Time for Us to Defend Ourselves

[ +lyrics taken from cd booklet+ ] [ 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 [ *2X* ] (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)