It's a real bad time for black celebrities, they locking everybody up:

Michael Jackson, James Brown, Tupac, R. Kelly, OJ Simpson, Mike Tyson

Kobe Bryant, Jay-Z, Mystikal, P. Diddy, Allen Iverson, Snoop Dogg, DMX

Styles P, Shine, Beanie Segal, Lil' Kim

[Hook:]

Is it because I'm Black

Is it because I'm Black

When you black you got to hustle, got to struggle and strive

And not every cat that goes through that struggle survive

But he got to stay stronger and keep the struggle alive

They say the struggle died, I say the struggle revived

My profession is going through oppression

That's why I'm so stressed and I'm working with no rest

And no question I'ma fight for y'all 'cause I don't like it, y'all

We make half as much as them, we working twice as hard, y'all

It ain't fair sometimes you seeing heaven signs

I ain't Pharaohcon but I got knowledge and I'm sharing mines

I swear it's time to be aware that they fear you mind

And they fear your heart

You want to change, here's the start

I'm tired of watching cops outline

My peers and y'all

I'm trying to make a move, I'm not trying to make the news

They say the consequences worst when we break the rules

To get back and right you got to make a sacrifice

[Hook:]

Is it because I'm Black

Is it because I'm Black

We got some problems we need solve, here's our chance to get them handle

Just take the boycott in Alabama for example

They stop riding the bus till they address their affairs

And they ended segregation in less then a year

So imagine what our status if we made a contribution

We'll probably be able to change the constitution

I can't see no other kind of solution

We deserve our reparation, it's time for a revolutions

I'm a step ahead of Satan, I read it in Revelation

Forget your reputation, let's make it a better nation

'cause they trying to cage us in, make us slaves again

Eventually it's meant to be the new plantation, the penitentiary

For centuries they had a plan we let them executed

Everyday another brother getting executed

And all our artist getting arrested I aspect improvement

It's a message in the music, I suggest you use it

[Hook:]

Somebody tell me what can I do

Will I survive or will I die

On the streets it's hard to survive

Why, is it because I'm black

Hot Shot got rock, I can't bring my cousin back

Five-hundred thousand sold, gold, yeah, it wasn't platinum

But Clyde gave me another try, 'cause I wasn't whack

And now I'm buzzing back, yeah, I got my budget back

Renegotiating got a mil to do a dozen tracks

Yeah, I'm eating, only reason is because I rap

My homies eating, only reason is because of crack

They can't get a job so them niggas quick to rob, quick to steal

Quick to kill, grip the steal, quick to ride

Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, we can't forget them guys

These politician, hypocrites, they got us hypnotize

That why I kiss rick, why, we got to lift our eyes

'Cause if we keep 'em close they just goin' keep control

And hold our sisters and brothers in the pen

And we was born guilty 'cause the color of our skin