(Hook)

We're being controlled, got the strings on my back

Gotta break their hold, with no strings attached

I ain't your puppet no more

Treat us people like we don't have no soul

I'm killing my own, yet I'm afraid of my master

Keeping resources from us, like our lives don't matter

I ain't your puppet no more

Treat us people like we don't have no soul

(Verse One)

The projects is what it is

An experiment on impoverished little kids

Pack us inside these little spaces to live

And while mama at work, papa doing a bid

So the streets become our father, cuz jobs don't hire

And we need a couple dollars, and the hustlers we admire

Just to get a piece of Heaven, we're willing to walk through fire

So we go through much hell with no plan to retire

And bills gotta be paid, kids gotta get fed

So if we ain't gotta crumb, we pull toasters for bread

Gotta get it, kids can't eat excuses

So we committed, and sometimes we gotta be ruthless

Bunch of high school drop outs but we not stupid

Just a little misguided but find our way to the loot quick

Take our bad experiences, share it within the music

Tryna to rise to power, but some find a way to abuse it

And I when I gain power, have mercy I won't lose it

I see your strings getting pulled and player they ain't acoustic

(Hook)

We're being controlled, got the strings on my back

Gotta break their hold, with no strings attached

I ain't your puppet no more

Treat us people like we don't have no soul

I'm killing my own, yet I'm afraid of my master

Keeping resources from us, like our lives don't matter

I ain't your puppet no more

Treat us people like we don't have no soul

(Verse Two)

Young black and endangered

The conditions we're living under fill us with anger

Can't even go clubbing with these chicks without one in the chamber

Niggas don't fight, they meet you outside with them flamers

Kids today sissified, scared of an ass whipping

Everybody hustle now, and everybody ass snitching

No more rules

OGs rotting in jail or in a grave so there's no more jewels

And a few older niggas be following young niggas

Age don't make you wise, I know some old dumb niggas

Few dudes get on social media showing that white shit

Then wonder how and the hell they got indicted

Niggas promote poverty, make it look cool

Teach your kids death while theirs to attend private school

We're in some horrible times, I gotta speak on it

Now that everybody's alarmed, you can't sleep on it

(Bridge: Dr. Umar Johnson)

So who is responsible when the black male is miseducated, economically castrated

Comes out of jail, can't find any opportunity to set his life arite

Can't get welfare, can't get health care

(Hook)

We're being controlled, got the strings on my back

Gotta break their hold, with no strings attached

I ain't your puppet no more

Treat us people like we don't have no soul

I'm killing my own, yet I'm afraid of my master

Keeping resources from us, like our lives don't matter

I ain't your puppet no more

Treat us people like we don't have no soul