[Malcolm X]
This is why I say it's the ballot or the bullet, it's liberty or d**h, it's freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody. America today finds herself in a unique situation. Historically, revolutions are bloody. Oh, yes they are. They have never had a blood-less revolution, or a non-violent revolution; that don't happen even in Hollywood. You don't have a revolution in which you love your enemy, and you don't have a revolution in which you're begging the system of exploitation to integrate you into it. Revolutions overturn systems, revolutions destroy systems
[Verse 1]
We're seeking vengeance like Batman with the vision of Burton
It's Christmas in Gotham, something sinister lurking
No Penguin, just pigs gone berserk
It's nothing new but lately there's been a surge
Citizens march peaceful but teetering on the verge
Of putting down the picket signs and picking up burners
If there's no consequences, no indictments
Just donations and paid leave
What's the point of keeping triggers on safety?
I've seen the homie talking reckless on Facebook
Like these protests are aimless, need to take this to phase B
If you're down to sacrifice, let's make a change, please
Meet me at the crib, peep the mission in HD
That's when I'm like dang dude
You know what the NSA do
What happens when they show up to HQ?
Educated radical, Islam the faith too
Just ask ThunderThief
That white van posted up the street
On the flip side of the same concern for him
Wonder what he's prepared to sacrifice in the name of furthering the cause
Cause I don't want to see him lose his life
But the odds are against him anyways cause his skin
So the mental juggle begins
I want peace but at the end of the day, change is historically a violent affair
Smell denial in the air
In a country founded on bloody revolution, slave labor, and general barbarian terror
[Hook]
Seasons (hands up)
Greetings (don't shoot)
Holiday lights above the riot squad
This is not a silent night
Seasons (hands up)
Greetings (don't shoot)
Holiday cheer to fuel consumers
But the stores have been looted
He's not (hands up)
Breathing (don't shoot)
And they won't loosen their grip, but refuse to admit they're wrong
He's not (hands up)
Even (doing sh**)
With these pigs it's submit or die
We up against the empire
[Verse 2]
Let's keep this race sh** out in the open
It's black art, black culture, I'm a guest and I'm hoping
My good intention and love get me a pa** for respect
But I'm not about to sound as earnest as a Macklemore text
Look, say what you'll say but facts don't lie
This system's built to fail black lives
And across the board, the common thread, those saying it's not about race
Just happen to be the least qualified to make such claims
Back to my dilemma: do I reach out to dude and say chill?
Forgot to mention he's an artist that's incredibly sk**ed
And I don't want to see him trade his truthful voice for brute force
But perhaps it's not my place to intervene
Staring at the screen, social chaos the scene
Stumble on the page of a white cop who praised Wilson's “nice shot”
This wasn't a shock
But on the same page, he praised a song by Black Star (Damn)
Mind blown, how such message is lost
[Hook]
Seasons (hands up)
Greetings (don't shoot)
Holiday lights above the riot squad
This is not a silent night
Seasons (hands up)
Greetings (don't shoot)
Holiday cheer to fuel consumers
But the stores have been looted
He's not (hands up)
Breathing (don't shoot)
And they won't loosen their grip, but refuse to admit they're wrong
He's not (hands up)
Even (doing sh**)
With these pigs it's submit or die
We up against the empire