[Verse 1: Ashton Vaughn Charles]
Yeah
Barcodes on our skin tone
It’s all good ‘til it hits home
Our goal is to win, though
But it’s a far throw to the endzone
That’s why we’re afraid to be admitted
‘cause it’s all codes in the end, yo
Then the cop that put you in there is acquitted
Nah, bro, that’s a big “No”
Even after they admitted that they did it, and the witnesses filming the cops showed you
They still don’t get what they deserve
But we get it
Since you lit the flame, you gotta know that you get smoke
We fight back, we’re not supposed to up and just “go”
Listen: our coping mechanisms don’t do enough
Pay attention to the protests
The world listened? Cool. What’s next?
We gotta try to keep that fire lit right where our heart is
They indicted a couple of police, but we will finish what we started
Even though it was harder, and you begin to realize they were treating you like a modern day martyr
Father forgive me—wait, they keep taking our fathers and slaughtering them all over the world
But it’s time that we spoke
Either you want us to live, or you don’t
Even so, there’s potential for growth
But we—wait, where are all the children?
What do you mean you “don’t know”?
They were “sold”?
See, how we supposed to have faith in our vote when all the politicians higher than the state are in the know?
Nah, dismantle the whole system
And if all lives matter, you should stand here with us
The injustice will not prevail
You hear me?
Feel me?
Felt me?
Help me!
[Chorus 1: KNova]
Tell me, who do we run to when there’s no one by my side?
Tell me, where we supposed to go when there’s nowhere left to hide?
Tell me, what do you see in me when you look into my eyes?
But if all lives matter, why I gotta die?
Stop killing us
Stop killing us, yeah
Stop killing us
Stop killing us
[Verse 2: Eddie Wellz]
This the way that we been feeling for a minute
If you could measure pain, ours would be up in the Guinness
See, the world’s so quick to get offended
Crazy that the same world will leave us all defenseless
But I ain’t ever bowing to supremacy
Unless it’s the supreme divinity that I see in me
I understand love is the remedy
But sometimes I just need to know where that Remy be
Where my people at?
What’s the state of Hip-Hop?
Who been reppin’ black?
Who been reading all the reasons that they set us back?
Who been studying the history and what’s the facts?
Who been teaching all the youth with the blessed wisdom?
Who been touching all the meek to get their stress lifted?
It’s been about time we on a new mission
For conditions, and additions to these transitions
It’s the glitches that’ll save us from this dark system
No “S” on my chest, I’m no Clark Kent
I’m more T’Challa, but this ain’t Wakanda
So I guess I’m Killmonger, ‘cause my heart bent
If it ain’t broken in the trash bin
But I think I just found my second wind
Tell these crooked cops that they ain’t never win
Tell all of my people that I love ‘em and I’m always thinking ‘bout ‘em ‘til the very end
[Chorus 2: Sahar The Star]
I am not asking
I am demanding
I do not know what you’re not understanding
I am not asking
I am demanding
Stop killing us
Stop killing us
Stop killing us
[Verse 3: PK Tha Poet]
I need revisions for my n***as ‘cause they got us twisted
2020 got the sun shining a little different
May rays fall onto skin that’s white
What’s a Gentile to a Israelite
I’m like a pit on a chain with some fleas, I’m just itching to fight
‘cause every app got a vid of family losing their life
Sisters mishandled while pregnant; I see trauma and strife
Screen reflections of a glare off the gloss in my eyes
Still ain’t numb to it
All the news dumb to it
Shorty only 8, I had to break my oldest son to it
Granny shed a tear, ‘cause she prayed we wouldn’t come to this
Laid a sold path in the past, but we ain’t run through it
Time to change some policies, ‘cause we done made enough music
Mobbin’ in the streets as a unit; that’s just one movement
Gotta put the knight in a position we can best use it
[Lauriel]
(Yeah)
[PK]
We really out here walking up, they really out here gunning down
Really want equality, they scared we seek revenge now
[Lauriel]
(They scared, they scared)
[PK]
We really out here walking up, they really out here gunning down
Really want equality, they scared we seek revenge now
[Lauriel]
(They scared, they scared, they scared, they scared)
[Chorus 3: Lauriel]
Check
I’m always in the wrong; you always in the right
I’m always in the dark; you always in the light
You shot me down ‘cause you seen that my future was bright
Now you feel no remorse, privileged ‘cause your skin is white
Damn
Stop killing us
Stop killing us
No, no, no
Stop
Yeah
[Kye Russoul]
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Ah, no
