The Message
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