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' thinking 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 commin' out worse off then when they went in
Over the years I done a lot of growin' up
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 harassed me I just might go psycho
I'll hit 'em with the bum rush
Only a lunatic would like to see his skull crushed
Yo, if your smart you'll really let me go 'G'
But keep me cooped up in this ghetto and catch the Uzi
(Uh uh, they can't keep the black man down)
(Naw, they can't keep the black man down)
(Uh uh, they can't keep the black man down)
(Naw, they can't keep the black man down)
Can barely walk the city streets
Without a cop harassing me, searching me
Hands up, throw me up against the wall
I'm tellin' you one day these suckers gotta fall
Cuffed up throw me on the concrete
But they didn't know this was the wrong street
Bang bang, down another casualty
But it's a cop who's shot there's brutality
It's a shame because the mans slain
He got caught in the chains of his own game
How can I feel guilty after all the things they did to me
Trapped in my own community
I couldn't find a trace of equality
Work me like a slave while they laid back
It's time I lett 'em suffer the payback
I'm tryin' to avoid physical contact
I can't hold back, it's time to attack jack
(Uh uh, they can't keep the black man down)
(Naw, they can't keep the black man down)
(Uh uh, they can't keep the black man down)
(Naw, they can't keep the black man down)
Now I'm trapped and want to find a getaway
All I need is a G and somewhere safe to stay
'Cause I'm sure someone is tappin' in
Ain't scared to use my gat again
I look back at 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 of put my gun away
I wasn't thinkin' all I heard was the ridicule
Girlies was laughin', Tup sayin', "Damn homies is dissin' you"
Started steppin' in the hurricane
Couldn't see nothin' but bloody blood
Now I'm a fugitive to be hunted like a murderer
Still lookin' for my getaway
Coppers said Freeze, or you'll be dead today
Dark and I couldn't see the light
Thoughts in my mind was the nine and a better life
Live my life in a prison cell
I'd rather die then be trapped in a living hell
(Uh uh, they can't keep the black man down)
(Naw, they can't keep the black man down)
(Uh uh, they can't keep the black man down)
You know they got me trapped
(Naw, they can't keep the black man down)
Yo, y'all seen 2Pac, man?
Ayy, The Rollers out here, Pac, we gon' bail
Let's go Pac, let's go, man
Where he at? Where the Rollers at?
let's go man, let's go man, let's go
They got us trapped man, they got us trapped