[Verse 1: X the Unknown Variable]
Remember back in the day when you were young, playing in the sand
You would pick it up with what you thought was a hand
All you saw were fingers, your thumbs, and your nails
You didn't see knuckles, because innocence prevailed
But kids will grow up and begin to watch T.V
The best hypnotist in time will change what they see
Brown people with tattoos thrown into backseats
Look in the mirror... (He looks just like me)
It's true we have the right to know what's going on
But if you don't listen harder, you won't hear the whole song
All you'll get is the chorus, the same sh** you heard last night
Subliminal messages tell yo who to blast, fight
Stab hate, or who to stare down on the block
But you're the same person, so his stomach's also in a knot
You look down at you hands, or should I say, "Your fists"
You've got to really ask yourself, "Who turned me into this?"
[Hook]
When I look at you, you're looking at me
We've got the same roots, we're just different trees
We're used as experiments, simple lab rats
Then we k** ourselves, where's the pride in that?
When I look at you, I'm looking at me
We've got the same roots, we're just different trees
We're used as experiments, simple lab rats
Then we k** ourselves, where's the pride in that?
Verse 2:
NEWS anchors, the name's a perfect fit
They only weigh down tolerance and tell you what's legit
The Dodger game incident, no doubt it was tragic
But I bet all these rich people shook and panicked
They released the descriptions and all the vague sketches
From 18 to 25 bald and tattooed wretches
One had ink, the other had a goatee
If you really look at it, the latter could've been me
Or Bambu, or even DJ Illogic
(That's a bit of a stretch), but hey, that's the way they want it
The same image tags along in your child's head
At school, he's surrounded by scum, it's him versus them
They have the same skin, the dark brown eyes
The same heritage, but I must be speaking lies
Because he sees the world through The Bluest Eye's lens
Cops see you as the same, so don't try to pretend
[Hook]