[VERSE 1]

Tales from the rhymeside, fact or fiction?

I look at justice as pain infliction

Sit back, relax while I bust this

There's a big loophole in justice

Law inforcement to serve and protect

But in my neighborhood they break your neck

Police are ruthless-minded, wicked and villanous

But not just I see you're killin us

What about the parents of the kid y'all killin?

Better yet that's blood you're spillin

Not doin anything wrong, so catch me

Sellin dope records? Boy, snatch me

Sunny days, my dark clouds lifted

You fail to understand that I'm poetically gifted

Knowledge ain't nothin but a book on your shelf

With justice in mind think deep to yourself



(If the government has refused to defend the negro)

(The descendants of slaves)

(It's time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)

(But you're advocating violence?)

(Time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)

(If the government has refused to defend the negro)

(Time) (Time for us to) (defend ourselves)



[VERSE 2]

Contra a code for police in the projects

Ready to fly that head like an object

'Shan, you're makin records, why you wanna stay there?'

That's where I was raised, and my son's gonna play there

Let me tell you what justice did

For a close friend of mine named Rich Kid

They ran a worn-out line that he snuffed em

Then he beat em down he and cuffed him

A gun and a badge gives a feeling of toughness

After subdued they continue with roughness

According to the laws of the land we're defenseless

Thinkin that their jobs are beatin you senseless

Takin the names of fairytale props

There's one silly sucker called Robo Cop

The media skipped right past it

Robo Cop just put Rich in his casket

The bottom line: he wasn't under arrest

He needed ambulatory assistance for pains in his chest

If not for justice he would be in good health

My he rest in peace and think deep to yourself



(It's time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)

(If the government has refused to defend the negro)

(Time) (Time for us to) (defend ourselves)

(If the government has refused to defend the negro)

(The descendants of slaves)

(It's time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)

(But you're advocating violence?)

(Time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)



[VERSE 3]

We all live with police brutality

They say it's false - no, it's reality

Not just a storyboard cause I live it

All I gotta say is somethin must be done with it

See, the cops are sort of deranged

Think every fly car means drug change

They pull me over for a routine, check me

What he has in mind is to disrespect me

"Where'd you get the money for a fancy car?"

Got you sucker, what you know about rap, huh?

I'm just a young man tryin to make it

Remember the name and don't ever mistake it

All you could say was when I passed by

Is, "That's M.C. Shan, don't he look fly?"

Although you thought that civil rights died

You need to wake up and see it from the brightside



[x2]

(If the government has refused to defend the negro)

(The descendants of slaves)

(It's time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)

(But you're advocating violence?)

(Time for us to do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves)

(If the government has refused to defend the negro)

(Time) (Time for us to) (defend ourselves)