[Intro: DJ Premier and a second caller]
"Yo"
"Yo... Premier?"
"Yeah, whassup, G?"
"That trip to L.A.–may be delayed"
"Why, whassup? I'm on my way to the airport now"
"Yeah, well – your boy Guru got knocked"
"WHAT?!?"
"I don't know what this is about – sounds crazy, man
Something about a gun..."
("The court calls Keith Elam to the stand – please approach the bench")
[Verse 1: Guru]
Yo, they got me handcuffed, I'm down in Central Booking
Things are fucked up, the way my future's looking
But I'm too fly, I'ma change this scenario
Make some power moves and tighten up my bankroll
Chumps are leary though, they see me as a threat
I'm like the black Dutch Schultz when you get me upset
5-0 makes me wanna flip, Larry Davis style
Got a nigga depressed, while he's awaiting trial
It's okay though, 'cause from grey skies come blue
Through darkness comes light, and I be known as the Guru
And this I certify, we all should be alerted by –
The traps within the system–our youth is getting murdered by
The D.A. says they got me on a felony
I'm trying to live my life, so what the fuck is you telling me?
The streets are war, that's what brothers carry weapons for
And I take the weight, as I did before
The next thing you know, they got me on the radio
"A rapper arrested," suckers showing me on video
Of course, I know – that I'm a role model
But, yo – this rap life is real life, sometimes it's full throttle
Right now I gotta think about me – fuck the industry
You gets no love, except those who support me
"What's the story?" "What happened when I went to L.A.?"
Mixing shit up – no, not there, I got family
Nothing happened, mind your business – yo, step
You know we connect – JFK to LAX
[Chorus]
They wanna lock us all up, and throw away the key
Don't wanna see us come up, don't wanna see us making G's
Long as we know this is the key to our destruction
Let's make moves, no discussion
[Verse 2: Guru]
Peace to my man Haas, a knowledged man–paying the cost
All the 25-to-life'rs, all my brothers getting tossed
Into the system, supposed to rehabilitate
It's why you gotta regulate your own mindstate
Read, study lessons, and build your inner power
The next level–doesn't tolerate cowards
For example – I know this rich Nigerian
Powerful American, that's proud to be an African
He asked me, "Why do all us brothers be getting trapped?"
I told him I'd explain it, broke it down in a rap:
"Whether you got naps, braids, waves, or no hair
Without esteem for yourself, nigga – you're going nowhere"
And you can swagger, like you rude as Josey Wales
Unorganized revolt almost always mostly fails
Give up the savage ways, be effective soldiers
To elevate the mental is to be poor no more
There's war in the streets, prepared men know best
I rhyme as live as it gets – JFK to LAX
They're always making trouble, yo–against the righteous
Killing us in cold blood–those beasts, those vipers
And as I sit, feeling the pain in my wrist
I vow to myself that I'ma change this shit
Or at least I gotta try, or part of me will die
And only by action will any ideas solidify
So I inhale, exhale as I ponder
This grown man will make mistakes no longer
I've been there, I've seen how they make us fall victim
To their tricknology; with no apology, I diss em
And so I rip facts, to dope tracks I caress
You're gonna hear about it–from JFK to LAX
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