

The sentences that I’m given are disproportionate

Literacy’s important. Scribbling me distorted

Written to reported. Luckily it’s recorded

History won’t forget me like Emmet, Trayvon and Jordan

And since the Birth of a Nation the curse that I’m facing

Has hurt and helped disturb my relations

To my forefathers, my mother and my sisters. Suspect

If we all reap what we sow, know that when I collect

I’m coming for souls. The white, and the blue and the red

The life and the loss, the blood, sweat and tears that were shed—

Return ‘em to me…

‘cause if you really earn what you keep…

…they’re all mine

[Hook: Mobb Deep , Dead Prez ]

“…when the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation…”

“…that’s why I write the shit I write in my raps…”

“…getting closer to God…”

“…when the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation…”

“…that’s why I write the shit I write in my raps…”

“…it’s documented. I’m in it…”

[2]

They told me to pray

Bend my knees and hope for a way

To be free. Forget man and focus on faith

And I tried, but when I opened up my eyes I was lost

Looking back, forward and side to side-by-side. Crying and caught

Off guard

Our Father Who art in heaven I ask:

White sheet or black face, why should I wear a mask?

If my choices are suicide or marching straight into slaughter;

I ain’t trying to play in the game, but can’t save me a quarter, then what do I do?

Not win, or say “Fuck it,” and lose

A kamikaze mission—literally Catch 22

Flyer than fuck. In my eyes you see what is up

But you don’t really want to know, and you got reason enough

To do what you will. And so will I—future fulfilled

Imagine hoping everyday that you live

The way that you live. The way that you give

Something is standing to fight. And I know I’m outnumbered. If it’s over tonight

Then remember I said I was before knew it was planned

I was a human being. I was a man

[Hook]

“…when the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation…”

“…that’s why I write the shit I write in my raps…”

“…getting closer to God…”

“…when the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation…”

“…that’s why I write the shit I write in my raps…”

“…it’s documented. I’m in it…”

[3]

Was raised in the streets. No surprise where we at

J’s on my feet—Bull’s eyes on my back. Listen

The thin line between better living and prison

Is where I happen to get it. Can’t write me out of existence

The sentences that I’m given are disproportionate

Literacy’s important. Scribbling me distorted

Written to reported. Luckily it’s recorded

History won’t forget me like Emmet, Trayvon and Jordan

[Outro: Aretha Franklin ]

“Come all you fair and tender maidens

Be careful how you love young men

They’re like a star on a summer’s morn…”