America the TRBL

[Barack Obama] The thing about hip hop today is it’s smart, it’s insightful, the way that they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable. And a lot of these kids, they're not going to be reading The New York Times. That's not how they're getting their information. The question, then, is, what’s the content? What’s the message? [Verse 1] This the kind of song that'll probably get backlash I'm tired of the radio telling me stack cash They steady skipping levels they look for the fast pass I'm in a marathon, they running a fast dash These hashtags, don't pass class, ain't nobody going They tell 'em move white, got it looking like it's snowing Only way to make it out the hood is a jumpshot Or a gunshot or you better get to flowing I'm an omen, at least that's what they tell me now So I pray these feet don't fail me now Seem like everybody only want to tear me down And if I blow it all today, who gonna bail me out? So tell me how you niggas define a real nigga Is this the same nigga that run up and kill niggas? Shuffling do a dance, we strutting but field niggas Martin had a dream, but some of us still niggas And I am not anti-black, I'm anti-dumb And if that's a good time, I'm anti-fun Asking the question, "Why can't I run?" All your constructs of conduct are Manti's hun: fake Wait, let me sit back Wait another second 'til you get that And if you do recognize it's true Pass it on homie, we just gotta give back [B.O.] Hip hop is not just a mirror of what is, it should also be a reflection of what can be. A lot of times folks say ‘Well, I want to keep it real’ and ‘I want to be down.’ Then we’re just trapped in, you know, what is. The question is, imagine something different [Verse 2] This is truth, in fact I never spit a bar without proof to back So you never hear me flowing how I shoot the gat We just some young brothers bringing music back Refuse to rap 'bout stuff that I know that I ain't doing These youngins out here flaugin, just know that they ain't shooting But we steady obliging, know that the game's ruined But we don't really care as long as the bass booming I guess, but we looking for the real, though Me and my homies don't feel that I'm just looking for what's authentic If it ain't you can kill that Real rap, we ain't trying to preach I'm just holding up the wall that you trying to breach We see through it, you faking is not healthy Living out a lie, just hoping to get wealthy In a drop, in a six, in a Lambo Just because you rich, doesn't mean you ain't a sambo Blackface all up in this rat race You gonna need a back brace when they hit you with that anvil Handful, yeah I know I be I'm just trying to make music like I'm No I.D But I can't ignore the stuff that I know I see It's appalling what these kids all know by three [B.O.] I love the art of hip-hop; I don’t always love the message of hip-hop. Art can’t just be a rear view mirror. You know, it should have a headlight out there pointing to where we need to go [Interviewer] So hip hop needs to have the audacity of hope [B.O.] The audacity of hope