Lyrics
you know they got me trapped in this prison of seclusion, happiness, living on the streets is a delusion, even a smooth criminal one day must get caught, shot up or shot down with the bullet that he bought, nine millimeter kickin' thinkin' about what the streets do to me, 'cause they never talk peace in the black community, all we know is violence, do the job in silence, walk the city streets like a rat pack of tyrants, too many brothers daily heading for the big pen, niggas comin' out worse-off than when they went in, over the years i done a lot of growin' up, getting drunk, throwin' up, cuffed up, then i said i had enough, there must be another route, way out, to money and fame, i changed my name, and played a different game, tired of being trapped in this vicious cycle, if one more cop harasses me i just might go psycho, and when i get 'em, i'll hit 'em with the bum rush, only a lunatic would like to see his skull crushed, yo, if you're smart you'll really let me go, g, but keep me cooped up in this ghetto and catch the uzi, they got me trapped, uh, uh, they can't keep the black man down, they got me trapped, naw, they can't keep the black man down, trapped, uh, uh, they can't keep the black man down, trapped, naw, they can't keep the black man down, they got me trapped, can barely walk the city streets, without a cop harassing me, searching me, then asking my identity, hands up, throw me up against the wall, didn't do a thing at all, i'm telling you one day these suckers gotta fall, cuffed up throw me on the concrete, coppers try to kill me, but they didn't know this was the wrong street, bang, bang, count another casualty, but it's a cop who's shot for his brutality, who do you blame? it's a shame because the man's slain, he got caught in the chains of his own game, how can i feel guilty after all the things they did to me?, sweated me, hunted me, trapped in my own community, one day i'm gonna bust, blow up on this society, why did ya lie to me?, i couldn't find a trace of equality, work me like a slave while they laid back, homie, don't play that, it's time i let 'em suffer the payback, i'm trying to avoid physical contact, i can't hold back, it's time to attack jack, they got me trapped, uh, uh, they can't keep the black man down, they got me trapped, naw, they can't keep the black man down, trapped, uh, uh, they can't keep the black man down, trapped, naw, they can't keep the black man down, now i'm trapped and want to find my getaway, all i need is a 'g' and somewhere safe to stay, can't use the phone, 'cause i'm sure someone is tapping in, did it before, ain't scared to use my gat again, i look back in hindsight the fight was irrelevant, but now he's the devil's friend, too late to be tellin' him, he shot first and i'll be damned if i run away, homie is done away, i should've put my gun away, i wasn't thinking, all i heard was the ridicule, girlies was laughin', tup saying, "damn homies is dissing you.", i fired my weapon, started steppin' in the hurricane, i got shot so i dropped, feelin' a burst of pain, got to my feet, couldn't see nothin' but bloody blood, now i'm a fugitive to be hunted like a murderer, ran through an alley, still lookin' for my getaway, coppers said, "freeze, or you'll be dead today.", trapped in a corner, dark and i couldn't see the light, thoughts in my mind was the nine and a better life, what do i do? live my life in a prison cell?, i'd rather die than be trapped in a living hell, they got me trapped, uh, uh, they can't keep the black man down, they got me trapped, naw, they can't keep the black man down, trapped, uh, uh, they can't keep the black man down, trapped, naw, they can't keep the black man down
Song details
Artist: 2pac