[Verse 1]
I can't even walk to the store now...
I can't even get a bag of skittles!
I can't even ball at the park
No more working on my crossover to the middle now
Nowadays I'm looking over shoulders
Nowadays I'm scared of getting shot!
Naw I ain't talking bout the dealers and my n***as man
Nowadays I'm talkin bout the cops!
Nowadays I'm feeling like a n***a!
Naw I ain't say “n***a”, I said “n***a”!
Nowadays they choking us to d**h!
This is modern day slavery
I'm tryin'a paint a picture!
Tell me how to get away with murder
How could you just k** a man?
We bout to take it down to Florida
So we can ask George Zimmerman!
[Chorus]
What's going on in the world?
Man, I don't even know
But I'm feelin' like they tryin'a k** us all
But I'm here to let ‘em know
We gon' paint the city red now
Red now
Promise we gon' tear it down
Paint the city red
We gon' tear it up
Tear it up!
Black America!
[Verse 2]
Officer I can't breath
And I ain't got no weapons or no tricks up up my sleeve
Man the government, they slow
And no the TV ain't control
That's why they thew it on the news
Just for everyone to see. (god damn!)
I ain't even mad at the cop!
I'm mad at my people
Why did everybody watch?
Yeah we had ‘em outnumbered
How come ain't nobody stopped it?
Bet you if he sold a brick you'd be quick to pull the chopper!
BLAKA! BLAKA! BLAKA!
Damn the world is really getting cold
Get a gun and a badge
n******gs really getting bold
We're getting to smart
They gotta keep us in control
That's what Willie Lynch told em
"n***a you ain't even know!"
I'm just saying…
Tell me how to get away with murder
How could you just k** a man?
I bet you Officer Pantaleo...
He would've asked George Zimmerman!
[Chorus]
What's going on in the world?
Man, I don't even know
But I'm feelin' like they tryin'a k** us all
But I'm here to let ‘em know
We gon' paint the city red now
Red now
Promise we gon' tear it down
Paint the city red
We gon' tear it up
Tear it up!
Black America!
[Bridge]
I can't breath!
Officer I can't…
I can't breath please!
I can't…
I can't…
…..breath…
[Verse 3]
Damn it's like I grew up on the corner
Hood so hot
It's like I grew up in a sauna!
Gotta be on good behaviour when I show up for your honour
Petty case
But you treat me like I grew the coke your honour
God damn!
Ya'll the ones who gave this sh** to me!
And we ain't got no resources to grow it in the street
What? I'm supposed to say, "No”?
When a n***a gotta eat?
You gon' turn him to a monster in the belly of the beast
God damn!
n***a better respect mine!
Promise I won't hesitate to reach that 9!
Got the money for the lawyer, n***a!
I been saving up!
Man I guarantee that I won't even see that time!
I'm just saying…
I know I can get away with murder!
I know I can k** a man!
sh**, black people been k**ing each other for years!
We ain't got to ask George Zimmerman!
NAH!
[Chorus]
What's going on in the world?
Man, I don't even know
I'm feelin' like they tryin'a k** us all
But I'm here to let ‘em know
We gon' paint the city red now
Red now
Promise we gon' tear it down
Paint the city red
We gon' tear it up
Tear it up!
Black America!