Straight outta Compton, crazy motherf*cker named Ice Cube
From the gang called Niggaz With Attitudes
When I’m called off, I got a sawed off
Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off
What do you think when you hear those lyrics?
Just taking it at face value, Ice Cube is a crazy guy with seriously anger issues who will kill you if you get up in his face.
I assume for a lot of people who haven’t come from places like Compton and the 1000s of cities like it around our country, that is all the see.
Just a thug talking about violence. You know what I hear?
I hear frustration.
Frustration of being in a situation where there is little or no hope, where going to the store can be a life and death proposition not just from a gang, but from the police. Were NWA lyrics violent, definitely, were they braggadocio and over the top, absolutely.
But, you have to listen to really understand that NWA was showing America what Mainstream America wanted to pretend didn’t exist.
To the police I’m sayin fuck you punk
Readin my rights and shit, it’s all junk
Pullin out a silly club, so you stand
With a fake assed badge and a gun in your handBut take off the gun so you can see what’s up
And we’ll go at it punk, I’ma fuck you up
What do we see now, cops who are so threatened black people, they shoot and then cover up. Is that any different from what MC Ren is saying above? If the person with the gun is the person who hates you, who is in the bigger danger?
Rap has come a long way since 1988 and while just like then there is always going to be the fluff, there will always be rappers that are labeled as threats because they are telling truths that make the mainstream America uncomfortable.
Don’t stereotype them, pay attention, you might learn something and by learning then maybe you will understand why at times we all have to be Niggaz With Attitudes.
It’s crazy to see people be
What society wants them to be. But not me!
Ruthless…
Is the way to go
They know.
Others say rhymes that fail
To be original.
Or they kill where the hiphop starts,
Forget about the ghetto
And rap for the pop charts.
Some musicians curse at home
But scared to use profanity
When up on the microphone.
Yeah, they want reality.
But you won’t hear none.
They rather exaggerate, a little fiction.
Some say no to drugs and take a stand,
But after the show they go lookin’ for the dopeman.
Or they ban my group from the radio.
Hear NWA and say “Hell no!”.
But you know it ain’t all about wealth.
As long as you make a note to…Express Yourself…