Hard Knocks

(...problem with negro was not the word itself
It was that a stereotype had been attached
to that word negro
and that people were forced to live in accords to that stereotype)
Stereotype me, dislike me or fight me
My hustle is hip-hop, you cant indict me
Behind the light of intelligence
Critics will probably say the titles irrelevant
But the powerful fail to see the battle being fought
Wise words verbally put forth from negro thoughts
Its critical, the news programs of pitiful
Sights and sounds of a negros background
First fired, last hired
Granny picked cotton till she died, what a way to retire
Watermelons sellin but the seeds are black
I dont spit em out, I plant em so they come back
Music of soul cause my lyrics are funky
You stereotype were the offspring of monkeys
I tie ya up and gag ya mouth with cornbread
And lead ya the bright way, seems ya been mislead
I enter the store on one thought - to purchase
They follow me around like a muthafuckin hostess
I see what I want, but before I can step to
Theyre up in my face, "Sir, can I help you?"
Out of step they seem to be with reality
Needless to say I represent a nationality
Thats been linked to a Kodak
Once truth is exposed, negatives cant be kept back
Couldnt take us for what we has, took us for what we had
KKK - 3 kicks up the ass
All anti-negros ground is sinking sand
Painting false and visionary pictures
Revolting language bound to mentally hitcha
Stand still while Im talkin
From abstract thoughts fingers completed the walkin
These are
Thoughts of a Negro
(Wonder, wonder)
(Blinkin Im thinkin)
Alone on the corner, awaiting a red light
A van pulls up, the passengers are white
My feets in progress, are my ears deceivin me?
I pause and down came the locks on the doors
A typical stereotypical outlook
How could a mans color betray him as a crook?
Im on Amtrak, enroute to Atlanta
In first row, drinkin a grape Fanta
Dressed to impress and Im a walkin jewelry store
Im gettin lynchin looks from the conductor
Sweatin my jewels but its cool
Hes not the first or the last to
Learn first class was made for a black ass
Fuck the back, its 91, jack
Another thought I render to be evident
Would I be treated equally if we had a black president?
In this race everydays suspense
From death to seein infants born as chemical dependents
Skillfully prepared for a ignorant war
But all I encounter I express through metaphors
Like nigga, black, negro
3 five letter words to describe me, bro
Even excepting we make good athletes
And in bed knowin no other culture can compete
So lets get right down to it
Those who now accept it always knew it
These are
Thoughts of a Negro
(Wonder, wonder)
(Blinkin Im thinkin)
I try to make it hard for them to hate me
Alienate me, you still gotta face me
But I aint the stereotype
Understand what Im sayin or do all niggas sound alike?
Raps the trade so its made to live good
My neighbors kids are sayin, "There goes the neighborhood"
And their dog comes in my yard and takes a shit
Then barks like tellin me, "Clean it"
But I made em all believers
Hit their daughters with a dose of this jungle fever
It was undercover but her parents discovered
Turned her out, now forever shes a nigger lover
I never feed into the stuff about the other man
Cause my destiny is planned around a mic stand
At the table of brotherhood I sit
Calling preachers, wisemen and prophets
To unravel the riddle of our existence
Domestic relations and those of distance
Im hearin the same statements I feel are prejudiced
One day blacks will rise on their side of the fence
Stories still spread through history books in groups
Tampering with truth, telling tales of twisted roots
Stereotypes living lives of illusions
Leapin to their death, jumping to confusions
I see what Im faced with, racist congregations
Lord be merciful to a helpless nation
These are
Thoughts of a Negro
(Wonder, wonder))
[ Thoughts Of A Negro Lyrics ]